I have to admit, after yesterday's reading I have to wonder... is God rejecting this original chosen people? Is he turning his back on them or what is going on? Paul says this:
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means!
Consider this: Paul is an Israelite himself! He hasn't been rejected by God. He's a member of the tribe of Benjamin, a descendant of Abraham himself.
For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
God hasn't rejected any of the people that he foreknew. God always has a remnant of his chosen people who have been chosen by grace. For instance, when Elijah thought he was the only believer left, God reassured him that he really wasn't. Just as he had a remnant saved to himself then, he also has a remnant saved to himself NOW.
2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
Do you see it? It's not a chosen by works..it's chosen by grace. Even in the time of Elijah, these people were chosen by grace! Grace was at work even in the Old Testament!
I do love this line:
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Makes sense eh? Grace can't be grace if it's based off anything, otherwise it would no longer be grace.
7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
9 And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and bend their backs forever.”
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and bend their backs forever.”
Again.. it all comes down to God's choice. God's choice alone. If he has elected them (chosen them ahead of time) they obtain what they are seeking. IF he hasn't, their hearts are hardened, and work as they might, they won't find what they are looking for.
So what does that mean to me?
God's choice.
He's the one who leads us to seek for him.
That seeking is a sign of his grace upon our lives.
Those that are chosen of God will find what they seek... The Lord God himself and his saving work on our behalf.
So if you are a seeker...know that you are the elect of God. Destined to become one of his own. That's a good thing no? :)
What say you? Click here follow along in my Romans Series.
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In our world of "what I am and what I do", leaving something up to God is challenging, even when we know there is no other choice. God's choice, God's mercy, God's calling. We are so blessed!
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