The Way-An in-depth study of God's Word with Paul Orr

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Paul comes to the end of his great treatise on the doctrine of salvation. God has taken this brilliant, well educated, skilled man and anointed him to put in writing for the entire world God's great gift of salvation. A gift available to all mankind through the amazing sacrifice of His only begotten Son Jesus. 

The theology presented by Paul is overwhelming and outstanding. Paul as he catches his breath from this great work suddenly breaks out in a hymn of praise. As it has been said, the great theology that Paul has laid out before us now turns to doxology.

What Paul declares to us in this doxology should leave us all breathless regardless of how many times we read it. Paul does his absolute best to describe for us the greatness of God. Again, inspired by the Hopy Spirit, he does an outstanding job. Yet God's greatness has no bounds, no limits. The more we realize the greatness of God the greater He becomes.

Paul concludes this great doxology by declaring, "for of Him and through Him and to Him are all things". This concluding statement may well be one of if not the greatest statements in the bible. It is written in the simplest of terms yet the depth, the expanse of its meaning is boundless. For all of eternity we will forever be learning the greatness of God.

To God be the glory forever!

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As we began our last study in chapter 11, Paul made it quite clear that God had not permanently cast away His chosen people, Israel. Paul now continues in chapter 11 establishing that Israel has not stumbled and fallen beyond recovery. Paul's answer is firm. Israel has absolutely not fallen beyond recovery. God has elected Israel. In spite of their current rejection of Jesus as their Messiah, the promises that God made to Abraham and the patriarchs stand. Israels rejection of Christ does in no way nullify God's unconditional promise of their future restoration.

Paul now speaks directly to the gentile church. He wants us to understand first that our salvation was made available to us because of the falling away of Israel. We are enjoying the blessings of God's promises made to Abraham. However, our salvation is meant to provoke Israel to jealousy in order that they would indeed one day embrace Jesus as their messiah.

Furthermore, he warns extensively against spiritual pride. Paul makes clear that our understanding of who Israel is according to the word of God is essential. Paul reveals a previously unrevealed truth. Blindness in part has happened to Israel, but that blindness will be removed when the fullness of the gentiles comes in. The rapture of the church will bring the fullness of the gentiles to completion. Then will Israel's blindness and hardening be removed. As Paul declares according to scripture, all of Israel will be saved.

 A failure to understand Israel according to the scriptures will lead to the despicable transgression of spiritual pride. It will cause us to be ignorant with an inflated opinion of who we truly are.

Israel will be restored. We cannot even begin to imagine how glorious it will be when they are fully restored. Jesus is coming soon and when He does, all of Israel will recognized and receive Him as their Messiah. What a glorious day that will be!

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As we begin chapter 11, Paul makes his final transition concerning God's faithfulness to Israel. He does so by asking rhetorically, "has God cast away His people." The manner in which Paul asked this question was to elicit a negative reply. To ensure there is no misunderstanding concerning the fact that God has not cast away Israel, Paul answers with his familiar affirmative, certainly not. According to the scriptures, there is a future restoration for Israel.

Paul presents himself as the first example showing that God is not finished with Israel. Paul declares the fact that he is an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Paul, once one of the most bitter enemies of Jesus Christ and the Way, was now a part of the body of Christ. Paul was living proof there were some Jews chosen by God who by faith embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Next, he presented Elijah as a biblical historical illustration that God had not cast away Israel. Elijah at the lowest point of his prophetic ministry thought that he alone was the only one in all of Israel who remained faithful to the true and living God. He actually lashed out in prayer against his people. God graciously answered his prayer and told Elijah that there was a remnant of 7000 men in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal.

Paul, from this historical illustration, supported by the scriptures, declared that as God had a remnant in the days of Elijah, so to there was a remnant in Paul's day, The remnant in Elijah's day, in Paul's day and up to our present day, is a remnant according to the election of grace. Because of God's electing grace, there has always been a remnant prior to the church age, during the church age and will continue until the return of Christ

What then? There is a majority in Israel that sought to obtain the righteousness of God through the keeping of the law rather than submitting to the righteousness of faith that only comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result, this unbelieving majority is experiencing God's judicial punishment. They should have believed, could have believed but refused to believe. Now there is a spiritual blindness upon them. They are now living in spiritual drowsiness. They have a deadness towards spiritual things.

 On the other hand, there is a faithful, believing minority, a remnant, elected according to grace, that have embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is this faithful remnant that bears clear witness to the fact that God has indeed not cast away His chosen people, Israel

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In our last study, Paul transitioned from Israel's past election to their present rejection of their Messiah. He transitioned from the sovereignty of God displayed in His Divine election to the human responsibility of responding to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul declared that the gospel is near, accessible and simple. He declared that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

This immediately gives way to a series of questions. How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?

Paul answers according to the scriptures. Preachers had certainly been sent yet not all chose to obey the gospel. Paul concludes and confirms that true saving faith comes by the hearing of God's word.

Several more excuses are addressed concerning Israel's present rejection of the gospel. First was the claim that they had not heard. Paul answers, yes indeed they did hear. There was no room for any doubt at all. Okay, maybe they did hear but they did not understand. Paul again responds and does so by quoting the scriptures according to Moses and Isaiah. Israel had indeed heard the word of God and understood the word of God. The problem was not hearing or understanding. They were a disobedient and contrary people. They chose not to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In spite of their disobedience and contrary ways, God's hands are still stretched out towards Israel. God's love for them has not waned in the slightest.

 

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We continue to look at three critical chapters in the middle of Romans, chapters 9-11. In these chapters Paul will clearly establish that God's promises to Israel are indeed valid and will be fulfilled exactly. Paul makes the case by showing us Israel's past election, their present rejection and their future restoration. In the past few studies, we have looked at their past election. In this study we will begin to look at their present rejection.

Paul begins by asking that familiar question of his, "What shall we say then"? Paul asks this question as he not only transitions from Israel's past to their present, but also from God's divine sovereignty displayed in election to human responsibility.

From our human perspective, it is impossible to reconcile the sovereign election of God with human responsibility. Yet we must remember that nowhere in the scriptures are we commanded to choose between these two divine truths. Both come from God. Both are according to the scriptures. Both are essential and mutually true in God's plan of salvation.

While human responsibility and God's sovereign election are impossible to reconcile this side of heave, do not miss the universal appeal of the gospel presented in the last half of our study. Righteousness of faith found only in the gospel of Jesus Christ is available, accessible and simple. No difficult works are needed. No special knowledge is needed. One simply needs to believe in the plain, simple gospel of Jesus Christ. In order for a person to be saved, they need only confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead and they shall be saved. For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

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This week we continue our critical our study in chapters 9-11, a continuation on the doctrine of salvation. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, has brilliantly declared to us the gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God unto salvation. Yet a question looms. What about Israel? According to the scriptures, God has made tremendous and undeniable promises to Israel. Promises that are unconditional and depend on God alone. These promises centered on Jesus, their messiah who they crucified and were now in the process of rejecting. Had God failed to keep His promise to Israel? Had God failed to keep His word?

Paul begins to answer this question by presenting to us the righteousness of God revealed in His sovereign choice. Last week we looked at two illustrations of God's sovereign election according to the scriptures. This week we will look at one more. God's sovereignty displayed in His Divine election is a subject that is far beyond any human mind yet to us as believers it is critical that we embrace it by faith.

It has been said, "Try to explain election and you may lose your mind. Explain it away and you will lose your soul."

The sovereignty of God displayed in election must be embraced by faith. No one is able to fully understand the sovereignty of God. Yet as believers there is great comfort when we embrace the reality of God's sovereignty by faith. It will develop a humility in our walk with God and even more, will make us more Christ like in our Christian journey.

Remember that the gospel of Jesus Christ is based on His word. We can be secure in the promises God has made to us according to His word through Christ since He indeed is keeping His promises to Israel. God's promises to Israel are indeed valid, they have been fulfilled, are being fulfilled, and will be fulfilled completely. God is true! His word is true! God's word to Israel is sure. His Word to us is sure as well. We are eternally secure in Christ Jesus.

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As we begin the next three chapters, it may appear as though we are making an abrupt turn. Yet we are not. The next three chapters are a critical continuation on the doctrine of salvation. So critical, that a failure to fully grasp chapters 9-11 actually lessens the greatness of what we have learned up to this point.

Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, has brilliantly declared to us the gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God unto salvation. He has taken us from condemnation, to justification, to sanctification and finally to glorification. In all of this declaring the fact that we are eternally secure in Christ. 

Yet a question looms. What about Israel? According to the scriptures, God has made tremendous and undeniable promises to Israel. Promises that are unconditional and depend on God alone. These promises centered on Jesus their messiah who they crucified and were now in the process of rejecting. Had God failed to keep His promise to Israel? Had God failed to keep His word?

The gospel of Jesus Christ is based on His word. How can we be secure in the promises God has made to us through Christ if He is not able to keep His promises to Israel?  Paul will take the next three chapters to establish the fact, according to the scriptures, that God's promises to Israel are indeed valid and will be fulfilled completely. God is true! His word is true! God's word to Israel is sure. His Word to us is sure as well. We are eternally secure in Christ Jesus.

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Paul is writing to those that have been justified, are in the process of being sanctified and will with absolute certainty be glorified. In our last study we looked at how God is working all things together for good for those who love Him. The idea of working all things together is for our eternal good. It is a working together that is preparing us for eternity.

In this study we will look at all things working together for good for those that are called according to the purposes of God. The idea of being called is to be summoned by royal proclamation. We have been summoned by God according to His purpose. Furthermore, we cannot love God apart from being called according to His purpose.

The key words in this passage are, foreknew, predestined, called, justified and glorified. As it has been said, these words represent the eternal chain of God's working. These words embrace and eternity past, our present temporary time and the certainty of an eternity yet to come.

Many have struggled and argues over this passage. In truth, this passage can only be understood in the realm of God. Things said in this passage are far beyond our ability to even begin to comprehend. We will never understand this passage in human terms, it can only be embraced by faith. Remember, this passage is meant to bring comfort to those of us who are the called according to the purpose of God. 

Paul indeed will conclude this entire passage with words of comfort; the irrefutable fact that absolutely nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God found only in Christ Jesus.

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Paul makes it clear that when we are living in the victory of Christ, persecution, tribulation and suffering will come to us at unexpected times, in unexpected ways and from those we so often expect the least. Living in the victory of Christ does not always appear to be a life of victory.

In light of this, Paul first wants us to know that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in every true follower of Jesus Christ. We have an eternal, unspeakable, unimaginable inheritance with Christ in glory. Regardless of the temporary suffering we will endure, none of it can even begin to compare to the eternal glory that awaits us.

Paul goes on to say that "we know", meaning that we as followers of Christ should possess this knowledge, that all things are working together for our eternal good. Every second of suffering we endure, is all allowed within the sovereignty of God for our eternal good. As a follower of Christ, nothing happens in our life outside the knowledge and sovereignty of God. And all that happens has been allowed for out eternal good.

Knowing this should impact every follower of Jesus in the way that we live for Him. All of us should be living in the victory of Christ to the glory of God.

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Paul encouragingly reminds us that we are not in the flesh but we, who have been justified freely by His grace through redemption that is in Christ Jesus, are in the Spirit. The instant we gave our lives to Christ, we were indwelt and sealed with the Holy Spirit.

We are now debtors to the Spirit and thus are to live according to the Spirit putting to death the deeds of the flesh. Furthermore, we are led by the Spirit, we are sons of God. We have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out Abba, Father. We have been born into the family of God, we are sons of God, moreover we our heirs of God. We have an eternal inheritance based solely on our relationship to God through His Son Jesus. 

Because we are heirs of God, we are joint heirs with Jesus. We are recipients of all spiritual blessings. We will share with Jesus in all the riches of God's kingdom for all of eternity. Yet being a joint heir with Jesus involves more than anticipating the unspeakable glories and riches of heaven. To be a joint heir with Christ means that we will first be fellow suffers with Him.

For the life of a Christian living in true victory, suffering will be the unavoidable prelude to glory. The experience of suffering will come before the experience of glory. 

Suffering with Christ, suffering for Christ is not optional in the victorious Christian life. Only the follower of Jesus who lives in victory will be able to share in the sufferings of Christ. 

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Beginning Sunday May 5th, we have changed locations and will meet on Sundays at 10 am. If you are interested in joining us either live or on Zoom, please contact us at the above email address.