Bible Text: Romans 12:1-2 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

After 11 chapters of doctrine about the Law, Paul speaks of our relationship to God based on faith and obedience, not ancestry, ritual, or temple worship.

In Romans 12:1 Paul exhorts Christians to consider the mercy God has shown us in Christ. The word for “urge” means to call or come alongside, to give help or aid. The same word in its noun form is used of the Holy Spirit as our Helper, Comforter, Counselor, or Advocate.

Paul, as both an apostle and a brother in the Lord, is encouraging us to commit ourselves to serving God fully and honorably. God wants us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, to be used in a manner that is holy and pleasing to God (our hands, feet, ears, eyes, mouth).

The unsaved person cannot offer their body to God, because they do not belong to God, nor can they do anything to please Him (Romans 3:10-12; 8:5-8).

But true believers, Christians, are made a new creation in Christ, by Christ’s own sacrifice (2Corinthians 5:17-21). May we never forget, God’s Spirit lives in our human bodies, bodies that seek to indulge in sin, even though they contain God’s Spirit, and have been made righteous in Christ (Romans 7:5-6; 21-25; 8:9-10).

The flesh is a powerful influence at times, and can lead to much trouble in our lives as we seek to be servants of Christ; but we can have victory through Christ the Lord, for He has given us everything we need to serve Him victoriously (2Peter 1:3-4; 1John 5:5).

Paul told the Christians in Corinth that their bodies were to be used to honor God (1Corinthians 6:12-20). We must determine to live in a manner that pleases God, offering our bodies in service to Him; after all, Christ died for us that we might live for Him (Romans 6:12-14), as He lives in and through us (Galatians 2:20).

As imperfect as these mortal, corruptible, human bodies are, the indwelling of Spirit of God’s is able to keep sin from ruling our bodies (see Romans 8:11-14).

Notice (Romans 12:1), we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. God doesn’t want dead sacrifices!

The sacrifices of dead animals that were required by the Law are no longer effectual; in fact, they are null and void (Hebrews 9:10-15; 27-28; 10:1-10, 15-18), Christ is God’s Lamb, the one and only acceptable sacrifice (Luke 22:20).

The only sacrifice holy and pleasing to God is a living sacrifice; under the New Covenant, through the shed blood of Christ, we are to offer ourselves to God’s service, for this is our “spiritual act of worship.”

Note: the Greek word translated “spiritual” here, is the word from which we get our English word logic, or logical — but a better translation would be “reasonable.” Doesn’t that make sense? Our reasonable worship, our spiritual service to God, is holy [because we have been set apart for God’s glory and honor], offering to God all that we have, beginning with the bodies He gave us and the life He breathed into us (see Genesis 2:7), God formed us out of dirt and breathed life into us.

God understands us, because He made us, and God knows that, in order for us to control what we do with our bodies, we have to change the way we think, i.e., what we believe will direct and control our behavior.

Look at Romans 12:2, God says we are not to be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world. To “be conformed” means to express on the outside something that is different from what is inside, i.e., to masquerade or to put on an act; to act like we have not received God’s merciful forgiveness and salvation.

We are not to act like those who belong to the “world” [the age or philosophical system dominated by Satan (2Corinthians 2:4), “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God.”

Instead of conforming to the lifestyles of those who do not belong to God and cannot please Him, we must commit to being transformed by the renewing of our minds (feeding upon God’s Word), which will cause our beliefs and ultimately our behaviors to change, to be transformed (Psalm 119:11), “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

The Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to renew our minds, in order that we might be transformed in the way we think and act (Colossians 3:1-10); we must make decisions daily, sometimes moment by moment, allowing God’s Word to transform and guide us (Colossians 3:16-17, 23-24; Ephesians 4:22-24; 5:15-17).

As we are transformed by renewed minds, knowing and understanding God’s Word, we will be able (Romans 12:2) to test and approve what God’s will is, to judge things spiritually, to discern God’s mind on issues!

God’s Spirit in us will seek to conform our wills to that of God’s will: God’s “good, pleasing and perfect will.”

As we are transformed we will desire to know and to do that which pleases God and brings honor and glory to God, according to His will, as revealed in His Word.

As we are transformed we will seek to put off those attitudes and behaviors that displease God, and instead to do that which pleases God.

The transformation of our minds and the battle we have with our flesh will not end until we see the Lord face to face, and have been made perfect, as He is perfect.

But for now, consider God’s mercy and respond by offering yourself to serve Him, to honor and obey Him.

2Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

2Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” 23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

God’s Grace is Sufficient, Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 11:25-36 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Romans 11:25-26a… Paul warned the Gentiles (vv. 20-21) to be sober minded, lest they suffer the same consequences.

Paul says God is not finished with Israel, it is a mystery: this partial hardening, i.e., the majority of Israel has been hardened spiritually toward spiritual birth into God’s family, through Christ the Lord (John 1:11-13), “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

God’s plan wasn’t about numerous Hebrew ancestors through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but it was about descendants who would have faith like Abraham; they would believe [obey] God and be filled with God’s Spirit.

Galatians 3:5-9, “So again I ask, does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham ‘believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. ’Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you. So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” 13-14, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

Paul says this spiritual hardening of Israel (which started when Israel rejected Jesus as their Savior) will come to an end when the full number of Gentiles, chosen by God, have come to salvation, i.e., “come in”.

The verb used here for “has come in” was frequently used by Jesus in reference to receiving salvation, i.e., entering the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20; Mark9:47; John 3:5), entering eternal life (Mark 9:43-45). Notice, after the full number of Gentiles has been saved, then “all Israel will be saved.”
Romans 11:26b-27… Verse 26b is a quote from Isaiah 59:20-21, and verse 27 is a quote from Isaiah 27:9. In order for Israel to be saved, her sins must be forgiven, and that is exactly what God says He is going to do.

Think about this: Israel’s unbelief initiated the gospel going out to the Gentiles, and when the full number of Gentiles has come in [completed salvation of Gentiles], that will initiate the salvation of Israel as a nation, at least for those of Israel who are still alive.

When will “all of” believing Israel be grafted back in, as a nation restored and saved by the blood of Christ? It will be during the Tribulation, when all the unbelieving members of Israel will suffer God’s hand of judgement, and all those who respond to the gospel will receive God’s hand of mercy.

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How will they hear? Through the preaching of 144,000 Israelites chosen and sealed by God (Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1-5); through the testimony of a multitude in white robes (Revelation 7:9-10); through the proclamation of two special witnesses in Jerusalem (Revelation 11:3-13), and finally, the flying angel who brings the message of the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people (Revelation 14:6-7).

Romans 11:28-29… Because Israel rejected the Messiah she became God’s enemy temporarily, but because of God’s promises through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He will again poor out His loving kindness upon those in Israel who turn to Him from sin; for God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable.

God’s “gifts” are granted on behalf of God’s unmerited favor, and the “calling” here refers to God’s divine election of Israel to be His holy people.

God’s sovereign grace in setting us apart for salvation is not something that can be earned or merited; neither can His grace or calling be rejected or hindered or prevented; for the gifts and calling of God cannot be altered, not even by the disobedience and unbelief displayed by Israel.

Israel’s transgressions will be sovereignly and graciously taken away from her; just as the sins of all those who are called by God will be forgiven and eternally removed; God is faithful (1Thessalonians 5:24), “The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” Christ paid our sin debt in full!
Romans 11:30-32… Because of Israel’s unbelief and rejection of their Messiah, the nation of God’s chosen people was partially and temporarily removed from God’s favor and the gospel was then delivered to the Gentiles.

Just as God extended His merciful and loving grace to godless Gentiles, who were not counted among the people of God, He will again reach out to, and take for Himself, those in Israel who will believe.

God’s salvation is not based on human merit, but on the mercy of God. All mankind, left to himself or herself, would continue to reject God’s grace and remain separated from God, leading only to death. We are all condemned sinners apart from Christ, the only hope we have is the divine love and mercy of God.

Jesus Christ, through His own sacrificial death and sovereign resurrection, provided forgiveness and eternal life for anyone who will receive it; Christ expressed His love for the whole world, in order to reconcile the world to Himself (2Corinthians 5:21), “God made Him [Jesus Christ] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God,” (Romans 8:1), “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 11:33-35… In bringing his argument to a close, Paul stands in awe of God’s gracious mercy and love. We cannot fully understand God’s wisdom, purpose and plan (1Corinthians 2:14), “because they are discerned only through the Spirit,” and although

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God owes no one anything, He says (Jeremiah 29:13), “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”

Because we are all lost sinners from birth, apart from God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ, and God’s call to repent and believe in Him, we are doomed to an eternal hell. And so, our loving God has shown mercy, grace, and kindness to us in Christ; therefore, we ought, like Paul, to stand in awe, rejoicing, praising, and worshipping our great God.

Romans 11:36, “For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”

If there is any doubt in your mind or heart, consider this:

Romans 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” 13 “for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

God turns no one away, but you have to come His Way, through Jesus Christ. If you aren’t sure that you are saved, if you have any doubt at all, get things right with God.

Admit that you are a sinner, we all are!

Believe that Jesus came to save you, because He did!

Confess your sins to God, for He is faithful and just and will forgive you of all your sins: past, present, and future.

Demonstrate new life from God: pray (talk) with Him continually, read His Word daily and apply to your life what you understand, fellowship and serve in a local church where the Word of God is taught, honored, and obeyed.

Encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ toward love and good deeds, reach out to help your neighbors (anyone in need), and share the Gospel Message of Salvation with anyone who will listen: Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior and Lord, was put to death for our sins, according to the Scriptures, was buried and rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, and He is coming again, to take us to be with Him in heaven, forever, according to the Scriptures!

1John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

– Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 11:16-24 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Sermon Notes Available soon.

Bible Text: Romans 11:7-10 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

We have previously studied about Israel’s continued rejection of God’s Grace;

although God continued to love Israel, while at the same time, reaching out to

those outside of Israel [Gentiles] with His loving kindness.

Read 11:7-10… Paul considers why most Jews were rejecting Jesus as their

Messiah. Did their unbelief cause God’s promises to fail? Did their rejection of

Christ mean that God was through with the Jews forever? “No!” There always has

been a remnant of saved Jews (Paul is one), this shows that God is definitely not

done with Israel.

Verse 7 considers what the hard reality that God sovereignly chooses some for

salvation [the elect], while holding all mankind responsible to acknowledge and to

respond to God’s authority, and eternal plan [free will].

This is indeed a difficult doctrine, because we do not want to consider that some

are saved, most are not! Believe me, I have a hard time getting my mind and

heart around this truth, just like you do; but let me encourage you to put your full

confidence in Who God is, not in what you are able to understand about Him.

God has provided everything we need to know about Him in Christ: the Almighty

God of Creation put on flesh and walked among humankind in order to illustrate,

exemplify, proclaim, and provide God’s greatest expression of love toward us — He

took our punishment and paid our sin debt, in full, so that we could receive

forgiveness and eternal life.

Within the context of this wonderful truth of what God has done for us, is the

sobering reality that those who are saved are saved because God chose to save

them, and those who are lost are lost because they rejected God’s sovereign gift

and they refused to repent and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Concerning Israel (v. 7), it sought to earn its own righteousness through

ancestral heritage and religious devotion; but as we have read over and over, it is

singularly by the grace of God that anyone is saved.

If you seek to obtain a right standing with God [to justify yourself] on the basis

of your ancestry, your religious activity, or your moral goodness, you will be

hardened toward the grace of God, and you will come under God’s judgment; but

the thing about grace is, if you call out for forgiveness, trusting in God’s provision

[Christ], you will be saved.

Having been committed for the past 30+ years to the deeply demanding, often

frustrating, sometimes overwhelming, and yet always supernaturally fulfilling work

of pastoring, I must honestly say, there are times when I struggle with some of the

truths revealed in God’s Word – and this is one of them!

Verse 8 is taken from Deuteronomy 29:4;Isaiah 29:10, which clearly tell us

God hardens the hearts of those who themselves harden their own hearts toward

God. Let us consider two prominent examples in the Scriptures, one from the OT

and one from the NT.

Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 4:21; 9:12; 10:1, 20) was hardened by God, so he

would not let the Hebrews go; but (Exodus 8:15, 32; 9:34) says Pharaoh sinned by

rejecting God’s authority, hardening his own heart.

Judas (Matthew 26:24-25) was told “woe to that man who betrays the Son of

Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” ”Surely not I, Rabbi?”

Judas asked. ”Yes, it is you,” Jesus answered. By rejecting God’s Messiah, Judas

hardened his own heart toward God.

This is difficult to understand and accept- but God’s hardening of a person’s

heart is never separate from that person’s hardening of their own heart toward

God.

And so, Israel, seeking righteousness by works, not only did not obtain it, they

hardened their hearts toward God’s Messiah, the Christ, for they had heard, seen,

and experienced many demonstrations of God’s love and power, and yet they

continued to reject His Son.

In verses 9-10, Paul quotes from Psalm 69 :22-23, this Psalm is one of the

richest passages in the OT concerning the Messiah – it tells of the Messiah’s

suffering, it pronounces a curse on the enemies of God and judgment on those who

reject Christ.

Here Paul quotes David, speaking of a dinner table, where most of us would

consider ourselves to be in safe, enjoying food together with family and friends that

is both beneficial and flavorful; but Paul says for those who are wicked and self-

righteous (the nation of Israel), their place of safety and enjoyment has become a

“snare and a trap,” i.e., a place of imprisonment and punishment.

You see, Israel once highly praised the Word of God, considering it to be spiritual

food that nurtured them; but because they began to more highly value their

legalistic responses to the written law, rather than their spiritual responses to the

Living Word, their place of safety as the Nation of Israel, became a judgement on

them (v. 9), “a stumbling block and a retribution,” (See 9:30-33).

All those who seek to be saved [made righteous] by any human works —

whether it be a claim to some blood ancestry, religious practice, or feeble attempts

at moral goodness — are really enemies of God, because if you can be justified by

your works, then the crucifixion and resurrection of God’s Son was unnecessary.

Salvation is by faith in God through Christ alone.

This is one of the reasons I get so angry at false teachers and counterfeit

religions, for they promote the devil’s lies. The more that people accept, feed on,

or adhere to such damnable heresies, the more unlikely it is that they will hear and

turn to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul (v. 10) expresses what happened to Israel as they continued to reject

God’s Messiah; they became more spiritually blind, “their eyes were darkened so

they [could not] see, and their backs were bent forever,” i.e., like a blind person

haunched over, trying to distinguish whether the path ahead is safe or not safe,

groping around in the darkness, fearful of what cannot be seen, unaware of

dangers, not to mention having no idea where the path they are on is leading them

(destruction).

But the thing is, like Pharaoh and Judas, the Nation of Israel (unbelieving Jews)

hardened itself toward God, just as unbelievers today (Jew and Gentile) continue to

harden themselves toward God, even though they have no excuse.

Romans 1:18-20, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the

godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it

plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–His

eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from

what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

Ephesians 1:3-7 tells us God chose for Himself a people to be saved and set apart for His purpose, plan and pleasure -“He predestined” means “He marked out ahead of time,” i.e., “He predetermined” those who are His; 11 times in this section (vv. 3-7) Paul uses [He, Him, His] to specify God’s personal action.

So, if God predestines those who will be recipients of His grace in receiving salvation, can we then infer or assume that God has also predestined those who will be recipients of His wrath, to remain lost and separated from the love of God in a place of eternal judgement? No!

Scripture does not allow such a presupposition, for nowhere in the Bible are the words “predestined,” “foreknew,” or any of their derivatives, used to imply that God sovereignly “marked out ahead of time,” people to be eternally damned, separated from God, and destined for hell.

God does not predetermined that certain people go to Hell; however, God does sovereignly chose some for heaven, according to His own good pleasure and will.

There is no one so bad that they cannot be saved by the love of God which has come through Christ, and there is no heart so hard that it cannot be softened by the sacrifice of God’s Son.

God is loving, merciful, gracious and kind, and He wants everyone to be saved: 1Timothy 2:3-4, “God our Savior wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 2Peter 3:9, “[God] is patient not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance.”

The only hope for a hard heart is faith in Christ!

Ephesians 2:1-10, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Bible Text: Romans 10:1-10 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Read vv. 1-4… In vv. 1-2, Paul expresses his desire for Israel to be saved; also, his experiential understanding of their misplaced zeal for law-keeping (Philippians 3:4b-6), “If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless,” their zeal was not based on understanding, nor was it based on a personal relationship with God.

Verses 3-4 tell us true righteousness from God is found only in Christ. Righteousness is a right standing with God, and it cannot be earned by doing good deeds or keeping the Law, it is a gift from God, and is only granted by faith [belief], for it is by God’s grace (His undeserved and unmerited favor), through Christ the Lord.

The Jews had rejected God’s sovereign and singular gift of righteousness by faith in God’s Son, and instead sought their own way to earn God’s favor, by doing good works and trying to keep all the law, but God’s shows no favoritism (see Romans 2:5-12).

To reject God’s only means of being made acceptable to God, is to reject God’s offer of righteousness, and that is a damnable offense.

The Jews loved the Law, in fact, they idolized it to the point that they considered their zeal for law-keeping equal to attaining a right standing before God.

But it was Christ that they needed to believe in, for even the most rigorous law- keeping could not produce righteousness (see Romans 3:19-20).

Jesus is the fulfillment, the completion, of the Law. The Jews were given the Law of God, they considered themselves to be the only privileged people of God.

But it was never God’s plan to keep those outside of Israel from receiving the righteousness of God.

The purpose of the Law wasn’t to create an elite group of law-keepers, but to make us aware of our sinfulness and to point us to God’s One and Only means of attaining righteousness, Jesus Christ (see Romans 3:21-26).
Read v. 5… Moses describes righteousness like this (Leviticus 18:5 NASB), “So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD.”

God’s standards for righteous living have always required heart obedience, for holiness is based on a faith that seeks to obey the Lord with all one’s heart and soul (Deuteronomy 30:10), “if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands

and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

This teaching comes from Deuteronomy 6:3-9, and is called the “Shema” or Listen Up! “Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”
Read vv. 6-8… God’s grace is for all sinners, but it can only be received by those who come to God in faith, those who respond to and obey the revelation of God in Christ.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14, “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”

That is powerful and revealing theology! We can’t go into heaven to bring Christ down, nor can we go into the depths of the earth to bring Him up. The point being, we don’t have to go anywhere or do anything mystical to receive the righteousness that comes from God; we simply acknowledge and put our trust in the finished work of Christ, by faith.

Abraham is the blood patriarch and father of the nation of Israel; he was a man of faith (as Paul writes in Romans 4:3 quoting Genesis 15:6), “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Abraham became the “spiritual” father of all who believe, not through the circumcision of the flesh, but through belief in Jesus Christ (see Romans 4:11-17).

Galatians 3:26, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,” 29, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Verse 8 says the way of righteousness is not found in the law, for it exists only in and through Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of the Law. We become children of God, made righteous, through the finished work of Christ, Who has become both Lord and Savior.

God’s Way of Salvation has been clearly, completely, and repeatedly revealed, Paul says (v. 8) “it is near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart,” you must simply believe and receive it by faith.

1Corinthians 15:1-4, “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Read vv. 9-10… This is a clear imperative – we must confess and believe what God has said and done; the object of our confession and belief [i.e., obedience] is Jesus Christ, God’s Sovereign Message and Messenger.

More literally, verse 10 says, “with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

John 6:28-29, The [people] asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”
John 8:24, Jesus said, “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe [confess] that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins.” John 10:10, Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”

John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
1John 5:1, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God,” 11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

God’s sovereign message here is given through Paul, who was (Romans 1:1) “a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.”

Paul clearly and repeatedly teaches salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, apart from any law keeping, religious ritual, special favor, or ancestral heritage.
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast.” Galatians 3:11, “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 3:21-24, “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law
of sin and death.”

No wonder Paul writes (1Corinthians 15:57), “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (2Corinthians 9:15), “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” Christmas is all about the Savior who has come, Jesus Christ, the Lord, be sure to celebrate and to share that message with everyone who will listen.

We are redeemed by God and made righteousness in and through Christ, when we confess our sins, believing that Jesus died on the cross to pay our penalty, and that God raised Him from the dead to provide eternal life; Jesus is the Only means of God’s forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life, for He is God the Son, Lord and Savior: crucified, resurrected, and coming again.

All Scripture quotes are from the 1984 NIV, unless otherwise noted.

Pastor Mike <‘((((><

Bible Text: Romans 9:22-33 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

If Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to the Jewish people, then why do the majority of Jewish people reject Jesus as their Messiah?

Does Israel’s rejection of Jesus cast doubt on God’s plan, i.e., does Israel’s refusal to believe in Jesus indicate that God’s promises won’t come to fruition? Paul says, “No, God’s promises will be fulfilled!”

Paul explains that there is a remnant of Jews who have now, and will in the future, receive God’s favor. But for now, the nation of Israel is in the background, prophetically, and the Christian Church is front and center; but of course all that will change, when the Church is removed, just before the rise of the Antichrist.

We recently studied how God has, in the past, selected people to fulfill His purposes: God chose Abraham out of all the people on the earth; God chose Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau; He chose Israel over all the other nations, and now, in these last days, He has called and set apart the Church, for His purpose.

If you weren’t here last week, you need to go to our website (fbcwaldport.org), where you can read, listen to, or download last week’s lesson from Romans 9:14-21; there was much covered in that section, that will help you more fully understand God’s sovereign selection vs man’s sinful response to God.

A careful reading of Romans 9 reveals Paul’s theology; that he is not talking about God’s selection of individual men and women for heaven or hell, but as offspring through whom the seed (Genesis 3:15, the promised Messiah) would come.

God selected through the line of Israel to present salvation to the world. That doesn’t mean that every Jewish person was saved simply because they were Israelites, nor does it mean that every Ishmaelite was dammed simply because they weren’t Israelites. Let me say that another way – no Jewish person is saved simply because they are an Israelite, and no Ishmaelite is dammed simply because they weren’t an Israelite.

Now that Messiah has come, the boundaries of election and God’s favor have been opened up far beyond Israel, to include all Gentiles who will respond to the message of Christ, that’s us. Everyone, anyone, who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, because salvation comes only through Jesus Christ (Acts 2:21; 4:12); in fact (Acts 10:34-35), “God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.”

See Romans 9:22-24… This is amazing! God can take the rejection and even the evil actions of unrepentant sinners and use them to work good for those who love God, those who are the objects of His love and mercy. Of whom is this talking about?

Verse 24, “even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.”

Up to this point Paul has been speaking in suppositions and hyperbole, but now he speaks clearly by saying “even us,” i.e., Paul and his readers (both Jew and Gentile), were some of the objects called by God, recipients of God’s love.

The point here is that God’s call was manifested not only to the Jews, through their ancestral line (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), but also to Paul’s generation, and to ours.

God’s grace reaches throughout history to the remotest corners of the world, and God makes no distinctions based on race, ethnicity, nationality, wealth, intelligence, morality, or religious practice.

God calls human beings indiscriminately, whether Gentiles or Jews. This was revolutionary teaching, for up to this point in Romans Paul has made the case that God only selected specific lineages for blessing, from within Abraham’s offspring; but then (Galatians 3:29), “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

In order to show that the Gentile’s inclusion into God’s favor wasn’t conjured up after the Jews rejected Jesus, Paul quotes from Old Testament here.

Romans 9:25-29… First (v.25, Hosea 2:23), As He says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one.” (v. 26, Hosea 1:10), “It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

These verses foretell and proclaim the calling of the Gentiles, some 700 years before Jesus’ birth. Paul is clearly applying Hosea’s prophecy to the Gentiles, to us. But Paul doesn’t stop there, he doesn’t presume that the inclusion of the Gentiles was somehow at the expense or exclusion of Israel.

The “called ones” (v. 24) is more fully explained: 27 “Isaiah cries out concerning Israel (Isaiah 10:22-23): ‘Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved. 28 For the Lord will carry out His sentence [execute His Word] on earth with speed and finality [thoroughly and expediently].’

29 It is just as Isaiah said previously (Isaiah 1:9) ‘Unless the Lord Almighty [Lord of Sabaoth or Hosts] had left us descendants [a posterity], we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like [resembled] Gomorrah.’”

These quotations from Old Testament prophets declare that God’s calling has always resulted in the response of a faithful remnant (a small group or minority from within).

No matter how large Israel was, or may become, in population, verse 27 says Isaiah foretold that only a small number of Israel would respond to God’s Messiah.

Israel spent 400 years in silence, before Jesus came -no word or prophet from God- because they had abandoned their worship of God, had defiled the Temple’s sacrificial system, and were intermarrying with pagan cultures; and yet, God did not permanently cast them away, but instead, He promised to save a remnant as His beloved people.

Paul took the Gospel of Christ to the Jews first, even so, most of Israel rejected the message he brought about the Messiah. Paul says (v. 29), if a remnant had not been prepared and spared by God, Israel would have ceased to exist, wiped out like Sodom and Gomorrah.

There is a present remnant of Israel (Messianic Jews), and there will be a future remnant, during the Tribulation Revelation 7:4, when 144,000 sons of Israel are sealed by God) is God’s way of saying He isn’t done with them yet.

There are essentially only two groups of people in the world, as far as God is concerned: those who belong to Him and those who don’t, made up of both Jews and Gentiles, called to be the people of God, through the finished work of the Son of God.

Only a remnant of Jews will be called God’s Beloved, because only a remnant will believe in Christ. While comparing the nation of Israel who’ve mostly rejected Jesus with the number of non-Jewish people who’ve believed in Christ, Paul presents the requirement that the Jews had failed to meet.

See Romans 9:30-32… Righteousness is a right standing, a reconciled or redeemed relationship with God, a relationship of intimacy and love where the things that once separated us from God have been removed.

We (Gentiles) who were not a people, have become His people, the beloved of God (Titus 2:13b-14), “God and Savior, Jesus Christ, …gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good,” (Ephesians 2:10), “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Paul says (Romans 9:30-31), that Gentiles have obtained a righteousness that comes by faith, whereas Israel pursued a righteousness through the Law, and therefore did not obtain a righteousness from God.

Paul isn’t faulting Israel for pursuing the law. He’s faulting them ( verse 32) for pursuing the law on the basis of earning favor with God, rather than by faith; this was a “stumbling stone” to the Jews.

God’s law isn’t the problem, Israel’s idolizing of law keeping is. Instead of seeing the Ten Commandments as God’s instrument to expose their sin and lead them to

Christ, by faith, the majority of the Jews considered adherence to the law and ritual keeping, the means by which they obtained righteousness.

This pursuit of law-keeping to obtain righteousness caused Israel to stumble (Romans 3:10-12; 21-24).

The Gentiles didn’t have this problem, because they didn’t have the Ten Commandments, or the covenants, or the sacrificial system, to trip them up; it was easier for the Gentiles to accept that a right relationship with God came, not as the result of rituals or law keeping, but by believing and receiving, by faith, what Christ had done for them, to make them righteous before God.

Now, see Romans 9:33… The “stumbling stone” is clearly a person, it says “Him,” because this is talking about Jesus Christ, the One who fulfills all the law; in fact He supersedes the law, for He is the Only way to an intimate and eternal relationship with God.

Paul quotes here from Isaiah 28:16, which says God would lay a stone in Jerusalem that would cause the Jews to stumble, those who trust in this “Stone” will never fall.

Here we find the requirement for all those who will be called God’s Beloved, for God’s grace receives all people on the basis of their FAITH in Christ ALONE.

No one can earn the right to receive God’s love, for it is by grace through faith. God’s love is not based on a person’s goodness, or worthiness, or race, or religion, for no one deserves or can earn God’s love, because it is not about earning or deserving, it is about God’s unconditional mercy and compassion toward His creation.

The nation of Israel used the Law as a way to earn favor with God, but the purpose of the Law was to lead them to Christ; He fulfilled the Law. Israel tried to earn favor with God by law-keeping, unfortunately, this is what kept them from recognizing their need for forgiveness that could only be granted by the Savior.

Genuine faith admits there is nothing you can do, and no way you can earn a right relationship with God. Faith hopes for what can’t be seen, obtained, or taken hold of (Hebrews 11:1), “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

So, who are those called according to God’s purpose, to become the beloved of God? Both Jew and Gentile, all who’ve responded to God’s call by faith in the finished work of Christ, are the Beloved of God, because the Righteous One, God’s Son, died in our place, taking our punishment.

Only the good news of Jesus Christ, having been believed and received, can genuinely and completely change a human life for eternity.

No wonder Paul says (Romans 1:16-17), “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for

the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

What does a community of God’s people look like? We have an illustration in Revelation 7:9, where there is a multitude “from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb,” all worshipping God.

Here at FBC we strive to love one another and to reach out to our neighbors; although we do often fail by excluding one another, sometimes forming “in groups” and “out groups,” and sometimes we carry around our pet peeves, biases, dislikes, and even hurts, with us, dishonoring God while offending or injuring one another.

God is so patient with us, so merciful and gracious: no amount of sinning can make God love us less and no amount of good works can make God love us more, because in Christ, we are the Beloved People of God.

1Peter 2:4-12, “As you come to Him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him– you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.’ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,’ and, ‘A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the message–which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans [unbelievers] that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1Peter 3:15-18b, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. …For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”

Bible Text: Romans 9:14-21 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Today I want to emphatically encourage you to open your hearts and minds to a very difficult section of Scripture. You will need to buckle up and hold on, as this is going to be the start to an “E-Ticket” ride.

We will not complete the “ride” today, as it will take at least one more Sunday, maybe two, to do justice to this topic.

There are certain phrases every parent begins to expect from their kids. Phrases like “why?” or, “everybody else is doing it,” or “all the other kids have one,” or something like, “That’s not fair!” Well, as we grow up, we find out that not all the “why” questions can be answered, that “everybody isn’t doing everything,” that “everybody doesn’t have everything,” and that, “Life’s not fair.”

We begin to ask other questions, like Does God play favorites? Is God’s definition of fairness is different than ours? Romans chapter 9 is one of the most difficult and controversial chapters in the New Testament, and today you are going to get a taste of why that is so.

Some of the differences over how Romans 9 is to be understood have caused friendships to fail, churches to split, and has divided Christians into a wide variety of different doctrinal groups.

Think about what we have already studied in this chapter: God’s choice of Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, God’s choice of Israel over all the other nations in the ancient world, and now, God’s choice of the Church (i.e., all those who call upon Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins) over all the peoples of the earth.

Do you see how that could be understood as God showing favoritism? As God not playing fair?

Today I want to share with you some reasons why I believe we can trust God to be fair and just in working out His plan, now and forever.

Romans 9:14-18… When Paul asks, “What then shall we say?” he is anticipating a negative response to what he has said so far. Back in chapter 3:5 he said, “What shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing His wrath on us?”; 6:1, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?”; 7:7,”What shall we say then? Is the law sin?” In each case he clearly expected a negative conclusion, “May it never be said!”

But, does God play favorites with people? Is God unfair? Paul says “No,” of course not, he then quotes the last half of Exodus 33:19, to prove that God isn’t unjust or unfair.

At first it’s unclear exactly how this quotation demonstrates God’s fairness. The passage in context, is when Moses asks to see God’s glory. Here is the entire verse, “And the LORD said, ‘I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My Name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

The phrase Paul quotes here is connected to God’s name. Notice what this text doesn’t say, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will show cruelty on whom I will show cruelty.” The emphasis here is on God’s mercy and compassion, for these character qualities are at the very heart of God’s nature.

God’s mercy is something God freely gives according to His nature, not according to our worthiness or unworthiness. Let me say that again, God’s mercy is something God freely gives according to His nature, not according to our worthiness or unworthiness.

Look again at verse 16. The phrase “desire or effort” describes the totality of our innate human capacity, ability, resourcefulness. Ultimately, the ability and authority of God to offer a reconciled relationship to the human race through His Son Jesus Christ is not dependent on whether Israel believes in Jesus as Messiah or rejects Jesus as Messiah. Israel’s lack of desire and effort doesn’t stop God’s purpose from prevailing.

Paul now, in verse 17, gives an example from Exodus to illustrate his point, by referencing the Egyptian Pharaoh who refused to release the people of Israel until God had done several miracles. Although Pharaoh defied God and expressed his hatred toward the Hebrews, God had actually raised Pharaoh up to fulfill God’s purpose. Even Pharaoh’s rebellion toward God, serves as a witness to God’s greatness and glory. When human beings oppose God’s plans and purposes, they actually think they can prevail, but the truth is, God uses their resistance as an opportunity to accomplish His will and to display His power and nature.

Throughout the bible, we see this paradox of God using adverse circumstances and even the most extreme wickedness of mankind to achieve God’s own good purpose. For example, Joseph (the son of Jacob or Israel), was done great harm by his brothers, but in the end, Joseph says to his brothers (Genesis 50:20), “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Peter describes (Acts 2:23) the crucifixion of Jesus as the work of “wicked men,’’ and yet it was, “by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge.” And (Acts 4:28) says, these wicked men “did what [God’s] power and will had decided beforehand should happen.”

God sovereignly worked through sinful and sometimes wicked and cursed men, to bring blessings to others, and to bring honor and glory to God.

Verse 18 here in Romans 9, alludes to the fact that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened toward God and the Israelites. Who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Some verses in Exodus claim Pharaoh hardened his own heart against God, making him accountable for his own rebellion and hardheartedness.
Exodus 7:14, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go.’”
Exodus 8:11-15, “‘The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.’ After Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the LORD about the frogs he had brought on Pharaoh. And the LORD did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses, in the courtyards and in the fields. They were piled into heaps, and the land reeked of them. But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

But several other verses in Exodus seem to say that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart:

Exodus 4:21, “The LORD said to Moses, ‘When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.’”
Exodus 7:3-4, “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites.”

Exodus 14:8, “The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.”

The Bible never tries to reconcile how both of these claims can be true, and yet it does affirm that both are indeed true: God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and Pharaoh, by his own will, hardened his own heart; both of these claims are simultaneously true.

Just as Pharaoh hardened his heart against God within God’s plan, the nation of Israel hardened its heart toward Jesus Christ within God’s plan, we may not be able to resolve this in our minds, but we can trust God to be fair because GOD IS MOTIVATED BY MERCY.

When God allows things to happen that seem painful and don’t make sense to us, we cry out because we don’t understand. 14 times Job asked God “why?”

questions, but God never answered them. We can trust God because He is motivated by mercy and compassion, not cruelty and vindictiveness.

Let’s look at Romans 9:19-21… Some people might read about God using people like Pharaoh and unbelieving Israel to further God’s purposes and wonder why God holds Pharaoh and Israel accountable for their disobedience. If Pharaoh and Israel are just playing the role God has for them (v. 19), why should God judge them for resisting His will? If God has ordained people to specific roles in His plan, why are they guilty for fulfilling them?

Paul says we are responsible for our response to God, even though God is able to use both our obedience and our disobedience to fulfill his purposes.

When Paul’s asks the rhetorical question (v. 20), “Who are you O man to talk back to God,” he is not discouraging us from wrestling with this issue, but he is reminding us of the difference between being a creature and being God.

It is said that at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, a rugged old-timer said to a new attender, “The first think you need to learn about this program is that there is a God and you’re not him.” That’s essentially what Paul is reminding us here.

Paul quotes from Isaiah (29:16; 45:9; 64:8), where something that is made is questioning its maker: God is the potter, shaping a piece of pottery on a wheel, into what He wants it to be. [This is the same imagery used in Genesis 2, when God is shaping the first man out of the dust of the ground and then breathing into him the breath of life. Just as the potter has the freedom to shape and mold his pots, God has the same rights over the human race, to make one for noble [honorable] use, and another for common [dishonorable] use.

Some examples of “pottery” meant for noble purposes (in the OT) would be Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and the Nation of Israel; and in the NT we

could list examples like Joseph, Mary, John the Baptist, and then with the birth of the Church came Peter, James, John, and Paul.

In the world today, God is using His Church, the Body of Christ, to fulfill God’s noble purposes. It’s not because Christians are better, but because that’s what God, the Potter, wanted to make out of His lump of clay in these last days.

Examples of real pottery made for common use would be pots used for storing supplies, holding water, etc. But notice, Paul is not talking about pots being made for the purpose of destroying them, but in order to use them.

But again, Paul is talking about vessels, about earthen jars, clay pots, meaning humans, and the emphasis here is on God sovereignly selecting people and nations for the outworking of His plan in history, in the present, and in the future. This does not even imply or infer that God is selecting some individuals for heaven and some for hell, but for how they are to be used by God.

Isaac’s brother Ishmael was an example of a pot for common use, while Isaac a pot for noble purposes; Esau was a pot for common use while Jacob was a pot for noble purposes, even though it was his descendants who became unbelieving Israel.

In this present age, the Christian Church is a vessel of honor in the outworking of God’s plan. So, in this metaphor of God being the potter and we being the clay, we can absolutely trust God to be fair, because HE IS not only OUR MAKER, OUR SAVIOR, AND OUR SUSTAINER, HE IS TOTALLY JUST.

We find, woven throughout this chapter, the tension between God’s sovereign control over His creation, and His creation’s responsibility, as those made in the image of God, to respond to Him respectfully, in obedience and love (love=obey, John 14:15, 21, 23).

The reality is, as complex as Paul’s teaching here is, he affirms both God’s sovereign control, and human responsibility before God.

Paul doesn’t try to reconcile these seemingly incompatible realities —although, I wish he did— but instead, he simply accepts and proclaims them both as being true. Be assured, we will explore this topic further next Sunday.

But for now, think about this: The nation of Israel was set apart by God to bring honor and glory to God, but Israel rejected God’s Messenger, God’s Own Son; and now, God has set apart and is using His Church (the Body of Christ), all true Christians, to fulfill God’s purpose in this age.

God’s plan wasn’t foiled or fouled by Israel’s unbelief; in fact, God used the the murder of His own Son, by the Jews, to accomplish the very work of God; and yet, the people of Israel were held accountable by God for their rejection of Jesus Christ.

You can trust God to work in His Church (in your life), as He accomplishes His own purpose and will.

1Peter 2:9, “[For] you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

We, as Christians, are not granted God’s favor because we are so special, or because we are better than other people. But it is because of God’s own mercy and love that we have received His undeserved and unmerited favor.

The doctrine of God’s favor, in all of its depth and breadth, can be very difficult to understand. But I pray the following passages of Scripture will help to illuminate your mind and heart concerning this:
Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” 2Corinthians 6:2, “For [the LORD] says, ‘In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
Psalm 69:13, “I pray to You, O LORD, in the time of Your favor; in Your great love, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation.

The desire and display of God’s favor is really very simple to understand: 1Timothy 2:3-4, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
2Peter 3:9, “[The Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Acts 10:34-36, “Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” 42-43, “He is the One whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

You see, God wants everyone to be saved and to come into an eternal relationship with Him; God’s favor is granted to anyone who comes to Him by faith in Jesus Christ, repenting of their sins; God turns no one away.

Pastor Mike <‘((((><

Bible Text: Romans 9:10-13 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

11.08.15 ~ Romans 9:10-13, “God’s Purpose Will Prevail.”

Last week we looked at several sections of verses in Genesis, and from them we learned the following:

Abraham was 75 years old when God called to him and told him to go, although, God did not specify where it was he would be going. Abraham obeyed God, leaving his homeland to go where God would lead him. God promised to make make Abraham into a great nation, from which all the people of the earth would be blessed.

When Abraham was 85 years old, God told him his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens, even though Abraham did not yet have a son. About this same time, Sarah, who had not conceived any children for Abraham, gave her maidservant to Abraham, and he slept with her and she conceived and gave him a son, who Abraham named Ishmael [God hears].

When Abraham was 99 years old, God told him Sarah would give him a son next year, he was to be named Isaac [he laughs, Abraham and Sarah laughed when God told them they would conceive in their old age [Abraham 100, Sarah 90].

God’s promise to bless all people through Abraham, would come through Isaac, as an everlasting covenant.

God promised (Genesis 3:15) to send through the seed of a woman, the Savior, who would be called “Immanuel [God with us]” (Isaiah 7:14), and given the name Jesus [God’s Salvation] (Matthew 1:22-23).

God’s promised Holy One would come through the blood ancestry of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and King David; He would be born in Bethlehem, yet He existed long before this (Micah 5:2), for “He is Christ the Lord,” (Luke 2:11), and (Isaiah 9:6) Almighty God, Eternal Father, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace.

From the very first couple (Adam & Eve), God purposed to eventually raise up a Savior of the World; through a specific lineage (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38), from Adam’s son Seth, up through Noah’s son Shem, Abraham’s son Isaac, Isaac’s son Jacob, and his son Judah, on and on through David’s sons Solomon and Nathan, right up to the fathers of both Mary (the birth mother of Jesus) and Joseph (the legal father of Jesus).

This is just amazing! God worked through generation after generation to bring about His plan, purpose and provision of salvation through His very own Son.

At last Wednesday night’s Bible Study, we looked up many passages of Scripture where God’s character was clearly and repeatedly revealed and proclaimed, and what we found is that our God is loving, kind, compassionate, generous, nurturing, and protective; and that He removes the penalty for our sins from us, by taking upon Himself (through Christ the Lord) our punishment.

By God’s grace we do not get what we deserve (eternal suffering in hell, separated from God); but instead, He lavishes on us incomprehensible rewards and riches that we do not deserve (eternal life in heaven with God, where there is no more crying, or mourning, or pain, or death).

God has sovereignly determined all of this, and His plans cannot be destroyed or deterred, for God’s purposes will prevail just as God has determined. God is complete, perfect, eternal and perpetual, as the “omni” attributes of God express:

God is omnipresent [all here]. A.W. Tozer writes, “God is always here, close to everything, next to everyone; God is unlimited with respect to space.”

God is omniscient [all knowledge], Tozer describes it this way, “God knows every possible item of knowledge concerning everything that exists or could have existed anywhere in the universe at any time in the past or that may exist in the centuries or ages yet unborn.”

God is omnipotent [all power]. Tozer says, “God can do anything He pleases and is never exhausted. His power is unlimited in regard to both its extent and its magnitude. Nothing is too hard for Him. Furthermore, anything can be done as easily as anything else, and all acts are done effortlessly.”

Read Romans 9:7-9… Notice (v. 7) it is through Abraham’s son Isaac that God’s Promised One would come; and (v. 9) God says He is sovereign in bringing forth the child to be born to Sarah and Abraham, for Isaac will receive the blessing, not Ishmael.

Paul says, remember how Sarah was barren, and yet, in her old age God blessed her womb and she gave birth to Isaac, through whom the nation of Israel would come; but more importantly, a son of Israel, who would also be God’s One and Only Son, our Savior and Lord.

Are you beginning to see the significance of all this? You really need to read Genesis 24-35, in order to begin to understand the depth of this sovereign working of God through specific individuals, from the time of Abraham until 2000 years later, when God’s Promised One, Jesus, the Christ, would be born to Mary, fulfilling what had been said to Satan in Genesis 3:15, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring [seed] and her offspring [seed]; He [her seed, Christ] will crush your head, and you [Satan] will strike His heel.”

Read Romans 9:10-13… Look again at verse 10, “Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac,” (Paul says, “our” father Isaac, clearly referencing the sovereign work of God in setting apart Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in this great plan of God’s to bring forgiveness and eternal life through His own Son, the Incarnate Christ; and this would happen through the blood line of sinful men and women selected before hand by God, for this special purpose, raised up at just the right time to do what God required of them).

Note: Abraham’s son Isaac didn’t get married until he was 40 years old; he and Rebekah were childless for 20 years, and at the age of 60, Isaac is given twin boys – Jacob and Esau – through Rebekah.

Look again (vv. 11-12, “Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad–in order that God’s purpose in election [lit., God’s purpose according to His choice] might stand: not by works but by Him who calls–she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’”

Even though Esau was born first, God had purposed to continue the line of Promise through Jacob, for Jacob would become the father of twelve sons, who would be the heads of the twelve tribes, through which would come the Nation of Israel; and in fact, it was through Jacob’s son Judah, that the human ancestry and blood line would continue to the very birth of Jesus Christ.

Now, again look at verse 13… Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” This is quoted from Malachi 1:2-3, which was written 1500 years after Jacob and Esau had long ceased to exist. Malachi was looking back over history, being mindful of what had come of Jacob and Esau, and the nations that had been established through them.

Clearly, Jacob’s descendants received God’s provision and protection, while to Esau’s descendants came God’s curse and condemnation.

Jacob’s name means “deceitful” or “heel-catcher” [lit., One Who Takes the Heel]. We know that Jacob’s name was later changed to “Israel” (Genesis 32:28), meaning, “he struggles with God” or “God’s fighter.” Jacob’s descendants are the son’s of Israel to whom the Land of Canaan (Palestine) was given, by God.

Esau means “Hairy.” He became the father of the Edomites (Genesis 25:23) and they were a people “always under the wrath of the LORD” (Malachi 1:2-4).

From the time of David there continued a smoldering hatred between the Jews and the Edomites; until after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D, at which time, the Edomites disappeared from history, bringing an end to the descendants of Esau.

Why would God say, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” This is perplexing, especially knowing what we do about our loving, kind, and compassionate God. I believe, when God says (v. 13), “Jacob I loved,” He is talking about the

divinely selected descendants of Jacob (Israel, Matthew 1; Luke 3) through whom the Redeemer and Savior of the world would come, but also all those who would believe in and receive Him.

God loved Israel, He was intimate and proactive with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and on to Mary, for through them would come the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Lord and Savior of the World.

I believe, when God says (v. 13), “Esau I hated,” He is talking about the following:

1. Esau despised his own birthright (Genesis 25:21-34).
2. Esau’s descendants (Edom) were idolators who cursed Israel; they were not

recipients of God’s love because they rejected God (Obadiah 1:10), “Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever.”

Edom, more than any other nation mentioned in the OT, was the object of God’s wrath and a recipient of God’s hate.

Israel, out of all the peoples on the earth, was the object of God’s love; in fact, it was through their human blood line ancestry, that Jesus Christ would come, so that God’s purpose would be fulfilled through God’s Son.

But no human ancestry or birthright can save anyone, for it depends solely

upon the sovereign will and sacrificial work of God.

John 1:11-13, “He came to that which was his own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God– children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

John 3:5-7, Jesus [said], “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”

1Peter 1:3-5, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Those who repent of their sin, believe in and follow Jesus, are God’s true children and recipients of God’s love now and forever, through Christ.

Galatians 3:29, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

But it is the Church, the Bride and Body of Christ, the sons and daughters of God through Christ, Christians, who receive the love of God, now and forever.

1John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

1Peter 2:9, “[For] you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

God’s purpose in all of this is to receive glory and honor and praise, and to be worshipped forever by all those who are willing to receive the love of God through Christ the Lord Savior: crucified, resurrected, and coming again, to take us to be with Him forever in heaven.

God’s Blessings, Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 9:1-9 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Verse 1… God is the God of Truth (Psalm 119:160), “All Your words are True; all Your righteous laws are eternal.”

Romans 3:4 says, “Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: ‘So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.’”

The Bible is the Word of Truth. In the last chapter of the book of Revelation (22:6) it tells us, “the angel said to [John], ‘These words are trustworthy and true.’”

Jesus (John 14:17), calls the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of Truth,” telling His Disciples, “The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.”

Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6), and no one is saved, no one goes to heaven, apart from believing in Him.

God’s children are to be Truth-seekers and Truth-speakers (Ephesians 4:14-16), “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (80x’s, I’m telling you the truth)

Knowing, obeying, speaking the Truth in love, is the major purpose and responsibility of the children of God, for all those who belong to and serve Christ the Lord, and so, Paul begins this section by stating that priority.
Verses 2-5… Paul’s love for Israel is clearly and repeatedly expressed in this section. His heart is in anguish and he has great sorrow because the Jews continue to reject their Messiah, the Christ, God’s Son!

Pauls says (v. 3) he would sacrifice himself for their sake, if it would bring them to a knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Paul is a Jew, therefore, these are his brothers and sisters racially, the people of Israel; whom God set apart from all other nations on the earth, allowing them to see His glory, to be blessed by His covenants, to receive His Law; it was to them that God sent His prophets, and also granted them the blood ancestry through which Christ, God’s One and Only Son, would come.

Verses 6-9… The majority of all the Jews who have lived on the earth have rejected Jesus Christ. Does that mean God failed? Was He not powerful enough to acquire a people of His very own? I mean, God set Israel apart as His covenant

people, as a nation that would bring honor and glory to Him, but that is not what has happened.

Notice (v. 6), “not all who are descended from Israel are Israel,” and verse 7 basically says just because they are blood ancestors of Abraham does not make them true children of Abraham. What does that mean?

Galatians 3:26-29, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

God’s Word is talking about a spiritual ancestry, the line of those who, by faith, belong to God through Christ (See John 1:10-18; 3:3, 6-7).

Last week we studied how God knew us and loved us before we were born. How God made us His very own children, granting us new life through spiritual birth, and He did this before the foundation of the world was laid.

Miraculously, sovereignly, God worked out His plan to give His own Son as the once for all sacrifice for all sin; and everyone who repents and believes in Him becomes a child of God, born again by God’s Spirit Who indwells us, seals us, and marks us as God’s very own possession.

Ephesians 1:11-14, “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.”

1Corinthians 12:13, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body– whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

Back to Romans 9:7, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned [counted, calculated].” And verse 8 says, “In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.”

This is important: You see, it is not through blood ancestry, i.e., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the twelve tribes [sons] of Israel [Jacob]. through which a person is eternally connected to God through Christ.

Look at verse 9, “For this is how the promise was stated: ‘At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.’” Let me try to make this clear by taking you to the appropriate passages of Scripture (See Genesis 12:1-4; 15:1-6; 16:1-4a; 17:1-2, 15-20 [everlasting covenant]; 18:10-15; 21:8-13, 20).

In Genesis 3. Satan deceives Eve, Adam disobeys God, bringing sin’s curse upon us all, separating us from life with God, destined for death, (v. 15) God promises to demolish both sin and death, by His Son (John 3:16).

You cannot be saved through human ancestry, national birth, religious covenants, rituals, good works, or religious affiliations. You are saved solely by your faith and belief in Jesus Christ as Savior, confessing Him as Lord, you repent, believe, and follow the instruction in God’s Word!

Mark 1:15, “The time has come,” [Jesus] said. ”The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” [and then] 17, “Come, follow Me.”

Galatians 3:29, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Those who repent, believe and follow Jesus, are God’s true children and His servants, doing what is right and good, made effectual in Christ (see Ephesians 2:10).

1Peter 2:9 “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self- controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.”

God’s Blessings, Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 8:18-27 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Ever since chapter 6 it has been clear that we should expect the Christian life to be a struggle (Romans 6:18-19). It’s a fight, because although, as Christians, we have peace with God, we will at war with our flesh, the world, and the devil.

Last week we ended with verse 17 of chapter 8, which states, “if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Do you see that in the end, suffering results in glory? We will be glorified with Christ, but only after being made like Him. That’s God’s goal of our salvation, to set us apart, sanctify us, for His honor and glory, through whom our own glorification will take place; but not without suffering, for suffering is the path to glory.

Read Romans 8:18-27… Truth be told, if we were able to comprehend the greatness of the eternal glory we will receive as children of God the suffering we experience in this life would seem minuscule in comparison (Romans 8:18).

In a sense, Christians, along with all of creation, are groaning for glory of God to be revealed, when He presents us as His eternal children (Romans 8:19). Everything will be made new, and all that offended God to be put away. Romans 8:20 tells us creation was subjected to frustration [or meaninglessness], i.e., it is unable to fulfill the purpose for which it was originally created, to bring honor and glory to God, for it is broken, having become corrupted by man’s sin.

And if you go back to Genesis 1–3, you discover that the person who subjected creation to futility was God, for He had originally made the creation good, in order that it would reflect His glory. But when Adam and Eve chose to rebel against God, they brought the judgment of God upon themselves and all of creation. God said (Genesis 3:17–19), “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Romans 8:21 says creation is in bondage [slavery] to decay [corruption]. Our world is subject to disease, disaster, destruction, and death, i.e., hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, droughts, famines, outbreaks of ebola, malaria, cholera, and of course, a variety of cancers that ravage all living things.

Nature is beautiful, but it is also dangerous and deadly, for all of creation has been affected by decay and death, brought on by the resulting curse and corruption in response to man’s sin.

But we have hope, for even though we will experience pain, we will also experience pleasure and purpose, purpose that will magnify our hope in the character, nature, and glory of God.

Romans 8:22 likens the current pain and groaning of creation to that of a pregnant woman going into labor. Giving birth is painful, so painful that some women avoid having children.

But for women who go through childbirth, for the most part, they come to realize that the pain they are experiencing ultimately ends with the joyous birth of their child. And so, there is, at times, an eager expectation in the pain, of something exciting and good that is coming, enabling women to endure the pain of childbirth.

The eager expectation of all creation is like groaning, until we are set free from all corruption and decay, describe as the creation of the new heavens and earth (Isaiah 65:17), “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind,” (Revelation 21:4), “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

The future renewal of creation is inseparably connected to humanity’s glorification. That’s why Romans 8:19 says creation is waiting eagerly for the revealing of the sons [the children] of God.

Creation is waiting for the day when the true children of God, those who have been adopted by God through Christ’s death and resurrection, will be presented and made known; similar to Christ’s baptism, when God declared to all that this was His beloved son (Matthew 3:1), with whom He is well pleased.

One day God will declare and present all His adopted sons and daughters; this is only possible because of Christ, and this seems to be the glorious day that creation is groaning for.

All creation is groaning for God’s glory to be revealed,(Romans 8:23–25), Christians groan as well, longing for that day to come. We have been granted a taste of what is to come, through the presence of God’s Spirit in us, through Whom Christians have been given the first fruits of the harvest yet to come. To use a different metaphor, it is like an engagement ring that is the promise and possession of the marriage yet to come.

The Holy Spirit is God’s pledge (see Ephesians 1:13-14), He is the engagement ring of God, the protective seal of God, based on the full authority and sovereignty of God.

We’ve been exposed to some of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, here in Romans 8: (v. 2) the Holy Spirit has freed us from the law of sin and death; (v. 4) He empowers us to live in obedience to God’s Word; (vv. 10-11) He makes us alive in Christ, and able to serve Him; (vv. 13-14) He frees us from the domination of our flesh, so that we can live as obedient children of God,

This is the present experience of our future hope with God, that we can have freedom from sins bondage, the assuredness of our relationship with God now and forever, and a preview of our heavenly home and family, as we serve in God’s church on earth, encouraging one another toward love and good deeds.

Because Christians are able to experience momentary victories over sin here on earth, we long for the complete victory over sin in heaven, forever. Because Christians can experience sweet fellowship with God through God’s Spirit, we long

for the full, unhindered and unbroken fellowship we will have with God in heaven, forever.

This is an anxious longing or groaning for Christians, as we wait eagerly to receive all the rights, privileges, and benefits of our full adoption as children of God. For when we see Him face to face, we will not only be with Him (v. 23), we will be made like Him, for our bodies will be redeemed and made new restored to the glory of God’s original intention, completely and perfectly conformed to the image of Christ Jesus.

This is what we long for (vv. 24-25), it is called hope, because it is still yet to come. You don’t hope for what you already have. And so, we have seen that not only creation groans for God’s revealed glory, but Christian groan also, and at times, praying, but not really even knowing what to pray for (Romans 8:26-27).

God is so gracious that He gives us His Spirit to pray on our behalf. We are to pray in accordance with the will of God (1John 5:14-15), “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of Him.”

This is absolutely amazing when you think about it. If we were to ask anything according to God’s will, it would be done, for God is all powerful, sovereign, faithful, and totally trustworthy.

So, why aren’t our prayers answered in accordance with what we ask for? Most likely it is because we don’t ask for those things that fully align with God’s will, and so, our prayers seem to go unanswered; but the truth is they have clearly been answered, it is just that God did not do what we asked, but what He willed! 2Corinthians 12:7-10, “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Even the apostle Paul, evidently, didn’t always pray according to the will of God, i.e., Paul didn’t get everything he prayed for. Clearly, he wanted the “thorn in his flesh” to be gone; but God said no, instead, God used this suffering in the life of Paul to cause Paul to rely on God’s grace, and to learn that power is perfected in weakness. Paul was praying for release from the pain, it would seem the Holy Spirit was interceding so that the pain would make Paul more complete in God’s service.

So, even Paul didn’t know exactly how he was to pray, but the Holy Spirit did, for God’s Spirit knows the mind and will of God. Think about it, God gave us His

Son to save us, and His Spirit to teach us and conform us to His Son, i.e., to sanctify us, that we might live for God while we are on earth.

Paul prayed for release from pain and suffering, God said “no,” so should we just give up praying and let the Holy Spirit handle it? No, of course not, for we are commanded (1Thessalonians 5:16-18) to, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Paul’s teaching here in Romans 8:26-27 should encourage us to pray all the more, knowing that, while the Spirit has no need to pray for Himself, He groans with us, feels our pain, identifies with our struggles, and intercedes on our behalf for God’s present, and our future, glory; and God’s Spirit can do this without words, interceding for us in accordance with God’s will.

Yes, the Christian life is full of trials, temptations, hardships, tribulations, pain, and even persecution; but this should not surprise us, depress us, frighten us, or cause us to become silent, quit, or to run and hide. Look, Jesus told us what to expect.
Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Paul exhorts and encourages us in 2Corinthians 4:16-18,“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

All of creation is groaning, Christians all around the world are being persecuted; and yet, we wait with eager expectation, for the glory that will one day be ours with the Father in heaven.

We will have trouble in this world, even so, we will persevere by feeding upon and applying the Word of God to our lives, praying without ceasing through God the Spirit, while following the example of God the Son, as we serve God the Father, with full confidence that (Romans 8:28-30), “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son… Those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified”; and we are confident that (Romans 8:38-39), “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Pastor Mike