The Spirit incited more thought this morning about efforts and proving one’s self as he directed me to Romans 11. It was pretty thought provoking and stirring, as He gave Paul some examples of causes and effects of not emphasizing and trusting Christ but trying to “earn” favor with God by works.
When we trust in our works we are no longer trusting in Christ to save us. Trusting in works only leads to in fleshly perspectives and appetites. It leads and leaves us unsatisfied, religious, judgmental, and our souls to be at unrest.
The good things we do need to be driven by what Christ has done for us. For if we start to put on emphasis on works and outer appearances we will likely stumble and fall into trusting our appearances and works more then the saving grace of Christ Jesus. We will start serving our flesh and things of this world instead of God. Our hearts will become harden or indifferent and we will deceive ourselves and forgot it’s not by works that we are justified/saved but by faith alone. The peace, appreciation and gratitude we find in Christ will disappear if we serve works not God. (That doesn’t even mention what will happen in the church we attend and is already happening.) We will become blind and deaf to the Spirit of God and ensnared by human praise and temporary accolades and stumble over our true everlasting peace and blessing we have in Jesus Christ. We will even forget our fear towards God.
Join me in Romans 11:2-24.
“No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, “LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!” It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace- his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is- free and undeserved. So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have- the ones God has chosen- but the hearts of the rest were hardened. As the Scriptures say, “God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.” Likewise, David said, “Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessing cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve. Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.” Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it. I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle of the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want to somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! And since Abraham and other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy- just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree- some of the people of Israel- have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing of God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. “Well” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” Yes, but remember- those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either. Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong. Romans 11:2-24
I hope this is clear for you.
Jesus says "I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
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