Romans 11:17-21We have no place for thinking that any ethic group is superior or naturally more godly than those who are ethnic Jews. Romans chapter 3 should clear that up for us. We are supposed to stand in awe at the place we find ourselves. We are told to not be arrogant and yet we’ve historically had plenty of arrogance. We are told to stand in awe at the Amazing Grace poured out on us but while we sing Amazing Grace or actions and words seem to indicate we think we deserve Grace (yes that is an oxymoron). I’d urge you to prayerfully read over the Cambridge Declaration of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/cdec.htm) because it addresses some of the errors that have crept into our denomination over the last little while in the larger history of the Church.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Romans 11:22-24Paul is writing to a mixed crowd of Jews and Gentiles and tells the Gentiles who are now part of the Body of Christ and therefore grafted in as offspring of Abraham to pay attention to how we became part of the Kingdom of God. We are told to note the severity toward those who have fallen (those who are Jewish and do not receive Christ) and the kindness toward us. Now as a people, we need to listen up. As a nation, we need to hear this. God is under no obligation to continue His work and blessing in our nation if we forget the salvation that is provided for us in Christ.
Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
Romans 11:25-27The Church has certainly sinned in this way repeatedly over the last 2000 years. We are almost always wise in our own conceits thinking we are better in some way and that is why we are saved. God’s Grace saved you not because of your desirability (Romans 3:10-18) and not because you decided to be born again anymore than you decided to be born the first time. I know how it feels but we must acknowledge what God tells us about regeneration (John 6:44).
Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
John 1:11-13We need to bring only worship and awe to what God has done in our lives. A Christians new birth was not because of their genetics, nor of a will based in any person (yes even your mother or father), and you were not born of your own will (because it was corrupted to the core), but you were born of God’s will full of mercy and Grace.
He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Romans 11:28-32This is why we expect an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those who are ethic Israel before the next coming of Christ. Remember that Romans Chapters 1:18 to 2:29 explain how we are all consigned or how we are all set together in disobedience. There is no difference among those who do not believe in Christ. No religion, no heritage, no relative goodness or badness, we are simply lost and apart from Christ.
As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
Romans 11:33-36Paul just starts to worship as we all should when God explains what He has done in our lives. Think about God’s omniscience with no limit to His knowledge. We really can’t fully understand His ways and we simply understand what He has been pleased to tell us. Relating to a transcendent being above and beyond time who sees the end from the beginning and yet is gracious to be immanent or in the moment with us so that we can have a relationship with Him.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
The following list is a brief and probably inadequate list of the fight against God’s Sovereignty over the last 2000 years.
God is Sovereign in Salvation (as explained in Romans):
Augustine (354 – 430 AD), 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689 AD)
God is Less than Sovereign in Salvation (we are saved by our will but assisted by God):
Jacob Arminius; Arminians; Condemned by Synod of Dort (1618/19 AD)
Election by prescience (you are saved because you are better and God foresees that)
John Wesley (1707 – 1779 AD)
God is Much Less than Sovereign (God is not Transcendent):
If God knows the future then they argue falsely that they are not free
Open God Theology or Process Theology (Modern)
God is Not Sovereign in Salvation and There is No Original Sin:
Pelagius; Pelagians (354 – 420 AD)
Charles Finney (1792 – 1875 AD)
No comments:
Post a Comment