Comfort if walking after the Spirit
As
Luther points out in his Commentary on Romans, in this chapter, Paul
comforts
those strugglers fighting against their flesh and sin. He adds the
proviso that
they walk after the Spirit and not the flesh. This Christian walk with
God’s
indwelling Holy Ghost, makes us spiritual and subdues the flesh. We are
assured
that no matter how violently sin rages in us, we are still the children
of God
(Rom 8:16). Of course if you continue to live after the flesh you shall
die –
literally (1Cor 11:30) but still go home to heaven. Paul then reminds
us that
while we suffer on earth (Rom 8:18), we look forward to being delivered
from
our bondage of corruption (Rom 8:21). Our ‘crosses’, sufferings,
infirmities of
the flesh, necessities, persecutions and distresses (2Cor 12:10) help
to sever
all ties down here on earth and help us look toward the glorious
liberty of the
children of God (Rom 8:21) by having the power of Christ rest upon us
(2Cor
12:10). Paul ends with the glorious promise that all things work
together for
good to them that love God (Rom 8:28). Of course this seems as
impossible just
like Abraham when confronted with his barren condition and the promise
of
future children and nations. But we are left with the rolled gold
guarantee
that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:38-39).
Ch 9,10,11 =
Israel
Ch. 9 – Israel
Paul’s heaviness and sorrow for
Israel
Paul
calls the Israelites his kinsmen in the flesh (Rom 9:3) as Paul was
also born a
Jew and called a Hebrew (1Cor 11:22). He states that not all born of
Abraham
are children of God, but those of the promise are counted for the seed
(Rom 9:8)
ie those born of Isaac (Rom 9:7). But the Arab would say they were born
of
Abraham also. This is correct. However,
because Ishmael was the result of Abraham’s disobedience, they are not
children
of the promise.
The
children of the promise are those in Jacob (Rom 9:13). You see,
although born
of Isaac, Esau is not of the seed because God says Esau have I hated
(Rom 9:13)
and Jacob have I loved. Why? Esau rejected God’s covenant. Furthermore,
a study
of the scriptures show that Esau took Ishmael’s daughters, Bashemath
and
Mahamath as wives (Gen 26:34; 28:9; 36:3). Esau and Ishmael fathered
the Arabs
and not the Jews.
Paul
then continues saying that God will also call a people who were not his
people,
meaning the Gentiles (Rom 9:25). The reason given is that Israel has
been
disobedient to God and sought after righteousness by the works of the
law (Rom
9:32). God therefore will put a stumbling-stone, this is Jesus Christ,
in the
way of the Jew. God is wanting to make the Jew jealous because the
Gentile may
now believe and receive the righteousness of God, Jesus Christ, by
faith.
You
can hear Paul’s heart breaking as he tells of the zeal of the Jews in
attempting to get a righteousness by their own works/means. They are
rejecting
Jesus Christ and his righteousness, who has fulfilled the law perfectly
on
their behalf. Paul’s heart’s desire is that they might be saved by
doing it
God’s way. He goes on to say there is no difference between Jews,
Greeks and
Gentiles (Rom 10:12) and that anyone can call on the name of the Lord
and be
saved by believing (Rom 10:13).
He
then establishes and promotes the office of the preacher saying that by
preaching, faith can come by hearing the word of God (Rom 10:17).
Indeed, God’s
mission is to make Israel jealous and this is even stated by Moses (Rom
10:19).
But Paul ends up by saying that this seems to be a fruitless task (Rom
10:21).
In
this chapter, Paul states that Israel has been broken off so that the
Gentile
can be graffed in (a graff is a grave.) Yes, THE
WORD IS
“GRAFF” NOT “GRAFT”! Christians are put into the death of Christ. A
graft
is still living and does not die when a gardener puts it
into a limb
of a plant. This is not a loss of
salvation for Israel but simply a temporary halt to accessing God’s
goodness. Israel
has been only broken off not cut out! They will regrow again.
This is
misunderstood by some. Israel’s roots are not destroyed, but they are
just
broken off as branches. They are to have a temporary pause (about 2000
years)
of being put aside from God, but they will be graffed in again
during
the last half of the seven year tribulation. This is not to say they
can’t get
saved today. Why? Paul goes on to say that the gifts and calling of God
are
without repentance (Rom 11:29). God has not let them go. He has
originally
called them as his people and he will honour them again as his own (Rom
11:26).
Paul concludes by extolling the virtues of God as his ways are past
finding out
(Rom 11:33).
**** ****
Harley Hitchcock
www.
AustralianBibleMinistries
.com
