Is God finished with me?

Introduction

Illustration

In every aircraft, there is an ejection or ejector seat which is designed to rescue the pilot or other aircraft in an emergency.

When the aircraft is going down, the pilot literally ejects himself so that the aircraft can parachute while the plane crashes.

The ejector is only deployed when there is not hope of saving the aircraft.

As a last resort, the pilot ejects to save himself, while the aircraft is lost.

Paul is answering a question, “Has God forsaken us? Has he pulled the ejection button?”

Context of Romans

The law does not save, but grace does. The Jews rejected this message as God’s chosen people. Paul yearns for them to know Jesus.

Has God finally rejected them? Is God literally saying “out with the old and in with the new” as he brings forth the New Covenant.

Paul is saying, “The covenant has changed, but God’s love for his chosen people, the Jews, has not changed.”

Faithfulness

In this text, we see God’s continued care and love for a stubborn and rebellious people. Romans 10, right before this text, says that God “held out his hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

God is ever faithful to his chosen people. The new covenant has not changed this truth. The new covenant simply includes the gentiles as well.

Big Idea: God’s is always faithful to his people.

Explanation of the Text

English Standard Version Chapter 10

20 In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22 For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth.

The people of Israel went through a cycle.

They loved and obeyed God, and God cared for his people.

They rebelled against God in sin and idolatry.

God punishes Isreal in various ways.

An obedient remnant remains, and they serve God faithfully through the judgement.

God rebuilds Israel with his remnant. Repeat.

People were wondering, has God finally had enough of Israel?

Have they finally run out of chances? Have they finally done too much to warrant his love anymore? Has God finally given up on them?

Maybe, you feel this way today? The your life looks a lot like that vicious cycle that I shared a few moments ago.

I want you to have confidence that God is faithful. He hasn’t given up on you. He hasn’t rejected you.

English Standard Version Chapter 11

11 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?

Point #1: Paul is a believer who was once a Jew.

Paul says, I was first a Jew, and God is not finished with me.

I was far from hope, and I was lost in dead religion and God found me.

He used his testimony to show that God was still faithful to his promises.

What do we do? Begin with God’s faithfulness to you!

When we give our lives to Jesus in faith - faith in HIS work, we believe that he loved us at our worse.

If God loved us at our worse, he loves us today!

God’s love consistently moves towards the sinner.

That’s why I cannot stand the song, “Reckless Love.” God’s love isn’t reckless. We describe teenage boys as reckless, because we have no clue what they are going to do next.

Well the song is talking about a God who would do anything to save me, like a father placing himself in harms way for his young son or daughter. That isn’t reckless (unaware of the consequences) type of love.

That father counted the cost they day that child was born.

That is a consistent love, ready to die if needed.

God’s love isn’t wreckless. The cross wasn’t a last minute effort. It was God’s redemption for you.

God’s love is consistent, powerful, overwhelming, but it is not reckless. God knew exactly what he was doing and what he was getting when he came for you.

If God loved you to save you, he will be faithful to keep you.

English Standard Version Chapter 11

3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

Point #2: Elijah though that Israel was finished until God showed him the bigger picture.

God was showing the big picture.

What do we do? Remember that God’s faithfulness is bigger than you.

God’s work is bigger than you could imagine. You think that God has left you, because none of your Jewish neighbors have come to know Jesus yet.

The gospel is bigger than we think from week to week.

Just wait! God’s plan is bigger than you can imagine.

English Standard Version Chapter 11

5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Point #3: God’s grace, not our obedience - saves.

a. God’s grace, not the law, was always the reason that the Israelites were saved. God had to give the Israelites the law. That “giving” of the law was a grace.

What do we do? Know that God’s faithfulness isn’t based on your behavior report card. Thank goodness!

I had a love/hate relationship with report card day. ALMOST every time I got a report card, I was happy about it. I would to to my grandparents, and they would give me 2 $20 bills. I had a bad 9 weeks, and my grades weren’t as good.

Imagine if your report card is the 10 commandments. How much shame would you feel. You would hate to go to God, because you are handing God a report card.

God’s faithfulness ISN’T dependent upon your faithfulness.

We live in the broken cycle of the Old Covenant when we do try to show God our report card. It will never work, because it is broken.

We are obedient to God, as we see His goodness, faithfulness, and love, (we grow in it) but we do not leverage our obedience for God’s love.

English Standard Version Chapter 11

7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written,

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that would not see

and ears that would not hear,

down to this very day.”

9 And David says,

“Let their table become a snare and a trap,

a stumbling block and a retribution for them;

10  let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,

and bend their backs forever.”

Point #4: God saves and loves on His own terms, and this truth is a good thing!

a. God saved Israel and loves them.

Understand God’s faithfulness on His own terms, not yours.

When I make the statement, “God has never failed you,” what emotion do you feel? What thought comes to your mind?

Do you believe full and completely that God has never left you, or does your mind race back to that moment? That moment that your life changed forever.

My mind rushes back: It is fascinating how quickly a memory can trigger specific emotions in us.

God’s faithfulness lines up with his salvific and redemptive purposes. God primary saves and redeems, and God primarily blesses through these means - that people might be saved, and his work might be accomplished.

Stop going to God with your terms, and start going to God to do what he asks, no matter what they are. God blesses that sort of obedience.

If you are just barely holding onto your sanity today - God is faithfully with you.

Application of the Text: How can you count on God’s faithfulness?

Begin with God’s faithfulness to you!

Remember that God’s faithfulness is bigger than you.

Know that God’s faithfulness isn’t based on your behavior report card.

Understand God’s faithfulness on His terms, not yours.