A Choice Rooted in Grace

 

ROMANS 9:6-13 (VS. 11)

SUBJECT: ROMANS/ ISRAEL’S PAST

THEME: God’s entire redemptive economy rests on the foundation of his unchanging nature and character. As a result, we are assured without any disappointment by his mercy, power, and faithfulness.

INTRODUCTION:

Grace has been defined in several ways to convey its undeserved nature and to express its freedom of choice. Divine grace has historically and consistently conveyed God’s willingness to deal with mankind in the most undeserved fashions. In each case the choice is God’s as to whom he will show such unmerited favor to. When everyone of us deserved to be condemned because of our sin, God intervenes to show mercy on some…those who believe his promises…those who engaged him by faith.

It is also true that we humans get our inclinations for justice from God our Creator. He shared this trait with humanity. But that does not automatically mean we are ‘just’ in our behavior or that we hold fair views in all things. We all know there are times we actually reject what’s pure, consistent, warranted, fair, right, and just. Obviously, at times our system of justice needs to be updated and corrected to match our Creator’s. Certainly, we correctly expect God to do right and be fair.  

Now there are a few questions I hope to answer through this study:

1) What does it mean when the God of love says He loved Jacob but hated Esau?

2) Was God fair in putting Israel aside temporarily? What about all of God’s national promises?    

3) Have the promises of God failed Israel? Can they fail in our case also?   

4) After looking at His record, can God still be trusted today?

LESSON:

GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN ISRAEL’S PAST SELECTION IS ACCORDING TO GRACE. (Rom. 9:6-13)

Rom. 9:11, (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

The “purpose of God according to election might stand” is key to grasping the importance of this passage.

“The purpose of God according to election means His determination to distribute His favors according to His sovereign will and good pleasure. This verse, incidentally, disproves the idea that God’s choice of Jacob was based on His foreknowledge of what Jacob would do. It specifically says that it was not made on the basis of works!”^[a]

Another point that needs to be understood from the outset is this term, “him that calleth”.

“God’s plan (8:28; 9:11), and not man’s works (4:2–6), is the basis of His election.”^[b]

GOD’S CALLINGS IN QUESTION: WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR ALL OF GOD’S CALLINGS CONCERNING ISRAEL? GOD’S CALLINGS ARE CONSISTENT WITH HIS PLAN. Rom 9:6-7, Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: [7] Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

The significance of “seed” contrasted with “children” is vital to our understanding.  

     1.  Historically Who Did God Call?

         a. God Called the Second-born Isaac Instead of Ishmael. The example of Ishmael and Isaac. Rom. 9:6, Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

God’s Callings is always effective, and God’s Word and Promises are never barren nor voided.

This verse is the heart of this discussion, and it supports the credibility of all of God’s claims, purposes and promises concerning Israel.  And reassures the Believer that there will be no breach of promise concerning our salvation.

                 1) They Are Not All Israel, Which Are of Israel. There is a difference between the Physical Descendants and the Spiritual Children of Abraham. God’s blessings did not belong to someone merely because they had the birthright or ethnically traced their heritage back to Abraham. He had offsprings by Hagar, Sarah, and Katurah, but the “Seed” was called in Isaac!

Rom. 9:7, Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called (Rom. 9:6-7).

God chose Isaac (Abraham's son through Sarah) over Ishmael (his son through Hagar).  Isaac in this usage is the “Promised Seed” of Abraham and as such, he is a picture and type of the Lord Jesus Christ the Promised Seed.  Just as in Isaac shall the seed be called also in Christ shall we be counted for the seed—heirs of God and children of promise!

Gal 4:28, Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Gal 3:26-29, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. [27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

                2) The Children of the Promise Are Counted for the Seed.

Rom. 9:8, That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. [9] For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

                       a)  Nationally: Nationality and Being Born a Jew or a Descendant of Abraham has never been the basis for a person becoming an heir to the promises of God.  God’s sovereign election was never based on physical lineal descent.  Just because a person was born a Jew, does not automatically mean that they are saved.  It has always been salvation through faith and therefore we see how God can now justify Gentiles who believe on Christ.

                       b)  Spiritually: The principles of salvation are set forth in the calling and sovereign election of God because of His grace and through faith.  That means that salvation is not according to the products of the flesh or human desires, works, and efforts.  Those who believe the “promise” concerning the Seed Christ, are the Spiritual Children of Abraham.  These are the saved according to the grace of God and not according to their works!

        b.  God Called the Second-born Jacob Instead of Esau.  The example of Esau and Jacob

Rom. 9:10-13, And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; [11] (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) [12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. [13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

God chose Jacob (second-born twin of Isaac) over Esau (firstborn twin). Some have been troubled over Paul's statement here in verse 13: “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” It should be noted that the statement obviously does not refer to the two boys, but to the nations they founded, namely, Israel and Edom. This Old Testament prophet Obadiah clearly tells us why God hated Edom.

“God’s “love” for Jacob was revealed in His choice of Jacob and God’s “hatred” for Esau was seen in His rejecting Esau for the line of promise. Hatred in this sense is not absolute but relative to a higher choice (cf. Matt. 6:24; Luke 14:26; John 12:25).”^[c]

“The words Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated must be understood in the light of the sovereign decree of God that stated, The older shall serve the younger. The preference for Jacob is interpreted as an act of love, whereas bypassing Esau is seen as hatred by comparison. It is not that God hated Esau with a harsh, vindictive animosity, but only that He loved Esau less than Jacob, as seen by His sovereign selection of Jacob.

This passage refers to earthly blessings, and not to eternal life. God’s hatred of Edom doesn’t mean that individual Edomites can’t be saved, any more than His love of Israel means that individual Jews don’t need to be saved. (Note also that Esau did receive some earthly blessings, as he himself testified in Gen. 33:9.)”^[d]

    2.  God’s Callings Demonstrate His Absolute Sovereignty! 

In each case here (9:6-13), God rejected men who had been firstborn into patriarchal families. In each case the parent wished to see the rejected one inherit the promise. Abraham pleaded for Ishmael (Gen. 17:18) and Isaac attempted to pass the blessing on to Esau (Gen 27:1,4, 30, 33). 

In both cases God rejected the ideas, desires, works, efforts, physical origin, and plans of men to accomplish His sovereign will!  Why is it then, difficult to accept the fact that UNBELIEVING Israel has been set aside?  The point here is simple, God’s callings in the past are consistent with his present work in the world.  His plan of redemption still stands on the same principles.  Salvation by Grace through Faith!

CONCLUSION:

The entire redemptive economy of God rests upon the foundation of his unchanging nature and character, therefore we can rest without any prospect of disappointment! God is merciful, all-powerful, and faithful. He can be trusted!

God’s fairness with Israel can be observed in the believing minority and with the blinded majority.  It was God’s fathomless wisdom (Rom. 11:2-4) and finished work (Rom. 11:5-6) which served as the main factors among the believing minority.  In contrast, the blinded majority rejected Christ and fell under God’s judgment in the form of a national stupor, snares, and servitude in accordance with verses seven through nine of chapter eleven.  All of this demonstrates the fairness and consistency of the Lord in dealing with Israel. God governs Himself by fixed principles and pure righteousness always.

After looking at his record, can God still be trusted today?  The answer is absolutely…yes of course!  God has been faithful to His redemptive plan as demonstrated throughout the history of Israel. Therefore, we have every reason to believe He will be faithful to His promises to us.

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^[a] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1717.

^[b] John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 477.

^[c] John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 477.

^[d] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1717.

Now that's a Burden!

 

ROMANS 9:1-5 (Vs 14)

SUBJECT: ROMANS/ ISRAEL’S PAST

THEME: the basis of God’s entire economy of redemption rest upon the foundation of his nature and character, therefore we can rest without any prospect of disappointment in his mercy, power, and faithfulness.

INTRODUCTION:

If God is fair in his dealings with Israel, then the rest of humanity can unreservedly entrust their eternal future with him.  However, if he was unfair in his dealings with the nation of Israel, then how can we as gentile Christians even begin to rest in him for our own eternal destiny?

There are several questions I hope to answer from this passage and this chapter in Romans:

1) Is salvation based on our good works or is it based on the calling and compassion of God?     

2) What does it mean when the God of love says he loved Jacob but hated Esau?

3) How can we reconcile God’s sovereignty with human responsibility?    

4) Have the promises of God failed Israel? Will they fail us also?   

5) After looking at his record, can God still be trusted today?

RELEVANCE: Basically, God exercises the prerogatives of a sovereign God and man functions within the orbit of God’s will as a free moral agent. In both instances neither violates the opportunities and choices of the other. It is this understanding that sets the stage as we come into Romans chapter nine.

MESSAGE:

God’s sovereignty and human free will (responsibility) are taught throughout chapters 9 -11 in Romans. Romans 8:29-30 is one of the most difficult passages in all of Scripture because it deals with the subjects of moral responsibility of mankind and sovereign prerogatives of God.  The key to unlocking this blessed passage is some understanding of the words “foreknow,” “predestinate,” “called,” “justified,” and “glorified.”  These words stretch all the way from eternity past through fleeting time and on into eternity future, but they assure the believer of God’s grace, governance, and consistency.  They focus the mind on the difficulty of reconciling divine election with human free will.  For humanity this is challenging but God has never been confused on this issue or any other. To be sure this is a topic of great difficulty, but both concepts are clearly taught throughout the Word of God, and both concepts should be embraced by our faith. 

I.               A Sincere Desire to See the Nation of Israel Saved. Vs 1-4

Paul’ s burden for the salvation of his kinsman, the nation of Israel.    

Rom 9:1, I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

I must admit that the thoughts of Paul cause me to marvel at his Christ-likeness. I am not comfortable placing myself in this company at all; please do not mistake my efforts to treat this passage accurately with some measure of attainment on this level. That would be a gross mistake and miscarriage of the depth and power of this passage.

1. PAUL HAD AN AWARENESS OF HIS FEELINGS FOR ISRAEL

1. He was Motivated to Speak Truthfully in Christ

a.      He made an astonishing and remarkable statement about his feelings towards his fellow Jews who have rejected Christ.

b.     He desired to show the peculiar tragedy of the Jews rejecting their Messiah. As a Jew himself, he understands this tragedy in a unique way.

c.      He was motivated to refute charges brought against him that he has become indifferent or hostile to the Jews. He shows his deep concern for them.

d.     He hoped that by explaining the situation, some Jews may come to understand the truth and believe the gospel. 

2. His Conscience Witnessed on His Behalf

a.      Paul is attesting that his own conscience is a witness that what he is saying is true. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that a person’s conscience is an independent witness of that person’s declarations. “The extent to which the conscience is saturated with Scripture determines the extent to which one can depend on their conscience.”

b.     The conscience refers to a state of awareness or a sense that one's actions or intentions are either morally right or wrong, along with a feeling of obligation to do the right thing. Our conscience is only as good or as valid as the standard by which it measures and evaluations our thoughts, motives, decisions and actions.

c.      Dr. Sam Horn observed, “The conscience is an inner human faculty corrupted by sin and the Fall. And the Holy Spirit is the divine agent God uses to begin His redemptive work in a believer. The Spirit takes someone who is dead in sin and darkened in their understanding (Eph. 4:18) to someone who has life and the eyes of their heart enlightened (Eph. 1:17-18).”

3. His Conscience was Illuminated by the Holy Ghost

a.      Dr. S. Horn also said, “This transformation and renewal of our conscience is brought about as the Spirit takes residence in our heart and begins to influence our inner man.”

b.     The Spirit reveals God's truth, and God's truth renews our conscience. As the Spirit educates the believer's conscience with the things of God, the personal standard formed by the conscience begins to align with the standard of revealed truth.

c.      His conscience, in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, attests the truth of what he is saying.^[1]

d.     By repetition in positive and negative terms (internally attested by the witness of his own conscience [cf. comments on 2:15] in the presence of the Holy Spirit) Paul affirmed his deep anguish of heart over the rejection of the gospel by the vast majority of Jews. ^[2]

Our consciences must be captivated by the Word of God. As the Spirit of God continually impresses our consciences as yielded believers with the purposes of God, which are revealed through the Word of God, we can boldly live for God, confident that we are pursuing the will of God.

To grow in holiness, two things need to happen. First, our conscience needs to be recalibrated by God's Word so that it becomes a more accurate judge. Second, we need to live each day with a clear conscience, never going against what the inner voice is saying. A clear conscience is a beautiful thing.

In addition, we today must understand the goal is not merely to see the Nation of Israel in their own land or that they should persist as controllers to occupy the Land of Israel. We should be aware of their need for Christ as we seek to reach them with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are not primarily interested in the nation occupying their land or God’s land; instead, we must be focused on seeing them saved through gospel presentations and sharing Christ.

        B.  PAUL HAD A TREMENDOUS CONTINUING BURDEN FOR ISRAEL

Rom 9:2, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

Paul longs in extraordinary love for others to know Christ. In light of the cross of Jesus, we must be filled with compassionate resolve for others to hear the gospel and trust in Christ.

            1.  It Was a Cosmic Burden “Great” (Big, Large, Huge, Mighty, Strong) and “heaviness” (Grief, Sorrow)

            2.  It Was a Continuous Burden “Continual” (Permanent or Without Ceasing) “Sorrow” (A Consuming Grief of Mind that would not go away)

When he thinks first of Israel’s glorious calling, and now of its rejection by God because it rejected the Messiah, his heart is filled with great sorrow and continual grief.^[3]

It is impossible for us to appreciate adequately the anguish of this great apostle for his own nation. His patience in the presence of their persistent persecution is an indication of it. He knew how they felt toward Christ and toward Christianity, for he once felt that way himself. He had been a Pharisee, a leader; he longed for them to come to Christ as he had.^[4]

        C.  PAUL HAD AN ALTRUISTIC COMPASSION FOR ISRAEL

Rom 9:3, For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

When Paul thinks of Israel’s glorious calling and the purpose for with God had chosen them, and now their rejection by God because they had rejected their Messiah, his heart is filled with sorrow and grief.

            1.   His Compassion Reminds us of Moses Regarding Israel's Sinful Condition.

Exod 32:30-32, And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. [31] And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. [32] Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

            2.  His Compassion Reminds Us of Christ Regarding Israel's Sinful Condition.

John 15:13, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

(Matt. 23:37)

That is a level of compassion and love; a selfless love that really is Christ-like. This is what Jesus has done for us as our all-sufficient, sacrificial, atoning substitute. He went to the cross.  He endured the wrath of the Almighty that we in turn might be saved. So that we might not experience God’s wrath. So, the only way we can love people who are unsaved and separated from Christ like this is if Christ produces this kind of love in us.

            3.  Paul’s Compassion Was So Great That He Was Willing to Be Cut off from Christ If His Forfeiture Would Result in the Salvation of His Kinsman Nationally.  I believe this is the highest form of Human love or should I say divine love working in a human heart.  Remember, these are the same people who wanted Paul dead for preaching the Gospel!

Accordingly, then (Romans 9:1-3) Paul had great anguish concerning reaching his Jewish brethren for Christ and he made an incredible, yet true, statement regarding this.  Paul clearly was willing to be accursed from Christ–devoted to perdition–if in exchange it would mean the salvation of the Jewish people.  He was not speaking merely about being excommunicated nor death, but actually being damned to Hell for all eternity if this were possible.  His declaration, the Lord Jesus Christ, his conscience, and the Holy Spirit all testified to the truthfulness of Paul’s statements about the Jewish people. This is a description of his soul-winning passion among his countrymen; he was honestly willing to suffer eternal separation from Christ if by so doing his Jewish brethren would be saved through faith in their Messiah.

        D.  PAUL HAD A NATIONAL FOCUS ON ISRAEL

Rom 9:4, Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, . . ..

Paul declared his great heartbreak that his people by birth, the Jews, have rejected Christ.

As Paul weeps over his people, their glorious privileges pass in review. They are Israelites, members of God’s ancient chosen people.^[5]

APPLICATION: Paul had a burden for all sinners that lead to being completely selfless. His yearning was for a specific ethnic group and there is nothing wrong with such today as long as we realize the world still needs to be reached with the gospel (Matt. 28:19-20). We Christians are called to reach the world with the hope in Christ Jesus. But there is something else here that is noteworthy about Paul’s specific and special burden that all of us can glean.  I believe if we have a burden for someone in particular (an individual) and not only generally for everyone then we will witness to that person. We will also pray for that individual, and perhaps even see them saved. It matters what our primary focus is on. It is not wrong to witness to the masses, but a targeted burden is better for reaching a person with the gospel. If we don’t already have anyone specifically on our hearts to share Christ with, then think about family members, cousins, friends, and work associates, people at the grocery store and such. Go ahead and get out among the lost and ask God to provide opportunities, open your heart and speak to some lost sinner. Everyone can reach one and then move on to the next prospect.

 CONCLUSION:

God’s past dealings with the nation of Israel are based on two things, His grace and government.  His dealings with them in grace involved the privileges of being Israelites, the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, promises, the service in the tabernacle, and the fathers.  The most important blessing is Christ, the Messiah.  God’s governmental dealings with Israel involved His wisdom, will, and Word.  God was governed by fixed principles and not capricious whims.

The basis of God’s entire economy of redemption rest upon the foundation of his nature and character, therefore we can be assured without any possibility of disappointment in his mercy, power, and faithfulness.

Furthermore, the Scriptures say that we all are sinners. Unless God, pure and righteous, take our place and suffered the penalty for our sin, we would have to bear that penalty ourselves. The apostle Paul explained this in Romans 3:10–18: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. [13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: [14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: [15] Their feet are swift to shed blood: [16] Destruction and misery are in their ways: [17] And the way of peace have they not known: [18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.   

Jesus’ death on the cross for us never needs to be repeated, and neither does anyone else ever have to suffer and die as He did. He is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement (Romans 5:20-21; 6:10-11). Yes, Christ died for us. Jesus came so that you and I might transfer our guilt to Him, and accept, by faith, that He is the guiltless One who has received our sin and taken it to Himself.

So, in this light, the only thing you need to do to receive salvation is to literally receive God’s forgiveness. And when you do, you truly have made a choice for life. We cannot simply believe anything about Jesus or be forgiven for any reason though. We must believe the Son of God, Jesus Christ, died for our sins, was buried, and God raised Him up again from among the remaining dead people the third day for our justification before The Father (see 1 Cor. 15:1-4 and Rom 3:21-31). I need you to understand that it is faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel that is the power of God that saves us…that grant us eternal life through Christ (Rom. 1:14-17). Again, receive God’s salvation even now. You can experience God’s spiritual new birth right now!

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1716.

^[2] John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 476.

^[3] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1716.

^[4] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 4 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 709–710.

^[5] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1716.

Our Pursuit and Destiny

2 Peter 1

Peter, the spiritual slave and specially "sent one" of the Lord Jesus, addresses himself to fellow believers who possess the very same precious faith.  We believers have received the righteousness of God through faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.  The primary thrust of Peter’s communications is growth in the Lord through the precious Word of God.  He does not want believers to be immature, lazy, unproductive, and insecure regarding our standing before the Lord. God would have each of us compelled by a vision of maturity as our pursuit and eternal destiny. Are you passionate about growth in godliness?

Through the full personal and experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ, God’s grace and peace can be multiplied in life! This wonderfully issues into meaningful virtuous and godly lifestyles for the people of Christ. Such developments are made possible by the power and calling of a God of brilliant glory and virtue. This is our calling! He has given believers promises that exceed greatness… hope filled encouragements that are truly precious and valuable. Why? It is because they literally fuel our highest God-given dreams and enable our profound spiritually comprehensive transformation in Christ! Beloved, they enable us to share in the divine nature of God and break utterly free from the corrupting influences of this world system.

While we have been given these incredible opportunities, we believers must be zealous and diligent about maturing in the Lord and taking on the character of our gracious Lord Jesus Christ.  Such glorious qualities must be cultivated with determination and constancy thereby ensuring productivity and fruitfulness in the Lord.  For the lazy believer who fails to pursue these outstanding traits, lies spiritual blindness, and forgetfulness about one’s own salvation. A wasted life is of no benefit to the believer, nor to the glory of God.  But, for the diligent in growth there will be a certainty about their own calling and election mingled with an assurance of not falling and stumbling around in a backslidden state.  Peter gives further incentive for spiritual development to the believer grappling with his own personal growth in a painstaking manner.  As he continues, God promises a fully magnificent and marvelous entrance into the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.  What stimulating inspiration for throwing oneself into moral and spiritual growth, progress, and promotion in Christ!

Peter is obviously burdened about this matter and offers immediate help for us through his encouragements and the Word of God.  He persistently reminds us believers and painstakingly rehearses truths already well known to us. Not because he is shallow, but to illuminate the true way ahead. He is confident that his death is near; in this light, he continues to empress us all with the importance of fundamental Bible teachings to stabilizing growing believers in the faith. If Peter emphasized the critical importance of the Scriptures in the very last years of his life then we must take the Word seriously for spiritual advancement today.  

Peter assures believers that our Christian faith is not based on “cunningly devised fables.”  No, when he spoke of “the power and coming” of the Lord Jesus Christ, He spoke concrete truth just as the Old Testament prophecies did.  Peter along with James and John personally witnessed the majesty of Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. This event demonstrated His awe-inspiring power and foreshadowed His coming to the earth in outstanding power and glory.  Moses and Elijah were there to typify the OT and Rapture Saints.  The three Jewish believers were there signifying the believing Jewish population at Christ’s glorious return to the earth. This all transpired on a mountain pointing to the establishment of Christ’s eternal kingdom on earth.  Peter certified these ancient predictions with his own eyewitness account and the very Voice of Jehovah Who gave honor and glory to Christ on this same occasion. God is utterly pleased with His Son, Jesus and validates Christ in connection to these ancient prophecies regarding Messiah.

Peter further explains why these accounts are reliable and trustworthy by pointing out how the Scriptures proclaim a united message, with a common theme, because they came from one heart—The Spirit of God.  These are not “private interpretation” nor did they come from the “will of man.”  No, Scripture came from God using holy men to proclaim His pure unadulterated truth! They still point to a “day star” of hope already rising in the heart of genuine believers.  Jesus Christ will come again and receive us believers unto Himself, but until that time and no matter how dark the day, we still have a “light that shineth in a dark place.”  The Word of God lights the way and enlightens the heart providing powerful hope, brilliant insight and understanding about Christ until He finally comes for us. Yes, beloved…no matter what…Jesus is still our rock-solid hope!

The believer then therefore can count on the Book of Promises because it is “exceeding great and precious.”  As we do so we will continue to escape the corruption and darkness of this world’s system to become more and more like our Savior of glory and virtue. Beloved, maturity is our pursuit and destiny! In doing so, we answer our calling, will be assured or our election, will be fruitful and productive, and will anticipate the day we see our wonderful Savior face to face. 

We Belong To God!

When we count our spiritual blessings we must be careful to note that we belong to God. Fact: God deliberately chose us to become his people; we actually belong to Him!   

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4, According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5, Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6)

This is a tremendous blessing from God our Heavenly Father (Eph. 1:4-6)! He did not choose us because we were deemed worthy or merited it by our outstanding performance. No, His selections are a matter of extraordinary grace. He dealt with us not according to what we deserved, but according to His goodness, love, grace, and mercy (Titus 3:4-7).

God, our Heavenly Father, has chosen us (Eph. 1:4). Look at what verse four says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world….” This of course is the marvelous biblical teaching of election, a doctrine that has caused most of us to scratch our heads. I am among the first to admit I do not fully understand the teaching, but I do believe it.

Very likely all of us as genuine Believers in Christ will agree that salvation begins with God, and not with us. Note the words of our Lord Jesus, “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16 see also Matt 9:12-13). As lost sinners, left to our own traditions and habits, we would never have sought the Lord God (Rom 3:10-11; 1Cor. 2:14); this profound reality is clearly attested in the Word. It was the true and living God who in peerless love sought us out and rescued us from the ravages of awful sin (Luke 19:10; John 6:44, 65).

So what is the Bible referring to when Paul used the term “chosen” in verse four. Well “chosen” means exactly what you think it does: to make a choice; to pick out; to select. In this context it refers to the biblical fact that God choose individuals to salvation. The entire process of being exposed to the Gospel, conviction by the Holy Spirit, and the sinner believing the truth is spelled out in other places (2Thess. 2:13-14). Still the Scriptures repeatedly refer to Believers as “elect according to the foreknowledge of God” (1Pet. 1:2). God actually laid his affections on some and the end result is the salvation of those selected. The Scriptures teach that we can know whether we are elect by our response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We who hear and believe are also selected by God (1Thess. 1:4-7). According to the Apostle Paul, God made this selection “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). Clearly there was no one around to influence God’s decision! God was entirely free in His choices to save sinners.  

Well, speaking about this subject in this manner makes us a little uneasy at times. Allow me to clarify what I do not mean by the previous statements. There is nowhere in the entire Bible where it is taught that God chooses men to be lost. The fact that He chooses some to be saved does not imply that He arbitrarily condemns all the rest unfairly. God NEVER condemns people who deserve to be saved (there are none)! He is; however, extremely guilty of saving people who ought to be condemned to the Lake of Fire forever! Compare Rom. 9:23 to 9:22.  God prepares vessels of mercy to glory, but He does not prepare men for destruction: “they do this for themselves by their unbelief.” God simply respects their decision (MacDonald).

Sometimes we feel like God is being unfair to some people because they were not selected. The truth is God did not have to select anyone at all and He would have been justified to do so. We all deserve Hell forever since every single one of us has sinned. No one even deserves to hear the Good News once; it is an act of mercy and grace when the message falls upon the ears of lost humanity. When God chose some to be saved it was a demonstration of grace in the extreme. Why should he be viewed as a shady character because He chooses to show love and mercy to people who did not deserve it? The teachings connected to election fully recognize that God is really GOD. He is sovereign, that is, He can do what He wants, when He wants, with whomever He wants, and however often He wants. When he behaves like God, no one can object because we are all fallen sinners who deserve the worst, but God gracious selected some to have His best instead. If one lifeguard discovers four people drowning, but he only manages to rescue three of them, is he a villain because he did not save all of them? It has been well said, God can do as He pleases, although He never pleases to do anything unjust. If left alone, ALL men would be lost. Does God then have the right to show mercy to some?

No doubt someone is thinking to themselves, “This is not the full picture!” What about human free will and the power of human choice? If you are asking this question you would be correct to do so. The incredible Word of God squarely teaches human responsibility also. The same Bible declares sovereign election and human responsibility. One implication of this is that no one can use the doctrine of election as an excuse for not being saved. God makes a bona fide offer of salvation to all people everywhere (John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; Rom. 10:9, 13). Anyone can be saved by repenting of sin, and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, if a person is lost, it is because he chooses to be lost, not because God desires it. Remember God is not willing that any should perish, but that “all should come to repentance” (2Pet. 3:9). Unfortunately many are not willing to repent believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

It remains then that the same Bible explicitly proclaims election and free salvation to all who will receive it.  In fact both teachings are found in the same verse: “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). The first half of the verse speaks of God’s sovereign choice; the last half extends the offer of mercy to all humanity. I fully appreciate the difficulty these teaching present to the human mind. I have decided to accept them both by faith. God said it and I believe it. The questions do not automatically disappear, “How can God choose some and yet offer salvation freely to all men?” Frankly, we may never fully grasp this even with glorified minds…. We must humble ourselves admitting that God is grander and greater than we can comprehend.  

The point here is that we are extremely blessed because we belong to God, and He belongs to us! We can understand and appreciate the fact that we are His, and He is ours. You and I, as the people of God, do not need to accommodate whatever whelms, dictates, or requirements of the lost or unsanctified in order to feel like we ‘fit in.’ We do not need to conduct our lives compromising our spiritual integrity just to gain the approval of the ‘in crowd.’ We do not have to give up our bodies in sinful sex to seize some sense of belonging to someone. We are free from all these type temptations because we understand that we belong to God, and He belongs to us. This is the wonderful gift He affords us when we drink in deeply the truth that He selected you and me for Himself. What an awesome privilege afforded us as Believers. This we can rejoice in and give thanks unto the God who chose us for Himself! Beloved, bless the LORD for this completely outrageous spiritual blessing! Live daily in freedom from the temptation to compromise to merely be accepted by worldly and wicked individuals. The most important Person in the universe is your Heavenly Father; this is enough for certain. Beloved, acknowledge how blessed you are and live in the power and grace of belonging to Almighty God!