Romans - Part 5: ELECTIONSample

Rejection of the Gospel

At the beginning of Romans, Paul declared that the gospel was rooted in God’s dealings with Israel (1:1-3). You can also reference Deuteronomy 7:6 and Acts 13:17. We all can struggle with these passages which lead us to ask, “How can we reconcile God’s election of Israel with her rejection of God?” To avoid distortions, always try to read Romans 9-11 together, even though we are breaking it down in our reading plan! Just a pro tip!

Paul wrapped up Romans 9 by teaching us that the Israel God supposedly rejected was actually the Israel who had rejected God. Israel’s pursuit of a right standing with God failed because they did not seek it through faith. They imagined they could make themselves right with God by keeping the Law. That’s just another word for pride! Indeed, there is a life lesson here for us all…

Now that we are entering into chapter 10, we find out the Jews failed to recognize that Christ put an end to the Law as a way of achieving righteousness, for everyone who believes. Do you think Paul knew this firsthand? “And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers” (Galatians 1:14). I think so.

Paul is getting at this: if we have a zeal for God, without knowing God’s righteousness, we end up setting our own standards. This is so tempting for Pharisees (modern-day ones, too)! No wonder Jesus and the Pharisees of His day butted heads at every turn. Romans 10 clearly explains Israel’s rejection of the gospel (and any rejection of it today as well) as an obstinate rebellion against God. They were unwilling to be broken.

There is an old hymn by Daniel Iverson that helps us with what our attitude should be…Spirit of the Living God. “Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me, Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me. Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.”

-Brian Mott