Faith and Grace

It is now clear throughout this book that our choices are important. We have also seen, however, that there are two sides to this. Of course our choice matters, but God also makes choices, and his election will stand. Jesus chooses his friends carefully and even shares his intimate plans with them. God can choose a person, a family, a tribe, or even an entire nation to demonstrate and fulfill his purpose.⁹

⁹ Romans 11:29.

Romans 9

9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my con[1]science also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

9:2 that I have great sorrow and continual pain in my heart.

9:3 For I could wish that myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren, those who are my kinsmen according to the flesh,

Note that Paul doesn’t say that he does wish that he were anathema from Christ if this would help save the Jews; he says that he could wish it. The salvation of the Jews is a subject very close to his heart.

9:4 who are Israelites, to whom pertains the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the law and the service of God and the promises,

9:5 whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh is the Christ, who is God over all things, blessed for all the ages. Amen.

Many of us, in addition to having a strong desire to see God save Jews, have similar sentiments toward the large sectors of the church that have taken a path very comparable to the one that the Jews followed back then. Among many of those in our modern day who call themselves the people of God, things like lukewarmness, legalism, and/or licentiousness seem to prevail.

9:6 Not as though the word of God has been deficient. For not all the descendants of Israel are Israelites;

We can also say that not everyone who attends church is a Christian.

9:7 neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are all sons, but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Not everyone who claims to believe in God is necessarily a son of God. Here, Isaac is a type or example of Jesus Christ who is the promised seed (singular) of Abraham. The line of Christ will go through Isaac.

9:8 That is, Those who are sons of the flesh, these are not the sons of God; but those who are sons of the promise are counted in the generation.

The sons of the promise are counted in the generation of the body of Christ, which is the forty-second generation since Abraham (Matthew 1:16-17).

9:9 For the word of the promise is this, At this time I will come, and Sara shall have a son.

Ishmael, son of Hagar, was not the seed of the promise, even though he was Abraham’s son and even though God gave him a special blessing (Genesis 17:20). The seed of the promise that would bless all the families of the earth came through Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 17:19).

9:10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac

9:11 (for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election¹⁰ might stand: not of works, but of him that calls),

¹⁰ See Appendix B: Use of the word “election” in Scripture.

God’s election is so that the purpose of God might stand.

9:12 it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

God not only knows the end from the beginning, in this example he made a choice to favor Jacob over Esau even before the two boys were born! God placed a call on the life of Jacob (and on his descendants) in such a manner as to show that there is no way Jacob could have done anything to deserve it. This lesson also demonstrates that God was not obligated to treat both boys the same. Nevertheless, the following Scripture makes it very clear that even though Jacob was chosen and Esau rejected (before they were born), Esau is still held accountable by God for his actions (as are his descendants), just like everyone else.

9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.¹¹

¹¹ In Genesis 27:14 when it says that Esau hated Jacob, the word satam is used, meaning to persecute or oppose. In Malachi 1:3 when God said that he rejected (hated) Esau, he used the word sane, which has to do with an enemy or foe. In Romans 9:13, the Greek word translated “hated” is miseo, the same word used to describe the hatred of those of the world for the followers of Christ (John 17:14); and the word translated “loved” is agapao, denoting the love of God that is not primarily a feeling but a decision and that redeems by its very nature (by the very nature of God).

This is a quote from Malachi chapter one:

1 The burden of the word of the LORD against Israel by the hand of Malachi.

2 I have loved you, said the LORD. Yet ye say, In what hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? said the LORD; yet I loved Jacob,

3 and I rejected Esau and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

4 When Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus hath the LORD of the hosts said, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The province of wickedness and The people against whom the LORD has indignation for ever.

5 And your eyes shall see and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified over the province of Israel.

Some misinterpret this to mean that salvation is genetic. What is the purpose¹² of God according to election that might stand in this example? Could this have anything to do with the purpose described in Romans 8:28?

¹² See Appendix C, use of the word “purpose” in Scripture.

The redemptive love of God upon Jacob is linked to the LORD being magnified over the province of Israel. Israel is the new name that God gave Jacob after dealing extensively with him. This new name is symbolic of a change in nature. God made a sovereign decision not only to love Jacob but to use Israel to bring forth the line of Jesus Christ ,who would demonstrate God’s love upon the entire world (John 3:16).

Esau, on the other hand, is used by God as an example of the natural adamic man without God that gives rise to Edom, The province of wickedness and The people against whom the LORD has indignation for ever. ¹³

¹³ Is there thus no hope for someone like Esau, or for those born into a family, nation, or religion that seems to be “hated” by God? See Appendix A for the rest of this story.

God continues to sovereignly reserve the right to choose his friends and his enemies based entirely on his own criteria.

Even so, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, clarifies that there is no injustice in God. In the end, no one will be able to argue with God’s righteous judgments.

9:14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice in God? No, in no wise.

9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.¹⁴

¹⁴ Exodus 33:19.

And remember that God has developed things in such a manner that all of us are in desperate need of his mercy (Romans 11:32). God may decide to have mercy on someone before they are born or at any time thereafter.

9:16 So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that has mercy.

9:17 For the scripture saith of Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Many of God’s people might have been praying that God would soften Pharaoh’s heart so that he would allow the children of Israel to leave. This, however, is not what happened. God decided to harden Pharaoh’s heart instead.¹⁵ World leaders and even church leaders today who have enslaved the people of God should take this seriously.

¹⁵ You may read this story in Exodus 7:13 to 10:2.

9:18 Therefore he has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and he hardens whom he will.

God hardened Pharaoh’s proud heart and completely shattered him. Something very similar is happening with Satan. The wicked man hardens his face, but as for the upright, he [God] orders his ways. There is no wisdom nor intelligence nor counsel against the LORD (Proverbs 21:29-30).

Paul writes:

9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why does he [God] become angry? For who shall resist his will?

9:20 Rather, O man, who art thou to reply against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?¹⁶

¹⁶ Isaiah 29:16

Before we ask God rebelliously, “Why hast thou made me thus?” we need to consider that he really does know the end from the beginning and that he knows where all this is going. What is the heart of God? Is it not that as many as possible be saved? God does not delight in the downfall of the wicked, nor does he wish his children to delight in the downfall of their enemies.

9:21 Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour?

I have several thoughts regarding our side of things, as vessels. We believe that the “potter” has good intentions (for we are not qualified to judge the heart of God – or even of one another, for that matter). The clay needs to be smooth and docile and not resist the potter’s hand while the vessel is being shaped and molded. The end user of the “vessel” also has some responsibility regarding whether or not their vessel is cleansed and sanctified (set apart for the exclusive use of God).

9:22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much meekness the vessels of wrath,¹⁷ prepared for death,

¹⁷ Note that there is a progression here from vessels of dishonor (v.21) to vessels of wrath (v.22). We are born into this world as unclean vessels through no fault of our own, but God definitely holds vessels of wrath accountable for their willful, hidden sin (iniquity) and wickedness. Here is a parallel Scripture: But we were all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses as filthy rags; and we all fell as the leaves of a tree; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calls upon thy name, that wakes himself up to take hold of thee; therefore, thou hast hid thy face from us and hast allowed us to wither in the power of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; such that we all are the work of thy hands (Isaiah 64:6-8).

Again there are two seemingly contradictory views regarding the above verses. Some think that God created Satan and his followers evil from the beginning, as vessels of wrath, and created others (the elect) as vessels of honor. Others believe that Satan and Adam were created good and that they fell through their own choice. These are serious issues that may not be resolved simply by memorizing doctrine, and we must be careful to not interpret any of these things with our own minds but to let the Holy Spirit reveal truth to us as he desires to.

We know for certain that since the fall, God has not opened the door of repentance for Satan or his fallen angels (2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6). And we know with equal certainty that with the advent of Jesus Christ, God now commands all men everywhere to repent before the day that he has appointed, when he will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:30).

We also know for sure that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to God and that even though God continues to be the creator of all of the descendants of Adam and Eve, every single one of us, with the sole exception of Jesus Christ, has dishonored the name of God in our natural state and must come to repentance and faith if we are to be saved (Romans 3:23).

The controversy throughout the age of the Church has been very intense regarding these two seemingly contradictory themes that are apparent in Scripture: 1) God can choose people (such as Jacob and John the Baptist) before they are even born, shower them with his redemptive love, and use them as he sees fit even while rejecting others. 2) Whosoever will may come; and in support of this theme, we have examples of some (such as the Syrian general, Naaman, or the Greek woman in Mark 7:25-30) who were not among those initially chosen yet who persevered with God. Even though the two themes seem to be contradictory to our natural mind, we cannot expect to comprehend all the ways and reasons and plans of God, for they are far above our grasp. For this reason, I can accept and believe that both themes are simultaneously true. We must remember, however, that only the Holy Spirit can apply the truth and that we are not qualified to wander off on doctrinal adventures on our own.¹⁸

9:23 and making known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he has prepared unto glory?

¹⁸ On our own, the natural, carnal man often goes from one extreme to the other. Those who go to the extreme of thinking that God made all the important decisions from before the foundation of the world and that now, not even God can change his mind, can succumb to fatalism, lose interest in evangelism, and disregard the important warnings throughout Scripture. On the other hand, those who go to the extreme of thinking that the sole responsibility for our eternal fate rests in our own hands, according to our free will, can begin to fear that God will cut them off if they make even the slightest misstep or mistake; they can even lose their sense of security in Christ. Only the Holy Spirit can lead us into all truth, and he will do this not only in regard to our theology but also in actual practice as we walk with God.

The vessels of mercy are the members of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ.¹⁹

¹⁹ Regarding the potter (referring to God), Jeremiah 18:1-10 offers a very encouraging yet sobering prophecy showing that God can even cause us to hear his words and remake broken vessels.

Many are agreed that God can decide beforehand whether he will pour out his love, goodness, and mercy on a given person or even a nation, or reject them. Others believe that he can also, at a later date, repent of the evil or of the good that he had thought or determined to do.

9:24 Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles!

The Jews were supposed to be the vessels of honor and the Gentiles the vessels of dishonor. That, at least, is what the scribes and Pharisees thought. The thinking today in some circles is that the churchgoers are the vessels of honor and the non-churchgoers are the vessels of dishonor. Ever since the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the early church, the revivals of the age of Pentecost (the age of the church) have revolved around meetings.

What if this is changing?

What if God is sovereignly doing something new?

What if the new thing has to do with individuals walking with God 24/7?

What if God has decided to deal with individuals in their daily walk of life and purify their hearts before joining them to others? What if he only desires to join together those whose hearts are pure instead of congregating mixed multitudes? After all, Jesus said that a little leaven leavens the entire lump.

What if God’s measure of success is the status of our hearts instead of the size of the crowd or the number of dollars in the offering?

9:25 As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, who were not my people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.

9:26 And it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called sons of the living God.

If those who are supposed to be God’s people become too stiffnecked and stubborn, he can decide that he also loves those where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people. God can pour out his Spirit on the hopeless dregs of society instead of on those who congregate in posh elite auditoriums if he so desires. The amount of money spent on building extravagant religious fortresses is astounding. This is a letter to the “Romans,” and Rome means “fortress.” As God sovereignly moves, it’s extremely important for us to receive whomever Jesus Christ sends so that, like Paul, we will not be ashamed of the Gospel and will continue to depend on God to send the Holy Spirit to deal with our hearts.²⁰

²⁰ In this context, God promises that whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17). The LORD is near unto those that are of a broken heart and saves such as are of a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18), and to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembles at my word (Isaiah 66:2).

Jesus said, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it (Mark 8:34-35).

9:27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel, Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant shall be saved;

9:28 when the consumption comes to an end, righteousness shall overflow, because a short sentence will the Lord execute upon the earth.²¹

²¹ There are some difficulties and limitations translating the Hebrew into Greek and the Greek into English.

Here is the direct quote from Isaiah: For though thy people of Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet the remnant of them shall become converted; when the consumption comes to an end, righteousness shall overflow. For the Lord GOD of the hosts shall make a consumption and an end in the midst of all the land (Isaiah 10:22-23).

Here is a promise that God will prevail, and after his wrath and power is poured out, the remnant of his people of Israel (including the church) will, at that time, be totally converted.

Abraham was promised two types of descendants: some as numerous as the sand of the seashore and others as the stars of the heavens (Genesis 22:17). Legalistic Jews (and Christians) qualify as the sand of the seashore and provide the barrier between the sea of lost humanity and those who live in the dry (religious) land of the earth. There is, however, another realm – one in which the true sons of God may shine like the stars of the heavens with gifts and ministries from God.

If we are one with Jesus Christ, our true citizenship is of heaven. The dwellers of the earth who are in covenant with God nevertheless attempt to use him to get what they want instead of being willing to lose their own lives to do what he wants. They’ll find themselves in quite a bit of trouble at the time of the end. In fact, even the stars of heaven shall fall. Only Jesus Christ and those who are hidden under the shadow of the Almighty will be safe in that day (Revelation 6:12-17; Psalm 91).

9:29 And as Isaiah said before, Except the Lord of the hosts had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom and been made like unto Gomorrah.

In the midst of horrible wickedness and apostasy and immediately following the above quote, the Book of Isaiah is literally dedicated to the “princes of Sodom” and the “people of Gomorrah.” ²² By sovereign choice God decided to “leave” a small remnant or seed and thereby fulfilled his promises to men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David unto the advent of Jesus Christ.

²² Here is the full quote: Except the LORD of the hosts had left us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been as Gomorrah. Here the word of the LORD, ye princes of Sodom; give an ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? (Isaiah 1:9-11a).

9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who did not follow after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, that is to say, the righteousness which is by faith,

9:31 and Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

9:32 Why? Because they followed it not by faith but, as it were, by the works (of the law); therefore, they stumbled upon the stumblingstone; ²³

²³ This is from yet another OT quote: Sanctify the LORD of the hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Then he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock to cause to fall both the houses of Israel, for a snare and a net to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many of them shall stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and taken (Isaiah 8:13-15).

Here’s the problem:

At Mount Sinai, when the Lord spoke the Ten Commandments, the people trembled and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us lest we die (Exodus 20:19). There is a parallel passage in Deuteronomy: Now, therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die. For what is all flesh that it should hear the voice of the living God that speaks out of the midst of the fire, as we heard, and live? Go thou near and hear all that the LORD our God shall say, and thou shalt tell us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee, and we will hear it, and do it (Deuteronomy 5:25-27).

Hearing the voice of the living God will cost us our own life and our own purpose. Most of the children of Israel didn’t want to risk their lives listening to God and so they settled for a secondhand revelation. Only when we hear his voice for ourselves is the grace available for us to comply with what God requires of us. Therefore the fifteen hundred year experiment of the Jewish nation under law was doomed from the beginning, and without the righteousness of faith it could not have ended well. This is what God clearly predicted in the final chapters of the Book of Deuteronomy (along with the clear promise of future restoration). Even so, they were also held accountable individually and corporately according to their responsibility.

Jesus could tell the woman caught in adultery, Go and sin no more. And if she embraced his words with faith, it would then be possible for her to overcome the temptation to return to her sin (John 8:3-11).

Here are a few more inspired words from Paul about that stumblingstone mentioned in verse 32:

9:33 as it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock that will cause some to fall, and whosoever believes in him shall not be ashamed.

What is the stumblingstone?

The Lord Jesus.

Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder (Luke 20:18).

We only have two options. One option is to come to him and allow him to break us and exchange our life for his life. This is a work of faith, not our own work. The other option is to wait until the stone falls upon us and destroys everything.

Many Jews were attempting to keep the law in their own strength and were so blinded that they didn’t even recognize their own Messiah when he came. So they failed to take the first option. Instead of receiving him, they killed him. But when they killed him, they unknowingly helped extend God’s plan of redemption to the Gentiles so that the gospel could be preached in the entire world.

Romans 10

10:1 Brethren, certainly the desire of my heart and my prayer to God regarding Israel, is for saving health.

We don’t know the exact date of this letter to the Romans. It’s possibly about AD 60 or slightly thereafter. As you remember, the siege of Jerusalem happened around AD 66-67, and by AD 70, Jerusalem was completely destroyed. You could say that the stone fell upon it and ground it to powder. Our prayer for the people of God (Israel and the church) in the present hour is also for saving health.

10:2 For I give testimony that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

10:3 For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

10:4 For Christ is the end of the law, to give righteousness to every one that believes.

There are many in so-called Christian circles who continue to make the same mistake as the Jews. Their lists of do’s and don’ts may be a bit different these days, but those who go about establishing their own righteousness will always come up short. Those who are hard-nosed and legalistic will almost certainly have trouble with their children, most of whom will eventually rebel into licentiousness, while others may become even more pharisaical than their parents.

10:5 For Moses describes the righteousness which is by the law, That the man who does those things shall live by them.

10:6 But thus saith the righteousness which is by faith, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven (that is, to bring the Christ down from above)?

10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep (that is, to bring up the Christ again from the dead)?

10:8 But what does it say? The word is near thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach,

With his quote from the Book of Deuteronomy, Paul links this to the promised restoration of the people of God which is laid out in more detail in Romans 11.²⁴

²⁴ And it shall come to pass when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse which I have set before thee, and thou shalt return unto thy heart among all the Gentiles, where the LORD thy God shall have driven thee, and shalt convert unto the LORD thy God and shalt hear his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart and with all thy soul, then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity and have mercy upon thee and will return and gather thee from all the peoples where the LORD thy God has scattered thee. If thou hast been driven out unto the outmost parts of the heavens, from there will the LORD thy God gather thee and from there will he take thee; and the LORD thy God will return thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt inherit it; and he will do thee good and multiply thee more than thy fathers. And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul, that thou may live. And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies and on those that hate thee, who persecuted thee. And thou shalt return and thou shalt hear the voice of the LORD and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. And the LORD thy God will make thee abound in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body and in the fruit of thy beasts and in the fruit of thy land, for good; for the LORD will turn to rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers, when thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, when thou shalt turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul. For this commandment which I command thee today is not hidden unto thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven and take it for us and recite it unto us, that we may fulfil it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou should say, Who shall go over the sea for us and take it for us and recite it unto us, that we may fulfil it? But the word is very near unto thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou may fulfil it (Deuteronomy 30:1-14).

The word of faith isn’t what happens when we decide what we want God to do and then announce it. It’s what happens when God dominates our hearts and puts his words in our mouth.

10:9 that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10:10 For with the heart one believes unto righteous[1]ness, and with the mouth confession is made unto saving health.

10:11 For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.

Here is the full quote: Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we are at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste. ²⁵ (Isaiah 28:15,16).

²⁵ The wording of the translation comes out somewhat different when the Hebrew is translated into Greek.

There are those who believe, or at least begin to believe, but do not confess the Lord Jesus with their mouth for fear of being stigmatized or persecuted. Even after initial conversion, this happens to people who are afraid of the consequences of speaking forth what the Lord has put in their hearts for them to say to those around them. There’s no denying that there are very real consequences for declaring the word of the Lord. Depending on where we live, those consequences can range from losing our jobs to losing our lives (how many are willing to risk losing their jobs for the Lord, much less their life?). But holding back the word that God wants us to speak has spiritual consequences that are even greater. Not speaking out as the Holy Spirit leads will affect our spiritual health and may also hold back the salvation of others. If we truly believe on him, then we will be willing to say and do what he specifically ordains, no matter the consequences.

10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We have learned that God may choose his friends and enemies by sovereign election according to his own criterion (which he does not necessarily have to explain to us). However, here we are also assured that there is no difference between the Jew (who was chosen of God) and the Greek, or Gentile (who was rejected) in that the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call unto him. When the Scripture plainly states that, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, it is clear that this includes any of us even though we may have genetically descended from someone like Adam or Esau who were rejected by God. This Scripture also directly implies that it definitely behooves even those physically born into the chosen line of Israel to personally call upon the name of the Lord so that as individuals they may be saved.

Remember that “name” has to do with nature. This isn’t about finding a convenient name for the Lord (or what some believe to be a proper pronunciation) and then going about repeating it like a mantra. His name represents his very life and nature. Remember, we shall be saved by his life (Romans 5:10).

10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

10:15 And how shall they preach if they have not been sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those that announce the gospel of peace, of those that announce the gospel of that which is good!

Here is the full quote of this messianic Scripture relating to the full restoration of God’s people: Therefore my people shall know my name for this reason in that day: for even I that speak, behold, I shall be present. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace, that brings good tidings of good, that publishes saving health, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigns! The voice of thy watchmen! They shall lift up the voice; together they shall rejoice: for they shall see eye to eye, how the LORD shall return to bring again Zion (Isaiah 52:6-8).

How many are out there preaching a doctored-up or watered down version of the gospel, or preaching when the Lord has never truly sent them?

The word gospel means the good news that there is a new king, and therefore we must swear allegiance to this King, Jesus Christ, and come out from Satan’s kingdom of darkness.

In order to announce the gospel of peace, the gospel of that which is good, the messengers must be chosen, commissioned, and sent by God.

10:16 But not everyone hearkens unto the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report?²⁶

²⁶ This is from verse one of Isaiah 53. The entire chapter is messianic, referencing Jesus Christ.

To hearken is to hear and obey.

10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and the ear to hear by the word of God.

Faith comes by hearing the gospel when it is the true word of the Lord and not some adulterated imitation. Preaching the true gospel is not like trying to close a commercial deal or sell a product. When the true gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit brings conviction, and the power of God is evident.

If we don’t hear directly from the Lord (and yes, this type of hearing can begin when we hear messengers whom he has sent), then there is no possibility of having the faith of Jesus. And we can’t hear if God doesn’t sovereignly open up our ear to hear. This comes by the Word of God (in the highest sense, the living Word is Jesus Christ), which must be planted deep inside of us. There must be a new birth so that our spiritual eyes and ears open and we can clearly perceive the things of the spiritual realm.

10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their fame went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses says, I will provoke you unto jealousy with people that are not mine, and with ignorant people I will provoke you to anger.²⁷

10:20 But Isaiah is very bold and says, I was found by those that did not seek me; I manifested myself unto those that did not ask after me.

10:21 And against Israel he says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. ²⁸

²⁷ Deuteronomy 32:21

²⁸ Isaiah 65:1,2

Something similar is still happening. Many claim to be part of the people of God and belong to a given denomination. Some of them believe that they and the group of their affiliation have it all together. Their doctrines seem very well organized, their form of worship is well defined, and they believe that they’re fulfilling what God requires. The only problem is that the nature of God is not flowing in the vast majority of them, and therefore they do not really have the blessing of God. As a result, many entire congregations are spiritually dead even in the midst of tremendous religious activity.

Romans 11

11:1 I say then, Has God cast away his people? No, in no wise. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

11:2 God has not cast away his people whom he knew beforehand. Know ye not what the scripture says of Elijah? how speaking to God against Israel, he said,

11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets and ruined thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

God knew beforehand what he was getting into with Israel and all through their failure, rejection and apostasy he has continued according to his original purpose.²⁹ This attitude definitely holds out hope and consolation for the church that is admonished to learn from the example of the children of Israel (1 Corinthians 10:11).

²⁹ See Appendix C, use of the word “purpose” in Scripture.

The altar in the old covenant is similar to the gospel in the new covenant. This is where the conditions and requirements are set forth for reconciliation³⁰ with God. Instead of the altar being put to its proper use, in Elijah´s day it was perverted, profaned, and ultimately ruined. Similarly, when the gospel is tampered with, its message will become perverted and profaned, and there are those who rejoice to see it ruined.

³⁰ Reconciliation, as defined by its use in Scripture, means us being lined up straight with God (who never changes). It does not mean that we meet him halfway between his holiness and our depravity.

11:4 But what did the answer of God say unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee before Baal.

Baal was the god of worldly prosperity that many people in Israel wanted to worship along with worshiping God. A very similar problem exists today.

11:5 Even so then at this present time also, there is a remnant by the gracious election³¹ of God.

³¹ See Appendix B, use of the word “election” or “elect” in Scripture.

There was a godly remnant from among the Jews in Paul’s time. Thank God, there is still a godly remnant in the church, and that now it is much, much larger than the remnant of godly Jews was at the time Paul was writing this epistle.

11:6 And if by grace, then is it not by works; otherwise, the grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, then it is no longer grace; otherwise, the work is no longer work.

11:7 What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks after; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

The elect have their hearts circumcised because God accomplished it by his grace, and yes, the elect are also linked to the obedience of faith. Those who were blinded are linked to unbelief and disobedience.

11:8 (according as it is written, God has given them the spirit of anguish, eyes with which they do not see and ears with which they do not hear) unto this day. ³²

Where are we today? What will happen to those in the church who are abusing the mercy of God and sinning away their day of grace? How close are we to another cutoff point?

11:9 And David says, Let their table be turned into a snare and a net and a stumblingblock and a recompense unto them;

11:10 Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back always.³³

The Jews as a people and a nation lost the ability to hear and see. It was an extremely costly experience, the effects of which have gone on for almost two thousand years. They are about to have another opportunity. It is the deep, heartfelt desire of God to use them to extend mercy and salvation to all their neighbors. The same is true for the godly remnant in the church.

11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled in such a manner that they should fall completely? No, in no wise; but rather through their fall, saving health is come unto the Gentiles to provoke them unto jealousy.

³² This is referring to what happened when the prophet Isaiah responded to the call of God: After this, I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I answered, Here am I; send me. Then he said, Go and tell this people, Hear indeed, but do not understand; and see indeed, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people fat and make their ears heavy and blind their eyes that they not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their heart, nor convert and there be healing for him (Isaiah 6:8-10). Why would God order his prophet to do such a thing? Because it is possible for religious people to go past a point of no return. When that happens, God may sovereignly withdraw his offer of salvation and healing. God refuses to multiply that which is perverted and unclean.

³³ Here is the quote from David in its extremely serious context: They also gave me gall for my food; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them, and that which should have been for their prosperity, let it become a stumbling block. Let their eyes be darkened that they see not and make their loins continually to shake. Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their palace be desolate, and let no one dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten, and they boast that thou hast slain their enemies. Add iniquity unto their iniquity, and let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living and not be written with the righteous (Psalm 69:21-28).

Their rejection and murder of Jesus Christ opened the way for all of us to be saved.. God knew and predicted what they would do, and he used their rejection to open the door to pour out his grace unto the Gentiles. Is God able to restore the Jewish nation? Yes, and their fullness will be even more glorious than what they lost in the past. It is definitely in the heart of God to use the nation of Israel to show mercy on the nations that surround them just as his plan and purpose is to use the godly remnant in the church to show mercy to the entire world for in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile but one new man. It is the new man in Christ that is the hope for those that are lost.

11:12 And if the fall of them is the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more shall their fullness be?

Not very long after Paul wrote this, Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman armies to such an extent that not one stone of the temple was left on top of another, in accordance with Jesus’ prophecy. Yet imbedded in this verse is the promise of not only of future restoration for the nation of Israel but of a restoration that will bless the entire world (Genesis 18:18, 22:18, 26:4).

11:13 For (I call you Gentiles) inasmuch as I am truly the apostle of the Gentiles, my honorable ministry,

11:14 if in any manner I may provoke my nation to jealousy and cause some of them to be saved.

Even after the Jewish nation was cut off, many individuals were saved. Paul’s ministry, aimed at the Gentiles, was also crucial for the salvation of many Jews.

11:15 For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

Paul draws a parallel between the Jewish nation being received again into God’s arms and resurrection. Many Jews and Christians that God has carefully selected over the past six thousand years will reign with Christ after the first resurrection and the promised restoration of the kingdom of God that was rejected (Revelation 20:4-6). In fact, all of the messianic promises that Paul has been quoting come to fullness and fruition at the victorious return of Jesus Christ.

11:16 For if the firstfruit is holy, so shall the rest be; and if the root is holy, so shall be the branches.

11:17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them and hath been made participant of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree,

11:18 do not boast against the branches. But if thou boast, know that thou dost not bear the root, but the root thee.

The fig tree is an example of the people of God under law. Jesus cursed the fig tree and said no one would ever eat fruit from it again. He also said that the fig tree would put forth leaves immediately prior to his return, but this isn’t a contradiction. Leaves, yes; fruit, no!

The good olive tree, in comparison, is an example of the people of God under grace. Jesus Christ, the seed of Abraham and son of David, is the root and the offspring of David (Revelation 22:16). Where Jesus reigns, grace reigns. His grace is not some fuzzy magic by which God pretends we are fine when we’re not. Grace is the power of God to cleanse us and to straighten us out. Of course, grace is unmerited favor, but by his grace he will not only forgive us our sins but also powerfully cleanse us from all unrighteousness if we have faith in him.

11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.

11:20 Good; because of their unbelief they were broken off, but thou by faith art standing. Do not be high minded, but fear

11:21 that if God did not forgive the natural branches, neither shall he forgive thee.

We stand by faith, in complete and utter dependence upon God.

11:22 Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity, but toward thee, goodness if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

11:23 And even them, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for God is powerful enough to graft them in again.

Note that in the promise of future restoration of the Jewish nation, there is a very critical “if”: specifically, if they do not continue in unbelief.

11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature and wert grafted contrary to nature into the good olive tree, how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Note another important “if”: If thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature. In this example, we must be cut out of the nature of Adam and grafted into the nature of Christ. Another noteworthy “if” is found in verse 26.

11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye ignore this mystery, that ye not be arrogant regarding yourselves: that blindness in part has happened in Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles are come in.

11:26 And even if all Israel were saved, as it is written: There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall take away the ungodliness from Jacob; ³⁴

Who is Jacob? Jacob is Israel before he was converted. Even if every member of the nation of Israel is saved, they still need the Deliverer to come out of Sion and take away the ungodliness from Jacob (or in the words of Isaiah they must, turn from the rebellion in Jacob. There is a parallel passage in Jeremiah: For, Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will turn the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, said the LORD, and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it (Jeremiah 30:3).

Even though God lays out many “ifs” and conditions to promises made to his people, it is very reassuring to note the number of times that he sovereignly states, “I will.” In spite of the repeated mistakes and failure of many in Israel and the church, God’s plan and purpose³⁵ continue to prevail and will ultimately triumph. God is definitely going to forgive and restore the corporate nation of Israel, even while he continues to hold everyone accountable.

³⁴ This is the full quote: And the Redeemer shall come to Zion and unto those that turn from the rebellion in Jacob, said the LORD. And this shall be my covenant with them, said the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words, which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from now on and for ever (Isaiah 59:20-21).

³⁵ See Appendix C, use of the word “purpose” in Scripture.

This prophecy has again been partially fulfilled with key events happening in 1948 and in 1967 in the natural land of Israel, while at the same time critical revival and restoration were underway involving the church. (Note that a shadow fulfillment took place during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.)

Jeremiah continues: And these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus hath the LORD said; We have heard a voice of trembling, of terror, and not of peace. Ask now, and see whether the man doth travail with child? for I have seen that every man has his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail; and all faces have turned pale. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it (Jeremiah 30:4-7).

The day of the Lord is the time of Jacob’s trouble. Like Jacob at the ford of the Jabbok, all who are like Jacob, in Israel and in the church, who claim to be God’s people, will enter a day of anguish where the only way out will be to desperately seek the face of God (Genesis 32). In God’s eyes, both Jew and Gentile need the same thing, and their hearts must be dealt with in the same manner. Therefore, those in the church who are still in bondage to sin will also face this day of Jacob’s trouble. There will obviously be extreme events in the land of Israel, but the day of the Lord will also be a very intense experience worldwide. Even now, the world stage is being set up for this event. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of the hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no longer place him in servitude (Jeremiah 30:8).

Many people link the day of the Lord to extreme judgment, and this is correct, but it will also be a day of extreme grace, thus demonstrating both the severity and the goodness of God.

Returning to Paul’s epistle:

11:27 and this shall be my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins.

The only way to do this completely is to circumcise the wrong desires from the heart of the sinner.

11:28 So that, as concerning the gospel, I have them for enemies for your sakes; but as touching the election³⁶ of God, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

11:29 For the gifts and callings of God are without repentance.

³⁶ See Appendix B, use of the word “election” in Scripture.

The nation of Israel (also known as the Jews) are beyond the shadow of a doubt a chosen people by the election of God and the word of our God shall stand for ever (Isaiah 40:8b).

When God begins something, he doesn’t quit just because there is infidelity on the part of some of the recipients of his blessings. Even if we fail, he does not (2 Timothy 2:11-13). There are things that might have to be postponed due to an unbelieving and disobedient generation, but God will eventually fulfill his promises on an even grander scale. That time is now.

In the first attempt to enter the Promised Land, the children of Israel failed miserably. But after another forty years in the wilderness, when those who were unbelieving and disobedient had all died off, God gloriously fulfilled his promise.

Among other things, God gave Israel many promises (covenants), as well as the law and most of the rest of the Scriptures. These things were not annulled by the unbelief and disobedience of many of the recipients. Likewise, God has entrusted many things to the church, and again there has been quite a bit of unbelief and disobedience. Yet still he longs for us to yield to him, heart and soul, and receive the fullness of his blessing.

In the end, God’s plans and purposes will stand, and he will have a people free from sin or any other bondage. All those in Israel or in the church who have a circumcised heart are God’s people. The supreme gift of God is Jesus Christ, and he is calling all men everywhere to repentance. God will never regret having given us this gift. Even the disobedience of the Jews contributed to tremendous opportunity for everyone else.

11:30 For as ye in time past have not obeyed God, yet have now obtained mercy through the occasion of their disobedience,

11:31 likewise these also have not believed now that through the mercy shown unto you they also may obtain mercy.

11:32 For God enclosed everyone in disobedience, that he might have mercy upon everyone.

God had mercy on everyone by sending the Lord Jesus and making the Holy Spirit available to all. In his mercy, he decided to pour out his Spirit on all flesh so that by the Spirit we may put to death the deeds of the flesh and live. This sovereign offer is still open.

11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments and his ways past finding out!

11:34 For who has understood the intent of the Lord? or who has been his counsellor?

11:35 Or who has first given unto him, that it be recompensed unto him again?

11:36 For of him and by him and in him are all things. To him be the glory for the ages. Amen.

Let us pray.

Lord:

We ask that through the mercy you have shown us, others may obtain mercy. Amen.