God, the judge, makes you Holy. 

In Daniel 9:1-19 Daniel is confessing to God that everyone has sinned against God; that there is no greater sin than turning away from God. You can call out the faults of your neighbor, but Daniel writes an historical truth that lingers to today, that even though God has revealed the truth of who he is to people, even believers have refused to have faith in him. Daniel writes that “although disaster (in many forms) has come on us (the people of God) we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning away from our sin (of unfaithfulness to him, refusal to have faith in God) and giving attention to his truth” (Daniel 9:13). 

Through Jesus, all are saved. 

Did God reject his people?  Paul explains that God did not reject Israel or in the modern equivalent unfaithful, self-righteous and unrepentant people. God did not plan for their downfall or separation from him, Israel rejected God, and still today people reject God. God in his wisdom knew that he would create people that would reject him, but not everyone, a remnant would remain that would be loyal to him.

Though he was rejected, God used Jesus to bring salvation to the entire earth and God uses remnant people of faith to testify about who God is, that he has made a way for even people who have rejected him to return to him.

“God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: ‘Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me’ (1 Kings 19:10,14).

“And what was God’s answer to him? ‘I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him’ (1 Kings 19:18). So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace (Romans 11:2-5).” 

“As it is written” what then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly (acceptance by God through works) they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened (rejected God) as it is written ‘God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day!’ (Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 29:10) 

“and David says, ‘May their table (those who reject God and righteousness through Jesus) become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and retribution for them, may their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever’ (Psalms 69:22,23; Romans 11:7-10).”

“Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to everyone to make Israel (and believers, self-righteous  body of Christ) envious. But if their transgression means riches for everyone, how much greater riches will their (Israel and modern self-righteous) full inclusion bring! (Romans 11:11-12)?” 

“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited. Israel (and believers, self-righteous body of Christ) has experienced a hardening in part until everyone has come in (to the body of Christ), and in this way all (those who rejected, the remnant and all believers) will be saved as it is written: 

“The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob (Israel and the Church). This is my covenant with them when I take away their sins: my Spirit who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever (Isaiah 59:20,21; Isaiah 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33,34; Romans 11:25-26).”

“As far as the gospel is concerned, they (people who believe acceptance by God comes by works) are enemies for your (unbelievers) sake; but as far as the election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his will are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time (and currently) disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all” (Romans 11:25-28). 

God says in Zechariah 4:6 that his work is done “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.” Who are we to know the mind of God or question his choice, that he would choose to allow people to reject him to show how great his mercy is and how deep his love and compassion is. That he would choose to allow people to reject him to show how he is able to save us all and deliver us out of even our own rejection and ignorance of him; and that this rejection would lead to the fulfillment of his word that all the earth will be blessed through his choice, the new covenant in Jesus, that would connect everyone back to him. 

Paul shares a message to unbelievers from the Holy Spirit that says, “So as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as (Israel and the Church) did in the rebellion (or unbelievers do now, or self-righteous do now) where your ancestors tested and tried me, though they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, I said, ‘their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ See to it brothers and sisters that none of you has (this) sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:7-11,12; Psalms 95:7-11). 

Connection to God makes you Holy. 

Now that we know that Jesus has made a way for people who reject God to return to him, what are the blessings of connection to God; what is he faithful to do? 

Ephesians 1:3 says that He is faithful to bless us with spiritual blessings, salvation of our souls through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. 

Ephesians 1:4 says that He is able to make us holy and blameless in his sight through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. 

Ephesians 1:5 says that He has given us a new family, the body of Christ, with God as our spiritual father who, because of his love for us has adopted us as his children, through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. 

Ephesians 1:6-10 says that He has given his grace, that while we were deserving of death, the blood sacrifice of Jesus has given us life; and this grace he has lavished on us, because of his wisdom and will and supernatural understanding. 

Ephesians 1:11-12 says that connection to God allows the body of Christ to be witnesses of the glory of God’s plan to bless the world through his Son by having the promise and hope of salvation through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. 

Ephesians 1:13-14 says that He has given us a spiritual inheritance to have the spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, dwell within us, the power of God. 

A prayer for God’s Holy People

Prayer: “Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from the body of Christ, your bride, your city, your holy hill. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary (the state of the body of Christ and the faithlessness of even believers). Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the people that bear your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name (represent you)” (Daniel 9:16-19).