Ro 11
Salvation is totally based on God’s sovereignty – it is “God gave them a spirit of stupor” so that they wouldn’t believe (Ro 11:8) and it is also God who “will banish ungodliness from Jacob” so that they will believe (11:26). However, God also chooses us to be His instrument to carry out His plan. God’s plan somehow works with our work and our prayer (e.g. Ro 11:13-14). I pray that our church will experience the power of God’s salvation – we will see conversion through evangelism.
Mike
Salvation is totally based on God’s sovereignty – it is “God gave them a spirit of stupor” so that they wouldn’t believe (Ro 11:8) and it is also God who “will banish ungodliness from Jacob” so that they will believe (11:26). However, God also chooses us to be His instrument to carry out His plan. God’s plan somehow works with our work and our prayer (e.g. Ro 11:13-14). I pray that our church will experience the power of God’s salvation – we will see conversion through evangelism.
Mike
The most difficult part of this passage to me is the meaning of the "part" and "whole" in Ro 11:16. When I paid attention to this today, I found in the immediate content Paul had already explained the meaning. In Ro 11:15, Paul said the rejection of the Jews is the part of the dough. If that is holy, then the whole bacth (their acceptance) is holy. What?! The rejection is holy?? I can see their acceptance is holy, but their rejection is also holy?? When I read the book our small group is studing, the author talks about the "helioptoer view" of wisdom. Some people see wisdom as someone who can see all the causeand-effects in lives. However, that is not the reality. When I go on and read Rome 11, I see the rejection as the plan of God so that the gentiles may have a chance to reconcile with God (Ro 11:15). Then the Jews may be jealous and got saved (Ro 11:11). The doxology at the end of the chapter (Ro 11:33-36) in also my prayer. I do not claim to know any cause-and-effect of life. Only God knows them all.
Audrey
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