Lesson 11 for the 11 th of September, 2010

What does “Christ is the end of the law” (Romans, 10: 4) mean? “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians, 3: 24) Christ is the aim or the purpose of the law. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them” (Matthew, 5: 17) Christ is the fulfilment of the law. “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace” (Romans, 6: 14) Christ is the end of the law as a means of salvation.

Every divine law brings us to Christ The ceremonial law helps us to understand the ministry and sacrifice of Christ. We don’t need to keep the ceremonial law, but we must study it so we can learn more about Jesus. The moral law shows us that we are sinners; it is our tutor that brings us to Christ to be forgiven. We must keep the moral law, because it shows us God’s will in our lives.

Has God rejected his people Israel (Romans, 11: 1-6)? The Jewish nation exhausted its time of grace; they rejected the Gospel when they stoned Stephen (Daniel, 9: 24-27) Nevertheless, God –by his election of grace– kept a remnant for himself, so they could obtain salvation.

“What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day."” (Romans, 11: 7-8) Israel didn’t obtain salvation because they rejected Jesus as the Messiah, so they hardened. Those who hardened cannot see nor hear because they don’t want to. But those who accepted Jesus as the Messiah are part of the remnant of the people of Israel (“the elect”)

Jewish people who rejected the Gospel can accept it now, as they see how the Gentiles obtain the same salvation they once rejected. Has the Jewish people a new opportunity to obtain salvation (Romans, 11: 11-15)? “in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them” (Romans, 11: 14)

Which teaching does Paul transmit with the illustration of the olive tree and its branches (Romans, 11: 16-24)? The Gentiles shouldn’t be proud and despise the Jewish. Jewish people who rejected the Gospel can accept it now. We can lose salvation and obtain it again. The Gentiles shouldn’t be proud and despise the Jewish. Jewish people who rejected the Gospel can accept it now. We can lose salvation and obtain it again. The root: Christ The olive tree: The remnant The branches: Those who are part of the remnant The grafted branches: Gentiles who accept the Gospel The broken off branches: Israelites who rejected the Gospel

What do “the fullness of the Gentiles” and “all Israel will be saved” mean in Romans, 11: 25-26? Here we find the conclusion of the illustration of the olive tree and its natural and grafted branches. “Until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” means that the Gospel will be preached all over the world (“to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” Rev. 14: 6) Every Gentile (the grafted branches) and Jewish (the re- grafted branches) who accepts the Gospel becomes part of the spiritual Israel (the olive tree). The spiritual Israel is “all Israel” which will be saved in the End Time.

To spiritual Israel have been restored the privileges accorded the people of God at the time of their deliverance from Babylon. In every part of the earth, men and women are responding to the Heaven-sent message which John the revelator prophesied would be proclaimed prior to the second coming of Christ: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” Revelation 14:7 Never has the Lord been without true representatives on this earth who have made his interests their own. These witnesses for God are numbered among the spiritual Israel, and to them will be fulfilled all the covenant promises made by Jehovah to his ancient people… E.G.W. (Prophets and Kings, cp. 59, pg )

“Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all” (Romans, 11: 30-32) God wants to pour His mercy, His love and His grace on everyone. Accepting His divine mercy and transmitting it to others –so many people can know about it and accept it– depend on us.