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Romans 11:23 – The Returning Remnant

Posted on September 3, 2018 by Will

And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

Truth to Learn

The Jews will return to faith in Jehovah and His Messiah.

Behind the Words

The word translated “continue” in both the previous verse and the current verse is epimenō. This is a compound word made up of epi, meaning “over, upon, or at” and menō, which means “to remain or to stay.” Therefore, this word means “to continue to remain at a particular place or condition.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we talked about God’s goodness and His severity (cut-off-ness). His goodness has been shown to the Gentile nations because the gospel message has been delivered to us. His severity is shown in the cutting-off of the Jews because of their unbelief. He then warned us that if the Gentile nations don’t remain in His goodness, they will also be cut off.

Let me say once again that Paul’s metaphor of the branches and the olive tree is referring to Jews as individuals and Gentiles as individuals or individual nations. If the metaphorical reference to the pruned branches referred to the Jewish nation as a whole, then he would be saying that God has rejected all Jews and none of them could be saved today. Also remember that the metaphorical comparison is between Jews and Gentiles, not Jews and Christians. Therefore, do not try to read into this that Paul is warning that we can lose our salvation if we don’t continue in God’s goodness.

In the previous verse Paul warned us Gentiles that as a people we need to remain in a condition of belief or we as a people will be cut off. Incidentally, this is a threat which, based on current national and world conditions (not remaining in a state of belief as a people), could be realized any day now. This makes me think of:

But answering, He said to them, "When it is evening you say, fair weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning, foul weather today, for the sky is red and overcast. Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” (Matthew 16:2, 3)

Paul now tells us that if the Jews do not remain in a state of unbelief, that is, if Jewish people finally recognize their Messiah, they will be grafted back in to a condition of experiencing God’s goodness instead of His severity. But not all of the Jewish people will be grafted in, only a small group. This group of Jews is referred to by Isaiah as the “remnant.”

The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return; destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous. (Isaiah 10:21-22)

Application

Let us not be like the Pharisees! Let us discern the signs of the times! There are many indications that the return of Christ is very near. In light of this knowledge, we should be diligent in faithful service to God. We should be proclaiming the gospel message to everyone around us. Is that how you’re living your life right now? Is your focus on yourself or God?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 6:1 – Don’t Stay in Sin

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Will

What shall we say then? Should we continue in sin that grace may abound?

Truth to Learn

Salvation does not mean we have a free pass to sin all we want.

Behind the Words

The expression “What shall we say then?” is called a debater’s phrase. This is a Rabbinical way of teaching which Paul no doubt learned under the teaching of Gamaliel (see Acts 22:3). The process involves the teacher asking a question like this, then encouraging debate before the giving the answer.

The word here translated “continue” is the Greek word epimenō which is a compound word made up of epi, meaning “upon, over, in, or at” and meno, which means “to stay or remain.” Hence, this word means “to remain or stay longer in or at something.”

Meaning Explained

Paul has, at length, just demonstrated that as a result of Adam’s sin, we are all sinners condemned to death and we are not justified by performing any works of obedience. He also said that the presence of the Law does not serve to make us more righteous; instead, it brings our sinfulness more into the light of revelation, making us appear even more sinful. Also, he has shown us that when we believe God’s promises (in our case, that Jesus Christ died to pay for our sins and rose again from the dead), God chooses, by His grace, to declare us righteous (wiping out any and all of our sins past, present, and future).

Do you remember the point he made back in Romans 5:11?

And not only that, but we also are rejoicing in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

We rejoice and God is glorified when we are declared righteous by His grace. And in Romans 5:20 he said:

And law entered that the offense might increase. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much much more,

A quite natural reaction for a Jewish Christian living in Rome would be, “Well, if all of my sins have been paid for and that glorifies God, and the more I sin the more that grace is demonstrated, then I can sin all I want. Then, God receives even more glory for it, and I will still be found righteous!” This is the point that Paul is now going to argue against.

As is typical of Paul, he states the anticipated objection very plainly, “Should we continue in sin that grace may abound?”

What Paul is really asking is, “Should we continue to live a sinful, ungodly life like we did before we were saved so that God will receive even more glory for forgiving us as an even worse sinner than we already are?”

As you will see in the next verse, his response is an emphatic, “No way!”

Application

One of the misconceptions of believing in eternal security (once you are saved you can’t ever lose your salvation) is this notion that we can now sin all we want without repercussion. Eternal security is clearly taught in the Bible, especially by Paul. But he just as clearly argues against giving sin a free reign because we have died to sin.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:25 – Blessed Performance

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Will

But he who having looked closely into the perfect law of liberty and having continued looking closely, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Truth to Learn

God will look favorably on the performance of those who practice what He teaches.

Behind the Words

The word translated “having looked closely” is the verb parakuptō, which is made up of para, meaning “beside” or “alongside” and kupto, meaning “to stoop down.” Hence, this word is a picture of someone bending down to take a close look at something. This verb is expressed as an aorist participle. Thus it means “having looked closely.”

“Having continued” is translated from the Greek word paramenō, which is another compound word made up of para, which we just saw means “beside” or “alongside” and meno, meaning “to remain.” Hence, the picture that James is painting for us here is of someone who bends down beside something to carefully observe it and remains there, taking a good long look at it.

The word translated “doer” is one that we looked at a few verses back. This refers to someone who is a performer, like a musician, who practices constantly to bring his or her life in conformance with what God instructs in the Bible.

Finally, the words “what he does” are translated from poiēsis, which literally means “his performance.”

Meaning Explained

James concludes this little treatise on putting faith into action by telling us:

The person who has bent down to look intently into the Word that gives freedom, and has stayed there observing it, having not become a forgetful hearer but a practicer of the work, this person will be blessed in his performance.

Some people have a natural aptitude for music, like Mozart who began composing at the age of five. Others, like my own father, can only do one thing with music, listen. When it comes to the Word of God, however, just listening is not good enough.

James tells us that we have to put into practice what we read and hear from the Word of God. He tells us that we have to stop and bend down. In order to bend down to carefully observe something we have to stop, not just slow down. When we read a passage in the Bible that we don’t understand, we need to stop and take the time to find out what it really means. When we hear a sermon that touches our heartstrings, or one that feels like our toes just got stomped on, we need to pray about what we heard and ask God to give us the strength and determination to do what He is telling us.

The result, according to James, is that God will bless us in a way that only He can do. And, I can assure you that there is nothing on this earth that can compare to His blessing!

Application

In the Book of Psalms we often encounter the word “selah” which means “pause,” which is written in the fixed imperative form, indicating more than just a suggestion. It is most likely a musical term indicating a pause in the singing or reciting of the words, but it also implies that the reason for the pause is for reflection regarding what was just sung or recited.

The next time the Word of God really speaks to you, stop and pause. Consider intently what God is saying, and then pray that God will help you put it into practice. It will prove to be a double blessing, it will bless God and it will bless your own heart.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 11:23 – The Returning Remnant

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Will

Romans 11:23 – The Returning Remnant

And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

Truth to Learn

The Jews will return to faith in Jehovah and His Messiah.

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will return; the destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness. (Isaiah 10:21-22)

Application

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 6:1 – Don’t Stay in Sin

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Will

Romans 6:1

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

Truth to Learn

Salvation does not mean we have a free pass to sin all we want.

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

Do you remember the point he made back in Romans 5:11?

And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation.

We rejoice and God is glorified when we are declared righteous by His grace. And in Romans 5:20 he said:

But the Law entered so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

As is typical of Paul, he states the anticipated objection very plainly, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”

As you will see in the next verse, his response is an emphatic, “No way!”

Application

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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