Scripture

Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe towards those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.

Observation

God’s people, the Jews, did not stumble and fall beyond recovery. God made salvation available to the Gentiles, wanting the Jews to be jealous and claim the blessing too.

Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy. But some of the branches of the family tree were not holy, so they were broken off. Then God grafted in the Gentiles in their place.

We should not become proud about this. If we should stop being obedient to Christ, we too could be broken off the tree.

Application

One of the problems with grace is that we can turn it into a kind of easy salvation: Just say the prayer and you are in.

But this is not how God works. He removed from His family tree those Jews who refused to obey Him. He will do the same to those of us Gentiles who refuse to obey Him.

We are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works. In other words, my faith in Jesus should result in a life that, over time, becomes like Him. I turn away from sin and selfishness, towards a life of love and kindness.

To claim to be a christian while engaging in sin is nonsense. To go to church and continue to be untouched by holiness is hypocrisy.

Paul is clear that this kind of action will not be blessed by God. He is kind to those who accept His grace, but severe to those who refuse to obey Him.

Prayer

Lord, I don’t like to think of your judgement. Please help me to be obedient to you. May your Holy Spirit so transform me that I become like you. Amen.

Scripture

It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace – his undeserved kindness in choosing them.

Observation

God has not rejected the people of Israel. It is like the time of Elijah when the prophet thought he was the only one left in Israel who was faithful to the Lord. The Lord showed him there were 7000 people who had not worshipped Baal.

Most of the Jewish people are seeking salvation through good works, Paul says, but some, though a minority, have received God’s grace and have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

Application

God has never completely abandoned His people- either Israel nor the church. There has always been a remnant, a small group of people who remain faithful to Him regardless.

This is true of the Jewish people. Although most have rejected their Messiah, Jesus, some have responded to the Good News.

It is also true in the church. Sometimes whole denominations have departed from Biblical truth to pursue the ways of the world. And yet, a faithful few remain, witnessing to the power of salvation.

Whole nations are turning their backs on the christian faith which established their culture and which united the nation. While the mainstream might have moved on, a remnant remains faithful to Jesus Christ.

So I remain hopeful for Australia and for the denomination I left over twenty years ago. Jesus is still building His church, and He is still Lord of the nations.

Prayer

Lord, even when all seems dark, you are the light of the world. I pray for revival in my town and in my nation. Lord, turn the hearts of people back to you. Amen.

Scripture

But how will they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how will they believe in him if they have never heard of him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?

Observation

The Lord has promised that everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved. But they cannot call on the Lord if they haven’t heard the promise, and that means that somebody has to have told them. Even that presupposes that somebody has sent the messenger.

Not everybody welcomes the Good News. Faith comes through hearing, but some will hear but not receive it. Even though God greets us with open arms, some people remain rebellious and disobedient.

Application

All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. First we have to hear the message of salvation. This means that, mostly, somebody has to go and preach the message. That places the responsibility on local churches to send missionaries and evangelists to people who have not yet heard the Good News.

There are people who are called to go to distant places and foreign cultures to be full-time missionaries. Others are gifted as evangelists and fill that ministry whether locally or as itinerants.

The most effective evangelism happens as ordinary christians share their faith at work, at home or at leisure locations such as the pub, gym or whatever. Ian Robinson calls this “Gossiping The Gospel,” which is a wonderful expression of allowing Jesus into our every day conversations.

Churches have to be sending agents, allowing and equipping members to be witnesses of the gospel in the 167 hours a week that are not church.

We can sit around and complain about the sad state of civilisation, or we can do something about it by instigating a gospel- led recovery, sharing with one person at a time.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the Good News that changes lives. Please help me to share you with my friends every day. Amen.

Scripture

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.

Observation

Paul’s deep desire is for his own people to be saved. They love God, but their zeal is misdirected. They cling to the Law, but Christ has died for the purpose for which the Law was given.

Moses made it clear that, to be saved, a person had to obey all the commands. But faith says that the message of salvation is close at hand; in fact it is on our lips and in our heart.

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.

Application

Being right with God is not a complicated affair. We don’t have to obey a million laws or go through complex religious sacrifices or go on dangerous pilgrimages. No, we simply change our identity from “sinner” to “saint.”

The first step is to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. This is a declaration of loyalty.

We have many people, organisations, and institutions demanding our loyalty. Political leaders, football teams, social media influencers, car manufacturers- they all want our affections, even our worship. Into the mix we have our own desires and lusts wanting to be indulged.

To be a christian is to say that Jesus is Lord. He is my King, my boss, my only desire.

For early christians, this was a dangerous confession. The state demanded that every citizen confess “Caesar is Lord,” but christians refused to the point of death. Only Jesus is Lord.

The second step is to believe in our hearts that God raised Him from death. We might not really grasp the meaning of this when we first make our confession, but the Holy Spirit brings deeper conviction over time.

If I believe in my heart that Jesus rose from the dead, then I know that I, too, will rise from the dead. Then the attractions of this world become less important to me in the light of eternity.

Prayer

Lord, I believe and I confess. Holy Spirit, lead me deeper into conviction and total surrender. Amen.

Scripture

Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standard, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place.

Observation

The prophet Hosea wrote that those who were not God’s people are now called His people and that they, the Gentiles, would be called God’s children.

On the other hand, Isaiah had prophesied that the people of Israel would be reduced to a remnant.

Even though the Gentiles had not been living by God’s Law they were made right with God through faith. But the people of Israel had failed to be right with God because their focus was on keeping the law instead of trusting in God.

Application

God’s way of salvation for Jews and Gentiles was always the same – namely through faith and relationship.

The Law, which was given to show how God wanted His people to live, had become a stumbling block because the people turned it into an idol. Instead of recognising that they had been chosen by God’s grace, they made obedience to the Law the sign or the means of God’s acceptance.

Gentiles, on the other hand, had no such impediment. When Jesus died on the cross, we understood that we were sinners saved by grace. In faith we receive God’s promise of salvation.

We don’t need anything else to be made right with God – just an understanding that Jesus’ death on the cross has defeated our sin.

Prayer

Than you, Father, for the knowledge that you accept all people by faith. Amen.

Scripture

When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have the right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

Observation

Even though God chooses some and not others, we cannot accuse Him of being unfair. He shows mercy to anyone He chooses.

God told Pharaoh that He appointed him for displaying God’s power and to spread God’s fame.

If God determines who will respond to the Good News, why does He blame those who do not respond? This is like a potter who makes two jars from the one lump of clay – one to decorate and the other one to use to hold garbage.

Application

There are many questions where the boundaries of human free will and divine sovereignty intersect.

Calvinists say that God chooses who will be saved and who will be condemned. Free will in people can never impinge on God’s freedom to do with His creation whatever He chooses.

Arminians, on the other hand, say that people are free to respond to the gospel and to receive God’s offer of salvation. They are also free to reject God. Love cannot be love unless we choose to receive or reject the offer of love.

The truth is that whichever end you choose to start at, you must understand both sides. God is in control, and He controls our destiny in such a way that we still choose to accept or reject Him.

Paul quotes the example of Pharaoh whom it was said was chosen by God to glorify Him through the world. At this point, Pharaoh had a choice to glorify God through repentance and submission to the Lord. We know he chose a different way. Even though God was determined to free His people from Egypt, Pharaoh had freedom to work with the Lord or to resist Him.

The choice always remains with us about whether we will follow God’s way or not. As we walk down the path of rebellion, our hearts become harder and harder.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for calling me out of darkness and into the kingdom of your dear Son. Amen.

Scripture

This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.

Observation

Paul writes that his heart is filled with grief for his Jewish brothers and sisters. They are God’s adopted children. God revealed His glory to them, made covenants with them, and gave them the privilege of worshipping Him.

Being a descendant of Abraham, though, does not make a person a child of God. Only the children of the promise are God’s children. The example of this is Esau’s rejection by God in favour of Jacob.

Application

Many Jewish people made their family tree – their lineage from Abraham – the proof that they were God’s children. But Paul says that the Scriptures show that not every descendant of Abraham is a child of God.

Many Jews refused to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Since Jesus is now the only way to the Father and the only way to be saved, this means that they are going to hell. They could have been saved, and should have been saved, but their rejection of Christ showed they were not truly children of God’s promise.

Anyone who puts their trust in anything other than Christ will also be rejected by God. There is only one way to be saved, one name by which we are forgiven- Jesus.

You can’t be saved by a parent’s faith, by going to church, or by water baptism.

Jesus is the only way to be saved.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you that you have given us your Son to be our salvation. Please protect me from the idols that try to distract me from you, and keep me on the right path with you. Amen.

Scripture

No power in the sky above or on the earth below – indeed nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. Even if we don’t know how to pray, the Spirit prays for us in groans that cannot be expressed in words.

God causes all things to work together for our good. He knows us in advance and He knows what we need to make us more like Jesus.

God has not held anything back – He even gave His son for us, so won’t He give us everything else we need?

Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Despite trouble, calamity, and persecution we are more than conquerors in Christ. So nothing in heaven or on earth can ever overcome us or separate us from the love of God.

Application

God’s love for us is absolutely invincible. Nothing in all creation can cut is off from it.

Some people are afraid of satan and demons. In God’s eyes these are nothing. God is far more powerful and has already broken their power.

Some people fear trouble in the world. I am surprised at the number of christians living in fear of the corona virus. Even when it is legal to hold church meetings, these people keep their churches closed out of fear.

Some people are anxious that they might not stand firm if opposition or persecution come against them. How awful it would be to deny Christ under pressure. But even this cannot separate us from God’s love.

Nothing in the whole of creation can separate us from God’s love – except us. We have freedom to walk away from God. Nothing outside of ourselves can cut us off.

Prayer

This promise is so enormous, Father. Your love for me is never ending, and it is greater than anything that might come against me. Amen.

Scripture

Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share in his glory, we must also share in his suffering.

Observation

All who are led by the Spirit of God are God’s children. We have not received a spirit of slavery, but the Spirit of adoption. We call Him “Abba, Father” because we are His children. We are heirs of the Father’s glory, but if we are to share Christ’s gory we must also share in His suffering.

All creation is waiting eagerly to see who God’s children really are. The creation was subjected to bondage by Adam’s sin, but it will join God’s children in freedom from death. We also have the hope of release from sin and suffering.

Application

We are heirs of the Father, joint heirs with Christ.

Everything that God owns He will share with us. This is the way it was meant to be before Adam and Eve sinned, bringing death and curse into the world. People were supposed to work in partnership with God to unlock the secrets of the creation.

When God recreates the heavens and the earth, we will once again walk in perfect fellowship with God, in a world where there is no death and no sorrow.

As heirs of God’s glory, we will share in His morality and character to a far higher degree than we do now. No temptation and no sin will block us from communion with Him.

We will walk with greater dignity and self-esteem. Bullies and abusers will no longer peddle their suffering. We will see ourselves as God sees us- the pinnacle of creation.

All of this is ours. We are already in the family, so we already share in the benefits. But much more will come our way.

In the meantime, as we enjoy the benefits of being Christ’s joint heirs, we must also share in His suffering. In the west, this might mainly be insults and name calling at the moment, although some have lost their jobs for their stand. In many parts of the world, suffering with Christ is a literal fact of life.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for adopting me into your family. Thank you for the promise of inheritance. Amen.