FRIDAY, 18TH OCTOBER 2019 MORNING
Romans 9:1-13 New International Version (NIV)
Paul’s Anguish over Israel
1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised![a] Amen.
God’s Sovereign Choice
6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b] 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[c]
10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[d] 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Apostle Paul teaches that being a true Israelite is not the same with being a physical Israelite. Being a physical Israelite does not make one righteous and does not assure one of a place in God’s kingdom.
All who are the “seed” of Jesus Christ are saved and assured of eternal life. To be His seed, one must be joined with Him, by faith. This is the second birth of which Jesus spoke in John 3.
IJUMAA, TAREHE 18 OKTOBA 2019 ASUBUHI WARUMI 9:1-13
1 Nasema kweli katika Kristo, sisemi uongo, dhamiri yangu ikinishuhudia katika Roho Mtakatifu,
2 ya kwamba nina huzuni nyingi na maumivu yasiyokoma moyoni mwangu.
3 Kwa maana ningeweza kuomba mimi mwenyewe niharimishwe na kutengwa na Kristo kwa ajili ya ndugu zangu, jamaa zangu kwa jinsi ya mwili;
4 ambao ni Waisraeli, wenye kule kufanywa wana, na ule utukufu, na maagano, na kupewa torati, na ibada ya Mungu, na ahadi zake;
5 ambao mababu ni wao, na katika hao alitoka Kristo kwa jinsi ya mwili. Ndiye aliye juu ya mambo yote, Mungu, mwenye kuhimidiwa milele. Amina.
6 Si kana kwamba neno la Mungu limetanguka. Maana hawawi wote Waisraeli walio wa uzao wa Israeli.
7 Wala hawawi wote wana kwa kuwa wazao wa Ibrahimu, bali, Katika Isaka wazao wako wataitwa;
8 yaani, si watoto wa mwili walio watoto wa Mungu, bali watoto wa ile ahadi wanahesabiwa kuwa wazao.
9 Kwa maana neno la ahadi ni hili, Panapo wakati huu nitakuja, na Sara atakuwa na mwana.
10 Wala si hivyo tu, lakini Rebeka naye, akiisha kuchukua mimba kwa mume mmoja, naye ni Isaka, baba yetu,
11 (kwa maana kabla hawajazaliwa wale watoto, wala hawajatenda neno jema wala baya, ili lisimame kusudi la Mungu la kuchagua, si kwa sababu ya matendo, bali kwa sababu ya nia yake aitaye),
12 aliambiwa hivi, Mkubwa atamtumikia mdogo.
13 Kama ilivyoandikwa, Nimempenda Yakobo, bali Esau nimemchukia.
Mtume Paulo anafundisha kwamba, kuwa Muisraeli wa kweli siyo sawa na kuwa mzaliwa wa Israeli. Kuwa Muisraeli kwa kuzaliwa haimfanyi mtu kuwa na haki na kumhakikishia urithi katika ufalme wa mbinguni. Wote ambao ni wazao wa Yesu Kristo wanaokolewa na kuhakikishiwa urithi katika uzima wa Milele. Kuwa mzao wa Kristo, ni lazima kuunganishwa naye kwa njia ya imani. Huku ndiko kuzaliwa kwa mara ya pili, kama Yesu alivyoeleza katika injili ya Yohana sura ya 3.
