And it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the living God. Romans 9:26
Our text today in Romans is actually a direct quotation taken from the Old Testament book of Hosea. In that book, the prophet tells of God rejecting Israel as His people because of their unbelief. He then goes on to tell of a time when those who had lost their relationship with God will see that relationship restored. There is no doubt that Hosea is speaking specifically to the Jewish people, and not to the Gentiles. So, how do we translate this portion from Hosea’s application to the Jews into Paul’s application to Jews and Gentiles in our day?
Let there be no mistake, the prophecy in Hosea is definitely for the Jews, and it is awaiting its fulfilment. Jews who lost their relationship to God because of their disobedience will one day not only see that relationship restored but also will see a national embracing of the Messiah Who they once rejected. With this in mind, Paul addresses the Romans to point out that God has a restoration available today. Applying the principle of the Hosea prophecy, Paul reminds his readers that God is always willing to accept those who will return to Him. The Jews today are far away from God and need restoration. The Gentiles, without even the benefit of the old covenant, are even further away from God than the Jews are. Although we rejoice that in our day God has turned to the Gentiles with His message of grace, we need to grasp the reality that apart from grace we would be utterly shut out from God and His promises. Through grace, the disobedient Jew and the darkened Gentile are offered a relationship as beloved children of the living God.
Note the use of the term ‘living God’. This special term stands in contrast to the dead idols that were a stumblingblock to the Jews in the Old Testament, and were the curse of the Gentiles for thousands of years. Although they exist in many parts of the world, we see few of these dead idols around us in North America, at least the kind that are carved or cast from stone or wood or metal. But there are plenty of other types of idols around us. As Christians, we have been delivered from the penalty of once following those idols. But have we been delivered from the impact that these idols have on our lives. Do we allow such idols as money, possessions, popularity, or pleasure to prevent us from enjoying the relationship we have with the living God our Father? After all, what is the point of having such a relationship if we do not enjoy and appreciate it?
By His grace, we are the children of the living God. What difference does that make in our lives? -Jim MacIntosh