Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: ... “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ [Psalm 118:26] ” (Matthew 23:1, 37-39)
Jesus had just completed His "final sermon" to the multitudes, which included the Pharisees, scribes and other religious leaders, along with His disciples. (see THE GOSPEL: Jesus Last Sermon) He concluded with the above statements, acknowledging that regardless of all He had said and done during His three year ministry, the Jews would still reject Him, just like they had done to previous prophets, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles [non-Jews] comes to Christ. (Romans 11:25 NLT)
Salvation is for ALL people! Jerusalem, nor any of us anywhere shall see Christ no more till we say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone. (Romans 11:28-32 NLT)
We each have to decide on this side of eternity if we are going to believe the Word of God and in His Son, Christ Jesus for salvation. Whatever we decide here, we will have to live with the consequences for eternity. Thus says the Lord: ... "I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath." (Isaiah 45:14, 23) For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” (Romans 14:10-11) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)
Jesus came to die for the sins of the world! But, just as the angel of God told the disciples when Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection, "...This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) And on that day, whether we are believers or non-believers, we will ALL confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. But only those of us who are saved will be able to say with joy, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" AMEN!
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