7-25-2012 Vol. 6 Part 35 Book of Romans (Romans 9:14-18)

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7-25-2012 Vol. 6 Part 35 Book of Romans 

Psalms 74:1-12 A Contemplation of Asaph. O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed— This Mount Zion where You have dwelt. Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; They set up their banners for signs. They seem like men who lift up Axes among the thick trees. And now they break down its carved work, all at once, With axes and hammers. They have set fire to Your sanctuary; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground. They said in their hearts, "Let us destroy them altogether." They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land. We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet; Nor is there any among us who knows how long. O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them. For God is my King from of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.  Father, we give you all the praise and thanks for all you do in our lives. Please send us rain Father we need it desperately. Send the Holy Spirit to touch our hearts so we can understand your Word and put it into practice. Open our ears so that we can here your voice. We give you all the glory and praise. Amen!

Romans 9:14-18 NKJV

This lesson continues on with the topic of election, partiality, God’s righteousness, mercy, and compassion. After last week’s lesson one would get the impression that God does pick and choose individuals to go to Heaven or Hell, but that would make God out to be partial to some individuals and not to others. This character would contradict what the Bible teaches about being impartial and fair to all. What God does all boils down to what lies deep within your heart. With the inherited sin nature, your heart is enmity against God, even though you may have head knowledge of what the Bible states, of who Jesus is, and what He did for you on the Cross. The people of Paul’s time were the same way they knew what the scriptures of old said, but it wasn’t in their hearts. Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. What you have in your head needs to migrate to your heart. You need to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Mark 12:30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' This is the first commandment. You need to love God with your heart first. You need to take what is in your mind that you learned from the Bible, and accept it as the truth. You need to reject mans view and reasoning of how life is to be lived and replace it with God’s holy and true word. God is on stand-by and waiting for people to turn from their way of believing in what they must do or in what mankind devised they must do to go to Heaven. The moment a person realizes there is nothing they can do to earn their way to Heaven and accepts the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God hands them that gift of grace, that mansion in our Fathers house is prepared for them. John 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

So where are you at this point in your life? Have you accepted Jesus as your saviour and living according to his Holy and True Word, or living by mans standards and religious ways? Do you want to spend eternity in a mansion with streets of gold or in a fiery pit where beasts and demons torment you?

Romans 9:14-18

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! Last week we left off with Paul making this statement, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." With this statement Paul raises these questions in verse 14 before anyone can ask them and follows up with an explanation in the verses to follow. The main question being is there unrighteousness with God? Absolutely not, God is Holy and True, he chooses through His foreknowledge and judges according to each person’s attitude. God’s calling goes out to all, but it is us that harden our hearts toward Him. Hardening of a heart is like this, God calls to you through your spirit, or by something someone said, or something your read or heard and you think about it for a couple seconds, and then you go on with your life? When this happens, you have just harden your heart toward God! So what is a calling by God like and do you only get one calling? God gives us many callings in many forms. It can be through pain, disease, sorrow, or joy of the beauty of His creation, the miracle of child birth, etc., but we are too busy with our lives to reflect on these things and who is responsible.

I will mention four that stick out in my mind during my life although there were many, I’m sure. First, being young and still at home during those years my mother and some aunts and uncles told me I should go into the ministry. I never gave it a second thought, because it didn’t fit MY AGENDA in what I wanted in life. Second there was a newly ordain priest that whenever I was talking to him I experienced a warm spiritual presence of a supreme being (approx. 1972). A feeling of complete comfort, rest, assurance, and no worries, but I ignored it and went on with MY LIFE. Third the same warm experience during Lent several years’ later in church, but again I IGNORED (approx. 1980). Fourth a calling to pick the Bible up (2007) and seek what it actually said which led me to asking questions. This calling I did not ignore and the truth was revealed to me about many things I believed in that was of man, and not God, resulting in me giving my heart to Jesus and living according to His way and not mine. I thank God and give Him all the praise and glory for not giving up on me, because I realize now, I was bound for Hell! I was living according to my standards and not Gods. So you see God doesn’t call one time, He calls many times, all we have to do is pay attention to these callings. How many times has God called you, but you ignored his calling and gone on with YOUR LIFE? Please take some time and reflect on this, God does not want to see anyone spend eternity in Hell.

15  For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I WILL HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOMEVER I WILL HAVE COMPASSION." Paul is quoting this verse from the Old Testament. When God was talking to Moses He states this; Exodus 33:19 Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." Paul continually goes back to the Old Testament which tells us the importance of the Old Testament. It is the foundation of the New Testament. Many people say the Old Testament is dead and of no use. The only thing that has gone by the wayside is all the ritualistic laws and sacrifices, because Jesus put an end to them when He became the spotless sacrifice for all. The door to Jesus was rent from top to bottom, we no longer need a priest to offer sacrifices for our sins. Matthew 27:51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, Jesus is our High Priest and now by faith we go directly to Him with our sins and problems. The people of the OT were to live by faith just as we are to live by faith. This is what verse 15 is stating, those that live by faith are those that God will have mercy and compassion on. By putting our faith in what Jesus did at Calvary we enter under God’s umbrella of Grace and receive God’s mercy and compassion. The Bible has many instances of compassion that God and Jesus exhibited, and through these instances lives were changed.

16  So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Paul is proclaiming a great truth that mercy and compassion cannot be earned or merited by the sinner, regardless of what he does. In other words we cannot pray ourselves into Heaven, or have others pray us into Heaven, if that were the case then we would be doing it and not God. The Bible does not teach that we can work our way to Heaven. We have studied this truth in Romans 4:1-5 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?  2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.  3 For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS."  4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.  5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, What we want/will and run after is our human works to earn salvation. Man is good at devising formulas to get to Heaven, but none of them will work because they are of man and not God’s prescribed order. It is only by faith in the finished work of Jesus on the Cross, He is the only way! John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

17  For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I HAVE RAISED YOU UP, THAT I MAY SHOW MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MAY BE DECLARED IN ALL THE EARTH." This verse speaks to me in many ways. First of all with it pertaining to the lesson, Paul is using OT scripture again to prove his point in demonstrating how God uses stiff necked hard hearted individuals to bring about His will. Although in this case God is using Pharaoh to display His power so His name will be known throughout the earth. This is not a display of mercy or compassion by God, because God sees Pharaoh’s heart and what he placed his faith in and that being the god’s of Egypt. Pharaoh was stuck on the religion of his country and nothing would or could change that. So God used him for his glory and magnification. This also confirms the fact that God does not pick and choose who is going to Heaven, but it is up to the individual and who they place their faith in. God will not force himself on anyone, because He wants us to come to him through our acknowledgment of being a sinner by nature and repentance. God wants true and faithful servants in Heaven with Him. This is why Lucifer got kicked out of Heaven, because he turned on God, his creator and was no longer faithful. If you force someone to do something their heart is not in, they will not remain faithful, and it is the same with God. If He forced a person to believe they will not remain faithful.

To put this into perspective, take what is going on with our current government. We are being force into things we don’t want like healthcare, gun banishment, remove God from schools and government buildings, etc. I don’t know exactly what the statistics are but I would venture to say the majority of the people don’t agree with these things. So are they going to be faithful to the government?

So the other thing I get from this verse is this. God used Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar to bring about His will, is God using our government and world leaders to bring about the prophecy of Revelation?

18  Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. Paul concludes here that God has mercy on who He wants to, and those that have hard hearts He will use for his purposes. Does that mean that those who have hard hearts have no chance to go to Heaven? No, if the person comes to the truth of the Gospel and puts their faith in Jesus and only in Jesus, then they will be saved. This is why it is so important to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and why Jesus has commissioned all believers to go out and spread the Good News. Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

We have no idea what lives we may touch by our words or actions that will get a person thinking and seeking Jesus and a better way of life. God’s calling may be through us for some people. We must plant seeds so the next person can water the seed and the next cultivate the soil, and through this process fruit will be produced, meaning another will come to Jesus and ask Him for forgiveness and the gift of Grace. We have to seek the truth and the truth lies in God’s Holy and True Word, the Bible. If people won’t believe in what the Bible teaches, then they are hardening their hearts toward God like Pharaoh. Luke 11:9-10 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,

for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,

 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Unless you are Born Again, you cannot enter into Heaven, the Kingdom of God."

http://jesus-christ-spiritual-food.blogspot.com/

Bill Wiesbrock

Last Week’s Trivia: Who was Abiathar?

Answer: Abiathar was the eleventh high priest after Aaron during David’s reign.  He was the sole survivor of the slaughter of eighty-five priests at Nob by Doeg the Edomite and he escaped to David when David was still a guerilla fighter. Abiathar was David’s friend until near the end of David’s reign and stayed with David during Absalom’s revolt. Abiathar took the Ark to Jerusalem and helped smooth the way for David’s return to Jerusalem. We don’t know why, but Abiathar supported Adonijah’s conspiracy. The other leaders of this conspiracy were executed. Abiathar’s life was spared probably due to his past loyalty and service, but banished from the tribes. He is mention several times in the Bible; 1 Samuel Chapters 22, 23, & 30; 2 Samuel Chapters 8, 15, 17,19, & 20; 1 Kings Chapters 1, 2, & 4; 1 Chronicles Chapters 15, 18, 24, & 27.

This week’s Trivia: Who was Abida?

7-18-2012 Vol. 6 Part 34 Book of Romans (Romans 9:6-13)

Note: To download/print the document, click on the title below.

7-18-2012 Vol. 6 Part 34 Book of Romans

Psalms 73:17-28 Then I went into Your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, You put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When You arise, O Lord, You will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning. Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You. Yet I still belong to You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Those who desert Him will perish, for You destroy those who abandon You. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do. Father, in the name of Jesus we give you praise and thanks for all you do in our lives. Touch our hearts and minds and open our ears to your calling so that we can start living according to the Spirit and not the flesh. We ask for rain Father God, it’s may be too late for the corn crop, but we need rain to survive here on earth. Our wells are low and they need replenishing. We give you all the glory and praise. Amen!

Romans 9:6-13 NKJV

Paul began the book of Romans saying the Gospel is the power of God to salvation for all who believe. 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, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. The Gospel came first to God’s chosen people, the Jews, because of their privileged position. But when the Gospel appeared in flesh and blood, meaning Jesus, Israel rejected Him. John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. Israel saw her problems as political rather than spiritual, they wanted the Roman yoke to be removed from their necks. They did not want the Roman government ruling them, they wanted their freedom to live their lives without fear of the Roman laws interfering with their customs. This is what the Jewish people thought the Messiah would do for them, remove the Roman jurisdiction that was over them.

Jesus mission was a spiritual mission not a political one. This is one of the reasons the Jewish people could not accept Jesus as their Messiah because of their human thinking and reasoning, even though Jesus performed many miracles. The preaching and miracles did not fit the mold of their human reasoning and view of what they wanted in a Messiah. They were looking for a Super Hero to solve all their problems. Someone of power, of great stature, of mighty words, of boldness, of great respect, someone the Romans would fear. Wow I can’t think of anyone but Jesus of Nazareth that fits that description, but their human flesh wouldn’t allow their hearts to see the truth. If they would have prayed to God and seek his wisdom and grace would God have revealed the truth to them?

Our flesh, our thinking, gets in the way so often in how we do things and how we reason through situations. For instance three weeks ago on a Saturday morning I wrote up the lesson for the week and in that lesson I made a statement that we need to include Jesus in all that we do whether small or large tasks. When I was done with the lesson I went out and saddled up Red for a ride. I worked him in the round pen for a while and then took him down into the pasture. Since I had only ridden him a couple times last summer and this was only the third time this year I was being very cautious in what I was doing. Did you notice I said “I”, yes I was doing this and didn’t ask Jesus for His guidance and protection. As it so happened I was able to experience one of life’s trials through pain and suffering for the next 2 ½ weeks. As I was correcting one of Red’s, I don’t want to do that movement, he stumbled and went down on his right knee. I thought he was going down all the way so I bailed off. As I’m laying on the ground in pain trying to get my breath back the first and only thought I had was, “Bill why did you try to do this on your own, you didn’t include Jesus. By the way no broken bones, just some sore and bruised muscles and chiropractic adjustments needed to get all back in order.

We as human beings whether saved or unsaved most often think we can solve our problems and do things of our own accord. We are tangible thinking instead of spiritual thinking. Even Born Again individuals struggle with spiritual thinking, even though the Holy Spirit is living within that person. Spiritual thinking is something that is developed over time. It is part of that sanctification process a true believer goes through as they live their life out here on earth.

So when you get up in the mornings give the whole day and all of its situations to Jesus, and as you go through the day give Him praise and thanks for each thing whether large or small, good or bad. Start thinking Spiritually in all you do!

Romans 9:6-13

6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, What is Paul stating and explaining here? Has God failed to fulfill His promise to Israel? No, not at all, it is the human way of thinking and reasoning that led the Jewish people to thinking it had failed. They put their trust in their flesh, doctrine, and heritage. The Messiah came, God’s plan was and is being carried out, it is the Israelites and us that have failed when we place our faith in anything other than the Cross of Christ.

What about the last part of the verse? ”For they are not all Israel who are of Israel” Here again it is simply stating that not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God's people! Salvation is not guaranteed to anyone because of parents, religion, culture, etc. If this were the case, and salvation was based on heritage, then there was no need for Jesus to die for mankind.

7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED." This verse is stating once again that not all of the Jewish people are Gods children and Paul is using Abraham and his sons as an example. Being a descendant of Abraham doesn't make them true children of Abraham. It is through faith and trust in God that grants them the privilege of being Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted." Ishmael was not included, even though he was one of Abraham’s sons. Ishmael lived according to the works of the flesh while Isaac lived spiritually with his faith in God. The same holds true for Cain and Abel, one was works the other spiritual.

8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. This means that Abraham's physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham's children. The promise of course is Jesus and believing in what He did on the Cross for them and us. We must live by faith and not by flesh! The question is then, are you a child of the flesh or a child of the promise? A child of the promise it is not because you are a member of a church denomination, or because you have been baptized in water, or partake in the Lord’s Supper, as important as these things are, but rather because you have exhibited simple faith in Jesus Christ, trusting Him implicitly, and have given Him your heart and life.

9  For this is the word of promise: "AT THIS TIME I WILL COME AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON." The key word in this verse is “promise”. God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son in a year is a promise they believed because God spoke it. God’s word is something to live by. God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah goes much farther than a son for them. Eventually this union of Abraham and Sarah would result in the Messiah coming forth through their bloodlines. God’s promise, is His plan of salvation for all. This is what faith is all about, believing in what God has spoken, believing in what Jesus did for us on the Cross, after all it should have been us suffering that awful beating and death. If God has spoken and it is recorded in His Holy Word, the Bible, you can be assured that it will come to pass. God cannot lie, his word was true when He spoke it, it is true now, and will be true for all of eternity.

Speaking of believing in God’s word, what is going on in current times? Are we entering end time events? I don’t know, but it makes you stop and think. Jesus told his disciples this; Matthew 24:7-8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

With our current drought conditions, could they have anything to do with famines? Could it have anything to do with the following verse with the price of cash corn being $8.11, beans $17.29, wheat $8.66 per bushel? I don’t know, but it does make a person stop and think. Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine."

10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac: With this verse and the next three Paul is giving another example of God’s Promise, His plan of salvation for all. The spiritual realm of believing in a divine plan, that we must put our faith in and not a plan devised by man (flesh). Paul is going to point out the twins of Isaac and Rebecca, with one living according to flesh, mans standard and the other living spiritually according to God’s standards.

11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls): The children not yet born, is referring to Esau and Jacob. Some will think then the rest of the verse is stating that God chooses some people over other people to be saved, but that is not what Paul is telling us. We have studied this in previous lessons that election or choosing is referring to God’s foreknowledge. God knows us, has known us from the beginning of time and He knows what is in each of our hearts. He knows what we are going to do before we do it. So with our simple minds, one can think that God is playing favorites when the verse states, “God according to election” but he isn’t. God’s call goes out to all, but many refuse his calling because they place their faith in their own works for salvation.

So the message Paul is reiterating to his Jewish brethren and us is that heritage has nothing to do with salvation. It is not of works but of spirituality by Him that calls to us.

12 it was said to her, "THE OLDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER.": The first phrase in this verse is referring to God speaking to Rebecca. Genesis 25:23 And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” This verse in Genesis also points out even twins can be different as night and day when it comes to spirituality and such was the case with Esau and Jacob.

What about this part, “the older shall serve the younger”? From a spiritual view it is connected with part of the Genesis verse, “One people shall be stronger than the other”. Here is the connection; the older is referring to the sin nature we inherited; the younger is referring to the spiritual birth one has when they give their heart to Jesus; one people being stronger than the other is referring to the Born Again spirit that is stronger than the old sin nature. It is only through faith in Jesus can we have victory over the sin nature. Jesus defeated Satan at the Cross.

13 As it is written, "JACOB I HAVE LOVED, BUT ESAU I HAVE HATED." This quoted phrase that Paul sites is found in; Malachi 1:2-3 "I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" Says the LORD. "Yet Jacob I have loved;  3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness." Here again from a spiritual perspective, God didn’t hate Esau, because God loves all of his creation, it is the sin in people’s lives that He hates. God hated Esau’s lifestyle and that Esau put his faith in his own capabilities, whereas Jacob was a man of God and his faith was in God. Therefore God loved Jacob more than Esau or you could say God loved Esau a little less than Jacob.

In closing Paul does an excellent job in conveying the fact that faith and faith alone in Jesus and the sacrifice He endured for us is the only way to Heaven. Paul’s analogies are plain and one can’t argue against them, all we have to do is believe in Jesus and accept Him as our saviour.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,

for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,

 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Unless you are Born Again, you cannot enter into Heaven, the Kingdom of God."

http://jesus-christ-spiritual-food.blogspot.com/

Bill Wiesbrock

Last Week’s Trivia: Who was Abiasaph?

Answer: A son of Korah a great-great-great grandson of Jacob, Abiasaph was one of the heads of families of Levites that left Egypt with Moses. Exodus 6:24 The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. Their descendants became the clans of Korah.

This week’s Trivia: Who was Abiathar?

7-11-2012 Vol. 6 Part 33 Book of Romans (Romans 9:1-5)

Note: To download/print the document, click on the title below.

7-11-2012 Vol. 6 Part 33 Book of Romans

Psalms 73:8-16 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?" Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me. Father, in the name of Jesus we give you praise and thanks for all you do in our lives. Without you in our lives we would be lost in this dark world. We ask that you continue refining us and showing us what we need to repent of so that we can remain steadfast in you grace. We give you all the glory and praise. Amen!

Romans 9:1-5 NKJV

For the first eight chapters of Romans, Paul’s Jewish readers have heard how salvation is by grace alone, not by law or works. Having been steeped in Judaism, these recipients of Paul’s letter were surely asking themselves, “Where do we Jews fit in the plan of God since it appears our whole way of life has been set aside?” and this is the purpose of the next three chapter, to explain what their role is along with how we fit into God’s plan.

Many people raised in a religious denomination feel their religious heritage give them a unique standing before God. But if anyone’s heritage were unique in God’s sight, it was the Jews. Yet without Jesus Christ, they were as lost as the most pagan Gentiles. Heritage counts for nothing when it comes to God. In God’s eyes it is all about faith in Jesus Christ and what He did at the Cross, believing in heritage and religion for salvation is a recipe for death and destruction. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying religion is bad, what I’m saying is the purpose of religion is to enlighten people with knowledge and bring them to Jesus. Religion can be viewed just like the Ten Commandments that God gave the Israelite’s. The Ten Commandments were and are to be a schoolmaster to turn people from sin and toward God. If a religion is preaching anything other than faith in Jesus through His death and resurrection for salvation and only that, then it is a false religion.

We know by studying the Bible God has set the Jewish people aside for now because they have rejected Him and His son Jesus. They will be gathered up in the future and once again worship God and accept Jesus in the end time events, which seems to be just around life’s corner. In the mean time God has joined both Jews and Gentiles into one body, the church which gave birth at the Cross and given life at Pentecost. There is not a Gospel for the Jews and one for the Gentiles, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is one in the same for both. This is stated in Colossians 3:11; Philippians 3:3-11 and in Ephesians 2:11-16 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,  15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,  16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit; Paul starts this chapter out giving a statement of truth to his Jewish audience. Stating that he is in Christ and Christ is in him. Making claim that he isn’t lying and that his spirit is bearing witness by means of the Holy Spirit, in other words it is the Holy Spirit speaking through him. Why does he start out this way? He wants to make sure his audience knows for certain that it was the Lord, and that such thought or Doctrine was not coming out of his own mind, and probably because there were hecklers in his audience accusing him of not knowing what he was talking about, after all they were Jews. The majority of Paul’s travels took him throughout many Gentile villages and maybe the hecklers were stating, “Hey Paul you are talking to Jews not Gentiles, what you’re saying doesn’t pertain to us, have you lost your mind?” They were probably in denial because they were Jews, God’s chosen people, they had nothing to worry about because they had the Mosaic Law and the Messianic Promise. This is so true and sad in current times around the world, many stake their claim in their religion for eternal life. Their faith is in the doctrine of their denomination and that is what they live by, not God’s Word. Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.' "  For eternal life each and every one must have their faith in the Cross of Christ and the truth be found in the Bible, not in religious denomination manmade doctrine.

2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart; What is going on here? Why does Paul have great sorrow and constant grief in his heart? Let me remind you who he is addressing. It is his Roman Jewish brothers, his heritage. His heart grieves for them because he knows the truth, he knows Jesus, he knows the Gospel, he knows they will all perish in Hell if they won’t accept what he is saying and accept Jesus as their Saviour. Don’t forget Paul was a student of the law and knew it better than anyone at the time of his conversion on the road to Damascus. He knew there was no salvation in their customs and laws, it had been revealed to him through Jesus Christ, it is by faith only. Paul’s heart is heavy just like Jesus heart is heavy because people won’t listen to the truth, they won’t deny their self righteous beliefs and place their trust in Jesus. It is very difficult for people to give it all because faith is something we can’t touch or read like doctrinal law. Few come to see the truth and give it all, but many don’t. God’s word tells us this. Romans 9:27 NLT And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out, "Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant will be saved.  This verse isn’t just for Israel, it is for all mankind.

We are in a time of great apostasy that Paul warns us about in; 2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. True believers have heavy hearts also for the lost, just as Paul and Jesus. Do you think every time someone dies, and if they haven’t accepted Jesus as their saviour, Jesus is shedding tears as they go down that dark tunnel to Hell? I do!

3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh; What this verse is simply stating is that Paul wishes that he could take the place of his kinsman in Hell. He would sacrifice his eternal life; separate (accursed) himself from Christ if it were possible for his kinsman to be saved, because of the love he had for them. We know this is a moot point and just and expression of love that he had for his kinsman. Moses made a similar claim for the Israelites. Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." We know there is only one that gave His life so that we can have eternal life and that of course is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Paul knew his kinsman had to accept the Gospel just like everyone else. Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

What about this part of the verse? ”my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh” What is he talking about? I thought when Paul referred to his brethren he was referring to fellow believers. In this case he isn’t, he is referring to them as brethren at one time. Brethren of the law prior to his conversion, but since he is a true believer, when he wrote this, he is meaning his heritage of being a Jew.

4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;

Who are Israelites; This phrase pertains to the previous verse. It is stating who Paul’s countrymen are. The rest of the verse tells us what the Israelites were given by God.

The adoption; Three months after the Israelites left Egypt they camped at Siani and this is where God adopted them as His people. Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

The glory; Refers to God’s presence that would always be with the Israelites as long as they kept His commands. Gods divine presence would still be with them had they not allowed the sin nature to take over their thoughts and actions, but one day in the future that glory will be restored at the second coming of Jesus. Exodus 16:10 Now it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. Ex. 16:7; 24:16, 17; Lev. 9:6; Num. 14:10, 21; Deut. 5:24

The covenants; The first covenant with the Israelites was with Abraham. It was by faith that Abraham believed whatever God proclaimed and through this faith his salvation was made possible. This covenant is referred to the Abrahamic Covenant. Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. Genesis 15:18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— God made other covenants also with Moses, David, and the Israel nation as a whole.

The giving of the law; The law is of course pertaining to the Mosaic Laws. The Mosaic Law refers to  the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, with Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers pertaining more to laws. These five books are referred to as, The Pentateuch (Pen'tateuch). Pentateuch is the Greek name given to the five books commonly called "the five books of Moses". This title is derived from "pente", five, and "teucos", meaning "vessel", "instrument," etc.; in Alexandrine Greek to mean "book", hence, the fivefold book. In the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, it was called "the law of Moses", Ezra 7:6, or "the book of the law of Moses", Nehemiah 8:1, or simply "the book of Moses". 2 Chronicles 25:4; 2 Chronicles 35:12; Ezra 6:13; Nehemiah 13:1.

The service of God; This is referring to the privilege Israel had in ministering face to face with the God of our universe through the tabernacle at first and then through the temple. It also includes the priesthood and offerings that were made, found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, basically the ministering of the laws.

The promise; Through their heritage the Messiah would come. The Saviour of all mankind.

5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

Of whom are the fathers; Refers to the patriarchs of the Old Testament, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. These Old Testament leaders that had a close personal relationship with God.

According to the flesh; Paul is referring to the blood ancestry that Jesus came from. Even though Jesus came in the form of human flesh, the Jews were the chosen people for this to happen.

Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God; Christ is derived from the Greek word “Christos”, which is translated from the Hebrew word Messiah, both meaning “The Anointed”. Paul states it very plainly, as far as Jesus humanity it came out of Israel, but He is God and rules over all of creation. He is part of the Trinity that will never change. He is God. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Amen; This word as a verb signifies to confirm, establish, verify, to trust, or give confidence; as a noun, truth, firmness, trust, confidence; as an adjective, firm, stable. Many times the word is used by listeners as a form of agreement of what has been stated.

Paul has really built up his Jewish kinsman with this opening of Chapter nine. He has done this before and then pulled the rug out from under them in some way. Hmmmmm!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,

for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,

 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Unless you are Born Again, you cannot enter into Heaven, the Kingdom of God."

http://jesus-christ-spiritual-food.blogspot.com/

Bill Wiesbrock

Last Week’s Trivia: Who was Abialbon?

Answer: A member of “The Thirty,” the third contingent of David’s elite group of guards. Abialbon ”the Arbathite” came from a village named Arabah or Bertharabah in northern Judah. 2 Samuel 23:31 Abialbon the Arbathite………

This week’s Trivia: Who was Abiasaph?