Page 71 - Romans Student Textbook.doc

find a living relationship with God without asking for it. And in that same chapter of Isaiah, Isaiah
contrasted the good grace of God with the stubbornness of Israel in their disobedient rejection of their
Messiah with the image of a parent holding out their arms to embrace a stubborn child who will not
submit, repent or obey. In all of this Paul’s point was that the salvation of the Jews through the work of
Jesus on the cross was not happening because they were actively, willfully resisting the Word of Truth
from God who had come to them and had called upon them to believe. Like everyone other person in the
world salvation is available to Israel and Israelites when they trust in Jesus as their Messiah and Savior.

Living Out Our Theology

The image of God lovingly extending his arms to people to welcome them into a living relationship
with himself that comes from Isaiah 65 needs to burn itself into our vision as we look at the
people that God surrounds us with in this world. There is no one who God does not love and to whom he
does not offer His salvation. At the same time, he does not allow people to come to him any way that they
might think He should allow them to come. All must humble themselves and come to Him on His terms by
trusting in His Son and the work of His Son that provides righteousness before Him.

We are to be faithful in living out and speaking up. We must live out the good news of Jesus Christ by
seeing people from God’s perspective and treating them with respect and love. We must also wed such
living to the bold proclamation of the good news of salvation through the redeeming work of Jesus to
those who had not yet heard.

Sacrifice and Atonement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_OlRWGLdnw

11.5 Let’s Practice…

1. What were the Jews doing that did not attain a saving relationship with God?

2. The righteousness before the law that the Jews tried to establish by their own works is
provided only in what way?

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