Groups are Elected, while Persons are Saved
The train has a destination. But do you have the right ticket?
Romans 9-11 (overview)
This is hard to write as a devotional because the theological divides are so sharp. There is much that has been written to defend and refute certain doctrines of election that it becomes a passage of conflict more than a passage of worship and mission, at least in terms of how we read it. I don’t want to theology to be left without application and worship. Good theology invites a response in our behavior.
Paul is now going to discuss the doctrine of election. There is an interesting paradox in this three-chapter discussion: The Jews were elect, but they don’t have salvation, which is why he was so broken (as we discussed in verses 1-5).
So, election does not mean personal salvation.
We have been talking about Adam as a representative of all of humanity. Then we talked about Jesus as a representative of all of those who are “in Christ.” This is what the theologians call “federal headship.” This is the same kind of language that is being used in the discussion of Jacob (representing the nation of Israel) and Esau (representing the nation of Edom) and perhaps even Pharoah (representing the nation of Egypt).
When Rachel experienced the struggle, God clearly said “two nations are struggling in your womb…and the older shall serve the younger (Gen 25:23).” When the text says “Jacob have I loved, Esau I have hated (Malachi 1:2-3),” it needs to be interpreted in light of how the scripture uses “federalism.” He was talking about the nations of Israel (Mal. 1:1) and Edom (Mal. 1:4). (Also, “hated” is a Hebraic idiom that means “didn’t love a much as the other option” – not visceral animosity.)
The scary part is that Israel thought that since she was the elect of God, with the faith of Abraham as her father, the reception of the Law, the placement of the temple, and the promise of the Messiah, they had a free ticket. But NO! God elected the nation to be the conduit through which these blessings would come and still they were known as a stiff-necked and rebellious people. This is why Paul’s heart was so broken! They had more opportunities to respond to salvation than anyone else and they missed it! Being elect doesn’t guarantee salvation.
Why? Because “The just shall live by his faith.” (The “his” that the “faith” refers to is “the just” -which his not God, but the person believing.) Salvation is personal and responsive.
The lesson here is that if the Jews had so many grand opportunities, literally living right in front of them, and still rejected God’s saving grace, then how easy is it to live in a Christianity that is also faithless? Looking at modern evangelicalism, it’s kind of scary to see just how possible it can be.
People grow up in church and get used to the Christian community and think “I’m good!” Christian radio stations are geared to appeal to “Jill” as a soccer mom who needs encouragement and positivity. But then they run promos that ‘Jill” is too busy to read her Bible, so the music was the right kind of pick-me-up she needed. This represents a culture of God’s people – but it in no way means that all those who are in that culture really understand what it means to know and walk with God!
10:1: Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. Remember: Israel is elect! Election is not salvation! What follows is a talk about belief, which implies personal choice (uncles you eisegetically foist a theology into the text to make it mean that that belief is somehow caused). Verse four mentions: “everyone who believes,” not “everyone who was elect.” Verse nine: “if you confess with your mouth…and believe in your heart…you will be saved.” To make these statements “caused” because of “election” is a severe strain of logic and interpretive standards
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Application: You can be part of God’s people and still miss salvation! See Jesus’ statement on “Kingdom of heaven” with the wheat/tares parable, Matthew 25 parables. Don’t assume that because you’re in the right crowd you have a ticket to be on the train! Election is the determination which way the train is going (for those who are on the train of “in Christ” they are going towards sanctification and glorification), but salvation is the having the ticket to be on the train.
You don’t have to wonder and worry in eternal insecurity. The witnesses and the fruit of the Spirit are plenty of confirmation! You can know that you are saved. If you don’t “know” that truth, then it’s time you respond to God’s grace and ask Him to deal with you. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you and to walk with you! The Ticketmaster not only inspects tickets, but He also freely gives them to those who ask.