Daily Word

“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But What is God’s reply to him? “ I have kept myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:3-6. In Elijah’s time there was wholesale apostasy, and yet the presence of a remnant of the faithful indicated that God had not fully and finally rejected His people. Paul’s thinking about the remnant is rooted in the teaching of Isaiah, whose son Shear-jashub’s name means “a remnant shall return.” ELECTION and Grace are inseparable, for both show that salvation is God’s work alone, and that it has nothing to do with works. Today, remember that you were chosen by grace, and nothing you can do will earn you favor with God…you already have His favor…give Him PRAISE!

Daily Word

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am a Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? Romans 11:1-2. The majority of Israel failed to believe. Does this mean that God has rejected his people? Paul presents himself as an example of the remnant that has been preserved, a remnant that indicates that God is not finished with Israel and that He will fulfill the promises made to His people. Foreknew reaches back to the OT, where the word “know” emphasizes God’s special choice of, or covenantal affection for, his people. The Bible is filled with the promises of God…Like many of Israel, what promise(s) are you failing to believe in God for?

Daily Word

But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” But of Israel he says, “ All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people. Romans 10:19-21. The failure of the Jews cannot be excused because they did not hear the message, or because they did not understand it. Moses and Isaiah contrast God’s own people with those who lack understanding, and with those who were not God-seekers but who were brought to know Him. The prophesy of Isa. 65:1 has been fulfilled in that the Gentiles who did not seek after God have now experienced God’s saving promises. Israel, on the other hand, has fulfilled the words of Isa. 65:2. They have rebelled against and disobeyed the gospel message. Still, God extends His hands to them, inviting them to be saved. On the other hand, God still longs for all to be saved. Though it may not seem impossible to understand how both these statements are true, the bible teaches both, and one should not use either truth to deny the other. Do you put in enough time in the Word to know why you believe what you believe, or do you simply follow hanging on to the coat tails of those who do?

Daily Word

But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” Romans 10:18. The immediate context of the citation from Psalm 19:4 is that of God’s general revelation (Ps. 19:1-3). Paul’s use of it to prove from scripture that Israel has heard the message of God implies that his quotation of this section of the psalm carries with it the teaching of the entire psalm, which speaks of both general revelation in nature and special revelation in His word. The latter takes place in the context of the former. The underlying logic may be: if those without special revelation have “heard” the message of God’s glory in creation, how much more have those who received special revelation heard that message. The special revelation refers to the proclamation of the gospel message. Today, stand up, step up, and speak up…proclaim the gospel message to someone that needs to hear it in your circle of influence!

Daily Word

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:14-17. With a series of rhetorical questions, Paul considered the chain of events necessary for a person to be saved. Vs. 13 is linked to vs. 13 with the word “call”. The logic of these verses is clear: First, People will call on Jesus to save them only if they believe He can do so; Second, belief in Christ cannot exist without knowledge about Him; Third, one hears about Christ only when someone proclaims the saving message; Fourth, the message about Christ will not be proclaimed unless someone is sent by God to do so. That is why Paul was so urgent about spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth, for he believed that the only way to be saved was to hear and believe in the gospel. It is not enough to let your life demonstrate an example of Christianity to those around you. You must share the gospel with others. When was the last time you did so?

Daily Word

For the scripture says, “everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:11-13. Paul again cites Isa. 28:16 to emphasize that trusting in Christ (not works righteousness) is the pathway to salvation. Shame here refers to the end time humiliation that those judged on the last day will experience when they are sent to hell. God bestows His saving riches on all, both Jews and Gentiles who call on Him. Paul goes on to quote from Joel 2:32…”Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” We see here that the Lord is “Lord of all” meaning no respecter of man…but how is “Lord of all” applied in your life and daily walk?

Daily Word

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:8-10. In the parallelism of vs.10 Paul reverses the order of verbs in vs.9 and thereby indicates that heart- belief and mouth confession belong together for justification (“righteousness’) and salvation. Saving faith is not mere intellectual agreement but deep inward trust in Christ at the core of one’s being. Many today confess to be Christian demonstrating a faith that appears to be “head-faith” lacking the depth to reach the heart. Do you trust Christ at the core of your being or have you simply settled for an intellectual agreement that has failed to travel any farther than “head-belief?”

Daily Word

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, who will ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is to bring Christ up from the dead. But what does it say? ”The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim). Romans 10:5-8. Paul quotes Lev.18:5 regarding the righteousness that is based on the law, to show that those who keep the law will attain life. But as Paul has already shown, life will not come in this way since all violate the law. Paul then quotes Deut. 30:12-14 to show the contrast between the righteousness based on faith and the righteousness based on the law. The righteousness based on faith reinterprets these OT statements and sees them now fulfilled in Christ. There is no need to travel to heaven to bring Christ to earth, for God has already sent Him into the world. Nor should anyone think they must bring Christ up from the realm of the dead, for God has raised Christ from the dead. What God requires is not superhuman works but faith in the gospel Paul preaches. Do you base your righteousness on the law and “works” or on faith?

Daily Word

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:1-4. A heartfelt appeal to the sympathy of his fellow Christians, the pathos of which is underlined by his recent reference to his relatives in the flesh. Paul’s concern in Chp 9 was with the salvation of the Jews, not merely with their role in redemptive history. He speaks here from personal experience, as to both the reality of the zeal and its wrong-headed and wrong-hearted character. Even in the context of the covenant God had made with them, they perverted His grace by seeing it as dependant on their own law keeping. The only hope you have of righteousness before God is complete submission in Christ. There is NOTHING else that you can do…period! On a scale of 1-10 where would you rate your submission unto Christ?

Daily Word

What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Romans 9:30-31. Having accounted for Jewish unbelief in terms of divine sovereignty, Paul now diagnoses it is due to a fatal prior commitment to a false way of righteousness. Divine sovereignty and the guilt of human willingness are for Paul two aspects of reality. By God’s grace and sovereignty, Gentiles who did not seek God’s righteousness have now received it faith through in Christ, but Israel as a people have failed to receive it because they sought it by legal means in which it could not be found. Christ has been to the Jews a stumbling stone over which they have fallen. There are many things we do today thinking that because of them we will look good or find greater acceptance in God’s eyes. What is it that has become a stumbling stone for you?

Daily Word

As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call beloved.” And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” Romans 9:25-26. Paul quotes Hos. 2:23 and 1:10 to illustrate the stunning grace of God- that those who are not His people…will be called “sons of God.” In calling the Gentiles into salvation, God calls sinful people to Himself, just as in saving Israel He showed mercy to the undeserving. No one can presume on God’s grace. In calling anyone to salvation, He shows undeserved mercy to those who were not His people. Meditate on this one today and recognize just how undeserving you were because of the sin in your life. Remind yourself of His great mercy upon your life today as live and walk as “sons of God.”

Daily Word

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory- even us whom he called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles. Romans 9: 22-24. The addition of “beforehand” in connection with the vessels of mercy may be pointing to the mercy that originates in God’s good pleasure from eternity, while the wrath in view is in direct response to existing ungodliness and unrighteousness. The distinction between the elect and reprobate does not lie in anything in themselves (all deserve wrath), but exclusively in the will of God. Within that context, however, the objects prepared for destruction experience the wrath that is the only possible and just reward for sin. God created a world in which both His wrath and mercy would be displayed. Indeed, His mercy shines against the back drop of His wrath, showing thereby that the salvation of any person is due to the marvelous grace and love of God. If this is difficult to understand, it is because people mistakenly think God owes them salvation!

Daily Word

You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will.” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? Romans 9:19-21. By what right can God lay the blame for their sins on those He has hardened against Himself? Paul answers partially in terms of human experience. It is unreasonable and irreverent for anyone to question the righteousness of God’s ways. Potters have every right to do as they please with the clay. All belong to “the same lump” of fallen humanity in Adam; all actively sin even before God hardens them in sinning. That God should show mercy to any from the Adamic lump and create vessels of honor from it is the kindness of grace; that others should become vessels for lesser use is a matter of His sovereign prerogative and is itself a display of perfect justice towards them. It doesn’t mean we give up on those around us; we keep preaching the gospel and living a Christ like example. However, recognize also that without His sovereign justice His love would lack merit and His grace would be cheap.

Weekend Quote

Self is one of the toughest plants that grows in the garden of life. It is, in fact, indestructible by any human means. Just when we are sure that it is dead, it turns up somewhere as robust as ever to trouble our peace and poison the fruit of our lives. ~ A.W. Tozer

Weekend Quote

A thousand voices clamor for attention, and a thousand causes vie for our support. But until we learned to be satisfied with fellowship with God, until He is our rock and our fortress, we will be restless with our place in the world. ~ Erwin W. Lutzer

Daily Word

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “for this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills and, and hardens whomever he wills. Romans 9:16-18. It was God who spoke those words to Pharaoh through Moses (Ex. 9:16), but for Paul the words of scripture and the voice and authority of God are one. The divine choice is an expression of free and sovereign grace. It is not merited by anything in those whom are chosen. God owes sinners no mercy of any kind, only condemnation; so it is a wonder that He should choose to save any of us. Like every truth about God, the doctrine of election involves mystery, and it sometimes stirs up controversy. But in scripture it is a pastoral doctrine, helping Christians to see how great is the grace that saves them, and moving them to respond with humility, confidence, and praise! Again, take some time and meditate on this…look back over the past couple of days and reread what has been posted. Put it all together and read it through as one whole piece.

Daily Word

As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Romans 9:13-15. Paul explains by citing two biblical texts (Ex.33:19, 9:16) from which he concludes that God is righteous in showing mercy to some while he hardens His heart to others. When God shows mercy it is not a person receiving a reward earned by one’s own efforts, but God’s sovereign free grace extended to persons who are morally incapable of any acceptable effort. God owes mercy to none, so there is no injustice when mercy is not shown. Mercy is a divine prerogative; it rests on God’s good pleasure. When God “hardens” Pharaoh’s heart, He does not create fresh evil in it, but gives Pharaoh over to his already evil desires as an act of judgment, resulting eventually in God’s display of “power” in the destruction of Pharaoh’s army. What is it exactly about this passage that makes you feel a little uncomfortable; has it become clear to you yet that there are some who are not chosen by God?

Daily Word

For this is what the promise said: “about this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing good or bad- in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of Him who calls- she was told, “ the older will serve the younger.” Romans 9:9-12. When looking at predestination the case of Jacob and Esau clinch the argument in three ways: 1) because they were twins, as nearly equal in nature as possible; 2) because the purpose of God reversed even the small distinction that did exist, by causing the older brother to serve the younger; 3) because the purpose of God was stated before they were born (and therefore was not dependent on their actions). Election is not based on foreseen actions, deeds, or faith. Rather, it is based on God’s sovereign predestined grace. Remember to go back and look at yesterdays post…Again, meditate on this for a bit and be reminded you were CHOSEN!

Daily Word

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” Romans 9:6-8. Even though many Jews have failed to believe; God’s promise to them has not failed, for there was never a promise that every Jewish person would be saved. It was never the case that all the physical children of Abraham were truly part of the people of God; for Gen. 21:12 teaches that the line of promise is traced through Isaac, not Ishmael. In the Old Testament era, natural descent did not automatically guarantee inheritance of the promise. God chose who should inherit it. Meditate on this one long and hard today…as scripture(s) over the next couple of days will challenge that which many have been taught and believe as truth. If there was never a promise for that every Jew (God’s chosen people) be saved…Why would He promise that every gentile be saved?

Daily Word

I am speaking the truth in Christ- I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit- that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. Romans 9:1-3. Here Paul himself now accounts for rejection by most of his fellow Jews. Scripture nowhere defines “conscience.” Here, Paul clearly thinks of it as self-awareness informed by divine revelation. Paul is taking a lawful oath to swear to his sincerity. Although Paul is an apostle to the Gentiles, he echoes the sentiments of Moses in the face of the unbelief of the Jews. They are his own countrymen and he agonizes over them. To be willing to suffer God’s curse for them is a strong statement of love. So many Christians today are too caught up in themselves seeking only that which God can do for them. Never giving any real thought to those living the world around them except to point out their sin. When was the last time you held sorrow or your heart anguished over those dead in sin around you?