Romans 11: Part 5: Gentiles, Branches cut from the Wild Olive Tree vis-a-vis Israel, the Natural Olive Tree Branches:
Volume 5, Number 27Whereas the 10th chapter of Romans explains how individual Jews and Gentiles are saved into The Body of Christ by grace through faith, the 11th chapter deals with the restoration of the Nation of Israel and the salvation of Gentile Nations. Unfortunately, this truth was obscured by early church fathers shortly after Paul revealed it. It was promoted as “replacement theology,” i.e., the false teaching that the Christian Church has replaced National Israel regarding the plan, purpose and promises of God, (What is Replacement Theology). This belief exists to one degree or another today by many who either don’t understand... Continue reading →
Romans 10:5 - 21: Part 4: Faith by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God; To Hear or not to Hear, that is the Question:
Volume 5, Number 26Chapters 9 - 11 of Romans teach the Sovereignty of God in Election & Restoration: Election in that God chose/elected the Nation of Israel to be His people, however they rejected Him, first when they crucified their Messiah, then when they stoned His messenger Stephen to death, thus rejecting the offer of His Kingdom; Restoration in that a remnant of Israel will someday be placed in a position of prominence as the leading Kingdom on earth when the Lord Jesus Christ returns after the Tribulation. The end of the 9th and the full 10th chapter document the status of Israel... Continue reading →
Romans 9:30 - 10:8: The Sovereignty of God in Election & Restoration, Part 3: Faith Always necessary, whether Jew or Gentile:
Volume 5, Number 25Our last two studies covered Romans 9:1 - 29, which begins with the Apostle Paul writing that he could wish himself accursed from Christ for his brethren, his kinsmen according to the flesh, Romans 9:1 - 3: “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 9:4 - 5. The last phrase here reminds us: our Lord Jesus Christ... Continue reading →
Romans 9:12 - 29: The Sovereignty of God in Election & Restoration, Part 2:
Volume 5, Number 24We continue in the 9th chapter of Romans where the Apostle Paul reveals the doctrine of the Sovereignty of God in Election and Restoration, which has caused misunderstandings and divisions in the Christian community for 1900 years or so. Part of the problem is that some either don’t recognize or don’t want to admit the human condition. This is evidenced when, at the mere mention of election, they respond that they know God didn’t arbitrarily choose for them to go to heaven and condemn others to hell. They apparently don’t understand that everyone, Jew or Gentile, is under sin, Romans... Continue reading →
Romans 9:1 - 11: The Sovereignty of God in Election & Restoration:
Volume 5, Number 23The 9th, 10th & 11th chapters form the second great section of the Romans epistle. The first section, chapters 1 - 8, teach justification by faith by the Grace of God apart from works, common to all, whether Jew or Gentile. The problem of how to reconcile this with the special privileges granted to the Nation of Israel is resolved in chapters 9, 10 & 11 with the doctrine or teaching of the Sovereignty of God in Election and Restoration. *Saul, who became the Apostle Paul, exemplifies Israel’s Election and Restoration. Prior to the Lord Jesus Christ appearing to him,... Continue reading →
The Battle of the Wills or God’s Will for the Heavens and the Earth In the Fullness of Time
Volume 5, Number 22The English dictionary gives a number of synonyms for the word “will:” “choice, discretion, determination, purpose, command, direction, desire,” etc. The Greek word translated “will,” referred to later in this study means that faculty of the mind by which is determined either to do or not to do something so this is what is referred to as “will” in this presentation.All humans have a will; some strong, some weak; we all have desires, choices, purposes, etc. and it appears God’s heavenly creatures have wills from what is recorded about the one that was probably the most prominent:“How art thou fallen... Continue reading →
Faith in Romans, Introduction to Chapters 9, 10 & 11; God’s promises to Israel and what has happened to them:
Volume 5, Number 21About 3844 years ago, at a time when the entire human race worshiped pagan gods, God called Abram (later Abraham) out of that morass of sin. He promised Abram that his progeny would become a great nation, God would bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him and all nations of the earth would be blessed through him, Genesis 12:1 - 3. Abram believed and did as God instructed, i.e., he obeyed in faith. God subsequently promised Abraham that if man can number the dust of the earth, then shall his seed be numbered and they will... Continue reading →
Faith in Romans, Chapter 8, Part 3: The Sovereignty of God; While Believers suffer The Holy Spirit Intercedes & All Things Work Together for Good to Them:
Volume 5, Number 20Part 1 in our study of Chapter 8 (Vol 5, No 19) recapped the good news that there is no judgement against believers in Christ Jesus who formerly were sinners condemned to death, Romans 8:1 - 11. Part 2 (Vol 5, No 19) examined the believer’s personal relationship as children of God who call Him “Abba Father,” notwithstanding the suffering endured in these bodies of flesh while looking forward to the Glory that will follow, Romans 8:12 - 23. Reviewing verses 22 & 23: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now,” Romans... Continue reading →
Faith in Romans - Chapter 8, Part 2: The Believer’s “Abba Father,” Present Suffering & Glory to Follow:
Volume 5, Number 19Our last study covered Romans 8:1 - 11, recapping the good news that there is no judgement against believers in Christ Jesus who formerly were sinners condemned to death. Today, we continue with Romans 8:12 that begins with the word “therefore,” which means “accordingly, consequently, those things being so,” introducing the statement “…. we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh,” Romans 8:12. Thus, since believers are no longer under condemnation, they no longer owe or have an obligation to live after the lusts of the sinful flesh in which they were born. But the next... Continue reading →
Faith in Romans - Chapter 8: No Condemnation/ Judgement on Believers in Christ Jesus who before were Sinners Condemned to Death:
Volume 5, Number 18The first verse of Romans chapter 8 sums up the previous 3 chapters: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1. (The King James Version [KJV] adds the phrase “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” The New International Version [NIV] is correct in omitting this phrase as it does not appear in the original manuscripts. However, this phrase is in Romans 8:4 in both the KJV and the NIV.) The Greek word translated “condemnation” in Romans 8:1 is from the Greek “katak’rima” (G2631), a particular form found only 3... Continue reading →