Envy

Romans 11:13-14 - I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.

1 Corinthians 10:32-33 - Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Luke 2:11 - Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Acts 16:31 - They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

1 Timothy 2:3-4 - This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Titus 3:4-7 - But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Application:

·         Paul does not mean that he will compromise the truths of the gospel in order to please everybody, but that he will consider his fellowman and not cause anyone’s conscience to be offended by his daily life, thus keeping that person from receiving the gospel.

·         Many Jews were looking for a political leader to deliver them from Roman rule, while others were hoping for a savior to deliver them from sickness and physical hardship. But this announcement in Luke concerns the Savior who would deliver from sin and death.

·         Believe in the Lord Jesus is a concise statement of the way of salvation.

·         God desires the salvation of all people. On the other hand, the Bible indicates that God chooses some people to be saved.

·         Salvation is not achieved by human effort or merit but comes through God’s mercy alone.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV