August 26, 2012
Morning Service

Our journey through Romans took us through chapter 10 last week.  Paul again made the point that salvation is in no way earned by following the law, but is accepted by faith alone.  He stated that our salvation is very close at hand and lies within our hearts and lips.

Rom 10:9-10 Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  (10)  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.

 

Sunday evening we looked at our call to fulfill the great commission to from Matthew’s gospel.

 

Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth.  (19)  Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.

·         That authority was passed form Jesus to the apostles to the pastors to the church.

·         Who is the church?  We are.  It is our charge to spread the Good News to all.

 

Paul again returns to the subject of his Jewish brothers and their part in God’s plan.  We will look for ways God dealt with them to help us along our journey.

 

Rom 11:1-5  I say then, Did not God put away His people? Let it not be said! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  (2)  God did not thrust out His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture said in Elijah, how he pleaded with God against Israel, saying,  (3)  "Lord, they killed Your prophets and dug down Your altars, and I am left alone, and they seek my life."  (4)  But what does the Divine answer say to him? "I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."  (5)  Even so then, also in this present time a remnant according to the election of grace has come into being.

·         Paul asks and answers the question for us here.  No, He did not discard them all, a remnant (small number) were saved.

·         The example of Elijah verifies that God always has those ready and prepared to carry out His will in His time.

·         One of the Jews biggest hang-ups was that they viewed themselves as God’s chosen people by a birth right, thinking that was enough to save them (Abrahams’ seed). 

·         We learn a valuable truth from this.  No nation or church is saved en masse.  The relationship we are called to is an individual one.  Each of us chooses to surrender our own life and accept Him as our Savior. 

 

Rom 11:6-10

·         God allowed the Jews to fall into a state of slumber, thinking all was well because they were “God’s chosen.”  They created a comfort zone of security and safety, trusting in their own works to save them.  They stopped seeking God.

·         We too must be cautious against this happening in our lives.  The prosperity we enjoy can create a “comfort zone” or a life that is too busy and we stop seeking Him.  We have no real need or the time for Him.

 

Rom 11:11-16 

·         Here he speaks to the Gentile nation telling them that the blessings they receive will in turn provoke Israel to jealousy and end with their restoration.  The story of Jonah is a great example of this.

·         There is a righteous line that God began with Abraham and carried out to the birth of Christ.  The base or root is holy then so shall the branches be.

 

Rom 11:17-24 

·         Paul uses the example of an olive tree being God’s chosen people.  We as Gentiles (wild trees) have been grafted onto the tree to grow from the holy roots.

·         This again demonstrates the sovereignty of God to choose who He wants.

 

Rom 11:25-32 

·         Paul reveals the future when Israel will no longer be blinded but will be saved.

·         Verse 29 is a truth to hold onto; God’s gifts, callings, and promises cannot be revoked.  What He says He will do.

·         Tit 1:1-2  Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ (according to the faith of God's elect, in the acknowledging of the truth which is according to godliness  (2)  on hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the eternal times,

·         Num 23:19 God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?

·         Rom 10:17 Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

 

Rom 11:33-36  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!  (34)  For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?  (35)  Or who first gave to Him, and it will be repaid to him?  (36)  For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things; to Him be glory forever! Amen.

·         Paul breaks into a hymn of praise and worship here magnifying His Creator

·          As we dig deeper into the knowledge of God, as we have in these first 11 chapters, this will be our reaction as well. His plan is perfect and is available to all who will call upon Him.  God is love (I Jn 4:8) and Love never fails (I Cor 13:8).

·         God is all in all.  He who has created and controls this universe invites you personally to come along with Him. His greatest desire is to have a personal relationship with you.

 

Rev 21:7 He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.