May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Romans 15:13
It may have been challenging for the Jews who came to believe in Christ Jesus to accept the fact that the apostles as well as the apostle Paul claimed that the saving faith in Christ was expanding to include the Gentiles. How could that be? And yet, Paul convincingly reminded them that the Word given to their patriarchs and the prophets definitively stated that “the righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17; Habakkuk 2:4).
Paul’s benediction for the believers in Rome mentions neither Jew nor Gentile, but is meant for all who believe in the redemption made by Christ for the sins of all humankind (Romans 15:13). Pastor John MacArthur notes that “Jews can have no grudge against Gentiles, because their calling, their very purpose for existing, was to reach Gentiles for the glory of the Lord. The Gentiles can have no grudge against the Jews, because it was through the Jews that God brought them salvation.”
The Lamb’s Book of Life has written in it the names of people from every tribe and people and language and nation (Revelation 13:8, 20:12). As a believer, the God of hope gives you peace that only He can give – a peace towards God and people alike that should fill you with an exuberant joy.
Though they may not know it, most people in this nation yearn for the peace and joy that only the God of hope can offer. Pray now that your joy may be evident, that governing officials in this nation will accept Christ as their Savior, and that the Holy Spirit’s power may abound in you.
Today’s Verse: Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Romans 15:5-13, 20-21
5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
10 And again it is said,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,
“Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
