By Such Stripes Are We Healed
by Jack Shaver
©The United Church of Canada, 1985
All Rights Reserved
ISBN 0-88622-196-X
7M/12/85/APL
Used with Permission
Good Friday
A wonderful reason for not being saved
Romans 11: 25-36
The Epistle to the Romans is thought to be Paul's considered introduction of himself to the Christians at Rome, in the hope that they would receive him and think him a worthy missionary to be sent on to Spain. Certainly it is more reflective than his other epistles, which tend to be more reactive, addressing particular concerns rather than putting forth general theology. Romans is also one of Paul's later letters. It has been called "The Gospel according to Paul".
The verses selected for today's reading come from that part of the epistle which deals with a matter of deep personal sadness to Paul (chapters 9 - 11). The majority of the Jews have not accepted Christ. Some students of the apostle have suggested that this is the matter Paul has in mind when, in chapter eight, he writes about groaning with sighs too deep for words.
One should work through chapters nine, 10, and 11 in order to hear what God is saying to this wrestler. Paul is indeed wrestling. In these chapters he is not so much sharing his composed thought as he is thinking out loud. We watch him putting his thoughts together. He gets on both sides of the argument. He keeps recalling scripture passages, some of which he seems to find a help, others he lets drop.
- Early in chapter nine he quotes some lines that should settle the matter:
- I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and
I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
But it doesn't. A few verses on he quotes a statement that should stop the argument:- Who are you to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me thus?"
And the argument continues for 69 more verses.
Paul cannot let the matter rest until he connects the "hardening of Israel" with the conversion of the gentiles. He finally makes his peace upon stating the profound mystery "For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all." He then launches into one of the most eloquent doxologies of the entire Bible.
His praise includes an act of surrender before the mystery of God, "Who can comprehend God's ways?" But it seems to me that this is a very different mystery from the one stated in chapter nine: "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy."
In the latter passage God seems to he saying, "None are saved until all are saved." If that is what the brokenness of my salvation is all about, I too can sing Paul's doxology.
Praise
O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
"For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?"
"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be glory for ever.
Amen
(Romans II: 34-36)