Text: Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

AN ATTITUDE AND ACT OF WORSHIP

Paul has concluded the section dealing with the doctrine of salvation [chap 1-11] and what it means to come to God through faith in Christ. Now he begins to describe how those of us who are in Christ should live. How should we respond to God's great mercy to us?

Despite our wickedness, God’s abundant mercy is showered lavishly upon us is baffling. How then should we respond? As the Jewish people offered killed animals as sacrifices to God, so Christians should offer themselves, our bodies, to Him as living sacrifices every day. This is the most appropriate response. Under the old covenant sacrificial system, every Jew had to be set apart from the herd for that purpose and chose with care to make sure they were acceptable, that is, unmarked and unharmed. Let’s give to God our best shots.

For our world to be acceptable, we must separate from the world, that is worldly thinking and system. The apostle John described this worldly way of living as "the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life" (1 John 2:16). By instinct, all of us chase those things in pursuit of happiness and meaning. We should be transformed moment by moment. We must be changed in how we think, to have our minds renewed so that we can begin to understand God's will for our lives.

God doesn’t have an aversion to pleasure, possessions, and status in various forms. They’re not wrong by themselves unless they become our end goals in life. Instead, we ask, how do these pleasures and possessions help in the fulfillment of the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God? Knowing and doing the will of God only pleases God.

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Text: Romans 11:33-36 ESV

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

-Rom 11:33-36 ESV

UNSEARCHABLE AND INSCRUTABLE

These verses are Paul’s poem, structured much like a hymn. He expresses his profound reaction both to God's ways and His mercy towards sinful human beings. Indeed, God’s goodness is unsearchable and inscrutable. Earlier, Paul wrote about the riches of God's kindness and patience (Rom 2:4), the riches of His glory (Romans 9:23), and His mercy for the world (Rom 11:12). It’s lavish and never-ending.

Human beings cannot simply fathom why God decides what He does. God's ways and thoughts are much higher in level than we do. Isa articulated it by saying,

“ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts” [Isa 55:8,9]

Quoting from Isa 40:31, he asked two questions, “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?' The answer is so obvious that Paul does not bother to respond. We are just filled with awe and wonder, are we not? The only response that makes sense is to worship Him and accept His decisions as right and true.

The third question was taken from Job 41:11, “Who has given a gift to God that God needs to pay back? In other words, who could ever give to God anything valuable enough that God would be in their debt? Paul is driving the hard truth that God simply does not anybody, including ourselves.

These are humbling thoughts, yet reassuring. We don’t need to manipulate. God is on top of everything. Everything that exists has been made for God's purposes. They all reflect glory back to Him. Nothing exists that doesn't serve His great plan and purpose for all things.

Paul finishes his hymn with a statement of great reverence and worship, “ To him be glory forever. Amen.” An affirmation of a reality and a prayer for its soon fulfillment. All the glory will flow to God forever. And, Paul affirms it in the form of a prayer or plea. This desire is highlighted by ending in "amen," meaning "so be it" or "let it be so."

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Text: Romans 11:25-32 ESV

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

26 And in this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

-Rom 11:25-32 ESV

GOD’S MERCY FOR ALL

God’s dealing with the nation of Israel isn’t capricious. God would fulfill His covenant to them in the future. A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Not that every Gentile has to be saved, but this means "as many as will believe," or "the complete number." This is a mysterious truth that we may not grapple with in our minds.

They are enemies of the gospel now but later, God will fulfill His covenant with them. Not all of Abraham’s descendants are true Israel. All true Israel will believe the Messiah someday and be saved. In the future, as prophesied by Isaiah, the Lord will save the ‘true Israel’ from trials and tribulations.’ This would be fulfilled during Jesus’ second coming. As Isaiah prophesied;

“And a Redeemer will come to Zion,

to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.[Isa 55:20]

Paul's words convey the idea that this will include enough Israelites to represent the nation as a whole. But, it does not necessarily include every Israelite living at the time. The sin of the Israelites will be removed when they obey the gospel and trust in Christ for their salvation.

God will surely fulfill His covenant. Why? For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. God gave to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, great and unconditional promises that He would bless them and make them a mighty nation. Since these promises were given by God, they carried the weight of certainty and perfection. God’s promises are God's gifts, are they not? God called the patriarchs to follow Him and He made an everlasting covenant with them that is binding to their descendants.

The Gentiles should watch not to be arrogant. Both have demonstrated disobedience to God, without any doubt. Paul expects that God’s mercy be abundant to the rebellious Jews in as much as He did to disobedient Gentiles. In short, God has mercy is upon all. [Lam 3:22-23]

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God’s Word for Today

18 Jan 2024

22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

-Rom 11:22-24 ESV

THE KINDNESS AND THE SEVERITY OF GOD

The Holy God is severe towards the unbelieving Jews but kind to the undeserving Gentiles. The point raised by Paul is not that Israel is being "cut off" from eternal salvation. Rather, God had "cut off" some of Israel for their rejection of Him, and "grafting in" Gentiles. The context here is not about eternity, but the relationship and communion with God as a nation.

An implication is Israel will return to her special relationship with God when they will come to faith in Christ. Paul is confident that this is Israel's future. That they’re ‘broken off’ temporarily because of their unbelief now. But, God could graft them in easily in the future. 

Paul’s reason is the favor of God to the Gentiles. Since the Gentiles being wild olive branch was grafted in by God while undeserving, it is not hard for God to graft in the natural branch.   How much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree?[v.24]

Paul seems to emphasize to the Gentiles for them to take note that this re-grafting is possible. Second, instead of being proud, they should be humble and glad to look forward to it themselves. After all, God took the wild olive tree, that is, people from pagan religions of the world, and graft them into His own cultivated tree through faith in Christ. Similarly, God can easily graft back into His tree the natural branches – the Jews. 

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God’s Word for Today

17 Jan 2024

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

-Rom 11:17-21 ESV

FEAR GOD BUT NOT PROUD

Because of their unbelief, the Jews were ‘broken off’, that is, pruned away as in olive fruit farming. The metaphor here of wild olive branches, referring to the Gentiles, were grafted in. Thus, the Gentiles is sharing the nourishing root of the tree. This should humble us [Gentiles] and not brag or despise the Jews. Anti-Semitism should have no room among the Christians. We should be fearful not arrogant.

The most obvious reason is that we owe them the blessing. As Paul reminds us, “Remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.” The branch is nothing without the roots. We should not forget our roots. We may have progressed and grown through the years in our spiritual and theological journey. We’re fuitful and are becoming the better version of ourselves. But, we should not despise our humble beginnings – the church and people whom God used to lay the foundation of our lives.

Secondly, the thought of God’s sovereignty. Undoubtedly, God loves His people, the Jews. But, it was not a pampering love. When they insisted in their unbelief, God ‘broke them off.’  For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you if He decides for it. God deserves all the right to do what He wants because He is sovereign.

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Text: Romans 11:11-12 (ESV)

11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

RICHES FOR THE WORLD

Did God cause the Israelite to stumble over Christ, the stumbling stone (Romans 9:32–33) in order to make them fall down? In other words, Paul asks if God caused Israel to be tripped up in order that they might permanently fall and never to rise again. Was this what God wanted to happen for Israel? Paul answers his own question once more with a resounding "By no means!"

Paul argues that God has two purposes for Israel to stumble over Christ by refusing to believe in Him, to wit;

First, Israel's trespass, or sin has made it possible for salvation to come to the Gentiles. When Israel rejected Christ, God used that rejection to make His offer of salvation by grace through faith in Christ available to all people.

Secondly, this provokes Israel to jealousy. Paul expressed this idea in Romans 10:19. God plans to use this favor with God enjoyed by Gentiles in order to provoke many Israelites to eventually seek Him. And, in the same manner, they should believe Christ.

Paul opens up the “How much more questions?” Paul noted that Israel's sin brought the riches of sharing in God's glory to the world. Israel's failure to believe has brought those riches to all the Gentiles. Then how much more will Israel's full inclusion in Christ mean for all of us? Stated in another way, since Israel's sin can result in that kind of glory, it’s unimaginable how much glory will result when Israel accepts Christ!

God has hardened most Israelites to faith in Christ for a time. However, He will eventually bring many Israelites to faith in Christ. And the consequence for us today is life from death for all of us. Hence we can say with Paul in Eph 3:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”

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Text: Romans 11:7-10 (ESV)

7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written,

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that would not see

and ears that would not hear,

down to this very day.”

9 And David says,

“Let their table become a snare and a trap,

a stumbling block and a retribution for them;

10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,

and bend their backs forever.”

HARDENED BY UNBELIEF

The elect [ Jewish and Gentile believers] obtained righteousness from God by faith. Sadly, the rest of the Israelites are hardened.

Paul quoted Isaiah 29:10 and Deut 29:4 to clarify this truth of hardening. In both instances, God was said to have kept Israel from understanding what was true. The people were overcome by a spirit of stupor, or sleepiness, and were not given eyes to see and ears to hear. God was the one who kept them from understanding.

God has hardened them. As the Scriptures say, 'God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.'[v.8 NLT] Is this fair? On God's side, Paul made clear in Romans 9, that God retains the right to give or withhold understanding, to soften or harden hearts, as He sees fit and for His greater purposes. Just as Pharaoh was resistant to God, and so God enhanced that resistance, Israel's "hardening" comes as part of God's overall plan to fulfill His own purposes.

Paul also alluded to Psalm 69:22–23, that this could apply to those Jewish people who have rejected faith in Christ. That these Jewish unbelievers would be trapped and tripped up and punished by their own "table" when they think they are at peace. They would be fooled into complacency, although they are in mortal danger.

David prayed that his enemies would have darkened eyes so they could not see or understand. And, by Paul's implication, the Jewish unbelievers also are so hardened and blinded to the truth., That is, they will be hardened to the truth that Christ is the Messiah. And thus, they refuse to have faith in Christ and be saved by God's grace.

Indeed, persistent unbelief can lead to the hardening of hearts.

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Text: Romans 11:1-6 ESV

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 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?

3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.”

4 But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

-Rom 11:1-6 ESV

A REMNANT CHOSEN BY GRACE

Paul has just written that God has offered Himself to the non-Jewish nations through faith in Jesus, while Israel has rejected the gospel of faith in Christ. Thus, he asks, “has God rejected his people?” "By no means!" This again uses the phrasing mē genoito in the original Greek, a strong, emphatic "may it never be!"

What’s the proof? Paul points to himself as the first evidence. He is an Israelite and descendant of Abraham. More specifically, he belongs to the tribe of Benjamin. Paul becomes one of the most vocal promoters of Christianity of his day. Yet, he still held on to his status as an Israelite. He insists that God's relationship with Israel as a nation continues.

Secondly, God foreknew His people. Paul seems to describe God as foreknowing Israel as a nation or a family (Amos 3:2). That is, God knew Israel as His people before they even existed. God promised that He would never forsake or abandon them (Psa 94:14; 1 Sam 12:22). This promise always stands.

Paul argues God’s faithfulness to His covenant by providing the example of Elijah. Elijah was discouraged thinking no prophet had remained and believed Jehovah except himself. In 1 Kings 19:10, he complained against God's people Israel. They had killed the other prophets of God. They had destroyed the altars used for making legitimate offerings to God. Elijah believed he was the only one left still faithful to the Lord. They wanted to kill him, too. Practically he believed that everyone else has turned away from God and worshiped Baal. He was wrong. God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

Similarly, when we notice that things and circumstances are becoming sour, we feel like Elijah – disouraged and confused. But, God is always faithful. Though most of Israel has missed the righteousness of God by rejecting faith in Christ, a remnant will be saved. They would be faithful to God in and through Christ. There is a remnant chosen by grace.

Having been chosen by God's grace means that they have not earned their place in this faithful remnant of Israelites. Just as Gentile Christians are chosen by God's grace, they have received salvation purely as a gift. Not on the basis of works. Otherwise, it is not grace. Paul wants to be clear the Israelites and anyone have not earned it in any way by being faithful to the law of Moses. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone.[Eph 2:8,9]

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Text: Romans 10:18-21 ESV

18 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 ends of the world.”

19 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.”

20 Then Isaiah is so bold as 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.”

21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

-Rom 10:18-21 ESV

THE GRACE OF GOD TOWARDS THE GENTILES

Once again, Paul is asking rhetorical questions; Have they not heard? Did not Israel did understand? Definitely, the gospel has been dessiminated widely enough among the Israelites and the rest of the world. Paul expresses the spread like creation when God broadcasts His majesty to all.[see Psa 19] By echoing Psalm 19, God has made Himself knowable to humanity by what He has made (Rom 1:19–20). Here, though, Paul insists that God is making Christ Himself known to the world through the preaching of the gospel. The Jews have no reason not to hear or understand the message of the gospel. Believers had been preaching the message in Jerusalem and around Israel for more than 20 years by the time this letter was written.

Like the Israelites, the main reason why people don’t come to Jesus today is not that they have not heard it and could not believe. It’s their willful rejection. And, their continual refusal made their hearts hardened.

By their hardness pf hearts, God expressed His favor to the Gentiles. This is a fulfilment to O.T. prophecy that Paul quoted Deut 32:21. That is, "They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation." In other words, God became angry and jealous because of their idolatry so God has extended His goodness to welcome the Gentiles. This would provoke them to jealousy. Paul exactly referred this as the reason why God saves Gentiles who trust in Christ.

Paul also quotes Isaiah. In the context of Isaiah 65:1, He applies them as an analogy of how God has rescued the Gentiles. He has been found by those who didn't look for Him. He has shown Himself to those who didn't ask Him. Does this mean the Gentiles automatically become part of God’s family? This will bring us back to Rom 9:30-31, when Paul says, “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 failed in reaching that law." God had declared believing Gentiles righteous based only on their faith in Christ.

Today, let’s not forget that God has chosen us, Gentiles, because of His sovereign grace. But we won’t become His child without our faith in Him. [Rom 10:9,10] God extended His favor to the Israelites. Yet, they rejected Christ. As John writes, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”[John 1:11-13]

We can just marvel upon the grace of God. He has been pursuing a people who continually reject Him. This did not deter Him. He extends His favor to all. We found Him when we did not seek for Him. This paradoxical truth should continue to amaze us.

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God’s Word for Today

11 Jan 2024

14 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? 15 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!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

-Rom 10:14-17 ESV

FAITH COMES FROM HEARING THE GOSPEL

The greatest thing to happen for us sinners is to be saved. And, salvation is by faith alone in Christ [v.9,10] And, faith comes only upon hearing the gospel. Can anyone believe in something he’s not aware of? It’s a necessity that sinners must hear the gospel.

Firstly, we must be conversant ourselves about the good news. We can’t give out something we don’t have. What is the gospel?  In 1 Cor 15:3-4, we read, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”  That is the life and works of Jesus must be clear to us. This gospel is the power of God unto salvation.[Rom 1:16]

And this must be presented clearly to the unsaved.  Let us be sure then that they hear and understand the gospel clearly. And that, the Holy Spirit will remove their blindness [2 Cor 4:4], and bring conviction and faith unto them.

This gospel must preached to them. Let us not wait for them to come to us. No one seeks after God.[Rom 3:10] The light must be flashed to the dark. Let’s look for opportunities, even create them to bring the gospel to the lost. Paul is saying of sending gospel proclaimers, “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!” We must go and preach.[Matt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8]

We must be realistic too. Not all who will hear would believe. As Paul writes, “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”[v.16] Paul was saying that people have the choice to believe or not. Thus, we should neither peddle nor coerce them to believe. Convicting of sin and seeing the beauty of the gospel is the work of the Spirit of God.

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