God's Grace Over Israel Series

God’s Grace over Israel, and all who Believe6

Grace

Disgrace

During the building of the Golden Gate Bridge over San Francisco Bay, construction fell badly behind schedule because several workers had accidentally fallen from the scaffolding to their deaths. Engineers and administrators could find no solution to the costly delays. Finally, someone suggested a gigantic net be hung under the bridge to catch any who fell. Finally in spite of the enormous cost, the engineers opted for the net. After it was installed, progress was hardly interrupted. A worker or two fell into the net but were saved. Ultimately, all the time lost to fear was regained by replacing fear with faith in the net. As we paid nothing for God’s eternal love and nothing for the Son of His love, and nothing for His Spirit and our grace and faith, and nothing for our eternal rest...What an astonishing thought it will be to think of the unmeasurable difference between our deservings and our receivings. O, how free was all this love, and how free is this enjoyed glory...So then let "Deserved" be written on the floor of hell …but on the door of heaven and life. Richard Baxter, The Free Gift.

Grace

[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. Romans 11:6

A person is not saved because he merits or works for salvation.

No man deserves God’s grace.

A man does not secure God’s acceptance because he wills or runs after God

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

God has mercy upon a man because HE is a gracious God.

You see if we could be saved by works, then salvation...

·would not be by grace (of God) but by works (of man).

·would remove grace (God) from the picture and put works (man) in the forefront.

If this were so then, God would no longer be necessary, for man would be saving himself.

How absurd to even think this.

Remember, the promise was by election, not because of “any good or evil” done.

(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;) Romans 9:11

In this case cited, neither Jacob nor Esau deserved mercy.

No man deserves mercy or purpose from God.

Instead, God has mercy upon a man because He is a merciful God.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29).

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31).

The point is this: it is God’s grace and mercy that saves men.

Through HIS mercy HE has always preserved a remnant of believers in Israel and HE will today.

A great majority of Jews stumbled and fell at the snare of works (Romans 11:6), but the callous on Israel’s heart is not total. There is a remnant.

The vast majority of Israel did not obtain righteousness, but the chosen few did.

Þ Most sought after righteousness, but they failed to secure it because they sought it by works--disgrace

Þ However, the elect have obtained righteousness--grace

Disgrace

[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. [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. Romans 11:7-10

We should always be mindful of God, HIS righteousness and mercy to avoid the disgrace that we would otherwise fall into.

Israel is accused and condemned by Scripture of three terrible things.

Of being drowsy and condemned to drowsiness (Isaiah 29:10; Isaiah 6:9).

Of being worthy of judgment and condemned to judgment (Psalm 69:22).