Romans 9-11 Commentary
People often try to interpret Romans 9-11 from the perspective of individual salvation, and they run into all kinds of problems. Romans 9-11 is not about individual salvation. It is about Israel and the Gentiles. I will do an overview of this passage, not a verse-by-verse analysis as I did with chapters 5-8. In verses 6-13 of chapter 9, Paul makes he point that Israel does not consist only of Jews. The children of faith are the sons of Abraham. Many try to interpret verse 11 as being about our choice versus God's choice. That would mean man has no choices. But that not what the verse is saying. It is God's choice, versus our WORKS. Relationship to God is not based on works. It has always been by faith. God's purposes are always based on His choices, not man's works. Many people struggle with verse 13. However, "hated" really means "not committed to." This theme of God's choice versus man's works (yet with the necessity of faith), is carried through the end of chapter 9. God has the rights, but man can still exercise faith. Verses 32 and 33 show that man must exercise faith, and that the nation of Israel did not. Chapter 10 is about the necessity of faith, as well as the fact that salvation is now offered to the Gentiles. In chapter 11, Paul begins expounding on election, and continues the theme that salvation is not by works (verse 6). Election is about nations and the church as a whole, not individuals. In 17-24, the language about being broken off and reinstated is about Israel and the Gentiles, not individuals. Israel's hardening is temporary (25-26). Israel's being broken off is not final. In fact, one day "all Israel will be saved" (11:26). The modern reader of this passage need not try to make falling away and/or being cut off apply to himself/herself as an individual. This interplay between God's Sovereignty and man's free will and faith is what Arminians call conditional election. The free will of man and the Sovereignty of God work together without diminishing either.
posted by leeward at
6:03 AM
2 Comments:
Dear Leeward,
DO YOU PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH YOUR SALVATION?
What is required in order to have Jesus ABIDE in us and we in Him?
Can we do it:
1. By accepting Him as our our own personal Lord and Savior ?
No. Where does the Bible say that?
2. By the grace of GOD only? Sola Gracias?
No. Where does the Bible say that?
3. By faith in GOD alone? Sola Fides?
No. Where does the Bible say that?
It is simple common sense that since He commanded that we must do something, then doesn't it stand to reason that He would also tell us how to do it?
Jesus was very clear in what we must do in order to have Him ABIDE in us and we in Him.
Jesus left this command for us in John 6:53-57:
53 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you (the taken away branch);
54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 HE WHO EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD ABIDES IN ME, AND I IN HIM.
57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me."
In John 6:54 the Amplified Bible, (Ryrie's) study commentary NASB and Zodiates word study New Testament state that the Greek word for "has" (echo) is present indicative which means that if an individual does eat of His flesh and drink of His blood he/she already possesses eternal life. It's not a statement claiming or implying that a regenerate believer has to maintain their eternal life as a condition lest they "lose" or "forfeit" their eternal destined placement to be with God forever, but is a stated fact of a Spiritual reality one must enter into (i.e. become born again) in order to realize that very reality. The disciples he was addressing were in their hearts following Him primarily out of a coveted desire for His miracles that produced food (i.e. multiplying fish and loaves) and knowing that these statements would be especially repugnant to their natural state of mind and understanding, He challenged their true motives and surface commitment in following Him. As a result they followed Him no more.
As far as what Paul himself required of a man to be saved, read Acts 16: 30 & 31.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home