The Election of Grace: Romans 10 & 11 Verse-by-Verse

By Paul Penno.  Click here to read from the website.  Click here for the PDF. 

Insight: "The Election of Grace"

Insight #11, September 11, 2010



Third Quarter 2010 Adult Sabbath School Lessons

"The Election of Grace"



My Bible has section headings designed to give the reader a hint as to
what to expect in the ensuing verses. There are 2 headings in Romans
10.* For verses 1-13 it says, "Israel needs the gospel." Verses 14-21
have the heading, "Israel rejects the gospel."



Paul stated clearly that the gospel is what Israel needs. "For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation
for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek"
(Romans 1:16). Verse 1 of this chapter says that the gospel concerns
Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "For the message of the cross is
foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it
is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).



So, the gospel which Israel needs and which concerns Jesus Christ is the
message of the cross. This simple yet profound and multifaceted
definition is, for Paul and for us, the foundation of our experience. It
is efficacious and sufficient for beginning and sustaining the Christian
life. It prevents the apostasy described in Romans 11. "For since, in
the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased
God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who
believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we
preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks
foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ
the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God
is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. But God
has chosen the foolish things of the world to pout to shame the wise,
and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the
things which are mighty" (I Corinthians 1:21-25, 27). Praise God!



Sadly, Paul tells us in Romans 10:20, 21, "I was found by those who did
not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me. But to
Israel He says, all day long I have stretched out My hands to a
disobedient and contrary people." Paul's heart desire, according to
verse 1, is that Israel would respond and be saved. Then, in verse 2 he
says, " For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God but not
according to knowledge." Paul also said that before his conversion he
had a zeal like that, so he understands Israel's problem.



What is the "zeal for God, but not according to knowledge" that Paul
originally had, and now Israel also has, and for which the gospel is the
remedy? Verse 3 tells us. "For they being ignorant of God's
righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness have not
submitted to the righteousness of God." The simple answer to our
question: "...they have not submitted to the righteousness of God."



This error hits at the foundation of the gospel of God, which concerns
Jesus Christ. The righteousness of God has been manifested in the faith
of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21, 22). This legal language speaks of God's
justice and mercy which allows Him to be just, and also the justifier of
the one who has the faith of Christ (Romans 3:26). All of this is
wrapped up in the message of the cross. God sent His Son as a sacrifice
for the sins of the world. We rebelled and refused to believe (Romans
3:3), but Jesus remained faithful to the covenant between Himself and
His Father. The faith of Jesus, shown by His "righteous act," satisfied
the requirements of the law and justified the world so that "many will
be made righteous" (Romans 5:19).



The divine faith of Jesus - affirms God's unbreakable love. "God proves
His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for
us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus is the assurance from God that makes human faith
possible. Therefore, Jesus makes righteousness possible.



The zeal that is "not according to knowledge" fails to recognize the
righteousness of God as manifested in the faith of Jesus. It fails to
see the "righteous act" of divine love for all, that makes our faith
response possible. This is the point of Israel's ignorance. Paul wants
Israel to know that the emphasis is on what God did through Jesus
Christ. By faith, Jesus "was obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross" (Philippians 2:8). Through the resurrection, Christ has
constituted the beginning of a new humanity (Romans, chapters 5 and 6).
God has "predestined" this new humanity to be "conformed to the image of
His Son" (Romans 8:29). Because this manifestation has taken place
"apart from law," through Christ's action, the new humanity includes
Jews and Gentiles. He became "a servant to the circumcision for the
truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the
Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written...rejoice O
Gentiles, with His people," (Romans 15:8). Romans 10:4 says, "For Christ
is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."



In the book, Waggoner on Romans, page 164 we find this gem. "We have
seen that the end or object of the law is the righteousness which it
requires...the law of God is the righteousness of God. But this
righteousness is the real life of God Himself and the words of the law
are only the shadow of it. That life is found only in Christ, for He
alone declares the righteousness of God (Romans 3:24, 25). His life is
the law of God since God was in Him. That which the Jews had only in
form is found in fact only in Christ. In Him the end of the law is
found. The gospel is powerful good news, and it produces a life
transforming faith as we begin to understand. Faith comes by hearing the
good news. So Paul says 'how beautiful are the feet of those who preach
the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things' (Romans
10:15)."



What if we do not obey the gospel? Will God cast us off? "God has not
cast away His people whom He foreknew" (Romans 11:2). "The Lord will not
forsake His people for His great name's sake, because it pleased the
Lord to make you His people" (1 Samuel 12:22). "See I have inscribed you
on the palms of My hands, your walls are continually before Me" (Isaiah
49:16). Praise God! "The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable"
(Romans 11:29).



As we survey the wondrous cross this Sabbath, I pray that we will say
with Paul, "But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence
of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the
loss of all things, and count them as rubbish that I may gain Christ and
be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which
is from God by faith" (Philippians 3:9).



May we have a zeal for God which is according to true knowledge. Amen

--Lyndi Schwartz

*All scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version of
the Bible

---------------------------------------------
For an excellent companion book to these studies, please see Waggoner on Romans: the Gospel in Paul’s Great Letter, by E. J. Waggoner. You may access the complete book at: http://www.1888mpm.org/book/waggoner-romans

For Jack Sequeira sermons on Romans click here: MP3; Windows Media; Real Audio
 For the written version click here
 For a paraphrase on Romans click here

“Redemption for Jew and Gentile”

“Redemption for Jew and Gentile”

(PDF Link)

 

In Romans 9:1-3 Paul displays the explosive power of the gospel. He who held the garments of the men who stoned Stephen, now cries out in anguish, “For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.” 

 

As a chosen instrument to proclaim the gospel to the nations Israel corporately failed. Self became the focus of their national mindset. They sought to appropriate to themselves alone the promised blessings. Like Jonah they ran from their evangelistic mission. Like the Egyptians under Pharaoh, they rejected God’s gracious design for them. They were chosen by God to be His people, but they were not choosing to be God’s servants.

 

Could we, who rejoice in this most precious message of the gospel, share in their guilt?   God has given every believer a commission. Every one who believes and receives Jesus as Savior and Lord is born again to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ by a life of loving service, as well as by words of grace. This is the fruit of the gospel.

 

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteous-ness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am” (Isaiah 58:6-9).

 

Then Isaiah affirms that only such holy ones can effectively repair the breach in God’s law. Only these can truly cherish and exalt the Sabbath as their delight. The good news is that all have been redeemed from sin’s slavery through the blood of Jesus Christ. God has placed our feet on vantage ground. All have sinned. All miss the mark from time to time. But, praise God, all may be justified by faith – fully reconciled by the redemption that is in Christ. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (Romans 3:24-26; 2 Corinthians 5:14-19).

 

Salvation operates in the past, the present, and the future. All have been saved (past tense) at the cross. All who believe from the heart and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord are being saved (present tense). All who endure unto the end will be saved (future tense) by a faith that works. God guarantees our salvation unless we interpose a perverse will (see Ellen G. White, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing page 76). “He that has begun a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

 

God’s ultimate purpose will prevail, with or without us. Neither Jew or Gentile, Christian or Atheist can frustrate the purposes of God. The history of Israel and the surrounding nations clearly demonstrates this fact. God has a specific plan for your life and mine. Like Pharaoh we may refuse His plan. God manifested His power to Pharaoh in the plagues, and through Pharaoh in the deliverance of His chosen people. God would have preferred to manifest His power through a repentant Pharaoh. God hoped that Pharaoh would recognize His gracious purpose and surrender long before Egypt lay in ruins. But Pharaoh decided to interpose a perverse will. Therefore, God’s gracious purpose had to be carried out through the destruction of Egypt instead of through its exaltation to the status of servants of the Most High God. 

 

Paul also resisted until confronted with Jesus on the Damascus road. Compelled by the love of Christ, he counted no sacrifice too great, no suffering too intense, if only he could fulfill his mission as the apostle to the Gentiles.

 

Self is the stumbling stone that blinds our eyes to the freedom, power, and victory that is ours in Christ. A friend once said to me, “We all do what is good.” That is, whenever we choose our way instead of God’s way we believe we will receive some personal benefit. Eve “saw the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of the fruit and did eat” (Genesis 3:6).

 

A few years ago I was in Irkustk, Siberia as a member of Wilbur and Dorothy Nelson’s evangelistic team. During a Health Expo, a lady approached me for a blessing on her healing ministry. I talked with her about how we can know for sure which master empowers our ministry. “One way is to examine our motives and attitudes,” I told her. “Jesus said ‘Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.’” 

 

“But that is so difficult!” the lady protested. “No,” I said “It is impossible. But if we have been transformed by the Lord Jesus, all things become possible to us.”

 

All humans have all been elected to be “kings and priests.” Jesus invites us to live up to our high calling by faith. Paul tells how He was empowered to declare this message with explosive power, “I have made myself a servant of all, that I might win the more…I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means win some” (Romans 9:19-23).

 

“The love of Christ compels us,” he exclaimed, “Because we judge thus: that if one died for all, then all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15).

 

“Now … where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:17, 18).

--Lloyd Knecht

------------------------------------------------

Note: We invite you to read a verse-by-verse study of Romans 9 from the 1888 message perspective by Paul E. Penno. You will find it on the Internet at: http://www.1888mpm.org/articles/redemption-jew-and-gentile

Or, you may request that it be sent to you via e-mail. Just reply to this e-mail and ask for “Romans 9 study.”

---------------------------------------------
For an excellent companion book to these studies, please see Waggoner on Romans: the Gospel in Paul’s Great Letter, by E. J. Waggoner. You may access the complete book at: http://www.1888mpm.org/book/waggoner-romans

For Jack Sequeira sermons on Romans click here: MP3; Windows Media; Real Audio
 For the written version click here
 For a paraphrase on Romans click here


--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com

“Freedom In Christ”

Third Quarter 2010 Adult Sabbath School Lessons

“Freedom In Christ”

For the week of August 22 - 28, 2010

(PDF Link)

 

Romans chapter eight begins with no condemnation in Christ and ends with no separation from Him. Condemnation is a legal sentence from a judge in court. Justification, or acquittal, is the opposite of condemnation. E.J. Waggoner wrote of this in 1891:

 

“[L]et us have some definitions to keep in our mind. Justification is ‘a showing to be just, or conformable to law, rectitude, or propriety.’ Condemnation is ‘the judicial act of declaring guilty, and dooming to punishment.’ The two words are directly opposite in meaning; and we have the inspired declaration that all the world are guilty (condemned) before God, and that by the deeds of the law none can be justified” (E.J. Waggoner, Signs of the Times, November 23, 1891. He used these legal definitions in articles in this magazine on March 25, 1886 and September 11, 1884).

 

Ellen White wrote earlier in that same year concerning the difference between justification and condemnation. She stated: “Justification is the opposite of condemnation” (Ellen White, Manuscript 21, 1891, pp. 1-11).

 

Following is a Biblical Dictionary definition justification:

“As regards its nature [justification], it is the judicial act of God… . It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside…” (Easton, M. (1996, c1897). Easton's Bible Dictionary).

 

In order to lift the sentence of condemnation that rightfully belongs to us, because of our transgressions of the law, Jesus had to die for us, as us. He is both our Substitute and our Representative. Instead of condemnation, our sentence of acquittal was declared at Calvary in Christ.

 

Justification is both a judicial term – a word from the courts of law – and an experiential term. Justification becomes experiential when a person believes. It effects a change in the mind and heart. When we accept Christ “by faith” a change, even the new birth, occurs.

 

In judgment, justification is the gracious act of God, who sits as Judge in the high court of Heaven. By this act He pronounced, concerning the fallen human race, a decree of restoration to divine favor. This was because Christ, the Representative of humanity, exhausted the penalty for man’s transgressions of the law on Calvary. God’s justice was satisfied in the death penalty contained in the sentence of condemnation imposed on the fallen human race in its Representative.

 

 “Justice moved from its high and awful position, and the heavenly hosts, the armies of holiness, drew near to the cross, bowing with reverence; for at the cross justice was satisfied” (Ellen White, “The Signs of the Times,” June 5, 1893).

The freedom from condemnation, in Christ, comes because of what God did in Christ. This is stated plainly in Romans 8:3 –

 

“For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh” (The NET Bible, First Edition).

 

Because of our sinful nature, the law cannot free us from condemnation. It can never justify. It can only condemn us. In order for us to become free from condemnation, God sent Jesus and “made Him to be sin for us.” Therefore we may be not only legally justified, but also justified experientially through faith in Him. Jesus was born “under the law, to redeem those who were under the law” (Galatians 4:4–5). He took our condemnation “under the law.” Jesus was sent in sinful human flesh like ours in order to condemn sin in our fallen flesh. 

 

How did He do this? First of all, He never gave in to the clamoring tendencies to sin inherent within our nature. By conquering these tendencies He condemned them where they reside – in our fallen nature. Secondly, He took our committed sins upon Himself, along with our fallen human nature. In His death He condemned our sins forever. The completeness of Christ’s condemnation is found in the fact that He condemned sin in its tendency, as well as taking the condemnation that resulted from our committed sins. If Jesus had failed to condemn sin on a single point, He could not be a complete Savior. A.T. Jones commented regarding this:

 

“O, He is a complete Saviour. He is a Saviour from sins committed and the Conqueror of the tendencies to commit sins. In Him we have the victory. We are no more responsible for these tendencies being in us than we are responsible for the sun shining, but every man on earth is responsible for these things appearing in open action in Him, because Jesus Christ has made provision against their ever appearing in open action. Before we learned of Christ, many of them had appeared in open action. The Lord hath laid upon Him all these and He has taken them away. Since we learned of Christ, these tendencies which have not appeared He condemned as sin in the flesh” (A.T. Jones, General Conference Bulletin, February 21, 1895, p. 267)

 

Christ was condemned as we deserve, that we might be justified as He deserves. He was condemned as us, that we might be free in Him. “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him” (Isaiah 53:5). He suffered the condemnation which was ours, that we might receive the freedom which was His. “With His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

 

Are you free in Christ?

--Jerry Finneman

 

For an excellent companion book to these studies, please see Waggoner on Romans: the Gospel in Paul’s Great Letter, by E. J. Waggoner. You may access the complete book at: http://www.1888mpm.org/book/waggoner-romans

For Jack Sequeira sermons on Romans click here: MP3; Windows Media; Real Audio
 For the written version click here
 For a paraphrase on Romans click herePurchase the Audio version of the Bible Studies on the Book of Romans from Advent Pioneer Books