Opening Prayer
Last Week
What was valuable, or what stuck with you from last week?
Romans 11:1-4
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life! 4 But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.
Elijah – 1 Kings 17-19
A critical misunderstanding of who does what!
Who is going to –
Save the
church?
Fix the
world?
Set all things right?
EGBOK
Romans 11:5-6
5 In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace. 6 Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.
How did you come to be a Christian? – cf. the explanation to the 3rd Article of the Creed!
Romans 11:7-10
7 What then? Israel did not find what
it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were
hardened, 8 as it is written,
God gave them a spirit of
stupor,
eyes that cannot see
and ears that cannot hear,
to this day.
9 And David says,
Let their table become a snare
and a trap,
a pitfall and a retribution to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and their backs be bent continually.
Deuteronomy 29:1-4 – especially v. 4
Isaiah 29:9-14 – especially v. 10
Psalm 69:19-28 – especially v.22-23, and v. 26
Romans 11:11-12
So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
This is the same spirit at John 9
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