Lesson 1228

(Lesson 1228)(02-07-15) Romans 11:1-5

"I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

The vast majority of today's "Christians" maintain that the Jews, still today, enjoy a "chosen" status with God and that we are to, by all means, support them in everything they do.

Paul began today's lesson by asking, "Hath God cast away his people?" The answer to that specific question, as Paul explains, is a definite no. However, the special, or "chosen" status of the Jews has certainly been replaced, or at least greatly diminished after the coming of Christ and salvation by grace.

There were many of the Jews who lived during Paul's time and after who believed in Jesus and were saved by the grace of God through that faith. Those Jews, along with all the Gentiles who believed, now make up God's "chosen" people. That status no longer uniquely belongs to the Jews.

In today's quote Paul, quoting Elias said, "they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

Just as were Elias and those "seven thousand" saved by the grace of God, the Jews of today are still a remnant of God's chosen.

The great majority of today's Jews still maintain the same religious practices they adhered to before the coming of Christ. Therefore, they are among those whom Elias said had, "killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars" and are certainly not among God's "chosen".

The next few lessons will further confirm the status of today's Jews.~

Lesson 1227

(Lesson 1227)(02-06-15) Romans 10:14-21

"How then 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, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."

In today's quote, referring to the Jewish nation, Paul praised those who carried the good word of God to the people. He explained how the word of God could never be heard if there was no one willing to preach it.

In the latter portion of the quote, Paul condemned all those, including the Jews, who hear and yet don't believe the precious word of God's grace.

He said that even Isaias said, "I was found of them that sought me not;" (The Gentiles) "I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."

There are still preachers who preach the true, undistorted, word of God. We, the true Christians, should be grateful for their efforts praying for them daily. We should also join them in doing everything we can possibly do to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified.

Our time is surely running out, "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled" (Matthew 24:33-34)~

Lesson 1226

(Lesson 1226)(02-05-15) Romans 10:5-13

"For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

In today's lesson, Paul makes God's plan of eternal salvation so vividly clear that it cannot be misunderstood.

I am always amazed by the many attempts of modern "Christianity" to make salvation all about the individual when salvation is so clearly accomplished by God's grace through FAITH in His appointed redeemer.

The vast majority of religious isms WRONGLY want to make water baptism, and/or one's individual daily behavior, requirements for continued salvation. As Paul so clearly points out in this quote, neither of those things have anything to do with receiving, or maintaining, eternal salvation; "IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND SHALT BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED."

The requirements for eternal salvation cannot be stated any plainer than that.~

Lesson 1225

(Lesson 1225)(02-04-15) Romans 10:1-4

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

When Paul, in today's quote, said, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." He could have just as rightly prayed for many who erroneously call themselves Christians today.

Most all religious isms today believe that, after having repented and accepted Christ as savior, in order to remain saved one must live a sinless life for the remainder of his/her existence here on earth, or, he/she must pray for forgiveness immediately after each inevitable "sin". They obviously never consider that if that were to be true, Jesus died for nothing more that to give the world a second chance at abiding by the old laws that so miserably failed the Jews.

Paul's letter to the Romans very clearly establishes that mankind will NEVER live above sin and that the only means by which the lost can achieve the righteousness required to gain eternal life is by having the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed into them through faith in Jesus Christ crucified so as to have the the inevitable sins they DO commit, not merely forgiven, but JUSTIFIED.

In today's lesson, Paul so very truthfully said, "For I bear them" (The Jews and today's Christianity) "record that they have a zeal of God, BUT NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE. For they being IGNORANT OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, and going about to establish THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have NOT submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. FOR CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH."

It's understandable that humanity, with their pompous, self-inflated egos, want desperately to be a part of, and to be able to take credit for, their own salvation. But, that is not now possible, nor was it ever,nor will it ever be.

The only means by which a lost soul can receive salvation is through the righteousness of God imputed into him/her by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ crucified. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)~

Lesson 1224

(Lesson 1224)(02-03-15) Romans 9:27-33

"And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."

In today's quote, Paul further explains that those of us whom are "called" of God (the eternally saved) are "justified" by the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ crucified. "whom he called, them he also justified".

Paul also said, "If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things". This last quote assures us that God's saving grace is not restricted to only those who are "called", but rather God "delivered him up for us all".

Eternal salvation is there freely available to anyone who might choose to believe. Paul said, God delivered Jesus up as a sacrifice for the sins of "us all".~

Lesson 1223

(Lesson 1223)(02-01-15) Romans 9:14-26

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God."

In today's lesson Paul makes it clear that God did indeed predestine some individuals, and even some entire peoples, to inherit His wrath because of things He (God) caused them to do so that He could institute His plan of redemption, (His operation).

Paul gave the example of how God kept hardening the heart of Pharaoh so that His plan for the redemption of the Israel could be fulfilled.

Judas Iscariot was another example of how one soul was predestined to be forfeited so that God's plan could be enacted.

This lesson explains how, and why, the Jews were used as pawns to help enable God's overall plan of salvation.

In essence, and in much simpler terms, the whole universe belongs to God to do with as He sees fit. Whether or not we accept that, or agree with it, is left up to us. That option is called "free will".

We should also remember that all the ancient Jews who lived believing that God would provide them a redeemer were saved by that faith just as we today are saved by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.~

Lesson 1222

(Lesson 1222)(01-31-15) Romans 9:1-13

"I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."

In today's lesson Paul begins to explain how the descendents of Abraham, (the Jews) were chosen by God to be the vessel by which He would send a savior to all the worlds people. However, with the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the power of the Jewish "chosen" status was ended and was handed over to the Church.

Paul said, "They which are the children of the flesh, THESE ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD BUT THE CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE are counted for the seed. Therefore, the Jews were not, in effect, the "children of God", but rather, they were only to be the "seed" by which the ultimate Church would come. It was God's intent, from the beginning, that the "chosen" status of the Jews would become secondary to the ultimate "chosen" status of His Church once it was established and ordained by Jesus Christ.

Just as Cain lost the importance of his "firstborn" status to Abel and Esau lost his birthright to his younger brother Jacob etc, the Jews (the first) took second seat to the Church (the last). This is the meaning of; "first shall be last; and the last shall be first."

This ninth chapter of Romans demonstrates that what we see as fairness and justice does not always align with what God sees as fairness and justice. It will be made clear in these lessons that God predestined certain people to simply fill roles in order that His ultimate goal would be accomplished. That goal being to provide a savior for all the people of the world.~