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olive tree？ For I would not； brethren； that ye should be ignorant of this
mystery； lest ye should be wise in your own conceits； that blindness in part
is happened to Israel； until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in。
〃And so all Israel shall be saved： as it is written； There shall come out of
Sion the Deliverer； and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob： for this is
My covenant unto them； when I shall take away their sins。 As concerning the
gospel； they are enemies for your sakes： but as touching the election； they
are beloved for the father's sakes。 For the gifts and calling of God are
without repentance。 For as ye in times past have not believed God； yet have
now obtained mercy through their unbelief： even so have these also now not
believed； that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy。 For God had
concluded them all in unbelief； that He might have mercy upon all。
〃O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God！ how
unsearchable are His judgments； and His ways past finding out！ For who hath
known the
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mind of the Lord？ or who hath been His counselor？ or who hath first given to
Him； and it shall be recompensed unto him again？ For of Him； and through
Him； and to Him； are all things： to whom be glory forever。〃
Thus Paul shows that God is abundantly able to transform the hearts of Jew
and Gentile alike； and to grant to every believer in Christ the blessings
promised to Israel。 He repeats Isaiah's declaration concerning God's people：
〃Though the number of children of Israel be as the sand of the sea； a
remnant shall be saved： for He will finish the work； and cut it short in
righteousness： because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth。 And
as Esaias said before； Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed； we had
been as Sodoma and been made like unto Gomorrah。〃
At the time when Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple laid in ruins； many
thousands of the Jews were sold to serve as bondmen in heathen lands。 Like
wrecks on a desert shore they were scattered among the nations。 For eighteen
hundred years the Jews have wandered from land to land throughout the world；
and in no place have they been given the privilege of regaining their
ancient prestige as a nation。 Maligned； hated； persecuted； from century to
century theirs has been a heritage of suffering。
Notwithstanding the awful doom pronounced upon the Jews as a nation at the
time of their rejection of Jesus of Nazareth； there have lived from age to
age many noble； God…fearing Jewish men and women who have suffered in
silence。 God has comforted their hearts in affliction and
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has beheld with pity their terrible situation。 He has heard the agonizing
prayers of those who have sought Him with all the heart for a right
understanding of His word。 Some have learned to see in the lowly Nazarene
whom their forefathers rejected and crucified； the true Messiah of Israel。
As their minds have grasped the significance of the familiar prophecies so
long obscured by tradition and misinterpretation； their hearts have been
filled with gratitude to God for the unspeakable gift He bestows upon every
human being who chooses to accept Christ as a personal Saviour。
It is to this class that Isaiah referred in his prophecy； 〃A remnant shall
be saved。〃 From Paul's day to the present time； God by His Holy Spirit has
been calling after the Jew as well as the Gentile。 〃There is no respect of
persons with God；〃 declared Paul。 The apostle regarded himself as 〃debtor
both to the Greeks； and to the barbarians；〃 as well as to the Jews； but he
never lost sight of the decided advantages possessed by the Jews over
others； 〃chiefly； because that unto them were committed the oracles of God。〃
〃The gospel；〃 he declared； 〃is the power of God unto salvation to everyone
that believeth； to the Jew first； and also to the Greek。 For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith： as it is written； The
just shall live by faith。〃 It is of this gospel of Christ； equally
efficacious for Jew and Gentile； that Paul in his epistle to the Romans
declared he was not ashamed。
When this gospel shall be presented in its fullness to the Jews； many will
accept Christ as the Messiah。 Among Christian
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ministers there are only a few who feel called upon to labor for the Jewish
people； but to those who have been often passed by； as well as to all
others； the message of mercy and hope in Christ is to come。
In the closing proclamation of the gospel； when special work is to be done
for classes of people hitherto neglected； God expects His messengers to take
particular interest in the Jewish people whom they find in all parts of the
earth。 As the Old Testament Scriptures are blended with the New in an
explanation of Jehovah's eternal purpose； this will be to many of the Jews
as the dawn of a new creation； the resurrection of the soul。 As they see the
Christ of the gospel dispensation portrayed in the pages of the Old
Testament Scriptures； and perceive how clearly the New Testament explains
the Old； their slumbering faculties will be aroused； and they will recognize
Christ as the Saviour of the world。 Many will by faith receive Christ as
their Redeemer。 To them will be fulfilled the words； 〃As many as received
Him； to them gave He power to become the sons of God； even to them that
believe on His name。〃 John 1：12。
Among the Jews are some who； like Saul of Tarsus； are mighty in the
Scriptures； and these will proclaim with wonderful power the immutability of
the law of God。 The God of Israel will bring this to pass in our day。 His
arm is not shortened that it cannot save。 As His servants labor in faith for
those who have long been neglected and despised； His salvation will be
revealed。
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〃Thus saith the Lord； who redeemed Abraham； concerning the house of Jacob；
Jacob shall not now be ashamed； neither shall his face now wax pale。 But
when he seeth his children； the work of Mine hands； in the midst of him；
they shall sanctify My name； and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob； and shall
fear the God of Israel。 They also that erred in spirit shall come to
understanding； and they that murmured shall learn doctrine。〃 Isaiah
29：22…24。
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Chapter 36
Apostasy in Galatia
While tarrying at Corinth； Paul had cause for serious apprehension
concerning some of the churches already established。 Through the influence
of false teachers who had arisen among the believers in Jerusalem； division；
heresy； and sensualism were rapidly gaining ground among the believers in
Galatia。 These false teachers were mingling Jewish traditions with the
truths of the gospel。 Ignoring the decision of the general council at
Jerusalem； they urged upon the Gentile converts the observance of the
ceremonial law。
The situation was critical。 The evils that had been introduced threatened
speedily to destroy the Galatian churches。
Paul was cut to the heart； and his soul was stirred by this open apostasy on
the part of those to whom he had faithfully taught the principles of the
gospel。 He immediately wrote to the deluded believers； exposing the false
theories that they had accepted and with great severity rebuking
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those who were departing from the faith。 After saluting the Galatians in the
words； 〃Grace be to you and peace from God the Father； and from our Lord
Jesus Christ；〃 he addressed to them these words of sharp reproof：
〃I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the
grace of Christ unto another gospel： which is not another； but there be some
that trouble you； and would pervert the gospel of Christ。 But though we； or
an angel from heaven； preach any other gospel unto you than that which we
have preached unto you； let him be accursed。〃 Paul's teachings had been in
harmony with the Scriptures； and the Holy Spirit had witnessed to his
labors； therefore he warned his brethren not to listen to anything that
contradicted the truths he had taught them。
The apostle bade the Galatian believers consider carefully their first
experience in the Christian life。 〃O foolish Galatians；〃 he exclaimed； 〃who
hath bewitched you； that ye should not obey the truth； before whose eyes
Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth； crucified among you？ This only
would I learn of you； Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law； or by
the hearing of faith？ Are ye so foolish？ having begun in the Spirit； are ye
now made perfect by the flesh？ Have ye suffered so many things in vain？ if
it be yet in vain。 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit； and
worketh miracles among you； doeth he it by the works of the law； or by the
hearing of faith？〃
Thus Paul arraigned the believers in Galatia before the tribunal of their
own conscience and sought to arrest them
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in their course。 Relying on the power