Jews and Gentiles

 DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

JEWS AND GENTILES

Rom 15:9-12

as it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name."   10 Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."   11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples."  12 And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him."  

NIV

This is proof of why they should accept one another, specifically why the Jewish believers should accept the Gentile believers. Paul is giving the Old Testament scriptures that speak about the Gentiles being among the people of God. What we then have to believe is the Jewish believers were the ones with the weaker faith because they were still looking to the law as a measure of our faith, with all the restrictions on their food and drink,  while the Gentile believers came from a pagan society with no restrictions. We wonder if within the modern church that could be seen as those who were raised in a Christian home that at the time of their youth, their parents were living under the period where the do’s and don’ts were very strong in the church, and thus they were raised to believe as a Christian we should abstain from certain foods and drink, although it seems today it is more about abstaining from specific drink, while they can eat to their hearts desires. This is not a judgment, just a  wondering if that could be the case, while those who were raised in a non-Christian home, and in fact were the chief of sinners themselves, having accepted Christ, came with no such restrictions and continue to feel that freedom, not finding scriptures to base abstaining from certain foods and drinks. Again, not forming any judgment on either view of living for Jesus, but just wondering if that could be how the modern church is comprised of two types of people, expressing their faith each in their own way. However, it does seem that Paul is making the point regarding those who express their faith through abstinence or those rules and regulations of the do’s and don’ts of Christianity should be accepting, without prejudice, those who live without those same do’s and don’ts, thus looking much like the Jews and Gentiles all living together in harmony, all singing the praises to the Lord, giving the Lord all the praise and honor he is due. It is the Lord who has saved us all, who has given his body for us and has shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins, whether we believe as a Jew or a Gentile.