Featured Romans 11 Continuation

Yet two more long posts of deflection, addressing me and dodging the question as to how our faith could be in vain if it was instilled by irresistible grace. Answer it could not, therefore proving Calvinism's gift of faith is nonsense.

Does James state the faith "from God" has works? Nope, yet another fabrication of deflection.

Van said, ""Salvation by grace is the gift of God, and that salvation is accessed through or on account of God crediting the person's faith as righteousness."

Where did "the person's faith" come from? The person putting trust in the truth of the gospel.
1Thessalonians 1:8
For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.

Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Read Romans 4:4-5, and Romans 4:23-24.

Does our faith provide access to God's grace? Read Romans 5:1-2.

Who denies God is patient and does things at the time of His choosing? Read Romans 9:22

Bottom line the proponents of Calvinism fabricate false charges to deflect from the truth of Romans 11.

 

Romans 11:1-10 NASB
11 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what was the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

8 just as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.”

9 And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

10 “Let their eyes be darkened to see not,
And bend their backs forever.”

Here is the analysis and commentary on Romans 11:1-10 by Van:

1: His people refers to those chosen under the promise of the Old Covenant, believing Jews. Not all of the blood line descendants of Abraham.

2: His people (believing Jews) whom He foreknew (as part of the Old Covenant promise). Thus they were part of His previously formulated redemption plan under the Old Covenant Promise, not the Law.

3: Some of Abraham's descendants rejected God and killed His prophets. These were not part of "His people."

4: But from among the blood line descendants, God chose 7000 based on the condition of their faith in Him, for they had not bowed the knee to Baal.

5: At the time of Paul's writing of Romans, there had come to a a remnant, in the same way, or in other words according to God's gracious choice of believing Jews.

6. An election based on faith is a gracious choice, and is not an election based on works.

7. Those seeking the promise by works were hardened, but those seeking the promise by faith were chosen. Note the timing of the choice, at the present time, rather than before creation.

8: The temporary hardening is as described in the OT.

9: The temporary hardening is as described elsewhere in the OT.

10: Note the duration of the hardening appears to last the lifetime of the individuals hardened at that time, rather than the hardening of all Jews for an unspecified period of time. Thus the hardening ended many many years ago.

 

Continuing Romans 11 verses 11-16: (NASB)
11 "I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too."

11) The idea is the Jews made the wrong choice to reject the gospel, but they can change their minds because the error is recoverable and not irredeemable.

12) "Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness be! Transgression refers (I believe) to the Jews rejecting Christ, and thus the apostles take the gospel to the world (non-Jews) which provides God's riches to the world, and (I believe) their failure (diminishment) refers to the hardening of the unbelieving Jews provides God's riches to the Gentiles (again non-Jews). More riches for everyone occurs when the Jews obtain "fullness." This refers to the end of their hardening and therefore the obtaining the blessings from Christ

13) Paul says his primary ministry is to the Gentiles, but will be magnified if ...

14) If I move to jealousy my countrymen (clearly indicating the hardening ends during Paul's life and ministry) resulting in the salvation of some Jews,

15) Because of the Jewish rejection enhanced by the hardening, more in the non-Jew "world" obtained reconciliation. But even better, enhanced by jealousy, Jewish salvations bring life to those who were dead.

16) God is holy so even when He hardens, the result short term and long term is holy.

 

Romans 11:17-24 NASB
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

17) Three questions arise from this verse: In the Olive Tree metaphor who or what are the natural branches, the grafted in branches and the rich or nourishing root of the Olive Tree? The natural branches are the blood-line descendants of Abraham, with those broken off being the unbelieving Jews. The wild branches are non-Jews, with those grafted in being believers. And the rich or nourishing root refers to God's provision to the believing branches.

18) The believing non-Jews must not look down upon the unbelieving Jews and remember it is God who graciously provides for us, and that grace is not of ourselves.

19) The unbelieving Jews were not broken off for your benefit.

20) Your graft into the tree was based on your faith. Beware that your faith was actually credited by God.

21) Unbelieving Jews were cut off and unbelieving non-Jews were never grafted in the promised covenant.

22) See the two sides, unbelievers receive severity but believers receive kindness, provided their faith is protected by the power of God. If not, they will be removed and burned.

23) Unbelieving Jews, if they come to their senses and believe, will also certainly be grafted in again. Here we have an interesting mix of the Old and New Covenants. It appears that blood-line Jews under the Old Covenant start out as part of the tree metaphorically, and then are broken off for unbelief, whereas non-Jews start out separated under the New Covenant, but are grafted into the tree based on their faith being credited as righteousness by God.

24) Since the gifts of God are irrevocable, those who first were promised the Olive Tree, can still be reconnected and receive that gift of salvation, even after being broken off under the Old Covenant.

Bottom line, those who were lost under the Old Covenant can be saved through the New Covenant.

 

Romans 11:25-32 NASB
25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 “This is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”

28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Analysis and commentary by Van:
25) The mystery or previously unrevealed truth is that a hardening of the unbelieving Jews will remain until the outreach caused by the hardening has had its intended affect on the Gentiles.

26) And so the door has not closed to Jews, Christ"s reconciliation will save both believing Jews and Gentiles. The hardening will end and the opportunity to accept the gospel will be restored.

27) This New Covenant for everyone restores broken off branches when Christ takes away their sins.

28) Jewish resistance brought difficulty to Christ's ministry, but Christ's ministry will bring Jewish believers into the ministry.

29) As pointed out before the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.

30) The Jewish disobedience brought mercy to the Gentiles,

31) Thus now mercy may be shown to the Jews.

32) God's use of everyone's disobedience results in mercy being shown to all.

 

Romans 11:33-36 NaSB
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Analysis and commentary by Van:

33) According to the NASB translation choice, the "riches" in view are "wisdom" and "knowledge" of God. We acquire these as we mature and become more Christ-like in Christ.

34) God's wisdom and knowledge far surpasses our own.

35) We have given nothing to God to merit His gifts to us.

36) We must set aside our prideful view of ourselves to give the glory to God alone.

Summary of Romans 11:

God chooses believers (Jews or Gentiles) based on crediting their faith as righteousness. His ways are beyond our understanding, even when He hardened the unbelieving Jews, the result brought mercy to both the Gentiles and ultimately the Jews. To God be the glory!

 

Once again your faith is claimed to not be your faith. His faith is said not to mean his faith. My faith doesn't mean my faith either. On and on these scripture deniers post nonsense.

Next we get Romans 12:3 misrepresented, falsely claiming "measure of faith" refers to the faith we hold, rather than to our area or sphere of ministry within Christianity (the faith).

Pay no attention to the fabricator of deflection.

 

There they go again, they take a vague phase and claim it means what Calvinism says! Nonsense. They have no idea what the phrase means.

Did post #52 discuss Romans 11? Nope, so deflection.

Did they admit "your faith" actually means "your faith?" Nope, so deflection

All their ploys come from the same page, charge their opponent with their malfeasance, change the subject, and misrepresent scripture and their opponents views.

Jesus not only provides the example of faith for us to emulate, He provides the perfect example, thus the author and perfecter of our faith.

 

Why not post a verse from Romans 11 and explain how the correct view differs from my analysis and commentary. Your faith means your faith. Scripture means what it says.

Jesus not only provides the example of faith for us to emulate, He provides the perfect example, thus the author and perfecter of our faith.

 

Yet another evasion. I ask questions and they do not answer, or answer in gibberish, but the ignore and change the subject ploy is their favorite.

This thread is on Romans 11, and they do not present Romans 11 for discussion. Thus an effort to derail and discussion.

 

Yet another evasion. I ask questions and they do not answer, or answer in gibberish, but the ignore and change the subject ploy is their favorite.

This thread is on Romans 11, and they do not present Romans 11 for discussion. Thus an effort to derail and discussion.

Romans 11:1-10 NASB
11 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what was the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

8 just as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.”

9 And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

10 “Let their eyes be darkened to see not,
And bend their backs forever.”

Here is the analysis and commentary on Romans 11:1-10 by Van:

1: His people refers to those chosen under the promise of the Old Covenant, believing Jews. Not all of the blood line descendants of Abraham.

2: His people (believing Jews) whom He foreknew (as part of the Old Covenant promise). Thus they were part of His previously formulated redemption plan under the Old Covenant Promise, not the Law.

3: Some of Abraham's descendants rejected God and killed His prophets. These were not part of "His people."

4: But from among the blood line descendants, God chose 7000 based on the condition of their faith in Him, for they had not bowed the knee to Baal.

5: At the time of Paul's writing of Romans, there had come to a a remnant, in the same way, or in other words according to God's gracious choice of believing Jews.

6. An election based on faith is a gracious choice, and is not an election based on works.

7. Those seeking the promise by works were hardened, but those seeking the promise by faith were chosen. Note the timing of the choice, at the present time, rather than before creation.

8: The temporary hardening is as described in the OT.

9: The temporary hardening is as described elsewhere in the OT.

10: Note the duration of the hardening appears to last the lifetime of the individuals hardened at that time, rather than the hardening of all Jews for an unspecified period of time. Thus the hardening ended many many years ago.