Romans 11 Commentary
We have spent several days under a difficult lecturer! Our knowledge of the difficult subject should be better by now. A good student isolates the meat from the bones and enjoys his meal. We shall try to do the same.
God’s knowledge of all things, past, present, and the future means the list of ‘A’ graders is fully known, for an exam yet to be written. Based on this knowledge, and why not, the LORD grooms and preserves the special ones during their earthly pilgrimage.
Interestingly, the special students won’t know it until the results are announced! So they work on their salvation with fear and trembling. They repent endlessly…and constantly feel unworthy of the higher calling. They are not arrogant; they tremble. Verse 20.
Paul uses both feet to write this volume! One foot stands with his Master who sees everything; He sees the saved and the unsaved, both in time and space, both present and future. The other foot stands with his brothers from below who must decide for Jesus to secure their future in Heaven. And from below here and with his brothers, they know nothing and aren’t sure of anything.
The contrast between the Law of Moses (works) and the Law of the Spirit (grace) continues. The Law of Moses defines procedures and processes – the means to God’s presence. The Law of the Spirit defines the actual relationship between an individual and the Creator God.
Then Paul laments humanity’s strange obsession with the procedures or the processes at the expense of the actual object. How the ‘means’ to an ‘end’ becomes the end itself is a mystery. The Law is the means to God and not God by itself. There is a negative feeling about the Law of Moses in this book because it is more of a stumbling block than the ‘means’ to reach God.
It is supposed to point men and women to Jesus but it points to itself – men make it point to itself. Don’t be happy that you have constructed the bridge, rather, be happy that you have crossed to the other side with the one you constructed.
With Jesus in the neighborhood, there is no longer a need to construct the bridge! The river doesn’t exist anymore. If you still feel the river exists, at least know you don’t have to cross it anymore. The LORD is right here where we are – even knocking on your door!
Israel is busy with the construction works. They still believe they have to construct the bridge to reach God. So they employ engineers, systems, schedules, and all sorts of tools for the work. This book rubbishes Israel’s efforts given the fact the Jesus they sought is already on this side of the divide. They simply embrace Him and allow His rule and reign to flow.
Even during Israel’s terrible years under idolatry, Jesus still preserved his own remnant. It is a point the LORD makes to Elijah during the Ahab/Jezebel days. Paul is aware of many who have sat down to hear the gospel and have made a conscious decision to follow Christ. At the same time, he is aware of his own conversion that came ‘against’ the flow of events. He puts all of these thoughts in one book. What confusion of thoughts! It is a flight that won’t land!
Regardless, the highlight of these difficult chapters is the generosity of the LORD. Instead of worrying an individual, the word election must gladden the man’s heart! It gives you the chance to have a go at salvation from an impossible position. The LORD neglected procedure and overlooked the rules to give you salvation. Accept it! Embrace it! Love it! Live it!
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