Who received the promised righteousness?
“So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” Romans 11:5 – 6, NET. The remnant before the birth of the Messiah, at the Messiah’s time, and the remnant at present are chosen by grace before the foundation of the world. God knew who would be loyal to him before he created this universe and humankind in it. The Holy Spirit knows believers’ minds and thoughts before they think of them. The remnant in Israel believed that God would fulfill his promise and bring salvation to the lost humankind. God remained faithful, and he fulfilled all he promised. God accomplished it through the body of Jesus Christ on the cross at Golgotha. When Jesus proclaimed, “It is finished,” he referred to the world’s salvation. The lost and sinful humankind has been justified and restored to God as his children. Accordingly, Jesus Christ rested in the grave because everything was finished and was perfect.
Before the cross at Golgotha, the remnants received righteousness because they believed that God would fulfill his promise. The remnant of God today has possession of righteousness because they believe that God has accomplished everything he promised. Only the yielded believers are the remnant of God at present. Why? Because they have been crucified with Christ, and they no longer live, but Christ lives in them. And because Christ lives in them, they are the children of God in Jesus Christ. Yielded believers are qualified to be the children of God because of what Jesus accomplished on their behalf, not because of what they did.
The born-again Jews, together with born-again Gentiles, are the true Israel. However, Jews as a nation did not cease to exist. Unfortunately, not all Jews want to be born again or born from above. Judaism, with its temple and priesthood, was superseded by the new Priest in the order of Melchizedek, Jesus Christ. Jesus established the “Way” in place of religion. The Way is now Christianity. The yielded believers, Jews, and Gentiles, have a new standing before God as justified, sanctified, and glorified in Jesus Christ. They do not need the letter of the law because they conduct themselves in a manner worthy of their calling. Ephesians 4:1. The yielded believers live according to the spirit of the law, which points to Christ, their righteousness. In Jesus Christ, we have, here and now, the irrevocable standing as called and justified children of God.
Warning to the Gentile believers. Read the next blog.
