Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 73

March 13;        Romans 11:11;          128/260;        ‘Jealous of the Gentiles’

Romans 11:11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

Paul is referring to Israel having stumbled.  They stumbled over religion, endeavoring to achieve give their hearts to Jesus as well.  Religion is a tool of the devil.  Religion is man, by his efforts, earning heaven.  Pride, our nature without being born again, will always try to feel like we can conduct ourselves in such a manner that we obligate the Lord to welcome us to heaven.  Someone said that the theme song of hell is “I did it my way.”  Paul knew that simple faith in the finished work of Jesus and the peace and joy being a Christian brings would have an impact on the Jews.  Religion will keep you busy, going nowhere.  How can a religious person ever know that they did enough to get the Lord to grant them eternal life?  It is a cruel lie.  Jesus did it all.