February 27, 2024
Romans 9
My dear men of God. My heart cries leading me to tears as I read chapter 9 and study this. Many of the commentaries say God has predetermined those who are designated to be saved and those destined to be used as illustrations of Gods power and not be saved. I cannot be persuaded to be of that understanding based on the sovereignty of God and what our Savior went through so that, “the ones that come to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37b) would be saved. We discussed man’s responsibility in this, man’s free will, to believe and live in Christ. This does not mean we can live in Christ in our own power. Jesus is clear He, the Holy Spirit, will be given to us for that ability. It is our responsibility to believe by surrendering to the Holy Spirit, to walk in the Spirit, Galatians 5:16. This is the power of God. It does not make us gods but allows us to live by the Spirit. Perhaps the thought is correct for those who will absolutely deny the very existence of God, showing contempt and arrogance, that they would be used to show God’s power as vessels for unrighteousness, but there was a time that they had not known good from bad and that was when they were in the womb, verse 11. It would have been better for them not to have been born, to die in the womb, as Jesus said about Judas in Matthew 26:24. Notice Jesus did not say about Judas, “It would have been better for him not to have been created.” There’s an indication that while Judas was in the womb and had died there he would have been saved. But we have discussed had Judas repented for his sin against Jesus as Peter did in his denial of Jesus, perhaps he would have been used in the kingdom, ahh to speculate with conjecture.
The call to election in Romans 9 becomes clearer in verse 12. The elect is to be used for Gods purpose and used for service, not salvation, according to God’s plan, “not from works but from the One who calls; she (Rebekah) was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’” Paul had said in earlier chapters that the Jew was responsible for the oracles of God, and they would bless all nations, Genesis 12:3, and this was accomplished with Jesus. Though the Jew was trusted to care for the Law of God, they failed to follow the very law they were entrusted to keep. Some even tried to force the gentile nation to follow the Law which was pointed out that they, themselves, could not keep, Acts 15:10. My purpose here is not to question God and the powers they’re with, but I think chapter 9 further explains that salvation has been expanded to everyone based on the law of faith, chapter 8:3-5, and not according to the law. Up to now righteousness in faith verses righteousness in following the law has been the discussion and that all have failed to be righteous by following the law, even Abraham and the Patriarchs.
The Jew was questioning this line of thinking that they had no choice in the matter but to sin and that God should not hold them accountable, verse 19. Paul goes into a picturesque story to explain his next point. Can the clay ask why he was made such and such a way? Truthfully, would you rather be a pot for cooking or a toilet? The pot still goes into the oven and the toilet, well you know what goes in there. What is an honorable use and a dishonorable use? Paul said objects that were prepared for destruction were met with wrath in the end, but that God had endured much patience before that destruction took place, verse 22, wanting them to clean themselves up by surrendering in faith, 2 Timothy 2:20-21, “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. So, if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” The responsibility lies within the heart of man to surrender his ways to God’s way. Nothing David Mroz could ever do in my flesh would ever be acceptable to God. I am filthy, despicable, untrusting. So, to say that God has prepared any person strictly for damnation is wrong and goes against another scripture in Matthew 25: 41, “Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!’” The eternal fire was prepared for the devil and his angels only. It has been said that God hates the sin and loves the sinner, but I am sure Jesus would say, God will send the sinner who sins to hell who does not call upon me in faith.
The expansions of Gods kingdom are prophesized in Hosea 1. Israel has failed to be Gods righteous and faithful people, so God has expanded and made known the mystery that salvation is for all people, verses 25-29. Faith through Jesus becomes a stumbling block. It is a stumbling block because the directive is by faith and not works. It has always been by faith as we learned by the actions of Abraham, verses 31-33. As we live in faith and not works’ the freedom from sin becomes more apparent. Though we sin still we hate that part of us and sin can becomes less as the Holy Spirit prompts us to ask for forgiveness and we obey to ask.
Some might argue that God foreknew us before time, and I would say that is correct. Name one person God did not foreknow, He made us all. Jeremiah 1:5 is a statement that I would lean on. God knew Jeremiah before he formed him and that he would be of service to Him. God gave him things to say to Judah and God wanted Jeremiah to trust Him throughout the messages. This would be an illustration of Jeremiah being predetermined to be used for service. His faith in God in being used saved him.
As I see predetermination of our status in the kingdom, God is all knowing and does know His own because of that. There is not one renegade atom throughout the universe that God does not know of. God actively works in and with His creation. He allowed Pharaoh heart to be hardened by removing His hand of restraint on Him until, by the death of his first-born son, his heart changed to allow the Hebrews to leave. God said, “Come, let us settle this,” says the Lord. Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured y the sword.” Isaiah 1:18-20. God knows your choices so choose accordingly to His will, which is known, “and I, If I be lifted up will draw all men unto me,” I pray you choose at that moment, Jesus, as your final answer!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, guard us as we study. Instruct us as we implement Your Word. Continue to save us until You bring us into Your glory, Your kingdom because of what Jesus did for us. We call on His name for our salvation!
-David Mroz
February 21, 2024
Romans 8
Last week questions came up about the “carnal Christian.” Several definitions of carnality all lead to worldly living which is enmity to God. We all have been and will be guilty of living in the world and in the flesh. A Christian who is being sanctified will be deeply troubled of the sin they caused a carnal Christian, who in my opinion has not been saved and calls themselves a Christian in name only, will challenge their rebellion with further rebellion, in other words “How far can I take it?”
Romans has given us thus far, God the Father in creation, Romans 1 to 3:20. God the Son in salvation, Romans 3:21-Roman 7, and now, God the Holy Spirit in sanctification Romans 8:1-39. We cannot please God in our own power it must be lived through the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul calls this the law of the Spirit in verse 2. How would you apply this? It is a principle and authority, operating through the Holy Spirit to accomplish what the written law could not accomplish, our salvation. Again, the written law was not intended to be a device to save man or bring man closer to God. Obedience to the moral code of the law may not be sin in itself but will never be a way our sin is forgiven, and that effort done in the strength of man may be sin. God said in Amos 5:22, “Even if you offer me your burn offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will have no regard for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.” And Isaiah 1:13, “Stop bringing me useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons and Sabbaths and the calling of solemn assemblies- I cannot stand iniquity with a festival.” Jesus made it clear that He must die in order that the Comforter would be given, John 16:7, thus convicting first, sanctifying those of us who are saved by Him, who believe in Him, and judging the ruler of the world, John 16:7-11. The law was given for our benefit to lean into God for mercies unlimited because it exposed the many sins in us. The Holy Spirit is given to convict us and give us the power to live an obedient life which the law commanded but could not produce. Power is available; only we decide are we in the flesh or are we in the Spirit? Let’s choose to walk after the Spirit, to mind the Spirit, verses 3-5.
Last week we discussed feeding the new man. This week we see by sanctification the old man needs to be starved. The diet of the old man in Galatians 5:19-21; “sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing and anything similar.” And these come with a warning, “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” So, this struggle between the old man and new man need not be scary. The Holy Spirit, Comforter, was given to all believers and He will be your source to victory over the flesh.
The flesh can be explained as our bodies and the bodies of others. The mind is included in the flesh and would need to be under watch so that the temptation that starts in the mind will not lead to full “evil actions”, Colossians 1:21. The mind can trick the heart so guard your heart. Proverbs 4:23 say “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” It is your heart that flows your faith. Jesus said in Matthew 15:19, “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.” The cards seem to be stacked against us, it is no wonder Paul said, “What a wretched man I am! Who will save me from this body of death?” Romans 7:24. The Holy Spirit provides the power to war against sin, it does not naturally lie in us. We must guard our hearts and minds and allow the Holy Spirit to fend for us against this bully called the flesh. Fear not, new man!
Our security now lies with the faith given to us by God that are salvation is real and secured in the hands of Jesus. Our “hope” increases as our faith increases. They are synonyms of each other, and both are gifts of God. Our hope is the expectation of something promised but not seen, our faith is our determination that our hope is real. Now, how do we know this? Scripture tells us. Now we do not just believe anything we are told or read. We are drawn to Jesus by the Holy Spirit as His own. Scripture then confirms this in John 10: 27-30, “My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them from My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One.” Our security lies in Christ, our sanctification lies in the Holy Spirit, and we have no separation from God!
Paul was certain as he was saved that he would not be separated from God, verses 38-39. And nothing under the sun, seen or unseen, death or any circumstance of life would ever separate him from God because of Jesus atoning work on the cross. The Holy Spirit is given as a down payment for our inheritance into the Kingdom of God, Ephesians 1:14. And praise be the Lord the Holy Spirit is part of this. I am thankful that He is given to me to remind me who I am in Christ, to give me words to speak to whomever. He sanctifies me moment by moment and has allowed the change to be real in my life. What change in me has He made? Well, I was sexually immoral, I had idols, I would check my horoscope from time to time, I hated certain groups of people, jealousy was certain when I was coveting, angry for the silliest reasons, was the sum of a person based on my own conclusions, was know as a “tattoo” because I would get under peoples skin, I wanted to have things of pleasure and so on. One by one God has shown me the evil each one of these things have. The Lord has opened my eyes through the Spirit and what little knowledge I had about Jesus that I was living for the flesh, worldly things and not for Jesus. My wife had a dream that I died shortly after my knee replacement, perhaps the old self did die and continues die daily because, no pun intended, I stopped running shortly after the replacement, 2017. If you’re running, when will you stop?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You again for Your teaching of Your Word. It is so powerful and gives us insight of the true Power You have and have shared with us in our sanctification. The concept of sin will one day be wiped from our memories and praising you will be forever on our hearts, minds and lips. Help us now to live in strength by the Spirit and to be humble, by Your side, in all times.
Amen
-David Mroz
February 14, 2024
Romans 7
A continuation from Romans 6, which we considered “positional sanctification” in Christ. As we seek confirmation by how we live that our sanctification in Christ is ever moving in the direction of “holiness” we find ourselves, perhaps trying to please God by following/obeying the law only. From time to time I can remember saying to God, “God if you do this for me, I will do this for you.” Sort of elementary in my understanding of my salvation and the blessings of God. Have you made a comment like this before? You see, in our study we have learned that the law cannot bring sanctification to those of us who are saved and surely will condemn those who are not saved because the intent of the law was to bring sin to our knowledge and “multiply the trespass” against God, Romans 5:20. The law was also necessary to protect us from unwanted consequences too, but it mainly exposed our sinful nature and wicked desires. Now we discuss the struggles of a Christian. Salvation is by grace, which is a gift of God, Romans 6:23, through Jesus’ atoning work on the cross. We have learned that we have come from our old slave master, sin, and serve a new Master, Jesus by faith which is His righteousness given to us, but that sin still dwells in us because of our old nature, the flesh. My challenge to you last week was to rebel against the old nature and obey the new nature. How did you do? If not well then let’s consider feeding the new person in Christ.
The new man needs to be fed. Jesus said, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” John 4:30. This meat is doing what He sees the Father doing, which is written now for our benefit, John 5:19. In Deuteronomy 8:3 God said “that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” and Jesus confirms this in Matthew 4:4 the same thing as He is being confronted by the devil in the desert. God, the Father, spoke to the prophets in various ways but in these last days He has spoken through His Son, Jesus,” Hebrews 1:1-2. Jesus is referring to His Word, the Scriptures as the meat the disciples knew not of because they were still learning. The old man, fleshly desires, need to be starved. In feeding the new man, daily scripture reading is important, prayer is important. The things of God should be on our minds, Philippians 4:8. In times of great passion for the Lord, seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind and body. In times of despair, make a conscience decision not to fall into temptation but seek the Lord even more because you are no longer a slave to sin, and you do not have to obey sins desires. Temptation will call you but be strong and seek God. The voice of temptation will grow faint. The battle we face, the impulses of sin, will continue until we are called into heaven. For we live on the battle grounds where the devil, the adversary, lost your soul but wants your wife’s or your children or others and he would have you fail at every moment of your life to keep you(us) from proclaiming the gospel with any creditability. Does the flesh seek creditability? You see, even doing what God commands can “puff” us up, 1 Corinthians 8:1. So do this with love, humility, and offer up mercies and grace as God has given you.
In the flesh we will fail and have failed and will continue to fall, now, as one called to Christ through His death, we consider our flesh as dead and therefore are not bound to the law “which brings forth fruit unto death.” Verse 5. Because we have not been called home the flesh still has life but will die and will sin, our soul, the real “us” has been reborn! This explains Jesus’ statement in John 3:3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The word of God will expose us for who we really are. Like a mirror showing you the spec of dirt on your face, the word of God will show you the dirtiness of your sin. Be refined as the silversmith refines silver to see his reflection, you also be refined that others can see the peace, joy, love for others that Jesus has and be alive through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
To further confirm a battle is being raged, Paul writes, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that I do not; but what I hate, that do I.” verse 15. The new man agrees that the law has made you recognize sin, and that sin now offends you as it offends God. The new man agrees the law is good for this reason. The law still leads to death as our flesh will one day prove. Verse 18 will confirm to us that no good things dwell in us. So, what we do in the flesh is of no value or use to God. To add to that, our sin continues in the flesh, but our new man will not, “Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin” 1 John 3:9.
Let us be thankful as Paul is in verse 25, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” for our deliverance from the slave master of sin and the condemnation of death through the law to eternal life by the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus the Christ.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, most High and Majestic GOD, Thank you for our Deliverer, our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for the inspiration given to Paul to write these words for our growth today. Help us Father to apply what we learn for mental stability in our walk with you. Help us to teach these things to those we encounter daily. Help us to be clear with our thoughts so You are honored and proclaimed and the simple will come grace offered to them. We love you dearly Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit.
-David Mroz
