Jim:
I think it is fascinating to see how many boundaries get blurred in the readings today, how God reaches across and around our assumptions and our divisions to accomplish the divine will.
Jeremiah 25:8-17
In verses 8 and 9 it says, "Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Because you have not obeyed my words, I am going to send for all the tribes of the north, says the Lord, even for King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, my servant…" God will use a pagan king of an unrighteous people as an instrument of judgment against God's own people. The entire world, then, is open to God's activity. God is not limited in time or space. (This becomes even more apparent when God appears to Ezekiel by the River Chebar in Babylon, far away from the temple in Jerusalem.)
Romans 10:1-13
In verse 12 Paul speaks of another boundary that has been crossed by God's activity in human history. "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him." Obviously this is a more gracious statement than that of Jeremiah, unless you believe you belong to a very exclusive group which has a claim on God's grace that others can not have. Then I suppose this might sound like bad news. But as Paul's original audience included many gentiles the intent of these words would have been good news in Jesus Christ. And it remains that way for us.
John 9:18-41
In verse 39 Jesus says, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." This is almost a literal blurring, as the metaphor has to do with sight. But of course Jesus is referring to those who should believe (the Pharisees who opposed him) and those who actually do believe in what God is doing, who trust and believe in Jesus (like the man born blind).
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