Series: The Gospel: It's Not...
Message: About Salvation
Preacher: Mark Johnson
Daily Walk: Mark Johnson
Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 96:1-9.
Read: Exodus 32:32; Romans 9:3 (ESV). Re-read in the English Standard Version for new insights/questions. .
Reflect: I believe the two stories found in the readings for this week speak directly to the claim that the Gospel, the ultimate good news, is not about salvation.
In the first story (Exodus 32), we see Moses responding to the sin of the Children of Israel after they had convinced Aaron to make them a golden calf. Moses was up on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God, when God stopped and told Moses to "get down" from the mountain for the "stiff-necked people" were worshipping a golden calf and claiming that "this is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt." God then told Moses to step aside so he could "consume" the people, and He would then make of Moses a great nation.
Moses responded by telling God two things: Destroying the people would hurt God's reputation, and it was true that the people had sinned grievously, but if God could not forgive the sin of the people, Moses asked for his name to be blotted out of God's book of salvation, and that the people be saved instead. Moses interceded for Israel, and God granted his unselfish prayer.
Although the story in Romans 9 is not quite as dramatic as the one in Exodus, Paul, too, said that if he could, he would gladly trade his salvation for that of his "countrymen according to the flesh." Leading up to this he had been contrasting the course of his "brethren" with that of the Gentiles. He agonized over the history of his people "who are Israelites, to whom pertain the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers, and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came . . . ” (Romans 9:4, 5; NKJV)
Here we see two of God's best friends interceding for the people they love—willing to give up their salvation, if they could, for the saving of their countrymen. Their self-interest is lost in the deep concern and love they have for those they have been given to lead. They are truly Christlike in their care and affection. I believe this shows there is something even greater than salvation—a love for our fellow humans such as Christ had for His children.
Recalibrate:
Respond: Pray for the love of Christ to be manifest in your life.
Research: Read Exodus chapters 32-34.