Today’s Reading: Jer 49:1–39, Rom 11:25–12:8, Prov 26:12–28

Today’s Theme: A Living Sacrifice

Today is Christmas day when we rejoice and celebrate the coming of our King Jesus to save His people. It is timely that today’s reading looks at the ultimate salvation that will come to Israel because of God’s irrevocable call and promises.

One of the key themes we see in Chapter 12 of Romans is the call to transformation and to live our lives as a living sacrifice before God in light of His grace and by His Spirit. Let’s remember that this Christmas day.

Jeremiah 49:1–39

Disposes the enemy

Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will cause the battle cry to be heard against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it shall become a desolate mound, and its villages shall be burned with fire; then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the Lord. (Jeremiah 49:2, ESV)

We need to disposes the enemy, he dispossessed us, now we need to take back what is ours.

It is Christmas day, today we celebrate the coming of our King who has won the victory for us, now in His name we can boldly plunder the enemies camp and get back all that rightly belongs to us in Christ including the salvation of our loved ones. Enter Christmas day with that confidence today, Emmanuel, God is with us.

Mercy in judgement

Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me.” (Jeremiah 49:11, ESV)

God remains merciful and faithful even in the midst of judgement. As we will read later, He never totally cast off his people, but in mercy, grace and love remains faithful to them even when they have been unfaithful.

There is none greater

For I have sworn by myself, declares the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse, and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes.” (Jeremiah 49:13, ESV)

God swears by Himself because there is no greater power to swear by. When God swears by Himself we can be confident that He will fulfil His word because He is God! He is all powerful and never lies or fails.

The only Sovereign

Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make him run away from her. And I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? (Jeremiah 49:19, ESV)

God declares His sovereignty which no mere creation can challenge. No one can stand before God, He will cause the Lion to flee for there is none like Him. We worship Him this Christmas morning. He is the Sovereign king who has won our salvation and brought us everlasting peace and joy. Hallelujah!

Romans 11:25–12:8

Temporary hardening

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25, ESV)

Paul has been discussing a historical salvation pattern with us, of hardening or rejection of the children of Israel, leading to salvation for the nations which leads to their jealousy and salvation and so makes his point really clear here that the hardening of Israel is temporary.

It will only last in it’s current context until a designated, preordained, elect number of Gentiles have come into the kingdom. This points to the fact that one of the great signs of the end of days will be a major and general turning of ethnic Jews to Christ.

The Holy Spirit will by His power soften their hearts and open their eyes as God displays His everlasting love for the elect among his people Israel.

This should lead us to pray that God would use us in the gathering of a people from all nations and in the re-gathering of the children of Israel under the rule of King Jesus.

As a side note it is important to understand from a theological perspective that we do not believe in double predestination where God just predestined to block some from salvation condemning them to hell, the hardening of hearts and blinding of eyes always has its roots in man’s unbelief and sin as Paul has already explained.

All Israel will be saved

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; (Romans 11:26, ESV)

When Paul says all Israel he is using a corporate term, not speaking of spiritual Israelites but ethnic Jews and he does not mean every last one will involuntarily be saved or be saved in any other way than each individual having to put their faith and trust in Jesus as King, Lord and Saviour. Jesus is the only way to salvation as Paul has clearly demonstrated.

All Israel was used approximately 60 times in the Old Testament and means a number so large and significant that it represents the whole nation and will be in sharp contrast to today’s situation where only a remnant are saved.

We eagerly look forward to and pray for this day. This is the greatest sign of the end and will possibly happen at or just before the second coming of Christ.

Irrevocable

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29, ESV)

God’s calling to salvation and specific gifts to Israel as a people are irrevocable. This is why we hold that the land some call Palestine belongs to the ethnic Jews.

However the context here is far more important than the land, it is talking about God’s promises for salvation and peace which came at the first Christmas and is now available to all who would come.

We can have confidence that God will fulfill His word to Israel and this should give us assurance and joy concerning our own calling or election and the promise and gifts of grace God has made to us.

We have confidence and assurance that God will save and keep His people (Jew and Gentile) because He is faithful. This is one of the reasons we called the production we did as part of the Ezra Foundation in 2013 Chosen, because God made a sovereign choice that cannot be revoked with Israel which should fill all God’s Chosen with hope and joy.

All without distinction

For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. (Romans 11:32, ESV)

We are reminded about the universality of sin and our need for mercy. “All” means without distinction God will have mercy not without exception as that would mean all are saved apart from Christ.

Break out in praise

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33, ESV)

God’s wisdom and knowledge is indeed deep and Paul breaks out in praise here when he considers the way the Lord set about to save the whole world using His people Israel as a catalyst and using the unimaginable death and resurrection of His Son.

This Christmas let’s breakout in praise too as we consider God’s commitment and mission to save all His elect people.

To him be the glory

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36, ESV)

When we consider God as we look at His acts recorded in His word and experienced in our lives we see that He is the source, sustainer and goal of all life. Truly He alone is glorious and worthy of our adoration and praise.

As the Angels sang on the first Christmas let’s give Him glory today.

A living sacrifice

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1, ESV)

We are not Gnostics believing we can do what we want with our flesh but be holy in our spirit. Presenting our physical bodies is a very spiritual act of worship. Christianity is real and practical, it is not esoteric or ethereal but is firm and solid.

Paul’s teaching, theology and arguments are all aimed at instructing his readers in the practical living of the Christian life.

This was written for us and particularly today, it is Christmas day and the temptation will be to indulge the flesh, let’s remember today and everyday that God is with us, actually dwelling in our bodies as a temple by the Holy Spirit, so let’s live our lives in the flesh in holiness and self control to the glory of God. It is the least we can do in light of this glorious Gospel of God.

Be transformed

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2, ESV)

We should be transformed and the means by which this has to be done is by our minds being renewed which is done through the work of the Holy Spirit as we feed on the truth of God’s word.

This is a key theme for Paul and one of the goals of this letter, to see practical, real transformation. This is the power of the gospel at work in the believer.

We must make a conscious decision to not conform to the ways of the world. We should instead allow our nature to be transformed by the Holy Spirit so that our natural response will be to do God’s will and we will know God’s truth in such a natural way that we will indeed know what God’s will is in any given situation.

The measure we are transformed against is the truth revealed in the Gospel of God and recorded in the pages of the Bible where we find God’s will clearly displayed and defined.

Show your family that you are transformed this Christmas day and every day to the glory of God.

Sober judgement

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (Romans 12:3, ESV)

Our culture is so egocentric that sober judgement seems alien. We must not think of ourselves as more than we are but should be humble before God and man living according to the faith God has lovingly and individually provided for each of His elect children.

Live in light of God’s grace, you were chosen and now stand and will finish the race all by God’s grace extended to you so don’t be foolish and prideful. Live in gratitude to God’s amazing and undeserved grace.

Proverbs 26:12–28

The sluggard

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26:16, ESV)

The sluggard is not only lazy, selfish and cowardly but is also very prideful. These are all traits we need to guard against… especially after a big Christmas dinner 🙂

Be content

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. (Proverbs 26:20, ESV)

When we learn to be content there will be no room for quarrelling. Whatever presents you get or do not get, be content.

Don’t harbor hate

Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; (Proverbs 26:24, ESV)

This becomes a rotten stinking pool and ends up poisoning the one harbouring the evil and those around them.

Have a blessed Christmas day.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 12

Today’s Reading: Jer 47:1–48:47, Rom 11:11–24, Prov 26:1–11

Today’s Theme: Grafted In

Today we read about the olive tree who is Christ and how we as Gentiles have been grafted in alongside the natural branches Israel but that natural or grafted in branches which exhibit unbelief are cut off and pruned away so we need to continue in the kindness of God and persevere in the faith.

Paul offers a rebuke to any in the gentile church that would seek to be prideful against Israel and the Old Testament, reminding them that they stand by grace and are rooted in the Old Testament and so in a way rooted in Israel.

Jeremiah 47:1–48:47

Security is in Jesus

“Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, O inhabitants of Moab! Be like the dove that nests in the sides of the mouth of a gorge. (Jeremiah 48:28, ESV)

Leave man made security and find security in the Rock, Christ Jesus.

Judgement for rebellion

Moab shall be destroyed and be no longer a people, because he magnified himself against the Lord. (Jeremiah 48:42, ESV)

Here is the reason for all this destruction, it is pride, arrogance, wickedness and rebellion directly against the Lord. The nations of the earth should take note because God has not changed.

We need to apply this to our personal lives as well. If we openly rebel against God we will go through suffering and discipline.

Romans 11:11–24

Full inclusion

Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! (Romans 11:12, ESV)

When the Jews come to realisation and salvation it will mark the consummation of the ages, the new heaven and earth and the resurrection of the just.

Their full inclusion is in regards to Christ. Their failure led to the riches of grace in the Gospel of God being made open to all nations, so their salvation can only be an even greater blessing.

Save some

in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. (Romans 11:14, ESV)

Jews need to be saved like everyone else (Despite a recent claim that they do not need Christ for salvation) . Paul hoped that even as he ministered to the Gentiles it would make Jewish people jealous and so prod them awake to the riches of Christ.

The tree, the roots and the branches

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, (Romans 11:17, ESV)

The olive tree itself is Christ, the roots are God’s word, covenants, promises and prophecies in the Old Testament, the branches are either natural branches of ethnic Israelites which are now saved, the broken off natural branches are those ethnic Jews who do not believe while the wild olive shoot that was grafted in are believing gentiles.

The key is the tree, the root and offspring of David, Jesus the Christ the Son of the Living God. He is the promised Messiah and the source of life and freedom, any discounted from Him are dead. It is only if we as branches are connected to Him as our source that we will be fruitful.

Don’t be arrogant

do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. (Romans 11:18, ESV)

That is if you are arrogant against the Jews as a gentile in the church not the whole church, just those with the bad attitude.

The root is not Israel but the Old Testament scriptures which pertain to Israel. It is foolish as Gentiles to be arrogant against Israel when we rely on their scriptures to even have a faith and Jesus Himself is Jewish.

The reason, unbelief

That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. (Romans 11:20, ESV)

The breaking off was not unjust it was for unbelief. So we must walk in the fear of God and remain in the faith and in Jesus because as Paul is about to say, if God did not spare the natural branches what makes us think He will spare those grafted in to the commonwealth of Israel.

God will cut and prune

For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. (Romans 11:21, ESV)

God will cut and prune the church and those harbouring evil thoughts of pride and arrogance do not belong in God’s vine but are parasites and will be cut off like Judas.

Continue in God’s kindness

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. (Romans 11:22, ESV)

We are called to perverse, this is the perseverance of the saints, without this we will be cut off.

God has been kind to us not so we can take liberties but so we would walk in light of His kindness by the Spirit and not by the flesh.

Do away with ideas of the Christian life in a rocking chair, we are called to grow and be fruitful and walk in the Spirit.

So up, to your task, you must press on and persevere as a sure evidence of your security and salvation.

Grafted back in

And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. (Romans 11:23, ESV)

Messianic Jews are those of ethnic Israel who through the centuries have been grafted back in to Christ.

Proverbs 26:1–11

Answer fools in the Spirit

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. (Proverbs 26:4-5, ESV)

Sounds like a contradiction but it is not. It is saying that we should not answer a fool in such a way that we become foolish by losing our temper for example but at the same time we must not just ignore him, we need to correct him in the Spirit so the he does not get away with thinking his foolishness is ok.

Don’t eat vomit

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. (Proverbs 26:11, ESV)

When we return to old sins we are like dogs and fools eating our own vomit…yuk.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Romans 11

Statement from Vatican mentioned above

Messianic Jews respond to the Vatican

Today’s Reading: Jer 44:1–46:28, Rom 11:1–10, Prov 25:1–28

Today’s Theme: The Remnant of Israel

Today we have a short passage in Romans but it deals with a very important point which is the fact that God has not rejected His people Israel but has always until this day preserved a remnant. Just like in Old Testament days God has kept a remnant faithful to Himself and so keeps the spirit of the covenants, promises and prophecies yet to be fulfilled alive.

This serves well to challenge the ideas of replacement theology which say the church has replaced Israel in every way which is simply not consistent with the Bible.

Jeremiah 44:1–46:28

Don’t provoke God

Why do you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, making offerings to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to live, so that you may be cut off and become a curse and a taunt among all the nations of the earth? (Jeremiah 44:8, ESV)

The people were unrepentant even after judgement. We need to ask ourselves today, are we provoking the Lord to anger though some sort of idolatry.

As we will read later, those who are persistent in unbelief are cut off (as individuals) but a remnant is always saved.

Don’t forget

Have you forgotten the evil of your fathers, the evil of the kings of Judah, the evil of their wives, your own evil, and the evil of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in thestreets of Jerusalem? They have not humbled themselves even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers. (Jeremiah 44:9–10, ESV)

We should not forget the pit and penalty of sin we have been saved from. We should live in the light of God’s mercy and grace, never forgetting what we were and our dark heritage as sons of Adam. We should live lives which are pleasing to God in joy.

The feminine perversion

Jeremiah said to all the people and all the women, “Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. (Jeremiah 44:24, ESV)

Women seem to be prominent in the worship of the queen of heaven, identifying with the feminine.

The queen of heaven was a false god worshipped in the Ancient Near East.

In today’s world we see this demonic stronghold in two prominent places. The first is in false religion whether it is the feminine god of the occult and new age or the worship of Mary in Roman Catholicism. The second is in philosophy and politics where the feminist agenda has gained a dangerous foothold in our society and in doing so tears at the fabric of the family and the wider community.

Women are created in the image of God for a good function and purpose, not to be worshiped or to worship themselves.

Whose word stands?

And those who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who came to the land of Egypt to live, shall know whose word will stand, mine or theirs. (Jeremiah 44:28, ESV)

The word of faith and new age movements are stupid to say our words stand and have so much power, God’s word stands not ours. So we stand on the word of God which is eternal and sure.

No full end to Israel

Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.” (Jeremiah 46:28, ESV)

This shows the special place Israel has before God as His covenant people. This prophecy was fulfilled as spoken because other nations of the time are no more but Israel and the Jews are preserved.

Romans 11:1–10

Not Rejected

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. (Romans 11:1, ESV)

God has not rejected the Jews, this flows perfectly from the last verse we read in the Old Testament, which states that God will not make a full end to His people but will discipline them.

All those who hold that the Jews have been completely rejected need to contend with this verse.

Paul identities himself as a Jew, pointing to the fact that from the start of the church there have always been an elect and remnant group of God’s people Israel who have also been believers in Jesus.

The Remnant

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. (Romans 11:5, ESV)

God has saved a remnant of Jews by grace to His honour and glory as He upholds His eternal covenants.

The Elect

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, (Romans 11:7, ESV)

The doctrine of election applies to the Jews in the same way it does to the Gentiles. The majority were judicially hardened through unbelief but this is not the end of the story. God still has purposes that will come to pass which include a time when the majority of Jews will each profess faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah (we read more about this tomorrow).

Proverbs 25:1–28

Don’t gossip

Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, (Proverbs 25:9, ESV)

When someone tells you something don’t go and tell others, that is called gossip and it is sinful.

Empty clouds

Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. (Proverbs 25:14, ESV)

This is picked up in the New Testament in Jude so beware of false teaches who have head knowledge with no power and even those who seem to be powerful but are in fact in the flesh and so hold empty promises like useless clouds with no rain in them.

Like Pastor once said, as a sponge we should soak in God and so should those who minister so what comes out of us is living water from God which will bring life and refreshment to those who drink from our lives.

Another thing about dry clouds with no water is that they unnecessarily block the warmth and life of the sun, we should not block the Son (Jesus).

Love as a weapon

for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:22, ESV)

Love is a great weapon to use, people do not know how to answer it, and the Lord rewards us. This is also picked up by Jesus in the New Testament.

Don’t give way

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. (Proverbs 25:26, ESV)

Lord may the water of our life be clean and wholesome through standing without compromise before the wicked.

Live to glorify God

It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory. (Proverbs 25:27, ESV)

The only one that should actively seek His own glory is God.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 11

 

Today’s Reading: Jer 42:1–43:13, Rom 9:30–10:21, Prov 24:23–34

Today’s Theme: Jesus is Lord

Today we have so many good lessons in our reading. One of the most important is that Jesus Christ is Lord of all and we must confess Him as Lord and live in line with that confession to be saved.

Jeremiah 42:1–43:13

The Lord our God

that the Lord your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do.” (Jeremiah 42:3, ESV)

Notice they do not say the Lord our God but the Lord your God. This was evidence of a lack of relationship with the Lord. We should all know the Lord personally and so be able to say the Lord our God or the Lord my God.

The Lord your God

Jeremiah the prophet said to them, “I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the Lord your God according to your request, and whatever the Lord answers you I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you.” (Jeremiah 42:4, ESV)

Jeremiah reminds them that the Lord is their God too. Maybe they were discouraged or distracted and so did not feel worthy to call God their God so it is good that Jeremiah reminds them who they are.

Be encouraged that God is your God today, you don’t need a witch doctor, Shaman, priest or Man of God to go to God on your behalf. Because of Jesus you can boldly approach God’s throne of grace.

The Land

If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. (Jeremiah 42:10, ESV)

There is something peculiar about the land of Israel, God chose it specifically.

See the article in God of Covenants called “A place to dwell“.

Disobedience leads to your fears

then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die. (Jeremiah 42:16, ESV)

If we disobey the Lord and make our own provisions then that which we feared driving us to the ill advised decision may come upon us.

Clear instruction

The Lord has said to you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for a certainty that I have warned you this day (Jeremiah 42:19, ESV)

The Lord makes His direction clear. Lord help us to simply listen to your clear instructions.

Obelisks

He shall break the obelisks of Heliopolis, which is in the land of Egypt, and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall burn with fire.’ ” (Jeremiah 43:13, ESV)

Now we see these obelisks in our city centres, I have seen them in at least London, Washington and Paris. We should pray that the stronghold of the occult in our cities be broken.

Romans 9:30–10:21

Pursue by faith

Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (Romans 9:32, ESV)

We should only pursue holiness as a result of our faith in God, we should not attempt to pursue God by works or we too will stumble. The lesson is that no matter who we are or what we do we all must have faith.

Salvation

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1, ESV)

This should be our primary concern for Israel. The most important need for any person or people group is eternal salvation for the soul.

This is in our reading today so let’s remember to pray for salvation for the Jewish people.

Jesus, The end of the law

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4, ESV)

Christ made a new better way as we read about in Hebrews, so the law has no hold over us to just reveal sin and then condemn us. The law’s demands have been fulfilled in Christ and now we are free to live in righteousness before God without fear.

In this new, better way we believe in the Gospel of God and receive the righteousness of Christ by faith… Hallelujah!!

Jesus is Lord

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9, ESV)

This is how we get saved, there must be belief and confession. No one can just kind of be saved, it is essential that we confess that Jesus is Lord.

Some say that Jesus is just saviour but is only Lord for a mature Christian and there is a distinction between believers and disciples but this is utter nonsense.

They (simply believe advocates) call people like us who worship Jesus as Lord “Lordship Salvationists” as though it were a derogatory term but we gladly embrace it. Yes Jesus Christ is Lord.

If we are saved then He is the Lord of our lives, we are not our own, we live in Him and for Him. Say it today, sing it today and live it today Jesus Christ is Lord.

One Lord, One People

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. (Romans 10:12, ESV)

The western church and the messianic church need to note this, we are one new man in Christ with one Lord over us all as we call upon Him.

Open to all peoples

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13, ESV)

The Gospel is open to all people, from every nation, tribe and tongue. It is open to those in every station of life to every age and gender.

Some religions like Hinduism have classes within their religion (The Caste System) but this is foreign to Christian thought, theology and practise because as Paul quotes from the Old Testament everyone can receive the benefit of the Gospel of God no matter who they are, where they are from or what they look like.

How, share it

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14, ESV)

The how of the Gospel, this is the tool God uses to save men and the point that Paul is making is that the gospel by its very nature must be shared or it is no Gospel at all.

The word

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17, ESV)

It all begins with the word, so get it in and share it out. We are privileged as Pastor preached so powerfully in 2014 that we have the Bible translated for us so we can understand it. Now may we through our words and actions translate it for those around us.

Note that hearing is so important so the Gospel of God must be shared verbally.

God shows Himself

Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” (Romans 10:20, ESV)

God is the initiator of salvation for both Gentile and Jew because we were not looking for God, He has revealed Himself to us.

Proverbs 24:23–34

Rebuke the wicked

but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. (Proverbs 24:25, ESV)

Lord help us to be bold to rebuke the wicked. May we stand as a voice for justice and righteousness.

Personal retaliation

Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.” (Proverbs 24:29, ESV)

Personal retaliation is forbidden, Jesus picks this up by reminding us to turn the other check.

The lure of the sluggard

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, (Proverbs 24:33, ESV)

Lord please keep us from the lure of the sluggard, help us to take care of what you have given us and to not rest and sleep more than we should or at the wrong time.

Laziness

and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Proverbs 24:34, ESV)

Laziness leads to poverty.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 10

Today’s Reading: Jer 39:1–41:18, Rom 9:13–29, Prov 24:1–22

Today’s Theme: God who has mercy

Today we look at the way God shows us great mercy when He really doesn’t have to and how we are saved by His mercy shown in love and not by obligation. Thank God today that He has made you a vessel of mercy.

Jeremiah 39:1–41:18

Taken care of by God

“Take him, look after him well, and do him no harm, but deal with him as he tells you.” (Jeremiah 39:12, ESV)

This is amazing, God’s servant has been taken care of again which reminds us that God will take care of us in His mercy and grace

More than a name

sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard. They entrusted him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he lived among the people. (Jeremiah 39:14, ESV)

Gedaliah’s name means Yahweh is great, however he does not live up to the name as we read later about his lack of faith and gullible nature. Let’s not be Christians in name only but in Spirit and Truth.

Romans 9:13–29

God is just and merciful

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! (Romans 9:14, ESV)

People always accuse God of being unfair, but the fact is God does not have to have mercy on any and we are blessed that He chooses to show mercy to some.

God is under no obligation to save any of us or to sort out our problems. All that He does is motivated by His love, not some binding obligation, He even establishes covenants in love.

God saves, not man

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (Romans 9:16, ESV)

Monogesim which is the belief that conversion is totally accomplished by God is here defined.

No man can boast in his own works or common sense leading to his salvation it is all dependent on God showing personal mercy to the individual. He does not punish them in the way they deserve, instead effecting an interchange between them and Christ and giving them what they do not deserve. He makes them alive from the dead in Christ and literally gives them a new nature by the Holy Spirit.

The whole trinity is involved in the God centred conversion of us as sinners. Think about how God has shown you mercy today and praise Him.

Humble yourself

But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” (Romans 9:20, ESV)

How can we have the audacity to challenge God and say… hey what you have done is unfair… WHAT, He is God!!

One thing we absolutely must do is humble ourselves before God.

God is patient

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, (Romans 9:22, ESV)

Paul is alluding to the truth that God endures with sinners while desiring and seeking to lead them to repentance by showing them mercy and goodness.

God is patient with man because He desires that man would humble himself and seek the mercy and grace he so desperately needs.

Vessels of mercy

in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—(Romans 9:23, ESV)

Thank you Lord for making us a vessel of mercy. We were vessels of wrath but have been transformed into vessels of mercy and it was not happenstance or any goodness or sense in us because He prepared us beforehand to His own honour and glory.

One new man

even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:24, ESV)

We are one new man in Christ, This is one of Paul’s most important points in the book of Romans.

Only a remnant

And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, (Romans 9:27, ESV)

Only messianic Jews will be saved, those who believe in Jesus, because He is the only way to salvation. Being Jewish is not enough, we must be born again.

We must also remember that many times when the Old Testament speaks about the salvation of all Israel it is talking about salvation in the military sense. So we all need Jesus.

Proverbs 24:1–22

Don’t desire to be with them

Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, (Proverbs 24:1, ESV)

We must remember this when trying to be a friend and reaching out to those at work etc. Something in the heart rises and makes us want to be with them but that is not God, it is far better to be with God and embrace the world’s rejection.

If they do not resist and reject you to some degree then you should really be worried about your stand.

The homemakers

by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. (Proverbs 24:4, ESV)

Lord we pray you will give mothers and wives the wisdom and knowledge they need to build the home.

God will repay

If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? (Proverbs 24:12, ESV)

We can not claim ignorance before God, He knows our hearts and has given us a conscience.
What we do is so important because God will repay.

Bounce back

for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. (Proverbs 24:16, ESV)

This is not about sin but about us bouncing back when wicked men scheme against us.

Be meek

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, (Proverbs 24:17, ESV)

This is the type of outlook, attitude, and temperament God intends us to have.

Fear God

My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, (Proverbs 24:21, ESV)

You can not truly be friends with those who hate God.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Romans 9