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in Christ； had developed strength of Christian character。 Their words and
acts revealed the transforming power of the grace of God； and they were now
a strong force for good in that center of heathenism and superstition。 In
the society of his beloved companions and these faithful converts the
apostle's worn and troubled spirit found rest。
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During his sojourn at Corinth； Paul found time to look forward to new and
wider fields of service。 His contemplated journey to Rome especially
occupied his thoughts。 To see the Christian faith firmly established at the
great center of the known world was one of his dearest hopes and most
cherished plans。 A church had already been established in Rome； and the
apostle desired to secure the co…operation of the believers there in the
work to be accomplished in Italy and in other countries。 To prepare the way
for his labors among these brethren； many of whom were as yet strangers to
him； he sent them a letter announcing his purpose of visiting Rome and his
hope of planting the standard of the cross in Spain。
In his epistle to the Romans； Paul set forth the great principles of the
gospel。 He stated his position on the questions which were agitating the
Jewish and the Gentile churches； and showed that the hopes and promises
which had once belonged especially to the Jews were now offered to the
Gentiles also。
With great clearness and power the apostle presented the doctrine of
justification by faith in Christ。 He hoped that other churches also might be
helped by the instruction sent to the Christians at Rome； but how dimly
could he foresee the far…reaching influence of his words！ Through all the
ages the great truth of justification by faith has stood as a mighty beacon
to guide repentant sinners into the way of life。 It was this light that
scattered the darkness which enveloped Luther's mind and revealed to him the
power of the
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blood of Christ to cleanse from sin。 The same light has guided thousands of
sin…burdened souls to the true Source of pardon and peace。 For the epistle
to the church at Rome； every Christian has reason to thank God。
In this letter Paul gave free expression to his burden in behalf of the
Jews。 Ever since his conversion； he had longed to help his Jewish brethren
to gain a clear understanding of the gospel message。 〃My heart's desire and
prayer to God for Israel is；〃 he declared； 〃that they might be saved。〃
It was no ordinary desire that the apostle felt。 Constantly he was
petitioning God to work in behalf of the Israelites who had failed to
recognize Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah。 〃I say the truth in
Christ；〃 he assured the believers at Rome； 〃my conscience also bearing me
witness in the Holy Ghost； that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow
in my heart。 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my
brethren； my kinsmen according to the flesh： who are Israelites； to whom
pertaineth the adoption； and the glory； and the covenants； and the giving of
the law； and the service of God； and the promises； whose are the fathers；
and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came； who is over all； God
blessed forever。〃
The Jews were God's chosen people； through whom He had purposed to bless the
entire race。 From among them God had raised up many prophets。 These had
foretold the advent of a Redeemer who was to be rejected and slain by those
who should have been the first to recognize Him as the Promised One。
375
The prophet Isaiah； looking down through the centuries and witnessing the
rejection of prophet after prophet and finally of the Son of God； was
inspired to write concerning the acceptance of the Redeemer by those who had
never before been numbered among the children of Israel。 Referring to this
prophecy； Paul declares： 〃Esaias is very bold； and saith； I was found of
them that sought Me not； I was made manifest unto them that asked not after
Me。 But to Israel He saith； All day long I have stretched forth My hands
unto a disobedient and gainsaying people。〃
Even though Israel rejected His Son； God did not reject them。 Listen to Paul
as he continues the argument： 〃I say then； Hath God cast away His people？
God forbid。 For I also am an Israelite； of the seed of Abraham； of the tribe
of Benjamin。 God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew。 Wot ye not
what the Scripture saith of Elias？ how he maketh intercession to God against
Israel； saying； Lord； they have killed Thy prophets； and digged down Thine
altars； and I am left alone； and they seek my life。 But what saith the
answer of God unto him？ I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men； who
have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal。 Even so then at this present
time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace。〃
Israel had stumbled and fallen； but this did not make it impossible for them
to rise again。 In answer to the question； 〃Have they stumbled that they
should fall？〃 the apostle replies： 〃God forbid： but rather through their
fall salvation
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is come unto the Gentiles； for to provoke them to jealousy。 Now if the fall
of them be the riches of the world； and the diminishing of them the riches
of the Gentiles； how much more their fullness？ For I speak to you Gentiles；
inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles； I magnify mine office： if by
any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh； and might save
some of them。 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the
world； what shall the receiving of them be； but life from the dead？〃
It was God's purpose that His grace should be revealed among the Gentiles as
well as among the Israelites。 This had been plainly outlined in Old
Testament prophecies。 The apostle uses some of these prophecies in his
argument。 〃Hath not the potter power over the clay；〃 he inquires； 〃of the
same lump to make one vessel unto honor； and another unto dishonor？ What if
God； willing to show His wrath； and to make His power known； endured with
much long…suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction： and that He
might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy； which He
had afore prepared unto glory； even us； whom He hath called； not of the Jews
only； but also of the Gentiles？ As He saith also in Osee； I will call them
My people； which were not My people； and her beloved； which was not beloved。
And it shall come to pass； that in the place where it was said unto them； Ye
are not My people； there shall they be called the children of the living
God。〃 See Hosea 1：10。
Notwithstanding Israel's failure as a nation； there remained among them a
goodly remnant of such as should be saved。
377
At the time of the Saviour's advent there were faithful men and women who
had received with gladness the message of John the Baptist； and had thus
been led to study anew the prophecies concerning the Messiah。 When the early
Christian church was founded； it was composed of these faithful Jews who
recognized Jesus of Nazareth as the one for whose advent they had been
longing。 It is to this remnant that Paul refers when he writes； 〃If the
first fruit be holy； the lump is also holy： and if the root be holy； so are
the branches。〃
Paul likens the remnant in Israel to a noble olive tree； some of whose
branches have been broken off。 He compares the Gentiles to branches from a
wild olive tree； grafted into the parent stock。 〃If some of the branches be
broken off；〃 he writes to the Gentile believers； 〃and thou； being a wild
olive tree； wert grafted in among them； and with them partakest of the root
and fatness of the olive tree； boast not against the branches。 But if thou
boast； thou barest not the root； but the root thee。 Thou wilt say then； The
branches were broken off； that I might be grafted in。 Well； because of
unbelief they were broken off； and thou standest by faith。 Be not
high…minded； but fear： for if God spared not the natural branches； take heed
lest He also spare not thee。 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of
God： on them which fell； severity； but toward thee； goodness； if thou
continue in His goodness： otherwise thou also shalt be cut off。〃
Through unbelief and the rejection of Heaven's purpose for her； Israel as a
nation had lost her connection with God。 But the branches that had been
separated from the parent
378
stock God was able to reunite with the true stock of Israel the remnant
who had remained true to the God of their fathers。 〃They also；〃 the apostle
declares of these broken branches； 〃if they abide not still in unbelief；
shall be grafted in： for God is able to graft them in again。〃 〃If thou；〃 he
writes to the Gentiles； 〃wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by
nature； and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree： how much
more shall these； which be the natural branches； be grafted into their own
olive tree？ For I would not； brethren； that ye should be ignorant of this
mystery； lest ye should be wise in your own