“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel” (Romans 9:2-4).
Anyone who has ever known a loved one to slip away from this life without obeying the gospel, who had rejected the gospel that spoken to them knows the “great sorrow and unceasing anguish” that was in Paul’s heart as he saw the Jews who had every advantage in knowing God and were anticipating the Messiah but rejected Jesus as their Savior. It is like they showed up at the airport with all the right luggage just to watch their plane fly off without them … and then discover they had never bought a ticket. The next chapter says of them, “Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” This is not much different than the humanist who believes he can get to heaven by his good works or the denominationalist who insists that his belief alone outside of the obedience of baptism is righteousness enough.
Do you believe and obey the Gate, who is the only Way to the Father?
Doug Kashorek
Plattsburgh church of Christ
Plattsburgh, NY