160 The People God Elects

Romans 9:1-33; 10:1-21; 11:1-36, TBC Book Two, Chapter 160
Two burdens weighed heavy on the heart of Paul as he wrote his letter to the Romans. He knew God had made him an apostle to the Gentiles, but he agonized over his fellow Jews to this extent: He would have laid down his own life if he could ransom it for their spiritual salvation. In addressing the Gentile believers, who comprised most of the church in Rome, Paul worried that God’s blessings bestowed upon them could lead to pride—and their own spiritual downfall. So Paul explained what God had revealed to him about “the elect,” all who would be called by God.

Not all descendants of Abraham are heirs to God’s promise. Not all are his chosen ones, his “elect.” God’s promise to Abraham would be accomplished through Isaac, miraculously born to Sarah, who was old and barren. Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, had twin sons, but before they were born, before they demonstrated their character, God said, “The older will serve the younger” and “Jacob have I loved, but Esau I hated.” You may ask, “How can God say that? Isn’t that unfair?”

In speaking to Moses, God explained it this way: “I will have mercy on whomever I wish, and I will have compassion on whomever I wish.” In other words, God’s “election” does not rest on man’s desire or efforts, but on God’s mercy. God raised up Pharaoh, for example, and he hardened his heart so that it might result in extending mercy to the Israelites who were held in bondage.

Some might say, “Then how can God blame any of us, since no one can resist his will? . . .”

(See THE BIBLE CLICKS, Book Two, Chapter 160, for the rest of the story.)
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Today’s Takeaways
     A proverb to guide you: Both Jews and Gentiles ride God’s seesaw, but arrogance moves the fulcrum.
     A promise to cling to: “Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. . . . They are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. . . . As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:1, 2-4, 11-13 NIV
               “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved.” Romans 11:25-26  NIV
     A praise to fill you: Mercy Came Running  Phillips, Craig, and Dean     [Can skip ad after first 5 seconds]

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