The Gospel: For Jew And Heathen

Romans 15:8-13

Chapter 55

The Lord Jesus has become a servant! Think about this. He, the eternal Son of God, has accepted the form of a servant. He came to serve, not to be served. Here we read that He has become a servant to the circumcision. This means He came to the Jewish nation because circumcision had been given to that nation as a sign of the covenant God had made with them. He lived as a Jew among this people. The aim of His coming was, among others, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, like Abraham. These promises were spoken by God. They were as firm as God's truth because when God says something, He will do it. The Lord Jesus therefore came to confirm the promises.

But there was something more for which the Lord Jesus became a servant to the circumcision. This was so "that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy." Here Paul makes clear the coming of the Lord Jesus implied a blessing for both Israel and the nations. Isaiah 49:6 speaks of this in a wonderful way. There, God said to the Lord Jesus, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." In the first part of this quotation we see it was in God's heart for the Lord Jesus to restore Israel. But this wasn't all. To God, the work of the Lord Jesus was so great He didn't want to limit its benefits to Israel. He wanted all the nations to share in the mercy which would come to man through the Lord Jesus. The result would glorify and magnify God.

What's surprising is that God spoke of mercy for the nations in the Old Testament! This mercy wasn't something new, but was only revealed in the New Testament. This is not about the Assembly or Church of God, for in the Old Testament, the Assembly was a mystery, that is, something God did not reveal to them. But even in the Old Testament time, God's heart was going out towards the nations outside Israel. They had a different standing, for Israel was and remains God's elect people, and has a separate place in the history of salvation.

But God hadn't rejected the other nations. To confirm this, thought, four verses from the Old Testament are quoted here. These four examples represent all the Old Testament, for they're taken from the law,(a) the Psalms(b) and the prophets.(c) In Luke 24:44 the Lord Jesus listed these three parts as a summary of the whole Old Testament.

(a) Dt. 32:43

(b) Psalm 18:50; 117:1

(c) Isaiah 11:10

The first quotation, at the end of verse 9, is from Psalm 18:50. It may be considered as a heading over the other quotations There we have the remnant's redemption by God out of the enemy's hand. This redemption is an occasion for them to confess God's name among the nations. The outcome of this is that in the second quotation in verse 10, the nations are called to rejoice with God's people. They are invited to share in the joy of the redemption.

In the third quotation, verse 11, "all ... peoples" and "all ... Gentiles" are called to worship and praise the Lord. Here the joy is not confined to the people of Israel, but all the earth's nations may share in it. Then in verse 12, the fourth quotation, the cause of this joy is indicated. The "root of Jesse" is mentioned, speaking of the Lord Jesus. Look up Revelation 22:16. He will rise to rule over the nations. Under His millennial reign there will be a time of joy and gladness that all the nations are now feverishly trying to attain in their own strength. A time will come when the nations will hope in Him.

He is able to fill you with all joy and peace in believing. It's still believing that counts. To believe means to trust in God who will make everything happen as He has said, even if everything around you seems to contradict it. If you're filled with this, you'll abound in hope. It will make you glad and you will be able to praise Him in a world where God and His Christ are being more and more denied. You don't need to try to be enthusiastic. This is what people without God do. They say, "Keep your chin up" and "Never say die." Exhortations like this don't give any real or lasting power. Man doesn't possess this power by himself. Your power is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has come to direct your heart to the Lord Jesus. Only then will your hope be unshakable and plentiful.

Ger de Koning

Now read Romans 15:8-13 again.

Reflection: How can you receive "all joy and peace in believing"?

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