Lesson 436

(Lesson 436)(10-25-12) Romans 11:6-14, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them."

In today's lesson, Paul carefully, and again, explains the differences between the power of "faith" and "works" as they concern eternal salvation. He explains that through the law of works, that was given to Israel, and because of their failure to obey it, the law of grace through faith, was passed to the Gentiles. He, in essence, says that without the law and their disobedience, Israel would not have fallen, and without the fall of Israel, the Gentiles would not have received the gift of eternal salvation by grace through faith.

Thank God that through the faith of those few Jews, who remained loyal to God, the new law of grace through faith in the "works" of Jesus Christ, was given to the Gentiles.

In the final portion of this lesson Paul tells the Gentiles that through the Jews jealousy of them he is trying to provoke his own people (the Jews) to be saved.~