Romans Chapter 11

Romans Chapter 11
Paul asks if God has cast his people away? God forbid. Paul’s also an Israelite, you know, from the seed of old Abe and the tribe of Ben (ooo, Benji doesn’t get mentioned to often as one of the illustrious forefathers).

God hasn’t cast away his people, and he knew he wouldn’t ahead of time. Don’t you remember what the scripture said about Elias? He was going to make an intercession to God against Israel, reminding our fair Lord that these folks have killed all God’s prophets and wrecked his altars, and now I (poor Elias) am left alone and they’re coming for me.

But what did God say to him? He said that he had reserved seven thousand men who have not bowed to Baal. (I like that throughout the bible there is no forceful declaration that Baal doesn’t exist, only that he isn’t fit to be worshipped. I find that amusing. Also, the normal God we talk about doesn’t seem to have problems with the other thousands and thousands of gods that were being worshipped at the time. It seems Baal is his main competitor. Just kind of interesting… I’m making a mental note to learn more about my friend Baal).

Even so, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Because it’s by grace, it’s not related to the deeds that you perform (in case you forgot, Paul not a big believer in the whole actions speak louder than words thing). If it is related to deeds then it’s no longer grace, or work wouldn’t be work any more.

What then? Israel hasn’t obtained what it was seeking, but the election has obtained it. Unfortunately the rest were blinded until this day. Paul’s parenthetical note tells that the scripture says God gave these people the spirit of slumber, eyes that did not see and ears that did not here.

And David said their table would be made a snare and trap and stumblingblock and also a recompense to them. Their eyes should be darkened so they could not see and their backs should be bowed.

Paul asks if they have stumbled so much that they will fall? God forbid. Instead, because of their fall salvation has been opened up to the gentiles to provoke their jealousy. (Oh, that’s a fabulously thought out plan… well I was going to save a bunch of people, but they suck, so now I’ll save some others so they’ll see how good they could have had it. Super mature. Go God!)

Now when they fall they get the riches of the world and as they diminish it enriches the Gentiles, how much more full can you get? (I think I see where Hilter got his ideas. Umm, is this screwed up to anyone else?)

Paul’s talking to you Gentiles! He considers himself the apostle of the Gentiles and he magnifies his office. If by any means he can provoke the people of his flesh to emulate him, then he might be able to save a few. But, if casting them away means the reconciliation of the world, what will receiving them be except life from the dead?

If the firstfruit is holy, then the lump is also holy and the root and the branches. If some of the branches are broken off and you are a wild olive tree that was grafted with them and with them partake of the root and fat of the olive tree, don’t boast against the branches. If you boast then you don’t bear the root, but the root bears you.

You will then say that the branches were broken off so you could be grafted in. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off and you got to your precious olive tree through your faith. Don’t be highminded, but be fearful. If God didn’t spare the natural branches then take heed because he won’t spare you.

Behold the goodness and severity of God. Those who are fallen get the severity and you precious lovelies get the goodness as long as you continue to behave yourselves. If you don’t, you’ll be cut off.

And also, if any of the Israelites start believing again then they can be grafted back in because that’s how cool God is.

If you were cut out of the olive tree, which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a nice olive tree, how great would it be if the natural branches were grafted back into their own tree?

Paul doesn’t want y’all to be ignorant of this mystery, or you might be wise in your own conceits. The blindness that happened in Israel was to enrich the lives of the Gentiles.

So Israel will be saved, it is written that “there shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness form Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes, but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as you in times past have not believed God, you have now obtained mercy through their unbelief. Even non believers right now can obtain mercy through you because God has concluded all the unbelief so he can have mercy upon all. (What, now we get mercy even if we don’t believe? That’s a first.)

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! His judgments and his ways are beyond our comprehension (errr, you can say that again Paulie, mostly because they’re nonsensical).

Who has known the mind of the Lord? Who has been his counselor? Who has first given to him and it will be returned to him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.

Ugh.