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Romans 11:2 – Securely Chosen

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Will

God did not reject His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

Truth to Learn

God does not reject or desert any of His children whom He has chosen.

Behind the Words

The words translated “did not reject” are the Greek words ouk apōsato. The word ouk is a form of ou, which we talked about in the previous verse. It expresses the absolute negative. The word apōsato is a form of apōtheomai, which means “to thrust away from oneself, to cast off, or to reject.”

“Foreknew” is translated from the Greek word proegnō, which we talked about back in Romans 8:29. It is a compound word made up of pro, which means “before, in place or time” and a form of ginōskō, which means, “to know in a completed sense, that is, to have full knowledge of.”

The word “pleads” is from entugchanō, which is made up of en, meaning “in or by” and tugchanō, which properly means “to affect or to obtain.” Entugchanō refers to “meeting with someone for the purpose of obtaining a request.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul asked the rhetorical question, “Did God reject His people?” Then he immediately answered it with the declarative, “No way!” He is now giving more clarification as to why he said that. He starts off this verse by stating, “God did not reject his people.” Paul is saying that God absolutely did not thrust away or reject His people.

The next phrase describes an attribute of God’s chosen people, those whom He did not reject. They are those, “whom He foreknew.” You may recall that in Romans 8:29 Paul said:

Because whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.

In other words, these are the elect, the chosen ones of God. Paul is saying that God did not reject His people whom he foreknew and chose as His children. In fact, God can’t reject those whom He has chosen, which Paul pointed out in the earlier chapters of this book. Next, Paul will quote a passage from Elijah, but since this is so closely tied to the next verse we will cover it there.

The thing I want us to get from the current verse is the fact that God chose some of the Jews to be saved, but not all of them. And even though He will turn from Israel as a nation, He will not turn away from those Israelites whom He has chosen. God does not change! Let me repeat that, God does not change!

Application

If God did not reject his chosen ones from the Old Testament dispensation, He is not going to reject those whom He has chosen in the church age. That’s another way of saying, “Once you are saved, you are saved for good.” That means that no amount of grieving the Spirit or willfully sinning against God is going to cause you to lose your salvation. Remember that you did not do anything to get it in the first place (God chose you), so there’s nothing you can possibly do to lose it (God won’t reject you).

That’s eternal security!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 4:8 – Spirit-filled Living

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Will

Consequently he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives us His Holy Spirit.

Truth to Learn

We live godly lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Behind the Words

“Consequently” is translated from toigaroun, an old double compound word which is made up of three separate Greek words. The first is toi, which indicates a contrast to what was just said. The second word is gar, a particle which assigns a reason, often translated “for.” The third word is oun, meaning “then” or “therefore.” The full impact of this word is best understood by the English word “consequently.” This word is used only here and in Hebrews 12:1.

The word translated “rejects” is atheteō, which is made up of the negative particle a and thetos, referring to something that has been put in place. Atheteō refers to removing something from its rightful place, that is, “to cast off or to reject.”

The word “gives” is from the Greek verb didōmi, which means “to give of one’s own accord and with good will.” This word does not indicate the act of giving out of obligation or as a result of something done, it indicates giving strictly out of the goodness of one’s heart. In some translations it is expressed in the aorist tense (has given). Most of the better manuscripts, however, have this verb as a participle in the present tense, indicating current, ongoing action.

Meaning Explained

Having spoken very firmly about the evils of fornication (sex outside the bounds of marriage), Paul now concludes this particular teaching with a stern warning. This warning is to those who would reject his teaching on this subject, who would instead cling to following their own lusts. He says, “Anyone who rejects this teaching is not rejecting human wisdom and instruction, he is rejecting God’s teaching.”

The second half of this verse has differing readings depending on which manuscripts are being translated. The better manuscripts would be translated as “who is giving you His Holy Spirit.” Paul is not trying to justify his statement that this is God’s teaching by claiming to be a channel of the Holy Spirit (which certainly is true of all the writers of Scripture). He is, rather, emphasizing the statement that he made in the previous verse (… but in holiness). All Christians have been called to live a life of holiness (separation from the world and dedicated to God), and God is continually supplying us with His Holy Spirit in order to enable us to live a holy life.

This should not be interpreted as God giving us His Spirit at times and taking it away at others because we have been sealed with the Spirit, and He has been permanently given to us as a guarantee of our salvation (Ephesians 1:13, 14) which cannot be taken away. Nonetheless, we are exhorted to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), and there are many examples of believers being filled with the Spirit at times (Acts 2:4, Acts 4:8, 31; Acts 13:9, 52). Paul’s teaching here is that in order for us to resist the lustful temptations of fornication and to live a sanctified life, we must do so by the power of His Spirit. God knows our weaknesses and provides us with the Holy Spirit’s power to resist temptation if we are willing to accept His help.

Application

Living a life separated from worldliness and dedicated to Godliness can only be accomplished through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Lord God, fill us with Your Spirit!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 4:8 – Spirit-filled Living

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Will

Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

Truth to Learn

We live godly lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Behind the Words

“Therefore” is translated from toigaroun, which made up three separate Greek words. The first is toi, which indicates a contrast to what was just said. The second word is gar, a particle which assigns a reason, often translated “for.” The third word is oun, meaning “then” or “therefore.” The full impact of this word is best understood by the English word “consequently.”

The words “has … given” are from the Greek verb didōmi, which means “to give of one’s own accord and with good will.” This word does not indicate the act of giving out of obligation or as a result of something done, it indicates giving strictly out of the goodness of one’s heart. It is expressed here in the aorist tense. Most of the better manuscripts, however, have this verb as a participle in the present tense, indicating current, ongoing action.

Meaning Explained

Having spoken very firmly about the evils of fornication (sex outside the bounds of marriage), Paul now concludes this particular teaching with a stern warning. This warning is to those who would reject his teaching on this subject, who would instead cling to following their own lusts. He says, “Anyone who rejects this teaching is not merely rejecting human wisdom and instruction, he is rejecting God’s teaching.”

Application

Living a life separated from worldliness and dedicated to Godliness can only be accomplished through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Lord God, fill us with Your Spirit!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 11:2 – Securely Chosen

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Will

Romans 11:2 – Securely Chosen

God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

Truth to Learn

God does not reject or desert any of His children whom He has chosen.

Behind the Words

The words translated “did not cast away” are the Greek words ouk apōsato. The word ouk is a form of ou, which we talked about in the previous verse. It expresses the absolute negative. The word apōsato is a form of apōtheomai, which means “to thrust away from oneself, to cast off, or to reject.”

The word “pleads” is from entugchanō, which is made up of en, meaning “in or by” and tugchanō, which properly means “to affect or to obtain.” Entugchanō, therefore, refers to “meeting with someone for the purpose of obtaining a request.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul asked the rhetorical question, “Did God put away His people?” Then he immediately answered it with the declarative, “No way!” He is now giving more clarification as to why he said that. He starts off this verse by stating, “God did not cast away his people.” Paul is saying that God absolutely did not thrust away or reject His people.

The next phrase describes an attribute of God’s chosen people, those whom He did not reject. They are those, “whom He foreknew.” You may recall that in Romans 8:29 Paul said:

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Application

That’s eternal security!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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