Not everyone talking about heaven is going There

Read Romans 9.

From the time of Abraham, God's unconditional promise to his descendants always included the Gentiles.  "...and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:3).  The Lord sovereignly chose to bless and work through the Jews for His glory on earth.  But, over time the nation took for granted what they had been given.  This did not change God's faithfulness, nor His promises to the Jews.  Something else was missing.

1. What God gave them. (vv.4-5)
A. The adoption.  Out of all the world, God selected Abraham and His descendants to be His people.
B. The glory.  God visibly revealed Himself in the Exodus through pillars of cloud and fire.  Then, in the Tabernacle and the Temple, His very presence hovered in the Holy of Holies.
C. The covenants.  From time to time, God made special commitments to the Jews: Abraham (Genesis 15); David (2 Samuel 7); Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31).
D. The Law. The Ten Commandments provided only a preamble to the dietary, social, moral, judicial, and spiritual expectations of God.
E. The worship.  Only to the Jews did God give such specific instructions of how to relate to Him, including the exact details of the physical structure and practices.
F. The promises.  Repeatedly, from Genesis to Malachi, prophecies were given concerning the Messiah who would come.

No other people group before or since has had such special attention from God and blessed by Him like the Jews.  Why then are not the Jews the most godly, Christ worshipping people on earth?

2. What they thought. (vv.6-11)
Paul is quick to point out that the spiritual failure was not God's fault.  He did not change; they did.  There were two false assumptions.  First, many began to believe that just because they were born into a Jewish family that they were automatically born into the family of God.  Jesus confronted the leading Rabbi of Israel about this in John 3.  Physical birth does not count, no matter how godly the parents may be.  One must personally and individually experience a spiritual birth.  Second, many believed if they kept the Law with its rules and regulations that they would be godly people.  Paul makes it clear that no one is a child of God by good works.

3. What they missed. (vv.30-33)
How could it be that Jews who were provided this unique, national relationship with the God of Heaven miss out on being in God's family?  "Why?  Because they did not pursue it by faith..."  And, when the Messiah did come, the nation rejected Jesus.  They spiritually "stumbled" over Him who came to save them.

4. What God wants. (v.17)
Though nationally to this day, Israel does not worship Jesus as the Messiah, God continues to call, save, and work through individuals of all nations who turn to Him in faith.  God does not waste His creative energy, nor His time.  He has a divine purpose for each life, whether they are godly people or evil.  He brings individuals into this world "that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."