Lessons on Rejection - Rom. 9:6-13;24-32
We all have known the pain of being rejected. However, we all can learn from the rejection of the Jews who trusted in the physical rather than the spiritual aspects of the promise of Abraham. God’s promise of blessing, deliverance and redemption are given as a spiritual promise to all who will believe in Jesus Christ as their true deliverer from sin, death and judgment. For 2000 years most Jews have rejected Christ as their Messiah because they expected someone who would overthrow their oppressors and set up a physical kingdom for their benefit. They have experienced God’s rejection because of their lack of belief in Christ and His offer of salvation. Let us look at several aspects of how we can learn from the rejection of Israel and God’s consequential rejection of those unbelieving Jews.
1. The Promise to Israel was a spiritual promise. God told Abraham, "In your seed will all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ (Gen 15:12-15) All aspects of this promise was based on spiritual conditions. It was not made according to the flesh, otherwise, Ishmael, and his Arab descendants would also be included in this promise. Only the children of the promise who place saving faith in Jesus Christ are to enjoy the benefits of God’s promise for blessings. Many forget that every promise of God has a condition on it. Unless people are willing to meet the conditions of God’s promises they will not enjoy the fulfillment of more than 7000 promises in the Bible. All the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ, 2 Cor. 1:20. Ask the Lord to help you meet all the conditions of His promises so that you can escape the corruption that is in the world by lust and become partakers of His divine nature. 2 Pet 1:3-8
2. Abraham’s true children are those who demonstrate Abrahamic faith. Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. We obtained God’s righteousness through faith in the finish work of Christ on the cross. It is not just done through intellectual assent or agreement, but by admission that Christ alone can save us from our sins, repetance of our sins must be confessed and asking Christ to come into our life as our Savior and Lord assures us that we will have a place reserved for us in heaven. rom. 10:9,10. Too many people are going to experience rejection from God because they have failed to appropriate the conditions of God’s promises. Do not live in a state where you are an enemy with God because you have not taken advantages of the promises of free salvation, redemption and complete forgiveness of your sins by inviting Christ into your life as Savior and Lord. You can become a child of God simply by praying, "Lord, Jesus I need you to come into my life and forgive my sins. I know that you died on the cross and rose again from the dead to pave the way for me to enter heaven’s gates. Please forgive me and make me the kind of person you want me to be. Thank you for giving me the gift of eternal life right now. Amen.
3. All people, regardless of their background, problems or circumstances can overcome rejection if they will allow Christ to be their Lord. The Lord Jesus is the one who accepts anyone who comes to Him for acceptance, eternal belonging and total exoneration of their deficiencies. Only Christ has the power to accept those who feel rejected, ashamed and unable to find love. Jesus said, "come to me all you who are weary and heavy hearted and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28,29) When the world rejects you be assured that Christ accepts you just as you are because He is able to make something beautiful out of your life if you will only let Him. He who believes in Him will never be disappointed.
4. The Jews experienced God’s rejection because they tried to limit the Divine promises only to themselves. Do not think that God shows partiality to any people. He is not willing that any should perish or be rejected. He wants all people to come to Him because he is willing to throw out any and all blame and shame from our past. He is able to erase any hurt, pain or inadequacy that people have used to reject us. God is a loving Lord who beckons everyone to come and worship Him since He is the good shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. Let the loving Savior welcome you into His fold as one who He will protect, feed and lead into the green pastures of life. He will restore your soul and make you whole. He will lead you in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. He will annoint your head with oil and make your cup to overflow with good things. He will always protect and enable you with His goodness and mercy all the days of your life. He will let you dwell in His house in heaven for ever. (Psa. 23:1-6
5. God expects great things from those of us who have enjoyed the benefits of being transferred from the kingdom of darkness where rejection was normal to the kingdom of light with all Christ’s acceptance and love. The Lord calls on those who once knew the pains of rejection to help beckon the rejected into the fold of God. He wants our lives to be a shining example of the benefits of acceptance and belonging. Paul wrote, "Accept one another just as Christ has accepted you for the glory of God.’ (rom. 15:7) Do not reject other people because you may like to set ideals that are higher than Biblical standards. Be more compassionate, forgiving and willing to tolerate less than ideal behavior from those who are still feeling the pain of rejection or estrangement from God.
6. God elects us according to His sovereign will, but only He is able to draw people to Himself through His marvelous grace, love and truth. Allow yourself to be a vessel of God’s grace, love and truth. Do not turn off the tap of God’s mercies to others just because you might feel the pain of their anger. Feel compassion for them since you know the pain of being lost and rejected before you became a Christian. Treat others as Christ loves you. Be more accepting, tolerant and understanding of the way people behave who are yet to know the freedoms of being spiritually accepted in Christ. When we learn the lessons of spiritual submission to His will and love then we can become a magnet for drawing others to Christ and His blessed eternal acceptance that overcomes all rejection.
