A classic quote from C. S. Lewis

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. 

He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. 

You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. ... 

Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God."

C. S. Lewis 

Mere Christianity

"Now the great thing is this: we are consecrated and dedicated to God in order that we may thereafter think, speak, meditate, and do, nothing except to his glory...we are not our own, we are God's."

Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3.7.1, John Calvin

 

THE TRANSFORMED CHRISTIAN - ROMANS 12:1-8

 Living Sacrifice

12:1-2

Chapter 12 begins a shift of topic in Romans, as Paul transitions from the theology of salvation to Christian living. It is an application of his theology to daily life.

Having established that salvation comes, not from works, but as a matter of God’s grace and mercy, Paul tells us how we should live in light of such mercy.

We are to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice. But, “bodies” here mean our whole selves, not just our physical bodies. We see this because Paul speaks of our minds in verse 2. 

The word “present” is used in conjunction with offering a sacrifice. In the Old Covenant, animal sacrifices were required. A person would present the animal to the priest, who would kill the animal and offer it, or parts of it, by burning it on the altar.

We present ourselves to God as a sacrifice, but a living one. We live holy lives that are acceptable to God. How do we know what is acceptable to God? By studying his word, we see all the places where he tells us what we are to do and what we are to refrain from doing. Since God is holy, we are to be holy. (1 Peter 1:16)  The best evidence of conversion is tuning from sin. 

From the Old Covenant moral law to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, we see the behaviors and attitudes that please God and the ones that do not. For example, Jesus said we are to love each other. (John 13:34)

Living a life that is holy is our spiritual worship. We live holy lives to please God, but also to reflect God’s character to others. To do so is worship. It is spiritual service, not a mechanical observance of ritual. 

Living a holy life requires a transformation of our mind. We are not to conform to the thinking and standards of the world. (2) We have been changed from the darkness of the world to the light of Christ. (Ephesians 5:8) But this is always a work in progress . 

The world constantly tries to seduce or intimidate us into conformity with its thinking. So, we must constantly seek transformation by faith and the spiritual disciplines. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) 

The renewal of our mind comes with the work of the Holy Spirit in our life, our reading of God’s word, and our prayer life. With this renewal of mind comes discernment. We become able to discern what God accepts. This is part of the process of sanctification. “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17)

Humility In Judgment And Service

12:3-8

We are not to think more highly of ourselves than is warranted. Humility is frequently mentioned in the Bible and pride is often condemned. Self examination requires sober, or serious, judgment. We look at ourselves honestly.

If we claim a gift we do not have, from ulterior motives, we are not using sober judgment. Likewise, if we deny our gifts or claim to have nothing to offer, we do not use sober judgment. 

The context for Paul’s admonition is our spiritual gifts and our service to the church. This is in accordance with the amount of faith God has given us. 

Paul uses an analogy of the human body. Every body has many different parts. Each part has a different function that benefits the whole. (4) Similarly, each believer belongs to the body of Christ and to each of the other members. We belong to each other. (5) I am a member of you and you are a member of me. 

In this body, each member has a gift given to us by God in his grace. (6) Each one should use his or her gift for the functions of the body and for the good of the body and for the good of all the other members. 

Paul lists some of the gifts as examples. If you have the gift of prophecy, then prophesy. Other gifts are serving, teaching, exhorting, giving (contributes), leading, and mercy. (6-8) All should be used for the benefit of the church.

You can read more about gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4. 

A believer's mind is transformed to think like God rather than the world. This transformation should affect both our living for God and for each other. 

THE FATE OF ISRAEL - ROMANS 11

A Remnant Saved

11:1-10

Having established that Israel rejected Jesus, Paul now asks if God rejected his people Israel. By this, he means has God come to a final and absolute rejection of Israel. His answer is no and he sets out to prove it in this chapter.

The first proof is that Paul himself is an Israelite. He is a descendant of Abraham and from the line of Benjamin. And Paul had been both saved and set apart to be an apostle. He was foreknown (set apart before he was born) and called according to God’s purpose. (Galatians 1:15) Therefore, one could not say that God had fully rejected Israel.

In addition, Paul showed how God, in the past, had always saved a remnant. He referred to the story of Elijah. Israel was apostate, worshipping Baal, led by King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, a priestess of Baal from Tyre. She even had prophets of God murdered. 

But, when Elijah said he was the only believer left in Israel, God told him he kept a remnant of 7,000 for himself. (4) You can read this story in1 Kings 19. 

Likewise,God had saved a remnant during Paul’s time, chosen and saved by grace. (5) And since it was by grace, it was not by works. We see some of these in the gospels. Certainly, the Twelve, minus Judas were Israelites who were saved. Those disciples gathered in the upper room after the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, John Mark and his mother, Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother and brothers, and others were Israelites and were saved. 

So, there were two groups of Israelites. The elect Jews were saved. The others were hardened. (7)

Paul returned again to the Old Testament to show this was God’s intention. First, he cited Isaiah 29:10 that God kept them from seeing and hearing. (8) Second, he cited Psalms 69:22, applying it to Jesus again as the stumbling block. (9-10)

Gentiles Brought Into God’s Family

11:11-15

So, God’s purpose was not the full and final rejection of Israel, but a temporary one. The purpose was to bring in the Gentiles. By bringing them into God’s family, Israel might become jealous and turn to Christ. Their rejection of Christ (their trespass) resulted in a blessing to the Gentiles. 

Paul himself started his ministry going first to the Jews, then the Gentiles (non-Jews). He preached in the Jewish synagogues. But, he eventually turned to the Gentiles because of the unbelief of the Jews. When he was opposed by Jews in Pisidian Antioch, Paul said:

“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.” (Acts 13:46-47)

Paul even pointed out that this was God’s plan and command, citing Isaiah 49:10: “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” 

So, the trespass of the Jews created a blessing for the Gentiles and their full inclusion in the kingdom would mean an even greater blessing. (15) 

The Metaphor of the Tree

11:16-24

Paul used a brief metaphor to say that if the dough was holy, the whole lump (ESV, NASB), or batch (NIV) is holy (set apart or sacred) (16). This is a reference to a passage in Numbers where the Lord says that when they eat bread from the crops grown in the land, they are to make a contribution to the Lord in the form of some of the dough. (Numbers 15:17-21)

After that brief thought, Paul switched to the metaphor of a tree and spends quite a bit of time on it. He first said, if the root is holy, so are the branches. (16) The tree represents the whole people of God. There is only one tree, one people. The root is Abraham, the father of all who believe, Jew and Gentile.  

Remember Romans 4:11: “The purpose was to make him (Abraham) the father of all who believe…” It is those of faith who are sons of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7) 

The branches are the individual people in Israel, the people of God. Some branches of the tree are broken off of the tree. (17) These are unbelieving, works oriented Israelites. 

The Gentile believers are wild shoots who are grafted in to the tree of God’s people. They are inserted into the purpose of God’s redeeming grace. They feed on the nourishment of the root. This is the New Covenant. It is the New Covenant fulfilling the Covenant with Abraham, that his seed would be a blessing for peoples\nations.

Apparently, some Gentile believers were arrogant toward the Jews, bragging that unbelieving Jews were broken off from the tree so the Gentile believers could be grafted in. (18) But, that is the wrong attitude. Instead this should magnify the fear of God in them, knowing they would be cut off also if they do not continue in the faith. (21-22) Plus, they should also know that the unbelieving Israelites will be grafted back in if they come to faith in Christ. (23)

Will Israel Be Saved?

11:25-32

Paul now reveals a mystery. In scripture, mystery means a truth that has been hidden in the past but is now revealed.

This mystery is that the hardening of Israel is temporary (partial), lasting until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. At that point, all Israel will be saved. (25) Paul cites an Old Testament scripture for proof. (26-27) He takes from Isaiah 59:20 and 27:9 and applies it to Christ. 

There is a lot of debate and disagreement as to what the statement “all Israel will be saved” means. There are three main theories. 

First, some think it means the remnant that is saved during the time between Jesus’ first and second advents (comings). That, however, requires one to believe all and less than all (remnant) are the same. It also does not account for the fact that the Jews turning to Christ only occurs after the number of saved Gentiles becomes “full”. 

Second is the idea that Israel here means all believers, Jew (Israelite) and Gentile, throughout history. This requires us to ignore the distinction between Israelites and Gentiles is not being discussed by Paul in the passage, which it clearly is.

Third is the idea that there will be a great turning of Jewish people to Christ toward the end of this age.  Reference is made to Revelation 7, where 144,000 from the tribes of Israel are sealed. 

While I do not think Revelation 7 is relevant to this issue, I do hold to the third option. I do not believe that every Jewish person, or every person in geographical Israel will be saved, but there will be a great turning to Christ at the end of the age. 

Irrevocable Gifts\Unchanging God

11:28-32

Paul acknowledges that the Jews are enemies of God because they have rejected his Son. (28) But, in another sense, they are loved by God for the sake of their forefathers, the patriarchs with whom God made a covenant.

God does not change. So, Paul reasons that his favor (gifts) on Israel and his calling or election of them are irrevocable. All men and women at one time were disobedient to God. God gave mercy to the Gentiles and he will at some point show mercy to the Jews. (32)

Doxology

11:33-36

This truth revealed by Paul leads him to praise. He exalts God for the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge he has. They are so great, we cannot discern them all. 

Paul quoted an Old Testament passage extolling the greatness of God to show that men and women cannot know or comprehend the mind of God. (Isaiah 40:13) We must always remember that God is not a better version of ourselves. He is much greater.  All things exist from and through him and are for him.

Because he is greater, we must give him glory, as Paul does. (39) 

 "When Christ intercedes for all the elect, He prays for the the same as he did for Peter, that their faith may never fail." 

John Calvin

 Knowing God involves, first, listening to God’s Word and receiving it as the Holy Spirit interprets it, in application to oneself; second, noting God’s nature and character, as his Word and works reveal it; third, accepting his invitations and doing what he commands; fourth, recognizing and rejoicing in the love that he has shown in thus approaching you and drawing you into this divine fellowship. 

J. I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 37