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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