It is important for us to have the Biblical definition of grace. Grace is not that wiggle room that so many are counting on. They assume that God is so good that He will not hold people accountable for their sin. They assume that His grace offers man an escape from sin.
As we see here, grace is the opposite of works. John Calvin taught a distorted view of grace as does the Catholic religion and many others. One of their heresies is “infant baptism”. The Catholic has adopted a false teaching that when that little baby has some water sprinkled on it, its’ “original sin” is washed away and now that child is innocent. Interestingly in the Catholic early history, they immersed the little babies. Over time, they changed that to sprinkling a little water on the forehead or making the sign of the cross with water on the forehead.
Then the child is brought to catechism classes and after that it is confirmed and from there it is the “mass” and other human efforts that supposedly helps the person deal with sin. However, none of that can lead the person to heaven, and so after death there is the need for purgatory. There, with the assistance of living friends and relatives who give thousands of dollars to lost priests, maybe that dead person will get out of purgatory and enter heaven. They have no assurance, but they hope they can make it.
God directed Paul to address the matter of works. The Jews had rejected God’s purpose for the law and for the feasts. They had turned them into works and hoped their efforts would be good enough. When Jesus was on earth, He taught the truth. The Pharisees hated Him because they made a lot of money off the people by lying to them and scaring them into believing their lies. That is the same way other false religions keep their people bound. Their grace is lasciviousness. It is not Biblical grace.
God’s grace does not overlook the sin. God’s grace provides the only way for the repentant sinner to be forgiven and saved. God’s grace is that merciful kindness of God in being willing to provide the only way for man to be forgiven and saved. God promised Adam and Eve that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. Adam and Eve did not deserve forgiveness. Adam willfully broke God’s law. He deserved death, physical and spiritual death. The moment Adam sinned, he died spiritually and his body began to break down and in Genesis 5 we read that Adam and all the descendants of Adam except for one, died. That one was Enoch. Enoch is a picture of the rapture that God promised to those who would trust in the promise of God’s salvation. At the rapture the New Testament saints are removed from this earth and their bodies are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye and they enter into heaven. The Old Testament saints will also be changed and resurrected at a later time. All true saints will be resurrected and be a part of the new heavens and the new earth.
Both Old and New Testament saints will not see spiritual death. They have been granted eternal life. That eternal life is a gift of God’s grace. It is due to God’s merciful kindness. That salvation is only possible through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. He did no sin and He alone is able to provide salvation for wicked, lost sinners. Those who turn to God in repentance and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, are indeed saved.
In verse 7 the question of Israel is raised again. Israel did not find what they wanted because they did not seek it in faith. They rejected God’s offer of salvation and wrongly assumed they could get God’s blessings through their own wicked efforts. God’s salvation cannot be bought.
The election again refers not to an individual but rather to those people who choose to believe what God says and follow His way. They are chosen by God because they believed Him. They were not chosen first and then forced to believe. They chose to believe and because they believed, of course they are the chosen.
As we have seen before, there comes a time when God says no to a wicked person. Only He knows that time. He gives all people the opportunity to be saved, but those who continually refuse to believe Him will find that they have no hope.
In verse 8 Paul quoted from Isaiah 29:10. We read in II Thessalonians 2:11 that God will give those who have rejected His Word, “strong delusion.” They will believe the lie because they rejected the truth. They will not be forced to believe the lie without opportunity to be saved. They are first given the opportunity to be saved and if they choose to reject that, then the strong delusion will overtake them. Paul said this was still the problem for many of the Jews of his day. It is still the same today as well.
In verses 9-10 Paul quoted from David’s writings, in Psalm 69:10,22. Psalm 69 is one of several that are Messianic Psalms. David was directed by God to write it. David may have faced some of what he wrote in that Psalm. However, the Lord Jesus Christ would face it in a much greater way. He is the fulfilment of what David was directed to write there. We know that Jesus Christ is merciful. He is the loving Saviour. He is also the righteous Judge.
It is foolish to assume that Jesus is so loving that He would never send anyone to hell. Many people live with that in mind. They accept a false Jesus that is presented by false religions. They reject the true Jesus that is presented in the Bible.
That is not a wise thing to do. The wise person looks at Israel and sees how God provides so much for them, and yet they reject that and look to the nations around for blessings. They are still much like spoiled children. Children that get spoiled with many toys are never satisfied with what they have. They always want something more. They have no respect for what they have. They are rough with it and when it is broken they expect a replacement for it.
God is merciful and gracious. No one would have any opportunity of salvation if that were not so. However, it is foolish to assume that grace will overlook sin because after all, we are such good people and we do so many good things for others.
There is a place for works, but that is after salvation. It is not the means of salvation.
As we continue to look at the book of Romans, we will see further reminders of why the careless thinking of so many is foolish. It is the way of destruction. God’s way is good and it is right. Trust in Him and be blessed by accepting His grace. Don’t miss out by receiving the lies of so many others who have chosen to live by deception.
Pastor Bartel