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

Today’s Reading: Jer 37:1–38:28, Rom 9:1–12, Prov 23:19–35

Today’s Theme: God’s Sovereign Choice

Today’s theme looks at God’s Sovereign Choice, we begin by looking at His choice of Israel as a national people in redemption history. We then go further to look at God’s choice of all His redeemed people by Israel’s greatest son, the Messiah Jesus Christ who is Himself God above all.

Roman’s 9 – 11 serves well as a blast against the misguided trajectory of the replacement theologians.

Jeremiah 37:1–38:28

God’s provision

So King Zedekiah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard. And a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers’ street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard. (Jeremiah 37:21, ESV)

Even through this unjust hardship Jeremiah was still provided for in times of great want. As God’s people He will provide for us as a good Father. Even in difficult times God will not forsake His own people.

The welfare of the people

Then the officials said to the king, “Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.” (Jeremiah 38:4, ESV)

The fact is Jeremiah was seeking the welfare of the people, he just wasn’t saying what they wanted to hear.

Let’s thank God for those with the role of the prophet in our own day like our own Pastors who seek our welfare by telling us the uncomfortable truth.

A wimpy leader

King Zedekiah said, “Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you.” (Jeremiah 38:5, ESV)

What a wimpy weasel of a leader, pray that the leaders of our nations, industries and ministers have some backbone to stand up against evil.

Selfish fear

King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans, lest I be handed over to them and they deal cruelly with me.” (Jeremiah 38:19, ESV)

The king was very fearful and the fears were all centered on himself not his people. We must not be governed by fear or be self centered.

Romans 9:1–12

Brothers in the flesh

For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. (Romans 9:3, ESV)

Paul’s brothers in the flesh are the Jewish people, not the spiritual Jews but the actual physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Paul is patterning the love of Christ for us in laying down His life and becoming a curse for us when he expresses that he yearns so deeply for the salvation of the Jewish people that he would even be cut off from Christ and so damned to that end.

The apostle is showing the depths of devotion, love and affection he has for his own people, to the extent if it would benefit (which it would not because Christ has already been made a curse for us) in their salvation he would freely lose his.

This is in a sense a poetic expression to display the depth of his feeling on the issue of the salvation of the Jewish people. Paul has just spent Chapter 8 explaining the eternal nature of our security and love in Christ and so is using the strongest image possible to paint his love in the most vivid colors over against accusations that he is against the Jewish people and loves only the Gentiles.

The Israelites

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. (Romans 9:4, ESV)

Let’s be clear, we are talking about the ethnic and genetic Israelites, the actual Jewish people. Despite the world’s anti Israeli sentiment they really are God’s sovereign choice as a nation.

What Paul outlines here shows the unique place Israel has played in redemption history.

They were the first to be adopted as God’s son’s opening the way for all nations through their greatest son Jesus, to be adopted by God in the church.

They had the glory of God revealed to them first and they recorded and honoured it and in their own way became carriers and evidence of God’s glory by their very survival and thriving despite every attempt to exterminate them. It is through them that we now have the ultimate revelation of God’s glory in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Jew.

The Covenants were given to and kept by them, and it is the Old Covenant on which the New Covenant finds it roots and footing. If we did not have the backdrop of revealed sin through the law the gospel would lose it’s context and power.

The children were the only true worshipers of God in the ancient world and have passed on the worship of the true God to all God’s people in Christ.

God made promises and prophecies to Israel and it is on those same promises that we stand, believing that Jesus is the promised Messiah and fulfilment of the law.

They were the carriers of God’s message of hope and salvation for all mankind, fulfilled in Christ.

Jesus is God

To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 9:5, ESV)

Jesus is God, not some demi-god or angel, or just a man.. He is God and Paul makes it clear, He is the God over all. Once again the deity of Christ is defined and defended.

Paul makes the very important point that Jesus was a Jew, not a Roman, Greek, British, American or African, He was a Jew.

Those who belong to Israel

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, (Romans 9:6, ESV)

Being a physical Israeli is not enough for salvation. This is Paul’s point to those he is writing to. He loves the Jews and recognises their unique heritage as God’s chosen people. However for them to be a part of the true commonwealth of Israel in God’s kingdom they must believe through the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).

We must urge our Jewish friends to be a part of the true Israel (or princes with God which is what the name means) which are those who put their faith in God through his Son Jesus Christ.

Children of the promise

This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. (Romans 9:8, ESV)

This includes two distinct people, one is the faithful from the Old Testament era, the second are those who have genuinely put their faith and trust in Jesus the Messiah (Jew and Gentile).

In short the children of the promise are those who believe the promise and so receive its reward. Namely the true church (not a state church or the church conceived by replacement theologians), the one new man comprising of Jews and Gentiles who love Jesus.

God’s purpose in election

though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls — (Romans 9:11, ESV)

The account of Jacob and Esau was to demonstrate Gods purpose in election. This is the reality, God sovereignly chose the Children of Israel and today continues to choose every single person that is saved from all nations tribes and tongues.

God elects to save according to His own love, wisdom and purposes.

Proverbs 23:19–35

Don’t hang out with drunks

Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, (Proverbs 23:20, ESV)

You should not hang around with people getting drunk or stuffing themselves. They may influence you to join them in their evil or your presence may give them silent approval.

Invest in your study

Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23, ESV)

Invest in your study by doing something simple like getting a study bible, or a good book on a good biblical subject like the Sovereignty of God, Missions or the Atonement of the Cross or something else. Actually spend something on your study of God’s word, by spending your own money it will be more precious to you.

This is also meant in a mental sense, you should prize the getting of wisdom in your heart, treat it as a treasure.

Don’t be a traitor

She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind. (Proverbs 23:28, ESV)

This is so true, men can so easily be robbed of all integrity and right-standing and become traitors to their wives and children.

Don’t attempt to drown your sorrows

Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. (Proverbs 23:30, ESV)

This is not the way to solve your problems. Go to Jesus.

Abused by alcohol

In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. (Proverbs 23:32, ESV)

The abuse of alcohol has bad effects in the end… Hangovers, sickness, smelliness (from the sickness), headaches and it destroys the body.

If you abuse alcohol the alcohol will abuse you.

Don’t abuse drugs

Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. (Proverbs 23:33, ESV)

You can end up hallucinating and saying things that will embarrass you. This is true of drugs and alcohol so avoid both.

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

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 9

Today’s Reading: Jer 35:1–36:32, Rom 8:18–39, Prov 22:17–23:18

Today’s Theme: God’s Everlasting Love

There are two great themes in our reading from Romans today; one is the future glory and grace promised in the gospel of God, and the second looks at the eternal nature of God’s love for His elect, and so in turn, our assurance and security in Him.

Jeremiah 35:1–36:32

Be resolute

But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever.(Jeremiah 35:6, ESV)

These men had integrity under trial, we must be resolute like this as believers.

Faithfulness rewarded

therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me.”(Jeremiah 35:19, ESV)

This promise was because of their stand, faithfulness and resolution to obey their father in the midst of a very individualistic and rebellious culture. Again we can learn from their example.

Fear the Lord

Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments.(Jeremiah 36:24, ESV)

These men despised the word of the Lord and foolishly did not fear the coming judgement. We should honour the Lord and tremble at His word.

The indestructible book

“Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned.(Jeremiah 36:28, ESV)

The enemy cannot destroy God’s word. He always tried and always fails. God has always preserved His word and we should be grateful that we now have a number of English translations (KJV, AMP, ESV, NASB, HSCB etc.), which are faithful to the originals.

Thank God for the sacrifice of those like William Tyndale, who made it his mission to translate the bible into English. Also pray that the work of modern day translators, who are producing bibles for the unreached and constantly improving our understanding of the original writings of the bible through translation.

Romans 8:18–39

Encouraged by future glory

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.(Romans 8:18, ESV)

The future Glory that will be ours in Christ is so great, that the sufferings of this life are not worthy of comparison or weighing against.

This should encourage us through every trial and suffering. There is great glory coming, so don’t give up, instead look up.

Creation’s curse

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope(Romans 8:20, ESV)

The ‘Him’ spoken of here is God. The creation was subject to the curse in the hope of glory and redemption.

Creation glorified

that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.(Romans 8:21, ESV)

Paul teaches, not the annihilation of this visible world, but its transformation.

God created the world and it was good. Salvation and redemption is not just for man but for God’s creation, which is why in the end there will be a renewed earth and heaven.

The glory of resurrection

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.(Romans 8:22, ESV)

This makes clear we are talking about the glorious reality of resurrection.

We will be transformed in our resurrection, the earth too will go through a type of resurrection.

The best bits

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?(Romans 8:24, ESV)

Part of the message of salvation is regarding the resurrection for the dead and the glory of eternal life, this is one of the best bits so we should remember to share it.

The Spirit groans

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.(Romans 8:26, ESV)

It is an error to say that this is tongues because the groanings are too deep for words, but tongues is just another word for languages, languages are words.

This is a deep groaning of the Spirit of God in our heart, compelling us to praise, prayer and even action.

It goes beyond our understanding and thoughts, we need this intercession of the Spirit to empower our prayers and it helps us pray for and say the things we would not think of saying ourselves.

The Spirit prays

And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.(Romans 8:27, ESV)

We should appeal to the Spirit of God when we pray for the saints, so that we can pray according to God’s will. Let the Holy Spirit pray through you.

Things working out

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.(Romans 8:28, ESV)

Not for everyone, just the elect who love God, all things work together for good for us because we are called to fulfil God’s purpose. This truth is tied up in the sovereignty, providence and elective love of God.

Intimate foreknowledge

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.(Romans 8:29, ESV)

This is personal foreknowledge in a loving sense, not in the sense of knowledge, although God knows all things. The meaning of this word makes the anti-reformed (anti Calvinist) view unsuitable.

God foreknew the elect in Love, which gives us the purpose of election… Love!

We have been elected by God, not by our decision but by God in His love, which we do not fully comprehend.

The Christian experience, summarised

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.(Romans 8:30, ESV)

This speaks to the entire trajectory of the Christian life, we were pre-loved, chosen, called, justified and glorified.

From election through perseverance to glory.

Eternal security

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?(Romans 8:31, ESV)

We have eternal and firm security in God.

Gods elect

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.(Romans 8:33, ESV)

Clearly election is a teaching of God’s word, even though secular, western ideals reel at the thought.

God justifies His elect and it is before Him they ultimately stand or fall.

Jesus intercedes for us

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.(Romans 8:34, ESV)

One of the reasons for our eternal security is not only what Christ has already done, but what He is doing now, He is interceding for us at God’s right hand.

The whole Trinity is involved, The Spirit groans, the Father justifies and Jesus intercedes.

Eternal love

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.(Romans 8:37, ESV)

The important answer to the questions leading to this verse is No.

We are more than just conquerors, it is not that we have conquered sin and death, Jesus conquered sin and death. We are the recipients of the deed of His love, we are the beneficiaries, we have the guarantee of His finished work, we did not earn it so we are not conquerors, we are so much more… we, by the Spirit of adoption, have become righteousness imputed sons, with an entitlement to that which we could not possibly conquer and achieve for ourselves.

We are kept in security for all eternity by the love of God, He has overcome.

Proverbs 22:17–23:18

Incline your heart

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,(Proverbs 22:17, ESV)

Inclining your ear takes effort, the root words give some indication of the type of effort involved (to stretch, spread, lengthen; to bend down; to turn aside; to entice).

To apply our heart means to firmly set our heart in resolution, on the knowledge given.

Good pleasure

for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.(Proverbs 22:18, ESV)

Inclining our ears and applying our hearts brings us pleasure.

Physical discipline

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.(Proverbs 23:13, ESV)

This is not just training and teaching, this is a physical strike, administered in self control and love.

Future hope

Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.(Proverbs 23:18, ESV)

This is encouraging when you look around and see the ungodly prospering.

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 8