Romans 11:1–36 (Continued)

February 19, 2013

Being part of the tree doesn't have anything to do with our own works. It is all about the roots of the tree—God's grace. We are grafted on the tree, and we remain a part of the tree because of our belief in (and surrender to) Jesus as Lord. God's grace is a free gift to man, but it is our choice to either:

1. Obey
2. Refuse to obey

I like how William McDonald puts it in his book Alone in Majesty.

"The fact that God has chosen some to be saved does not mean that He has chosen the rest to be lost. The world is already lost and dead in sins. If left to ourselves, all of us would be condemned eternally. The question is, Does God have the right to stoop down, take a handful of already doomed clay, and fashion a vessel of beauty out of it? Of course He does. C.R. Erdman put it in right perspective when he said, "God's sovereignty is never exercised in condemning men who ought to be lost."... God holds people responsible to accept the Savior by an act of the will. In reproving those Jews who did not believe, Jesus placed the blame on their will. He did not say, "You cannot come to Me because you are not chosen." Rather, He did say, "You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." (John 5:40)

God's gift of grace is free to those who are willing to surrender their will to His will. 


Next Entry: Romans 11:1–36 (Continued)