The Gospel of Grace and Israel's Restoration
Book of Romans Chapter 11
There is a simple truth we had better understand and it is, that what we believe determines our ability to see things properly.
When we reject the truth, we will believe a lie and the things that go with that lie!
This is the exact reason the government we have in place today is doing its best to influence our children or indoctrinate our children, at every level of our school systems.
Of course they are denying this just as Iran is denying their attempt to make nuclear weapons, but it is still true.
They are both hoping that enough time will pass that these things will be irreversible!
It is not Nuclear weapons that make great nations or even powerful nations, but only foolish nations!
This same thing happened to the Israel of old!
Another thing we had better be clear on, is that God will never abandon this people!
Though the many things they did were wrong, they did preserve the Word of God down through the many generations.
To this, we as Christians owe a great debt, even though we know that God was behind this important thing to make sure it took place.
*****Rom 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? "God forbid". For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
The Word of God does not just stop at the introduction of the Church!
In God's wisdom, He has blinded the eyes of the Israelites until the fulness of the Church comes in.
The Apostle Paul said that jealousy would provoke them to see the Lord in a unique way.
It was the Jews, in the time of the trial of the Lord Jesus Christ who demanded to see the wrath of God.
Mat 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Mat 27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
God has promised that the Church would not see His wrath.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
These Jews, the children of disobedience, and those who have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ during the Church Age, will see the wrath of God, but not the true Church.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
The Church will not see the wrath of God!
The Jews begged to see the wrath of God, so in God's wisdom He set aside Israel until the fulness of the Church comes in at the "Rapture", then He will again deal with Israel as He promised Abraham and David, after they witness His wrath which they could have avoided!
God always keeps His promises!
God's covenants are sincere!
Israel was disobedient to God and turned away the hand of a loving God.
Rom 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
They had decided that they did not need to be obedient to the Word of God just as so much of the world has decided today!
Again we should be clear, God has not cast away His people.
Before God removes the blinders from this people, they will see the wrath of God that they had pleaded for at the death of their Deliverer who is the only Deliverer from the wrath of God!
Israel is not saved at this time and to be saved they must come to Jesus and repent.
This does not ever mean there is not a remnant of these Israelites ready to serve the Lord!
There will never be some new way to be reconciled to God, the Father of us all!
Jehovah has blinded the eyes of Israel, but the rest of the world just has no excuse because they have seen the truth of God through eyes that clearly see!
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
The Apostle Paul was proud of His Jewish heritage, but most proud of his Christian heritage!
We cannot be disobedient to the Word of God and be reconciled to God!
This is something that we just cannot do and expect the "Grace of God"!
Israel is not a saved people at this time even though God will always have a remnant of the Israelites who love Him!
God's promises are to all people and God will deal with Israel just as His Word has said, and these things are not changeable!
We should clearly understand that God always has a remnant of Jews who love Him and who will serve Him.
The Apostle Paul was part of that remnant in the days of the early Church.
The Apostle Paul could be said to be a true Jew a direct descendant of Abraham through his mother.
In fact, it is the mothers who determine the line of Jews from Abraham just as it was Sarah who determines who is a true Israelite and a descendant of Abraham!
There are many descendants of Abraham who are not part of the family of Israel, such as those from Abraham's second wife Keturah along with the descendants of Ishmael and of Esau.
God will not cast off the descendants of Abraham by his wife Sarah!
Elijah, as powerful a prophet as he was, fell into this trap thinking that God did not have those who love Him at all times.
*****Rom 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Rom 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
The Book of Hebrews teaches us that without "faith" it is impossible to please God, because we must believe that He is the God of the Bible and the God of all creation.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God "must believe that he is", and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Once you have accepted this in your mind, then why would you ever believe He would not be "all-knowing"?
God saves those He knows!
God does not forget those He knows!
The key here is that God knows!
Remember Jesus said to those who hated Him "that He never knew them".
God only knows those who love Him and are obedient to His Word.
If you understand the Lord Jesus, He does not even know those who do not love Him.
Remember He said, "I never knew you"!
God says you can always tell the ones that He knows by the way they live their lives!
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
God cannot be fooled, or He could not be God!
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
It is a fact that only a remnant of Israel will be saved during the Church Age!
It is also a fact that during the time of Elijah and all the other prophets there was only a remnant that genuinely loved God!
But there is always this remnant!
Elijah felt alone for a moment of his life because he did not see any around him that were trying to be obedient to the Word of God.
Elijah allowed the world (wicked Jezebel) to frighten him, and he became afraid to die and we must not ever be afraid to die for our Savior who died for us.
Luk_9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
The cross is a symbol of death!
We must never believe we are all alone in serving God!
We never will be!
It is a fact that most of this world are disobedient and disloyal to our Creator and certainly disloyal to our Deliverer!(they are One and the Same person)
We should also understand that the image of a nation is determined by the lifestyle of the majority who live in that nation, not by that remnant!
As far as the United States goes, our image is not that of a godly nation, but our image is that of Sodom and Gomorrah just like the European Union and just like all nations of the United Nations that have adopted this wicked and immoral stance.
These are not freedoms; they are just sin against a Holy God!
Most of the rest are corrupt and wicked and self-righteous and seeking power they will never have.
There is a remnant today, but there is also the true Church that lives amongst all these wicked nations.
God will never leave Himself without a witness!
God will never leave His people without brothers and sisters going about the work given to us by Jesus Christ!
We must keep that work going until the Lord takes us home!
There will be a remnant of the Jews in place even when the Church has been removed from this world!
*****Rom 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
The Apostle Paul knew there was a remnant of Jews in his day, and we had better know there is a remnant of Jews today who serve the Lord according to the "Grace of God".
The Holy Spirit is alive and well, working throughout this world according to the "Grace" God has shown to us.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Since it is by "Grace", then there is still only the Law of Grace, and not any other law by which we can be saved, no matter where we come from!
*****Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Grace is no longer "Grace" if God allowed a remnant according to those old Laws of Moses.
The Old Testament Saints were saved because they had the "faith of Abraham" which gained their righteousness.
What was the "faith of Abraham"? That God would provide Himself to be the Lamb of God, the Messiah!
No one deserves the "Grace" of God, so all who come to the truth of Jesus Christ are eligible to receive God's "Grace"!
We must clearly understand that no one will ever get to Heaven who does not have the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ!
There is no one who will ever work their way into Heaven!
God does not bestow His "Grace" upon anyone because we are deserving of it, because none of us are!
It is Jehovah God who placed the blinders upon the Israelites, and it is only Jehovah God who can remove those blinders!
What is said of Israel?
1) Isa 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
Isa 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
2) Psa 69:22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
3) Psa 69:23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
Psa 69:24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
They were blind to the truth of the Messiah, and they still are!
*****Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
Rom 11:9 And David saith, Let their "table" be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Rom 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
They were blinded.
They were given the Spirit of slumber.
They were given eyes that they should not see.
They were given ears that they should not hear.
That table is their lust for the things of this world rather than the things of God!
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Those who reject the truth of God experience judicial blindness and rejection by God!
Those who choose to reject the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Grace, have chosen for themselves damnation!
God offers His love and salvation freely, but God will not be taken advantage of, and God will not be mocked!
Unbelief only causes more obstinate unbelief!
We had better understand, God will not violate our will nor force His will upon us!
Sin only multiplies as our faith dwindles to nothingness!
Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
What is the whole truth?
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
By rejecting the truth of the Gospel, we have placed ourselves in jeopardy and the penalties of Hell!
The Gospel which should feed and strengthen our souls, will become the means of destruction of the unbeliever!
*****Rom 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Rom 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
What was the "Gospel Message" to these Jews?
Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
True repentance must always be directed toward Jehovah God!
True repentance must always be for the remission of sins unto salvation!
These must be the desires of our heart!
Another especially important thing to remember is that God can save anyone, at any time and from any place!
Israel stumbled at the message of Jesus Christ!
Will Israel ever accept the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Is the Spiritual fall of Israel to be forever?
The Holy Spirit says God forbids this to happen. Perish the thought of such a thing!
We should understand that the message of the "Gospel" is for the entire world.
God sent His messengers to Israel first, but God's salvation message is for all people.
The only ones who cannot be saved are those God has turned over to a reprobate mind!
This is a choice they have made, and the Holy Spirit will not strive with those people ever again, because it would not ever change their mind.
It is said that Israel stumbled because there were so many who chose to reject the message of God.
America was once known as a Christian nation because a greater majority of people trusted the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!
This is no longer the truth!
America is no longer known as a Christian nation because most Americans have abandoned the truth of Jesus Christ!
America is now the nation of Sodom and Gomorrah, along with the European Union and most of the United Nations.
The rest are power hungry nations who will fail because of their arrogance.
When Israel rejected the Gospel Message, God sent His messengers to all the other nations and one by one each nation either becomes a Christian Nation or they become a nation of reprobates by their own choice!
Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Act 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
The things of this world may have been much better than what we see now, had the Israelites accepted the Word of God as it was given and had been missionaries to the world.
It has now been about two thousand years since Christ returned to Heaven and still the world has not been reached with the Gospel even though there are only a few places left if any now at this time.
We can now also see how our world could be much better had most of the Gentiles have received the truth of the Gospel and believed.
Even though all these things did not take place, God has still worked out all things for the good of those who love Him!
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God's plan cannot be overcome in any way form or fashion!
It is because of these two things that we are left with the world we now have, and God will take care of these two problems during the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
Even though people will still be left with a choice, with Satan out of the way there will be no temptation and none of his evil works to try to sway people at least for One Thousand years, where then he would be freed to do his evil for a brief period of time.
It is after this that the Israelites and the Church will be united in one mind and one faith to serve the Living God!
God assures the Church of these promises.
God assures the restoration of Israel.
God assures a restored earth back to the original as it was in the early days of Adam and Eve.
It is the Gospel that has impacted the world to the truth, the world is built upon the lust of the flesh, lies, deception, corruption, wickedness, and the love of money.
We should understand that millions have been saved from the wrath of God.
We should understand that millions have been saved from death and Hell.
We should understand that millions now have the promise of eternal life, and many millions are already living that life.
It is by the Gospel that humanity knows about the moral laws.
It is by the Gospel that morality and purity is preached world-wide.
It is only by the Gospel that we can be saved from the wrath of God on the Children of Disobedience.
The children of disobedience are all those who reject the truth of the Word of God!
Once Israel returns to Jehovah this world will see the blessings of God!
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2Ch 7:15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
The Apostle Paul preached the truth until he was also murdered for preaching the truth to this world!
Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Rom 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
We should have this same love for all the lost and be obedient servants to the Lord Jesus Christ, the God who loves us enough to die for us that we too might be saved!
Amen
