It’s a broad Church; broader than you think! Romans 10,11 It’s a broad Church; broader than you think!

God foreknows, predestines, elects “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (Malachi 1:2,3) God has a plan; he blesses some, he does not bless others And yet, men and women make choices in their lives God is loving, merciful and kind; compassionate and just; faithful to His promises. But it does not depend on men’s desires or effort (9:16) but on God’s mercy.

God has His plan; prayer plays its part Chapter 10 opens with Paul showing his heart leads him to pray for the salvation of the Jews – even accepting that God predestines whom he chooses Submission to God’s righteousness through Jesus Christ is the key, not introducing our own idea of “righteousness through works” “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Joel 2:32)

The importance of outreach (10:14) How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Isaiah 52:7)

God has not rejected Israel (11:4b-6) “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18) So too at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. The elect among the Jews sought God and His righteousness, “but the others were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” (Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 29:10) Jesus is the stumbling block for many Jews, even to today.

The Church in-grafted; branches broken off Paul presents a picture of the cultivated olive tree as God’s chosen people, the elect God grafts in branches from wild olive trees into His cultivated tree; He also breaks off branches from the cultivated tree because of unbelief – beware, he tells the gentiles – and us! Consider the kindness and sternness of God! Though the Jews are, “as far as the gospel is concerned, enemies for gentiles’ sake” they are loved by God – Jew and Gentile are bound over to disobedience (slaves to sin) so that God may have mercy on all.

God does not change – but people do! God is faithful, just and merciful People are on a journey – though their direction of travel is a choice God will work with us, if it is our desire for Him to do so God can use us for His purposes, acting out of His sovereign will We’re unlikely to be able to tell at the time, how God is working in us! The Jews were always the Chosen People, the People of the Promise – God used their unfaithfulness as a People to work out salvation through Jesus The basis of salvation is not Jewishness; it is faith in Messiah Jesus The basis of faithfulness is not Law, it is love of God and of neighbour

Thinking on God leads Paul to praise! Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom of God! How unsearchable His judgements, and His paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?” (Isaiah 40:13) “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” (Job 41:11) For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.