In previous verses Paul urged the Christians in Rome to be unified, despite their mix of Jewish and Gentile (non-Jewish) people in the church community. Now Paul goes into why this unity under Christ and across cultural/ethnic lines is important.
Christ came to the earth to tell humanity the truth. (John 18:37) The truth about who God is and who we are meant to be. The Jews were the first people group he wanted to connect with on this mission, because they had been promised a special relationship with God and a special role in his plans. (Genesis 17:7 and 22:18 are just two of many examples of this.) (v.8)
This was also part of God's plan to more openly invite non-Jews into relationship with him and to reveal himself more fully to the rest of the world, resulting in people from every nation and culture recognizing who God is and the incredible mercy he offers. (v.9)
Although the Jews of Jesus' and Paul's time strongly separated themselves from non-Jews, the idea of non-Jews worshiping Yahweh alongside them should not have been a radical idea to them, or one they resisted. It had been part of God's plan since the beginning, as Paul demonstrates by quoting and paraphrasing Old Testament scripture. (Psalm 18:49, Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalm 117:1, Isaiah 11:10, respectively) (v.9-12)
Many popular religions are culturally exclusive (though Americans tend to ignore that and "modify" religions as they see fit), but Yahweh is God over all and wants everyone from every nation and culture to seek him out for rescue and have an eternal, overwhelmingly wonderful relationship with him.
He is the reason we can have hope that in the end all will be set right. It's Paul's prayer (as it should be ours) that God will give us real joy (fulfillment, contentment) and a sense of peace even in the storms of life, as we learn to trust in him, and that in doing so we can experience the hope provided by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Searching and studying scripture can lay the foundation for trusting in God, but head knowledge doesn't necessarily translate to firm faith in God. Which is why it's so important that we also ask God to give us his undeserved favor in the form of joy, peace and hope through the Holy Spirit as we choose to trust in him because of what we know, despite what we may be feeling.
Next Time- Paul Discusses The Role God Gave Him
Coffee House Question- Can you identify one or more things that keep you from trusting in God from time to time?
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