How does Romans 11:28 encourage prayer for the Jewish people today? The Tension in Romans 11:28 “Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.” Why This Tension Fuels Prayer • The verse speaks of two simultaneous realities: – “Enemies” → many Jews presently resist the gospel. – “Loved” → God’s covenantal choice still rests on them because of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. • Holding both truths together keeps believers from complacency: we neither write Israel off nor ignore her need for salvation. • Prayer becomes the practical expression of embracing both realities—pleading for the removal of enmity and the fulfillment of love. God’s Unchanging Covenant • Romans 11:29: “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” • Jeremiah 31:35-37 affirms that Israel’s national existence is as secure as the fixed order of creation. • Genesis 17:7 calls God’s covenant with Abraham “everlasting.” → Because God’s promises endure, we pray with confidence that He still intends blessing and salvation for the Jewish people. Joining Paul’s Burden • Romans 10:1: “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.” • By recording his own practice, Paul models intercession for Israel. Romans 11:28 supplies the theological basis; Romans 10:1 supplies the personal example. Confidence in Future Mercy • Romans 11:25-26 speaks of a partial hardening “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and so all Israel will be saved.” • Isaiah 62:6-7 pictures watchmen who “give Him no rest” until Jerusalem’s salvation shines forth. → Prayer today anticipates the promised national turning to Christ. Practical Ways to Pray Today • Thank God for His steadfast love toward the Jewish people. • Ask the Spirit to lift the veil (2 Corinthians 3:14-16) so individuals see Jesus as Messiah. • Intercede for Jewish believers—to stand firm and shine as witnesses. • Pray for outreach ministries that share the gospel with sensitivity and honor. • Call on God to grant peace to Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) in ways that advance saving faith. Romans 11:28 assures that Israel remains loved. That assurance invites persistent, hope-filled prayer for Jewish hearts to embrace their Messiah and for God’s covenant purposes to reach glorious completion. |
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