Skip to main content

some thoughts from Romans 9-11

Over Romans 9 in my Bible I have written "sovereignty and mercy of God". It is important that I remember both of those absolute, wonderful truths. Many times I can get caught up in the idea of the "sovereignty of God" without also remembering and living by His mercy. This is crazy! One only has to look at the cross to worship in absolute amazement of God's great mercy.

Do I understand - like human-logically put together - all that is contained in Romans 9, 10, 11? No way! How can you? It doesn't make sense that a just God who defines HOLY and can not tolerate sin would have mercy on A-N-Y-O-N-E. Yet, He is the author and effector (is that a word?) of salvation to save sinners.
"So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." Romans 9:16
I remember many years ago riding to a "girl's weekend out" with my sister and talking about this passage all the way. It was a beautiful ride in the fall and the leaves were turning colors. I remember reading Romans 9-11 for real the first time and how hard it was to swallow and how many questions of debate I had. She had those same questions, but was so humble and interested. It is a very good memory. (NOTE: If you are ever on a road-trip and enjoying the conversation greatly, still pay careful attention to how fast you are driving. Enough said. :-) )

We see both truths of God's sovereignty in salvation and genuine human responsibility in these chapters.
"if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Romans 10:9-10
And we see both the responsibility we have to hear the gospel and proclaim the gospel.
"How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?...So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Romans 10:14, 17
Does this make sense? No, in the sense that is doesn't jive with the fallen, man-centered presuppositions that we all have. But, gloriously YES - it is truth! I can't get my head around it. I long to understand more. I will work to know more of God and His character and His ways, but with Paul I say...

"Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:34-36

Popular posts from this blog

cast off the slave chains

I just can't get out of Romans 8. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" I woke up this morning with thoughts of God's sovereignty on my mind. The fact that He controls everything and will let nothing go further than He has decreed. He is a kind and loving Father who I can trust. So, I don't have to worry about the events of today. Though I can't always trust other people to do the right thing (or even myself for that matter!) or put my confidence in 'things' today - I can put my confidence in my heavenly Father and rest in His adoption of me as a child. So, no need to put on the slave chains of fear again - let me just remind myself of who my Father is.
Read more

all things

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things ? (Rom 8:32) all things - greek word "panta" (forgive the laziness in not using greek manuscript) I remember Lance preaching about this. He said that the word used meant literally "all things". Big things, small things, spiritual things, normal things. This is a good word to remember. Especially in the midst of this pregnancy. God is interested in using all aspects of my life to conform me more to the image of His Son.
Read more

hearts like tinder-boxes

From Spurgeon's Morning and Evening: 2 Samuel 11:2 And it came to pass in an evening-tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house. At that hour David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation. Both at home and abroad we are liable to meet with allurements to evil; the morning opens with peril, and the shades of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps, but woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed . Those who think themselves secure are more exposed to danger than any others. The armour-bearer of Sin is Self-confidence. David should have been engaged in fighting the Lord's battles, instead of which he tarried at Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxurious repose, for he arose from his bed at eventide. Idleness and luxury are the devil's jackals , and find him abundant prey. In stagnant waters noxious creatures swarm, and neglected soi...
Read more