Romans - Week 22

Concerning Israel

READ

Romans 9:27-28

27 And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out, “Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant will be saved. 28 For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth quickly and with finality.”

Having mentioned the Gentiles, Paul now refers to Israel and its place in God’s program. From the masses, God will have a relative few who will believe in Him. This reference to Isaiah 11 looks to the future kingdom age for Israel. Throughout the centuries, Israel will have many spiritual pitfalls, but in the end God will work with the believing remnant.

REFLECT

Are you confident that no matter what the problems are in this world God has an overall program that will be accomplished?

RESPOND

Talk to your disciple and admit that you may not be able to do much about what others are doing. Each of you can, however, live to please Jesus and influence your friends to put their trust in Him. Dedicate yourselves to this.

Wiped Out

READ

Romans 9:29

29 And Isaiah said the same thing in another place: “If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies

            had not spared a few of our children, we would have been wiped out like Sodom,

            destroyed like Gomorrah.”

Sodom and Gomorrah are representative of evil in the world. When reference is made to evil in the Bible, it is often compared to these two cities. Jude 1:7 says, “Don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.”

REFLECT

In contrast to Sodom and Gomorrah, determine that you will live a morally clean life that will please the Lord.

RESPOND

For background to the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and why it occurred, read Genesis 19:1-29.

Day 3

READ

Romans 9:30-31

30 What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. 31 But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.

Paul never misses an opportunity to apply his message, so he asks, “What does all this mean?” Whether having to do with Gentiles or Israel, the only way to become right with God was through faith, not by an attempt to keep the law. Paul had previously written in Romans 3:20, . “For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.” In spite of the differences between the age of the Old Testament law and the New Testament age of grace, the only way to get right with God in both ages is by grace through faith.

REFLECT

Thank the Lord that you realize you could never do enough good works to merit being right with God. Thank the Lord that you have placed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

RESPOND

This is a fitting time to read again or even memorize Ephesians 2:8-9.

Day 4

READ

Romans 9:32-33

32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. 33 God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

As a good teacher, Paul asked, “Why not?” He was referring to Israel seeking to become right with God by keeping the law. The law was given to show them their need so they would turn to God by faith. God presented them His Son, but He became a stumbling block to them. Notice that the rock in Jerusalem—also called Zion—is equated with “him”; that is, the Lord Jesus Christ.

REFLECT

Unbelievers still stumble over the presentation of the Lord Jesus as their only hope for eternal life. Pray for your unsaved friends that they might see the need to trust in Him.

RESPOND

Help your disciple know how to answer those who think one can become right with God by keeping the law, which is the same as by good works. Use verses such as Galatians 2:16, 21.

The Longing of My Heart

READ

Romans 10:1-2

1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.

Paul’s desire was that his fellow Israelites could be saved. This is similar to what he said in Romans 9:1-3. There are some who think all that is required is one to have zeal for what is believed. Paul said of his fellow Israelites, however, that they had a zeal that was not based on knowledge. When a person is right with God, the result is usually zeal for telling others about His grace and goodness. Some have a zeal in believing things that are not in line with God’s Word. Such zeal is misdirected.

REFLECT

Think on your life and what it is that gives you enthusiasm and zeal. Be sure your heart is fixed on God.

RESPOND

Read Philippians 3:5-6 to see the misdirected zeal Paul had before he trusted Jesus as Savior. This is an example that zeal can be misplaced. After salvation, his life was a different story.