BIBLE STUDY – FRIDAY, 22ND JUNE, 2018
THEME FOR THE YEAR: “UNLIMITED RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE” (Ephesians 2: 8 – 10).
TOPIC: “THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL”
TEXT: Romans 11: 25 -36
AIM:
To teach and remind the believers that:
- God is still full of Grace
- God is still admitting people into membership of Spiritual Israel
- You are a child of God if you have given your life to Him.
INTRODUCTION:
The people of Israel refused to come to Christ for salvation, the Lord turned to another people. He turned to the Gentiles and opened the door of salvation wide for them. The Bible indicates that Jesus came to the nation of Israel and presented Himself to them as their Messiah, they refused to receive Him and the way was opened for the Gentile nations to come to Jesus (John 1: 11-12). The Lord set them aside that He might reach out to us!
Paul says that God has used the salvation of the Gentiles to provoke the Jews jealously (Romans 11: 11). Paul hopes that they will see what God is doing for the Gentiles and that they will want the same for themselves. Yet Paul knows that since salvation is being preached to the Gentiles, many Gentiles are coming to know God through the Gospel of Christ. Those who are saved are not saved because of their birth, or their nationality, but they are saved because of pure grace. They are redeemed because they have been chosen by God in Christ Jesus. It is because of the grace of God! It is not our deeds, our birth or our works. We are not saved because of who we are or what we have or can produce. Salvation is by grace alone (Eph. 2: 8-9). Indeed God is merciful (Psalm 103: 8), we call ourselves Christians, our lives ought to create a genuine thirst and longing for the things of God in the world around us (Matt. 5: 13-16).
On this note, God is still determined to bring Israel and church together as one in Christ (Eph. 2: 11-13).
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world; 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ (Eph. 2: 11-13).
Israel’s blindness at present is a temporary condition. One day her eyes will be open to the Person of Jesus and she will be saved! God has not forgotten her, but He is recruiting to the commonwealth of Israel those who will come to Him during this the age of grace. We are reminded again of the parable of Jesus in Luke 14: 16-24. We can see the Father desires His house to be filled. If those who are invited will not come, then He will invite others until His house is filled! In the end, God will keep every promise He has made to Israel! Not one of them shall fail.
In this present age the Jew is the enemy of the Christian faith. They deny that our Jesus is their Messiah. God will purify his people so that when Jesus returns in glory and power the Jews will fall before Him and receive Him as their King, their Messiah and their Saviour (Romans 11: 28-29). Yet, God has not forgotten about them or about His plans for them. For as they were called by the Lord, that calling will be fulfilled and Israel will come to salvation through Jesus Christ and by the mercy of God they will obtain mercy.
Questions for Discussion
- EXPLAIN with example in your own word. God is full of Grace
- Who will constitute the membership of the commonwealth of Israel on the last day. (Romans 11: 23-25; Jeremiah 31: 31-35)
- Are Jews enemy of God? Discuss (Romans 11: 28 -32)
- You are a child of God if you have given your life to Him. Explain.
Conclusion
Everything in this world exists because there is a God in Heaven Who willed it to be here! That is Who He is and that is the power He possesses. In Col. 1: 16, Paul says it this way, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created by him, and for him.” God is the centre of His universe.
Therefore, let every believer come to the place where we are more than willing to seek His glory first in everything we are and do (I Cor. 10: 31). We simply need to remember that we are saved because of the pure grace of God! We have nothing to brag about. We have no reason to pat ourselves on the back and talk of all we have done for God. The fact is, we have done nothing as we all deserve to go to hell! If you don’t believe me look at Ephesians 2: 1-3. These verses are clear in their teaching that we are guilty and wayward and deserving of the harshest of punishments. Therefore, if we will glory, let us glory in the cross and the empty tomb. Let us glory in the promises and power of our great God, who loved us and gave Himself for us at Calvary.
Memory Verse: Romans 11: 25 “For I would not, brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel”.