Sabbath: Children of the Promise
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
Read for This Week’s Study: Romans 9.
Memory Text: “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth” (Romans 9:18).
Is it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. . . . For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy . . ., and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Rom. 9:13, Romans 9:15).
What is Paul talking about here? What about human free will and the freedom to choose, without which very little of what we believe makes sense? Are we not free to choose or reject God? Or are these verses teaching that certain people are elected to be saved and others to be lost, regardless of their own personal choices?
The answer is found, as usual, by looking at the bigger picture of what Paul is saying. Paul is following a line of argument in which he attempts to show God’s right to pick those whom He will use as His “elected” ones. After all, God is the One who carries the ultimate responsibility of evangelizing the world. Therefore, why can He not choose as His agents whomever He wills? So long as God cuts off no one from the opportunity of salvation, such an action on God’s part is not contrary to the principles of free will. Even more important, it’s not contrary to the great truth that Christ died for all humans, and His desire was that everyone have salvation.
As long as we remember that Romans chapter 9 is not dealing with the personal salvation of those it names, but that it is dealing with their call to do a certain work, the chapter presents no difficulties.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 9.
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Hello beloved of the Most High. Hope you all had a blessed Sabbath in all corners of the world.
I welcome you all to the hotly disputed teaching. Maurice and Inge are you ready for this? Hope we will tackle this slowly and absolutely sure.
Romans 9:13-16
Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
The following extract are questions from the introduction on God's choice and man's desire.
"What is Paul talking about here? What about human free will and the freedom to choose, without which very little of what we believe makes sense? Are we not free to choose or reject God? Or are these verses teaching that certain people are elected to be saved and others to be lost, regardless of their own personal choices?"
Interesting though is that Paul says in verse 16 it doesn't depend on human desire, rather let me say "free will and freedom of choice". But he is specific about God's choice. The question is do we reject election as taught by the bible for free will or freedom of choice which are not taught in the bible.
Romans 9 is vitally important to the Christian, not only in the sense that it provides a basis for the theological doctrine of election, but in that it has great bearing on our spiritual life. If salvation finds its origin in the will of the creature, rather than in the will of the Creator, then we can never be fully assured of our salvation. Then it would mean we have to work our way to salvation so that we earn the favor of God. After all we chose Him. The issue Paul persistently tackles in his salvation by works theology. John 6 especially verse 44 & 65 support the theological doctrine of election similar to Romans 9:13 & 15. But if salvation finds its origin in the will of God, then we know we are secure as Christians. If salvation is that which is determined by God, then we may come to Him in Christ with the confidence that He is both able to save, and that He takes pleasure in saving all those whom he has chosen (John 15:16 and Rom 9:15).
Hehe! You were quick off the mark Anele. Let me ask you a couple of questions just to see that I am reading you as you intend us to.
1) Are some people elected (predestined) to be saved while others are elected (predestined) to be lost?
2) Can a person who is elected to be saved, reject (choose not to be) saved?
3) What does "whosoever" mean in John 3:16?
4) What does it mean "to be saved"?
Free will assumes that we have a choice and that we are born innocent. The truth is that we are born sinners and continue to choose sin as we grow. Therefore we all deserve condemnation and death. When you truly understand that all we deserve is death then you are thankful that God chooses to have compassion on some rather than accuse God of being unjust for not choosing everyone. Who am I to demand anything from God? I may plead for his mercy but never demand it. Praise be to God He chose to send His Son Jesus to die for all those who believe in Him!
As long as we remember that Romans chapter 9 is not dealing with the personal salvation of those it names, but that it is dealing with their call to do a certain work, the chapter presents no difficulties.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20,I have the free will to choose to follow God or not.
Once I choose to follow God then He shall bless me with a specific gift to advance His course 1 Corinthians 12. This is the "election" and its His preservation as He understands better.
The issue of election must be viewed within the angle of FAITH
From Cain and Abel,Ishmael and Isaac Esau and Jacob Manasseh and Ephraim the prodigal son and brother the first and second Adam till the very end of the great controversy
Without faith we won't please HIM(Heb11:6)
Rom8:6&8 then gives us a better view of how God works,in the flesh(carnal) we are His enemies
God foresaw the death of Hezekiah but doesn't mean He predestined it
Esau (according to egw)was wild, Jacob was spiritual
Esau was worldly(carnal)
Jacob loved the gift of being the proginator of the Messiah (he had faith therefore he pleased God)
For God SO LOVED the world.....That the point of the scripture and God can use anyone at anytime for his purpose...HE USED SAUL and God said it will be alright if he change his name to PAUL. God choose Paul, even when Paul thought he was already chosen...He was chosen by the law of death, but because grafted in Christ.
Romans 1:1 "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,"2 "(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)"
The issue o predestination is one of the most debated controversies in Christianity, but does the bible really preaches predestination in terms of salvation? The answer is a capital No. To understand this topic we need to know who our God his. What are his characters or attributes that stands him out above all? Also we need to know his intention for mankind before and after we fell in the garden of Eden. Let us start by knowing our God. Who is God? Let us just examine few among them for the sake of space and time.
1) The bible says God is love -1 John 4:8. Then what does love do?
Romans 13:10 says ,love works no ill to his Neigbour ..... , 1 cor 13: 4-6 says love is kind, thinketh no evil, does not behave itself unseemly......
Now can we picture our God in the definition of love above in John 3:16.
In the text let us look at the phrase ' for God love the world' and the word ' whosoever' . These words means everyone is inclusive in the love of God. It will be therefore contradictory if the God that loves the whole world now chooses who to save and who not to save out of the world he had loved so much. That will be unkind.
2) God is judge. 1 chronicles 16:33 says God is coming to judge the earth and Psalms 50:6 says ' for God is judge himself' . Then if God is going to judge the earth , how is he going to do it when he has given some people privilege over others. If he has chosen who will be saved from the beginning there will not be any need for judgement . Our God is a just and righteous judge , psalms 67:4, Psalms 96:13 says ' he shall judge the world with righteousness and with his truth' . Ezekiel 33:20 says ' he will judge everyone after his ways. So also Revelation 20:13. We can clearly see here that God judges our choices. If we choose right by submitting to his plan of salvation we are saved otherwise is the case if we choose wrong. There is nothing that suggests predestination for salvation here.
3) God is Omniscience. He knows all things . If we use the analogy of Esau I hate and Jacob I love, we might make a mistake of making unpleasant deductions if we look at it on the surface and not having a wholistic view of the nature of God. How can a God the is so loving, kind, just, faithful, compassionate, caring and holy hate one of his hand works? Is that thought not contrary to our knowledge about God? Even as at the time the statement was made Esau was still in the womb. What must he have done against God to warrant such hatred?
One thing we must know is that the writers of the bible are human being limited by words and comprehension though moved by the spirit. Many times they lack the right words to describe what they heard, see or felt . They used the one there ability can provide at the time of writing. They may not use the right words but the messages were never compromised. If we critically look at the case of Esau and Jacob, we can see that the message here was just a matter of God's choice or preference of one to the other because of His all knowing ability. He knew who Esau will turn out to be and also Jacob. God has a purpose. He knows the one that can fulfill his purpose for mankind . Looking at the life of Jacob with all his vices- deceit,lies and others he was surely a man of strong character . He was resilient, daring,visionary, strive and relentlessly aimed at what he believed in. He wanted the father's blessing that was was customarily meant for the first born and he got it though through manipulation and deceit but he was strong willed.. He wrestled with the angel of God until he was blessed. That shows resilient and determination. He recognized God as his source of success. That was was he pledged that he will make sacrifice to God if God prospers his way when he was on the way t Laban. He painstakingly served for 14 years for the woman of his dream (Rachael) , though he was robbed by his in-law for the first term of 7 years. He still served extra years to achieve his aim. This is a strong character . He didn't give up his dream and mission at the sight of obstacle or persecution. He was a wise man calling on God to vindicate and help him when he was about to be defrauded by his in-law of the cattle that he was entitled to get as a reward for his service. In fact Jacob was a dependent man.
In contrast Esau aside from his good side ( hardworking, strong )was independent or at best self dependent and lackadaisical. He depended so much on his strength and power for sustenance . He was weak and narrow minded. He gave up easily and lack the fighting spirit. He was intemperate and could not control his appetite . No wonder he lost his birthright for a bowl of pottage. He even despised his birthright by saying 'what profit shall this birthright do to me? - Gen 25:32. Can't such deny the faith at just a little persecution? Gen 26:35 says ' his marriage was a grief of mind to his parents' . That tells us he might have not honored the parents instruction.
4) God is Omnipotent. That is He is all powerful . Psalm 62:11 says ' power belong to the Lord'. Since all power belong to God he has all authority to use any choice we made to deal with us for his purpose. Included in this fact is that He is omniscient. He knows us and the intent of our hearts. So we can not question his because he knows more than we do.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God - Romans 6:23. We cannot on our own safe our safe except by the mercy of God by our submission to his divine will. Therefore he will show mercy to whom ( those that submit to his lordship) he will show mercy. So it is not those that willest( those that have wishful thinking or thinking salvation is their birthright because they are natural seeds of Abraham) or those that runneth( those that think salvation can be earned by their own works) but God that showeth mercy.
In conclusion God has purpose for each one of us and deals with us according to our ability or our choices( good for his honor and bad for damnation).
Somehow i knew this debate was coming 🙂 rather than jumping in as i usually do though, I'm just gonna see how it plays out throughout the week 🙂
PICTURE ANALYSIS
WHAT CAN WE GET FROM THE PICTURE ABOVE? Suddenly,a place is hugely separated by dangerously deep & deadly valley.The cross becomes the bridge to the other side. Some people 've crossed, others are crossing, others are yet to cross & others have DECIDED to stay behind.
Have u ever come a dangerously deep & deadly valley in your life. Have u ever been left lonely after the death of a beloved one. You newly wedded husband just passed away. All of sudden, your building turns to ashes & your investments are all gone in a second.Your children are more of problems that a times you think their behavior can send u to earlier grave.AS SOON AS THE VALLEY APPEARS BEFORE US THAN JESUS COMES WITH THE CROSS OF SALVATION.WHEN ONE DOOR IS CLOSED, GOD OPENS THE OTHER.Christian should look for the bridge that CHRIST provides to them as alternative the VALLEY that appears before them.
To me, reading the Bible itself in the words directly spoken by God, gives the clear answer.
The piece to read is far too long to quote, as it is Ezekiel chapter 18. Please read it one more time.
....
How does predestination sit with those verses?
Is it a God of predestination who clearly calls out in Eze 18:30-32?
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord.
Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.
Why will you die, people of Israel?
For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord.
Repent and live!”
Is this not God calling us to exercise free will? Does He not prompt the individual to make the choice? Is He not saying, you must choose, not me. I will judge you according to YOUR deeds, according to the life choices YOU make. His desire is clear, He takes no pleasure in the death of any. But the choice is ours.
The Bible is chock full of calls to choose. “Choose this day whom you will serve”. “I set before you blessings and curses. Choose blessings.”
Predestination is just another way of Satan trying to lay all the blame on God, as he always has and always will. God predestined Adam and Eve for sin. God predestined me, Lucifer to sin. It is not my fault. I am innocent. It is all Gods fault.
Me, I do not swallow that old lie.
I think God stamped the title “Children of Promise” unto this week’s study. The author never used either of the words in the actual lesson. But if we actually study that simple phrase to the end, all our questions on election, foreknowledge, predestination etc may be answered. Who are the children of promise; who promised them; to whom were they promised(Gal 3:16,19); What’s their origin; who alone accomplishes the promise(Rom 4:21) etc.
One obvious and notable clue : The children of promise are THE CHILDREN OF GOD.(Rom 9:8) and elect.
No where in Scripture is God represented as choosing/electing to damnation. Apparently there are denominations that promote that heresy or it would not be so often referenced here. Election in Scripture signifies chosen or selected out of or from. Scripture represents God as knowing/foreknowing, choosing/electing only for His *purpose*. Jacob was chosen over his elder brother for the privilege of firstborn, which Esau by birth naturally inherited. Issac was the one foreknown of God, not Ishmael. Abraham was *known* by God for: “I have known him(Abraham) so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”(Gen 18:19). Jeremiah was foreknown to be a Prophet(Jer 1:5-8). Of course that incorporated salvation. Christ was foreknown for Messiahship(1 Pt 1:20). Paul for Apostleship(Gal 1:15,16). Then 2 Thess 2:13,14: “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren *beloved* by the Lord, because God has chosen/elected you from the beginning *for salvation* through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the Truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Tit 1:1 “Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen/elected of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness.”
After distinguishing those of the day from those of the night, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining *salvation* through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Th 5:9)
2 Tim 2:10 “For this reason I endured all things for the sake of those who are chosen/elect, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”those days
Mk 13:20 “Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would would have been saved; but for the sake of the Elect, whom He CHOSE, He shortened the days
The Elect are *beloved* of God like His Son (Col 3:12; 1 Th 1:4; 2 Th 2:13; Rom 1:7). The Elect alone escape the deception by which the whole world is tested, and they alone are saved(Matt 24:24,31): “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if POSSIBLE, even the Elect. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”
How can the Elect be every being in the world?