Here's a riddle for you: What do an olive tree and a lump of dough have in common? Listen to this lesson to learn how the Apostle Paul uses these two illustrations to show how God's sovereignty selects groups for certain purposes. Learn about the cause of the blindness of the Jewish nation and how this opened the door for Gentiles to become a temporary channel of blessing to the world. Be warned that this should not lead to pride on their part.

"Lonely, I'm so lonely." Is this the refrain you're singing when you look around at all the people who reject God in the world today? Listen to this lesson to learn about a time when most of the Jewish people were heading down a path of self-destruction and laughing at God's messengers. At the same time there was a remnant of those who decided to prepare their hearts to follow Him. Even though they were ignorant of many of the commandments, God dealt with them graciously. Learn the difference between grace and works and listen to other examples of the Jewish remnant.

Just because you're a powerful warrior for God one day doesn't mean you can't become a whining, sniveling, namby-pamby coward the next. Listen to this lesson to find out how God came to the rescue of this prophet of Israel and interrupted his pity party. Follow Paul's argument for why the Jews should trust that God will keep all His promises to them in spite of their rejections of Him. Gain courage in your own life with the assurance that God is just as faithful to us and see how we can't second guess the methods God uses to fulfill His Word.

Feeling a little dizzy as you struggle to comprehend Romans, chapters 9 and 10? Seize this chance to take another run at understanding the vital concepts before arriving at Romans 11. Put yourself in the Apostle Paul's place as he finds pagan Gentiles believing the gospel message in droves while his own Jewish nation stubbornly believes that being Abraham's descendants give them an automatic ticket to heaven. As their jealous anger boils over, Paul, using Old Testament passages, carefully lays out proof that God will fulfill all His promises. End up ready to tackle the challenging conclusion to this section in Romans 11.

Ancient prognostications about the future of the world splash across the news from time to time. Are any of them worthy of our attention? Listen to the Apostle Paul as he reminds the Jews of their remarkable prophets who laid out the steps they must take to call on the Name of the Lord. Find out how they promised physical deliverance from the wrath of God during the explosive end times and how this applies to both Jews and Gentiles. Gain assurance that what God promises, He will always fulfill.

Will we go to heaven when we die if we've never told anyone that we believe in Jesus Christ for salvation? Listen to this lesson to learn what "confess with the mouth" means in Romans 10:9 with its special emphasis on the Jewish nation. Find out the three phases of salvation and how only one assures us of our eternal destiny and happens the instant we believe in Christ. Learn about the prophesied two returns of the Jews to the land and striking details of the coming Armageddon Campaign.

Dr. Dean wrote a paper entitled "Believe and Confess: Does the Bible Teach a Two-Step Way to Salvation" for a book to be published by Bold Grace Ministries on Difficult Passages for a Free Grace Gospel. Click the Notes link to view this paper.

Are you willing to take your chances that your good deeds are enough to satisfy the perfect righteousness of God? For thousands of years many people have chosen this flawed belief rather than God's plan. Listen to this lesson to learn how Paul stresses that our salvation can never be dependent on what we do but on Christ's death. Learn what the role of the Mosaic Law was and what Paul means when he says, "Christ is the end of the law." Find out how after we are justified by faith in Christ, we receive the imputation of perfect righteousness and are free to learn to walk in obedience to God.

Are we puppets being manipulated to bring about God's plan for history or can we freely make our own choices? Listen to this lesson to learn that God is powerful enough to allow us free will but is nevertheless always bringing about His plans. Follow along to see that in spite of a pause because of the nation Israel's spurning of the Messiah, God's plan for them is still on track. Listen to a quick assessment of what has been covered so far in Romans and learn the difference between salvation and justification with the emphasis on righteousness.

Insistent questions swirl around God "hardening Pharaoh's heart." Could it mean God made Pharaoh do the evil things he did to the Jews? Paul tackles this question by going to Old Testament scriptures. Learn four ways Old Testament scriptures are used in the New Testament. Review the three Hebrew words for "hardened". See how God's sovereignty is expressed in the destiny of nations but that everyone has the free will to choose or reject God's plan of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

One of the most spine-chilling people in ancient history is the cruel Pharaoh of Egypt who allowed appalling disasters, including the death of his own son, rather than free the Jewish slaves. When we read that God "hardened" Pharaoh's heart, does it mean God forced His will on him? Listen to this lesson to learn about God's foreknowledge and man's free will. Find out four ways God used this event to bless the Jews and display His glory to all the nations.