Salvation comes from God

Romans 10:1-13
In spite of all this my heart goes out to them and I still pray to God for their salvation. They certainly care about the things of God but they don't understand Him fully. They don't realize that their righteousness must come from God, so instead of submitting to His righteousness they work to establish their own. But our attempts righteousness by keeping laws are meant to drive us to belief in Christ (and His righteousness for us). Moses writes that one who practices a law-based righteousness shall live by it. But of the righteousness which comes from faith he says, "You can't ascend into heaven (to bring Christ down to your level (to say you had a part in it) or you can't descend the ocean depths (to try to make Him meet your needs). No, God has already put His Word near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the word of faith which we proclaim: that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as lord and believe in your heart God raised Him for your salvation you shall be saved. An understanding-and resulting faith-that righteousness comes from God originates in the heart. This seed grows to full salvation as we confess it with our mouth and I, along with the scripture assure you, you will not be disappointed. This is a universal principle. God makes no distinction. Whether Jew or Gentile, He is Lord of all and He has sufficient riches to bestow on all who call on Him. Whoever calls on Him for salvation will be saved.

I Pity the Foo...

...The Foo who try to stand in the place o the place o Harry Caray at Wrigley Field

Interesing

Last night Dale and I were watching "The shoes of the Fisherman" It was made about 1968 and was set in the future-1980's. In it they portray "Red China as isolationist, desperate and, as a great nuclear threat. They have a futuristic computer thing that shows images of a nuclear test, missiles launching, and China's kooky leader. A couple hours after guess what happens: My computer thing shows images of a nuclear test, missiles launching, and the kooky leader of North Korea.

Romans 9:24-33

So, you can see God used this long painful process to produce a few special people from the Jewish race and is now

doing the same with all the nations. In the book of Hosea He says, "I will call those not my people, my people and her

is unlovable, beloved.'" And those I rejected as not my people will now be called sons of the living God. Isaiah also cries

out, "Though Israel grows to be as many as the sands of the sea, only a remnant will be saved. For the Lord will execute

His word thoroughly and quickly." And, "If the Lord hadn't left us a few seeds we would have been as devastated as

Sodom and Gomorrah. So we must conclude that though the Gentiles didn't care about righteousness they received it

out of faith. And Israel, being obsessed with it never achieved it. They thought they could do it themselves and not trust

God for it so they stumbled over the stumbling stone which God had forwarned: "I am going to lay in Zion a stumbling

stone, a rock of offence, and he who believes in Him will not be dissapointed".

God's Pottery Shop

Romans 9:19-23
If we are not careful here we will fall into a trap and begin to wonder what gives God the right to make some receptive and others cold toward Him. Actually, we who are simply lumps of clay in "God's Pottery Shop" don't have the right to question what He is going to mold us into. It is He who has all the rights and He knows it is necessary to produce all kinds of pots, some very beautiful and some for the most basic, utilitarian purposes. Who are we to complain if God, in the process of producing a few works of art that show just how wonderful and merciful He is, had to patiently produce many imperfect vessels. These were only fit to be destroyed but were not wasted as their eventual destruction shows how patient God is and yet how justified His wrath is.

The Question of Fairness

I am dead serious when I tell you the truth of this great message produces in me a kind of reckless abandon for the people of my heritage, Israel.  If it were possible that I could be separated from God so they could take this final essential step in the gospel it would be worth it to me.  All that we are spiritually comes to us through their legacy; the patriarchs, the symbolism of the temple, the promises of God, and even the Christ Himself who sums up all of God's plan and to whom all authority has been given.  How could a people with such a rich legacy fail to respond to God's message?  Well, being a Israelite doesn't actually come from birth so not all of them are Abrahan's children.  But God tells Abraham, "Through Isaac your descendants will be named."  So it is not his physical offspring but the children of this promise who are his spiritual descendants.  God's promise was, "When I come next year Sarah will have a son."  Then there is the story of Rebecka who conceived twins through our father Isaac.  Though they had not yet been born and before they had done either good or bad God purposed to show that He chooses not by what someone does but according to what He wants to do by saying, "the older will serve the younger twin."  So He makes this ominous statement,  "I loved Jacob but I hated Esau."  Is God being unjust when He says this?  No, not at all,  later He tells Moses,  "I will have mercy on whomever I wish and I will have compassion on whomever I wish.  So, the issue here isn't justice because we are a condemned race, it is mercy and it comes down from a merciful God.  His mercy is a gift and it can't depend on how badly one wants it or works for it but on the grace of God.  At one point He says to Pharaoh,  "I brought you to this position to demonstrate my power in you so my name might be proclaimed throughout the earth.  So, then He pours out mercy on some and hardens others according to His desires.

Come Hell or High Water

Romans 8:35-39

What could ever interfere with this love He has for us?  Would troubles or the anxiety that comes from them?  What about persecution or famine, nakedness, peril, or war?  It sounds like they could when you read the Psalms:  "For your sake we are being killed all the time.  We are just so many sheep to be slaughtered."  But in spite of this we are not the conquered but conquerors through his love.  In fact, I am convinced that neither death or life nor demons nor present or future circumstances, not any power, no mater how how high or deep it comes from, not anything in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us from Christ Jesus or Lord.

Our Day in Court

Romans 8:28-34
In fact, our Father is actively orchestrating all the events of our lives for the best possible benefit for us and Him. He knew us before He began this creation and planned to make us just like our big brother who is His son. Yes, He sealed our fate by calling us to stand justified and shameless before Him in all of Christ's glory, sharing in His awesome perfection.

Ok then, what kind of attitude does knowing God is on our side produce in us? It is obvious that if He was willing to sacrifice His own Son that He will give us whatever we need. The God Who justified us at great expense is certainly not going to charge His chosen children with any sin or crime. Even if we were charged, our big brother, Jesus who became the rightful judge of the universe through His death and resurrection would not condemn us. No, He sits at God's right hand pleading our case.