The Gentiles Shall Hope

HOPE AGAIN!
Terry R. Baughman

“And again, Isaiah says: ‘There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope’” (Romans 15:12 NKJ).

Embedded in the Prophets and consistent throughout Scripture there were promises that all nations would benefit from provision of God. Paul drew from the writings of Isaiah to reveal God’s intention to expand the reach of salvation beyond the borders of Israel to impact the Gentiles. The lineage of David would bring salvation to the world. The intent of Scripture revealed that the Son of David, Jesus the Messiah, would be the King of all people and “In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

The Law was given to the people of Israel, and throughout the Old Testament they were the people of the covenant and the focus of God’s communication. Non-Jews (or Gentiles) were seen as outsiders, unclean, pagans who served other gods. Matthew wrote that, “all the prophets and the law prophesied until John” (Matthew 11:13 NKJ). Something happened when John came on the scene, in the spirit of Elijah, to declare the coming of the Lord. 

John came preaching a new message and preparing the way for a New Covenant. He declared God’s revealed purpose. The Apostle John wrote, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12 NKJ). Those of Jewish decent had the first opportunity to receive the good news that Jesus came to proclaim, but the door was opened in this New Covenant to all “who believe in His name.” 

Jesus came, “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 NKJ). He came as the Lamb of God to provide a sacrifice for sin, “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 NKJ). Most importantly, the reach of the good news of salvation extended to every nation (Matthew 28:19; Mark 13:10), to all who believe (John 3:16, Acts 10:43; Romans 3:22), and whoever desires can come (Revelation 22:17).  

Jesus is hope, hope for the world, and all are included in His invitation. He said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in ….” (Revelation 3:20 NIV).

The outpouring of God’s Spirit was seen on the Day of Pentecost. Peter explained the phenomena as being the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people” (Acts 2:17 NIV). Later Peter had to defend his preaching the same message to Gentiles when he said, “God has chosen me from the beginning to preach the wonderful news of the gospel to the non-Jewish nations. God, who knows the hearts of every person, confirmed this when he gave them the Holy Spirit, just like he has given the Spirit to us. So now, not one thing separates us as Jews and gentiles, for when they believe he makes their hearts pure” (Acts 15:7-9 TPT).
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Wherever we go, to everyone we reach, we have the same good news message, the Gentiles shall Hope!


Theme passage:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NKJ).