Gratia | Grace

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace -Romans 11: 5-6.

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Israel's Rejection Is Not Final

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! 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 pleads with God against Israel? 3 "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life." 4 But what is the divine reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 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.

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 sluggish spirit, 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 keep their backs forever bent."

 

Reflecting on my own Christian journey, and the passage from Romans 11:1-10, focus verses 5-6. I realized that for many years after my salvation in 2005, I was trapped under the yoke of the Law. I believed in the insidious lies of the evil one who would accuse me in the depth of my heart: "You're so sinful that you don't deserve to be a child of God". I lived in fear of losing my salvation because of some unconfessed sin, until after I had a conversion experience in a retreat held in the Catholic Spirituality Centre about 2 years ago. There I was finally set free, when the LORD reminded of how much He had loved me. He showed me through His Holy Wounds, the terrible, terrible Price He had paid with His own Blood to redeem me from my sins and adopt me as His child. These days, whenever I feel troubled by a sinful thought or did something out of anger or spite, I would quickly seek reconciliation with God. Because He loves me too much to allow me to be caught in the miry clay of my sins.

I close my short reflection with this hymn by Stuart Townend:   

How Deep the Father's Love For Us 

 

Verse 1 

How deep the Father's love for us, 

How vast beyond all measure 

That He should give His only Son 

To make a wretch His treasure 

How great the pain of searing loss, 

The Father turns His face away 

As wounds which mar the chosen One, 

Bring many sons to glory 

 

Verse 2 

Behold the Man upon a cross, 

My sin upon His shoulders 

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, 

Call out among the scoffers 

It was my sin that held Him there 

Until it was accomplished 

His dying breath has brought me life 

I know that it is finished 

 

Verse 3 

I will not boast in anything 

No gifts, no power, no wisdom 

But I will boast in Jesus Christ 

His death and resurrection 

Why should I gain from His reward? 

I cannot give an answer 

But this I know with all my heart 

His wounds have paid my ransom

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Stuart Townend Copyright © 1995 Thankyou Music (Adm. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, songs@integritymusic.com)

 

Reflection on Romans 11:1-10 by Chris