Romans–Passionate Christian Theology

I don’t know why I sometimes have amusing flashbacks of my family as I read certain passages of Scripture. But I do. Maybe God is helping me see more clearly or maybe I just need to smile.

As I read Paul’s lengthy explanation of how the Jews walked out the door on God and how this was good for us who are not of Jewish heritage to slip in that opened door, I mentally see the picture of a rainy day, dogs and grandkids. A sudden, heavy shower of rain sent grandkids running and scrambling to the back door to get inside out of the storm. There was excited laughing, screaming with pushing and shoving.

However, we were also caring for a couple of their dogs as well that day. In the excitement of the opened back door, the dogs, seeing their chance for freedom, slipped through the crack of the opened door to go outside in the rain. The dogs, caught up in the excitement of being free to roam like the grandkids, ran out the back door! Now we had a new task. We had to get on our raincoats and persuade them to come back in, out of the lightening and storm to the protection of “being on the inside” again, for their own good. Mm. Smiling, just thinking about this.

Romans 11, The Message
(Read all of 11 to get the whole picture)

A Complete Israel
25-29 I want to lay all this out on the table as clearly as I can, friends. This is complicated. It would be easy to misinterpret what’s going on and arrogantly assume that you’re royalty and they’re just rabble, out on their ears for good. But that’s not it at all. This hardness on the part of insider Israel toward God is temporary. Its effect is to open things up to all the outsiders so that we end up with a full house. Before it’s all over, there will be a complete Israel. As it is written,

A champion will stride down from the mountain of Zion;
he’ll clean house in Jacob.
And this is my commitment to my people:
removal of their sins.

From your point of view as you hear and embrace the good news of the Message, it looks like the Jews are God’s enemies. But looked at from the long-range perspective of God’s overall purpose, they remain God’s oldest friends. God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded.

30-32 There was a time not so long ago when you were on the outs with God. But then the Jews slammed the door on him and things opened up for you. Now they are on the outs. But with the door held wide open for you, they have a way back in. In one way or another, God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that he can personally open the door and welcome us back in.

33-36 Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.

Is there anyone around who can explain God?
Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?
Anyone who has done him such a huge favor
that God has to ask his advice?

Everything comes from him;
Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him.
Always glory! Always praise!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for opening the door of salvation to us through your Son Jesus Christ. Help us to help someone else come through Your opened door. A full house is your desire. We see that clearly. All are welcomed into Your eternal home. I believe.
In Jesus Name, Amen