seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Romans 9:30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
10:1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”
their words to the ends of the world.”
19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”
20 And Isaiah boldly says,
“I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”
21 But concerning Israel he says,
“All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
I know, it's quite long. Paul liked to hear his own voice. This morning... I did notice the common theme between the chapters, and I took in the whole topic. So... What about the guy who never went to church? What about the guy who knows people talk about Jesus a lot, but doesn't really know Who they are talking about.
Look at verse 14. People have to be willing to research Jesus and pass along the News.
Remember, God made you.
I make dolls... cloth dolls, crocheted dolls, and even some animals. While I'm making them, some just lay there and "get made" until they get their face, then they become "cute". Some, though, for some reason are just "cute" from the get go. I think it's the same way with humans. Some humans just "got made". They live an ordinary life. They hear about Jesus, but they just "don't have the desire" to sit in a pew and hear the News. Other humans seem to be drawn to the church, and can't get enough. Does that mean the dolls that don't get cute until the face goes on should just be thrown away? Does it mean I should only finish the ones that feel cute from the beginning? What about the dolls that don't get cute until I put their faces on? Should I just pull them out because they take too long?
What if God did away with all those who don't hear the Word until they are old? Should God put them out of their misery at a certain age? Remember when we didn't trust people over 30? Should humans either Get God or Get Out at a certain age?
Are you cute? Did you Get God early?
Are you "cute"?
