Download Romans 11 Sermon 73

Romans 11:1-5 Sermon #73-11316
1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid.
For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the
tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.
Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh
intercession to God against Israel, saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down
thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have
reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed
the knee to the image of Baal.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant
according to the election of grace.
There are many today that say Paul's teaching on the nation
of Israel and their backsliding, traditionalism and self righteous
religious works have nothing to do with the Church as we know
it today. They say that we should read this scripture as an
informational and explanatory segment of Paul's letter and it
should not be made to fit or be applied to the church. The nation
of Israel has nothing in common with nor should be made to
resemble the church.
Well I got news for you!
2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
The first word in this verse tells us that we are not to sort
through what is written in the Bible and set aside what may be
offensive to us. All scripture is to be studied and applied to the
children of God! Jew or Gentile makes no difference. The nation
of Israel was and are still God's chosen people but the Gentiles
have been grafted in because of Israel's disobedience and now
there is no enmity between the two. They are now all one as the
body of Christ. The Church!
To not apply this teaching from Paul to the church today is
incorrect.
Yes we should understand the depths of the offenses against
God by the Jewish nation.
Yes we should understand the sorrow that Paul, as a Jew, felt for
his brethren.
Yes we should listen to his words of report and condemnation,
as well as truth already written by the Prophets about their
backsliding, traditionalism and self righteous, religious works.
Yes we should know Gods love and His plan for His chosen
people.
And there in is the binding factor.
For God so loved the world! Not just the Jewish nation. Nor has
his love become diminished in anyway toward them. The Bible
is full of examples of the patient love of God.
Does He cast His people away?
Not as a people.
Not as a nation.
Not as a whole body.
That would be like saying many from a certain nationality or so
called denomination have turned to backsliding, traditionalism
and self righteous religious works so I will condemn all who go
by that name.
1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God
forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of
the tribe of Benjamin.
So as we begin our study in chapter 11, we see Paul asking a
question and then immediately answering the same question
with the power of proof.
First, in himself and second by the Word of God.
So let's examine what Paul is asking and answering and apply it
to ourselves and to the Church as we know it in general. By
saying the Church in general I am saying the church as we know
it. Our experiences with church organizations and
denominations.
Israel had become a nation ruled by religious works of the
law and by religious leaders who used the law to gain power and
notoriety among their brethren. The religious leadership had
promoted themselves so highly among the people that they had
control of the people. They were able to enforce physical laws
against the people by interpreting Gods laws to their advantage.
They were able to promote their kind into overseers positions
with no one able to dispute the appointments.
The Pharisees were the religious group and the Sadducees were
the political group in the Jewish nation and together they formed
the Sanhedrin which was the governing body over the nation of
Israel.
So here we see politics and religion at the head of what was
known as the chosen people of God. Did God make them do
this?
No! They took the commands of God and turned them into self
glorifying, self-aggrandizing works, under the guise of holiness,
and God given knowledge and authority.
Oh let me assure you politics and religion have been at the
forefront of evil for a very long time. You cannot mix the two in
any way shape or form and keep a pure and wholesome
community.
Religion is manmade.
Faith in and obedience to God is not religion. It is the only way
of life.
Politics, is man attempting to rule themselves by adding to and
changing the laws of God. The first thing politicians attempt to
make people believe is that they are religious. Oh we should all
be sure of that! They are all steeped in one kind of manmade
religion or another. Members of one manmade denomination or
another. But that does not qualify them to be law enforcing or
law creating leaders, in anyway.
First we must understand God does not call the
qualified----He qualifies the called.
If someone was truly a God fearing, God honoring faith-filled
disciple of Jesus Christ, they would not have to claim a religion
or denominational affiliation in order to gain a position in
diplomatic leadership. They would not have to try so hard to
justify themselves before men. They would be viewed as just
and worthy by their actions. Those actions would be God
glorifying. Not men glorifying, honoring, pacifying or anything
else the world views as making one worthy.
But, I'm not here to pound the flawed view men have of the
just and the righteous. I'm here to tell you God has not cast away
His people.
Even though we can see and recognize the evil in the worldly
view of what the church should look like and how it should
function. Even though we can use scripture to easily point out
where the church organizations have fallen into the same
backslidden, self righteous religious works and traditionalism
that plagued and condemned the Jewish leadership in the days of
Christ Jesus and beyond. It does not change the fact that not all
within these groups are condemned. God knows the hearts of
men. There are within any religious group those who have a
heart for God, those who will walk in and by the Word instead
of the rules of the organizations.
I have attended many houses of worship. I have preached
and worked hand in hand with members of many different
denominations. But that did not make me a member of their
organization, nor would I join. God has fitly joined me to His
Cornerstone, Jesus Christ and to Him I will remain a member.
When I had read and studied the Word of God enough to
realize my loyalty is reserved solely toward Jesus Christ and not
to any manmade religious group or organization claiming
righteousness; God raised me to a higher service for Him. God
qualified me to become a teacher and a preacher. I was called by
God fearing people to lead them. I never asked them for the
position!
I would like to make one other point before we proceed.
There is a huge difference between serving your fellow man by
the word of God and using Gods Word to gain a position of
service.
It has been proven by the Bible that God fearing leaders are
the ones who serve for Gods glory and they are blessed
abundantly by God and the people for their God given abilities,
which includes diplomacy.
God not only gives the ability but places the servant where they
will glorify Him by those abilities. King David is a prime
example.
God fearing and glorifying people are the best leaders and they
will be placed in that position by God and God fearing people.
Anyone else is a self righteous politician claiming God for their
own benefit.
Paul is making his point clear by stating he also was — an
Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
He also was a Pharisee but God did not cast him away because
of what he was taught to be true. God knew Paul's heart and He
would not let him go in the ways of the religious lost.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.
God will not let everyone walk a path of self destruction.
He knows the hearts of them who truly desire Him, no matter
how misled they may be. No matter where they are or what they
do, He will not let them go. Their hearts will know right from
wrong when the Holy Spirit calls and they will turn from the
world and walk in and for God.
If you have the feeling you are being lead down the wrong
path for any reason, by any leadership, religious other otherwise.
Grab hold of your Bible and read and pray and God will make
all things clear to you.
Do not follow a man and what he says because many others
do. Do not join a religious organization because you feel
obligated or are looked down upon because you haven't. Satans
servants will belittle you even to the point of verbal crucifixion,
to get you to join them in their self righteous practices for their
glory.
2---Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he
maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down
thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have
reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed
the knee to the image of Baal.
Put your faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone.
Cast off the self righteous religious works and traditionalism of
men. Do not walk in the backsliding path of the manmade
church that has been ordained by men. Walk in the Word!
There are no rituals, nor are there different names or
organizations that the true child of God must do or have or
belong to.
Be a Christ One! A Christian!
It is God who adds to His Church daily ---Not Men!
It is your relationship with Jesus Christ that gives you Hope of
eternal Life.
It is not your membership with any religious group.
I can stand on the roof tops and proclaim the truth to all the
world but as it is written--Matthew 13:15
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are
dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any
time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their
ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them.
Romans 11:5
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant
according to the election of grace.
The election of grace is God choosing to keep someone
to Himself even though they may at this time walk the paths of
men who profess God instead of walking the path of Jesus,
confessing God.
Let’s Pray:
Our most gracious Heavenly Father, open the eyes and the
ears of our hearts Lord, that we may cast of the wiles of the
devil worked through men. Make us to discern the difference
between religion and holiness. Wash us Holy Spirit. Sanctify us
to walk in the path of Jesus as Christ ones and nothing else.
In the name of Jesus we Pray. AMEN!
Pastor Steven Freede
Cornerstone Independent Church
1/13/16