Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of the Jewish people is that they would be saved. I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God, but they are misguided.
They don’t understand ⌊how to receive⌋ God’s approval. So they try to set up their own way to get it, and they have not accepted God’s way for receiving his approval.
Christ is the fulfillment of Moses’ Teachings so that everyone who has faith may receive God’s approval.
Moses writes about receiving God’s approval by following his laws. He says, “The person who obeys these laws will live because he obeys them.” However, Scripture says about God’s approval which is based on faith, “Don’t ask yourself who will go up to heaven,” (that is, to bring Christ down). “Don’t ask who will go down into the depths,” (that is, to bring Christ back from the dead).
However, what else does it say? “This message is near you. It’s in your mouth and in your heart.” This is the message of faith that we spread. If you declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God brought him back to life, you will be saved.
By believing you receive God’s approval, and by declaring your faith you are saved. Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be ashamed.” (Romans 10:1-11 (GW)
God's purpose and plan for Israel was for them to be a people who would represent God on earth to other nations. They were to be a light to the gentiles [nations] (Isaiah 49:6; Acts 13:47). As a nation, they failed to fulfill this purpose.
When Jesus came—the long-awaited Messiah—He fulfilled the Law of Moses and established a new covenant—a new relationship with God. This relationship is based on faith—a trust in God and His loving kindness.
Acceptance and approval with God is not gained by attempting to lead a good moral life, but by trusting in God's gift of forgiveness and restoration, referred to as redemption or salvation. It is not just a belief held in the mind, but a confession of trust within the heart and declared by our life and speech.
When a person believes in the Lord Jesus' redemptive sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, his or her life will be transformed. Then, each of us who trusts in the Lord by faith can fulfill God's original purpose and plan for Israel.
As we experience God's acceptance and approval, we become a reflection of His light for others. ©Word-Strong_2016