Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Romans 11:28
Concerning the gospel, the Jews were enemies; concerning the election, the Jews were chosen by God and the objects of His unalterable promises which He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In the days of the early church (as seen in the book of Acts) the greatest opposition to the preaching of the gospel came from unbelieving Jews. This is perhaps most clearly seen in
1 Thess. 2:14-16 (these are very strong words, but remember that they were written by the same Apostle who wrote
Romans 9:1-4 and
Romans 10:1).
The unbelief and hostility of certain Jews does not alter the promises of God toward the nation which He has chosen (see
Deut. 7:6-8 and
Deut. 10:15).
Romans 11:28 is very helpful in showing us what our attitude should be towards the Jewish people today. On the one hand we should not excuse or minimize the wrong which they do. We don’t want to become so "pro-Israel" that we pretend that they can do not wrong. God has not turned away ungodliness from this nation yet (see
v.26) and there are plenty of ungodly actions perpetrated by Jewish people.
On the other hand we don’t want to forget the very special place that this nation has in the plan and program of God, and with excitement we await the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to this nation. In the days of Moses and Balaam an effort was made by the heathen to CURSE the nation Israel, but what God has blessed man cannot curse (see
Numbers 23:20) because God will make good all that He has spoken and promised (see
Numbers 23:19)!
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Numbers 23:20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
By supporting Israel (in our prayers and actions through sharing Christ with the Jewish people) has NOTHING to do with being unequally yoked with unbelievers. We are not "worshipping" and having Christian "fellowship" with unbelieving Jews. It is the duty of every Christian to "preach the Gospel to every creature"
(Mark 16:15)....this includes the Jews.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.