Sunday night study - Review notes part 4

Bible study group,

This is the final post for the review notes of the study session we had Sunday one week ago. This time of study has been titled "Being the Christian that you say you have become." In using some basic logic I concluded that you can't be living the Christian life if you haven't first become a Christian. And that leads to our present discussion of how does someone in fact become a Christian. There is much confusion on this issue within the church today. Let me give you some numbers that I think will prove the point. The latest population stats tell us that there are a little over 6 billion people on planet earth. The stats also tell us that there are 2 billion "professing" Christians and of those 650 million are Protestants. If these statistics were entirely accurate then I believe our world would be a much different place that the one we presently live in. Maybe what Billy Graham and Vance Haver have said is true that 70% of those that attend the evangelical church ARE NOT really saved. If those stats are that high in the evangelical church what must they be in other churches. Bottom line is that when a person becomes a Christian a radical transformation happens in that persons life. They start loving things that used to be boring and mundane. They love Christ, and His word, they go to church, join Bible studies, they pray and they give financially. Now none of these things in and of themselves saves anyone but they are the manifestation of a Holy Spirit empowered life.

The apostle Paul is going to describe what happens and why that happens from a biblical perspective in Romans 9-11. We are only covering the first 13 verses but we have more than enough to work with and have a huge brain cramp. In the review notes we have been primarily looking at Romans 9:11 - for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls. I divided that up into three study units:
1. God's purpose according to His choice would stand. And the questions I had us wrestle through was - what is God's purpose?
2. Not because of works - and in the notes from last time I mentioned why that phrase is so important and how it takes away the time factor in when the work was done.
3. But because of Him who calls - if you look at this verse, you first have a statement of God's purpose and then there is a negation and then an affirmation. We covered the negation last time and so today we look at the affirmation.

This last phrase "but because of Him who calls" really needs to get our attention and we need to ask some critical questions. First when you see the word but that indicates a contrast is coming from what was previously said. The apostle Paul has just made a key point about Jacob and Esau in which he says it doesn't matter when the good deeds or evil deeds happened. There is no time factor here either past, present or future. Now if you had been following Paul's argument about justification by faith in Romans then you would have come across the following verses;
Rom. 3:27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
Rom. 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Rom. 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
Rom. 9:32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone

Did you notice there is always a by faith and not works component to his argument. Here is a side note but you can also see this if you go to the book of Galatians - for example;
Gal. 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Gal. 3:2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Gal. 3:5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

So if we are going based on Biblical logic and the flow of Paul's normal argument then how should Romans 9:11 read? Not because of works but because of faith - is that what this verse says? It doesn't say that at all but everywhere else we have works Paul finds a way to say it is not works but faith. But he doesn't say that here and that should prompt the question - why not? Here is the answer, because Paul is not talking about justification by faith at this point. He developed that argument in the first 8 chapters and now expects us to have a grasp on it. Right now and right here the apostle Paul is not talking about justification but rather ELECTION. And isn't this clear as a bell as you follow this argument of election that God has done so in an unconditional way. What conditions were placed on Jacob that got him elected or chosen? There were no conditions, there was nothing he earned or merited it was simply by the sovereign grace of God. And do you know why I believe that is the case? Because just read the phrase in this verse - it had nothing to do with works or any foreseen faith that either would exhibit later on in their lives. It had to do with God and God alone! It plainly say it was God who calls and folks if he doesn't call then a person is not elect. Now go back to Chapter 8:29-30 and follow those five links for eternal security - Foreknowledge - Presdestination - Called - Justified - Glorified. Read that carefully because it is clear who is doing each of these things and that person is God Himself. Do you see it? Can you see it? Do you want to see it or have you become Americanized to the point that you think God can't do it this way. A word of warning is necessary here. Be very careful to tell God how He can and can not elect His own.

We end at this point but the argument that continues is even more and more compelling. The apostle Paul is used to dealing with these objections to how God elects. And in verse 14 he says do you think God is unjust for doing it this way. He then gives an argument for the righteousness of God in election by quoting a verse from Exodus 33:19 where God says to Moses I will have compassion on whom I have compassion and mercy on whom I have mercy. Isn't that God saying "I elect who I want because I am God" and there is nothing that can restrict or thwart my sovereign will.

Again these verses are about election which you can see from Romans 9:1-13 is unconditional. But for a person to be born again or converted this is conditional and the one condition is that they must have faith. If you can see the argument of Paul in the first 8 chapters is justification by faith. But now in Chapter 9 he is talking about God's election of His own and he now shows us in this argument that this is unconditional. Well that concludes our study of these verses at least for the time.

Nancy and I loved being with all of you the other night for our Christmas gathering. It has been a tough and wonderful year. The emotions of having a church, closing a church and looking for another church are incredible to say the least. My passion, goal and life's number 1 desire is to glorify Christ and teach His word, wherever to whoever. I thank God that Nancy is such an incredible helpmate and continues to share this same vision for ministering to others in order that He would be magnified. I pray that each of you have a wonderful Christmas season. There is so much to be thankful for and so much reason to praise and worship our great Savior. Thank you again for the support, prayers and encouragement I am humbled
by your continued kindness and love. Now may God keep you and bless you and make His face to shine upon you for now and everymore!

Blessings