- Jan 26, 2017
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Maybe it is just me but up until a few days ago, I completely misunderstood "the elect". I thought God chose His elect(the Jews) and then blinded the elect, until the fullness of the gentiles is fulfilled. When the fullness of the gentiles is accomplished then, God will open their eyes. As I said, I misunderstood.
The word "elect" is thrown around haphazardly. The boast is that "we" are "special" and "were chosen" by God. And the rest were not. But then we make God "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" a liar. Romans 11:18 gives a strong warning against boasting of the election: Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
The root bearest.
And that root, is God.
It is very important to fully recognize David's prayers in Psalms and what He asked God for:
Psalm 9:16 The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
In Psalm 69:22 David prays: Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. (Luke 20:17-18)
"A stumbling block". And Elias also prayed.
Romans 11:2-5
[2] God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, [3] Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. [4] But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. [5] Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
As a answer to David and Elias prayers God reserved seven thousand men that had not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. The rest He blinded.
Romans 11:6-36
[6] And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. [7] What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded [8] (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.
"And the rest were blinded" : An answer to David.
[9] And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: [10] Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. [11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
So the blind do stumble over the gospel of Jesus Christ. The elect were never blind and that is why some (the ones that had never bowed to idols) see Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Others do not, and therefore were not of the elect. BUT it can be changed. Those blind can have their eyes opened to Jesus Christ. He came to open the eyes of the blind. Those not falling under "elect" can have sight restored...pulled from the fire.
[12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
Again, our riches (the gentiles) was their being blinded for disbelief.
[13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. (the freewoman (Sarah) provoked by the bondwoman (gentiles) being brought into the house.)
God chose the elect that had not bowed a knee and blinded the rest. But through jealousy, they may see.
[15] For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be , but life from the dead? [16] For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy : and if the root be holy, so are the branches. [17] And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; [18] Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. [19] Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. [20] Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: [21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
[22] Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. [23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. [24] For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches , be graffed into their own olive tree? [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, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. [26] And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: [27] For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. [28] As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. [29] For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. [30] For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: [31] Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
[32] For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
[33] O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! [34] For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? [35] Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
[36] For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Romans 9:11
[11] (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil,
that the purpose of God according to election might stand,
not of works, but of him that calleth.
The word "elect" is thrown around haphazardly. The boast is that "we" are "special" and "were chosen" by God. And the rest were not. But then we make God "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" a liar. Romans 11:18 gives a strong warning against boasting of the election: Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
The root bearest.
And that root, is God.
It is very important to fully recognize David's prayers in Psalms and what He asked God for:
Psalm 9:16 The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
In Psalm 69:22 David prays: Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. (Luke 20:17-18)
"A stumbling block". And Elias also prayed.
Romans 11:2-5
[2] God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, [3] Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. [4] But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. [5] Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
As a answer to David and Elias prayers God reserved seven thousand men that had not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. The rest He blinded.
Romans 11:6-36
[6] And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. [7] What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded [8] (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.
"And the rest were blinded" : An answer to David.
[9] And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: [10] Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. [11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
So the blind do stumble over the gospel of Jesus Christ. The elect were never blind and that is why some (the ones that had never bowed to idols) see Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Others do not, and therefore were not of the elect. BUT it can be changed. Those blind can have their eyes opened to Jesus Christ. He came to open the eyes of the blind. Those not falling under "elect" can have sight restored...pulled from the fire.
[12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
Again, our riches (the gentiles) was their being blinded for disbelief.
[13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. (the freewoman (Sarah) provoked by the bondwoman (gentiles) being brought into the house.)
God chose the elect that had not bowed a knee and blinded the rest. But through jealousy, they may see.
[15] For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be , but life from the dead? [16] For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy : and if the root be holy, so are the branches. [17] And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; [18] Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. [19] Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. [20] Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: [21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
[22] Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. [23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. [24] For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches , be graffed into their own olive tree? [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, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. [26] And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: [27] For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. [28] As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. [29] For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. [30] For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: [31] Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
[32] For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
[33] O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! [34] For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? [35] Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
[36] For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Romans 9:11
[11] (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil,
that the purpose of God according to election might stand,
not of works, but of him that calleth.
