Chosen Ones

Romans 9-10

In 1000 B.C. it was pretty easy to tell who was one of the chosen ones... check yes if you are a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Fast forward 1000 years and things aren't quite so clear. In the intervening years, the chosen ones failed to keep the covenant... failed to show justice and mercy... and failed to love God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. So when Paul, a recovered Pharisee, saw the light (literally) he could speak from experience, telling his Roman brethren that the people of Israel tried to get right with God by keeping the law, but they never succeeded because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. Although God saved a remnant, his mantle was removed from Israel and placed on the gentiles. Why? Paul tells us... "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved." I confess and believe. Do you?