Paul
the apostle told the people in Rome,
“Even
so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the
election of grace”,
and he added, “And
if by grace, then is
it
no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it
be
of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
In
chapter eleven and verse seven of Romans,
Paul shared how, “the
election has obtained it”
where
we read:
What
then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for;
but
the election has obtained it, and the rest were blinded
The
verse begins, “What
then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for;”
Paul
began with the words, “what
then”
which means “how is it therefore, accordingly, consequently and
these things being so”? “Israel”
which means “he shall be prince” and is “the name given to the
patriarch Jacob and his family or descendants” “has
not obtained”
which means “has not attained, lit or hit upon” “that
which he seeks for”
which means “what Israel inquired of, searched for, sought
diligently, craved and demanded”. Paul shared how the people of
“Israel”,
though given advantage by God, had not “attained” what they
“sought diligently”.
The
verse goes on to say, “but
the election has obtained it, and the rest were blinded”.
Paul
added the word, “but”
which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over that which was previously stated “the
election”
or “the chosen by God”
“has obtained it”
which means “has attained, lit or hit upon”, “and
the rest”
or “and the remaining number or class under consideration” “were
blinded”
or “covered with a thick skin, hardened by covering with a callus
and make the heart dull”. Paul shared how God's “chosen” has
“attained” His “gospel”, however, the “remainder” of the
people were “covered with a thick skin and hardened”.
When
we think through these words of Paul, we see how “Israel”
did not “attain” God's “grace”, however, people
“chosen” by Him did. All the “remainder” of people were as
they were “covered with a callus” and “blinded”. God
desires for every person to receive His Son Jesus as their “Savior
and Lord”, but not everyone will. “Israel” did not
“obtain it”, and many others will not either. Let no one
who reads these words be among those are so callused in heart that
they are known as, “there are none so blind as those who will not
see”.
Next
time Paul tells his readers,
“God
has given them the spirit of slumber”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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