Note: To download/print the document, click on the
title below.
Psalms 78:17-29 But they
sinned even more against Him By rebelling against the Most High in the
wilderness. And they tested God in their heart By asking for the food of their
fancy. Yes, they spoke against God: They said, "Can God prepare a table in
the wilderness? Behold, He struck the rock, So that the waters gushed out, And
the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His
people?" Therefore the LORD heard this
and was furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also came up
against Israel, Because they did not believe in God, And did not trust in His
salvation. Yet He had commanded the clouds above, And opened the doors of
heaven, Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of
heaven. Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. He caused an east
wind to blow in the heavens; And by His power He brought in the south wind. He
also rained meat on them like the dust, Feathered fowl like the sand of the
seas; And He let them fall in
the midst of their camp, All around their dwellings. So they ate and were well
filled, For He gave them their own desire. Father, we thank you for the much needed rain. We thank
you for all that you do in our lives and we ask that you keep us humble as you
are. We give you all the glory and praise. Amen!
Romans
11:1-10 NKJV
With this lesson Paul continues to drive home the points
of self works, unbelief, the perseverance of God’s chosen people, idolatry, and
how people have to struggle through life without God’s grace. It seems that
Paul has been hammering the same message over and over now for the past few
chapters. Why is he doing this? Are you getting tired of the same things each
week? Is he doing this because he isn’t getting the results of what he is
saying to his audience? You would think by now people would get the idea and
start seeking what he is saying which is Jesus and not self righteousness. What
about us are we just as stubborn as the Jewish people? We are, in current times
these same messages are accurate and true for today. What keeps a person from
giving their heart to Jesus? Is it pride; thinking we know better than God; is
it fear, if so what fear? Fear of giving up man’s rules and regulations? Fear
of ridicule? Each and every person has to make a decision on who they are going
to serve, God or man. If you chose to continue in the lifestyle that you are in
and it is of man’s ways, then your eternal life will be spent in Hell where
there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth forever. If you chose to follow
Jesus your eternity will be spent in Heaven where there will be eternal
happiness. It is through Jesus and only Jesus that eternal happiness is
possible. With each passing day we are one day closer to what is inevitable to
all human beings, death. We might plan on living for another 10 to 30 years or
longer, but we don’t have any say in the matter. When it is our time we are
gone like a vapor. There is no second chance. There is no Purgatory mentioned
in the Bible, the church formulated the doctrine of faith on Purgatory at the
Councils of Florence and Trent. (This is stated in the 1994 edition of the
Catechism on pages 268 & 269.) Don’t delay, give your heart to Jesus today!
Romans 11:1-10
1
I say
then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite,
of the seed of Abraham, of the
tribe of Benjamin. Paul
throws out this question and answers it. He isn’t talking about individual
salvation, but the Israelite nation as a whole. One would think God had cast
them away with what had transpired in the rejection of Jesus by the Jews, but
many verses in the Old Testament confirm that the Jewish people will be
gathered together again and at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ they will see
the truth. Isaiah 43:5-6 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And
gather you from the west; 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the
south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from
the ends of the earth— Isa.
11:11; 14:1–2; 27:12–13; 66:20; Jer. 3:17–18; 23:3–8; 24:5–7; 30:3; 31:40;
33:6–26; 46:27–28; 50:19–20; Ezek. 11:17–20; 16:60–63; 20:33–44; 28:25–26;
36:6–38; Hos. 1:10–11; 3:4–5; Joel Chpt. 3; Amos 9:9–15; Obad. vss. 7–21; Micah
2:12–13; 4:1–8; 5:3–15; Zeph. 2:7; 3:20; Zech. 2:8–13; 8:1–8; Chpts. 12–14;
Mal. 3:2–5; 4:1–6, etc.
Paul is evidence that the
Jewish nation has not been cast off, because of his genealogy. One can’t get
anymore Jewish than what Paul was. Paul is one of the remnant that God
preserved at that time just like all the others from the past to the present.
If the Jewish nation had been cast off, then Paul wouldn’t have been saved or
any other Jews then and now. The next few verses talks about this. As we
studied in last week’s lesson God has His hands outstretched at all times for
those who will accept Him. This is how the Jewish nation is preserved, because
there is always a remnant that will reach out and take God’s hand.
2 God has
not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the
Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,
3 "LORD,
THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS AND TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT,
AND THEY SEEK MY LIFE"? In
verse 2 Paul states again that God has not cast away His people whom He
foreknew; meaning foreknowledge or predestination. God chose these people
because he knows they will come to accept Him. He chose these people because
down through the ages they will remain faithful. Not all Jews of other nations will,
but a remnant of Abraham’s descendants will and that is the remnant God is referring
to.
Paul
now calls upon a statement that Elijah makes when he pleads with God against
Israel. Elijah is pleading against Israel when actually he should be pleading
for Israel to come back to God and his ways. 1 Kings 19:10 So he said,
"I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of
Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your
prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life."
Elijah
feels all alone and he thinks he is the only faithful one left. He proclaims
they have killed all the prophets and torn down God’s alters and replaced them
with idols. 1 Kings 12:28-33 Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves
of gold, and said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to
Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of
Egypt!" 29
And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Now this
thing became a sin, for the people went to
worship before the one as far as Dan.
31 He made shrines on the high places,
and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of
Levi. 32
Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the
feast that was in Judah, and
offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves
that he had made. And at Bethel he installed the priests of the high places
which he had made. 33 So he made offerings on the altar which he had
made at Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he
had devised in his own heart. And he ordained a feast for the children of
Israel, and offered sacrifices on the altar and burned incense. What is Paul trying to portray here?
It is hope? Paul could relate to what Elijah said, because he also had been
persecuted at times to near death. Paul is trying to reassure his audience that
God has not forgotten them or anyone that will reach out and take His hand. God
answers Elijah in the next verse.
4
But what
does the divine response say to him? "I HAVE RESERVED FOR MYSELF SEVEN
THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL." God
responded to Elijah’s plea to reassure him that he isn’t the only one that
hasn’t bowed a knee to Baal idols. Paul uses this quote to assure his audience
that there are a few that are faithful to God and have accepted Jesus as their
Saviour.
5 Even so
then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of
grace. Verse 5 is speaking of Paul’s present time
and only a few will reach out and accept the gift of grace that God has for all
who come to Him. Remnant is referring to those that will be saved, or those
that God foresees that will come to Him through faith in the Cross. This
election of grace speaks of those who will accept the truth of the Gospel and
receive the gift of grace. It doesn’t mean predestination because if it did
then other verses in the Bible would be a contradiction. What I mean by this is
that, “whosoever believeth in him should not perish”. If God picked and chose
people then whosoever is not true. 2
Peter 3:9 The Lord is
not slack concerning His
promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing
that any should perish but that all
should come to repentance.
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.
But if it is of works, it is no
longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. Paul is pointing out that God’s grace
is a free gift from Him when one accepts Jesus as their saviour.
“And if by Grace, then it is no longer of works,”
is stating how
salvation is obtained which is 100% by grace. Paul is telling his listeners and
us that salvation cannot be obtained through works of self or religion.
Whenever we add our thoughts and actions of, “if we do this, or perform this
act of religion”, then Grace is nullified. Salvation by Grace is the most
simplest form of obtaining salvation, but the most difficult for we humans to
grasp. As humans we think we have to do something to get something in life, but
actually God’s gift of grace is free to all for the taking. It is out of love
and the goodness of God’s heart that he offers this gift to all that will
believe that Jesus is His Son and that He died on the cross for us and rose on
the third day and is presently seated at the right hand of God.
Otherwise
grace is no longer grace; This
phrase is the ending of the previous phrase, in that when works enters into the
picture of obtaining salvation, then the gift of grace is nullified.
Denominations keep trying to add things in quest of salvation, when all that is
required, is faith in the Cross of Christ. When Jesus died on the cross he said
it was finish and that is what He meant. Believe in Him and the sacrificed He
bore for us and do not add anything else. John 19:30 So when
Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is
finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
But
if it is of works, it is no
longer grace; this
phrase is re-emphasizing the first sentence in this verse. A person cannot work
their way to Heaven. What I mean by this is that one can do all kinds of good
deeds thinking God will reward them and look favorably on them for their deeds
like taking meals to those that have been sick or had an operation, or lost a
loved one, or give money to all kinds of charities, help out at the church at
every function, giving a ride to someone without transportation, etc., the list
is endless. Now don’t get me wrong all these things are good and good to do,
but they will not earn the gift of grace and a place in Heaven. There is only
one thing that you must do to get the free gift of grace and that is to believe
in Jesus and the finished work of the Cross. Not only do we as people try to
devise things to earn our way to Heaven, but many churches also do this through
their doctrine. Now here again don’t take me the wrong way, but many churches
believe baptism and communion wash away sin which they don’t. The Bible doesn’t
teach this. The only thing that washes away sin is the shed blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ through a Spiritual Birth. Is baptism and communion good to
practice? Yes if done in the right context according to scripture. Paul’s words
scream out at us, and they are plain and simple, they are to be taken in the
most serious manner. The moment that one inserts anything into the Finished
Work of Christ other than Faith, then the Grace of God is nullified, and the
individual is not Saved.
Otherwise
work is no longer work; Paul
isn’t say that works is no good. As stated above works must be done with the
correct motive. That motive being, wanting to helping others from the kindness
of one’s heart without thinking one will get something in return from God. God
doesn’t operate that way, his gift of grace is a free gift we don’t have to
earn it. Mark 12:31 And the second, like it,
is this: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other
commandment greater than these."
7 What then?
Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the
rest were blinded.
This verse is simply stating that the majority of the Israel nation did not and
has not received what they are seeking, but a few did figure out the gift of
grace by faith and they were saved, while the rest have been blinded and their
hearts hardened. This is so very true in current times also. John 12:40 "HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HARDENED
THEIR HEARTS, LEST THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, LEST THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND
WITH THEIR HEARTS AND TURN, SO THAT I SHOULD HEAL THEM."
8 Just as
it is written: "GOD HAS GIVEN THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES THAT THEY
SHOULD NOT SEE AND EARS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HEAR, TO THIS VERY DAY." This
verse is taken from Isaiah 29:10.
These other verses also talk about hard hearts and deaf ears Deuteronomy 29:4; Isaiah 6:9-10. What it states is exactly what
God did and has done to the Israelites because of their failure to believe in
God. God has given them exactly what they wanted, freedom to exercise their own
desires and interpretation of scripture. They had their religion and that is
all they wanted or would believe. No outsider in their point of view was going
to change their mind. They were so stubborn they would go to the grave
believing in their religion, and many have, resulting in eternal darkness. This
also holds true for today. Many will die before they will even listen to the
truth that is in the Bible and believe in the finished work of Christ. How
about you, what do you put your faith in?
9
And David
says: "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A
RECOMPENSE TO THEM.
This verse is taken from Psalms
69:23 Let their eyes be darkened, so
that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually. LET THEIR
TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP;
this is referring
to Israel’s prosperity. All the good that God said he would and did for them,
if they would obey and keep His commands. There is a list of these things in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. The rest of the chapter
also tells what God would do if they disobeyed Him. So how did this good
fortune become a snare, trap, and stumbling block? Well, our human nature
always gets in the way by puffing us up. Good things, times, money, things
people say, all tend to go to our heads and if we experience many good things
we soon think we are invincible and maybe even brag about ourselves. This is
what happened to the Israelite’s. They prospered in so many things they felt
that they couldn’t fail in anything they did. As a result they strayed from the
truth and put their faith in their own works and righteousness. Here again this
is so very true today. Just because good things are happening to one self,
doesn’t mean that they are in God’s grace, because God allows the sun and rain
to fall on good and bad people. Matthew
5:45 ……for
He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just
and on the unjust.
10 LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED, SO THAT THEY DO NOT
SEE, AND BOW DOWN THEIR BACK ALWAYS." God put a veil over their eyes so they
could not see the truth and allowed them to be put into captivity as punishment
of disobedience.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,
for it is
the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…...
Psalms
51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit
within me.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless
one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Bill Wiesbrock
Last Week’s Trivia: Who was Abinoam?
Answer: Abinoam was the father of Barak, the
hero who defeated the Canaanites mentioned in Deborah’s Song in the era of the
judges of Israel. Judges Chapter 4 and 5.
This week’s Trivia: Who was Abishag?
