Those Remaining by God’s Grace (Rom. 11:1-12)
Let us bless and greet one another, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Just like today’s confession, may the Kingdom of God be established in the name of Jesus Christ today. The title of today’s worship is, “Those Remaining by God’s Grace.” The main point of today’s scripture is the differentiating point between the Gospel and the Law. This can refer to people who are nonbelievers, but it is talking about the things that happen inside the church among believers. It is explaining why the churches are the way that they are in the present day. It’s also explaining why the families of the believers of Jesus Christ are like this today. This passage also explains why there are mental illnesses and addictions today. If, by the grace of God, the words of today’s scripture and message becomes God’s answer for us, then it becomes a great blessing. So, I bless you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that the works of the Holy Spirit may take place.
1. Israel
1) Did not reject (Rom. 11:1)
(1) Apostle Paul – Israelite (Rom. 11:1)
Previously, the Israelites had rejected the gospel because of their own righteousness, and because they had rejected the gospel, God turned the gospel to the Gentiles. Then, Rom. 11:1 is saying, did God throw away His own people, then? It says, “No, He didn’t,” because he, Paul himself, is an Israelite, and he received salvation through the gospel.
(2) God’s people, whom he foreknew (Rom. 11:2)
Romans 11:2 says that God did not throw away His people whom He foreknew.
(3) Foreknew – Predestined (Rom. 8:29-30)
“Whom He foreknew” means He had created and called them before creation. Because He had already chosen them, those He had chosen are already among the Israelites.
2) Time of Elijah
(1) Appealed to God against Israel (Rom. 11:2, 1Ki. 19:10)
He also talks about the prayer topic Elijah gave. During the age of King Ahab, they were killing off the prophets of God. So, in our terms, the people who did not have the gospel were killing off the workers who did have the gospel. Eventually, there was a situation where Elijah would pray against all the prophets of Baal and Asherah, and whoever lost would be put to death. Over 800 prophets of Baal and Asherah died because God proved that He is the One True God. As a result, King Ahab and his wife tried to kill Prophet Elijah.
(2) Israel killed prophets (Rom. 11:3)
While he was running away, Elijah prays to God underneath a broom tree, and that is in today’s scripture in Rom. 11:3. Elijah is lamenting to God underneath the broom tree, saying, “They have killed your prophets and torn down your altars,” meaning they are preventing worship, “and I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me.”
(3) Only Elijah left – Trying to kill (Rom. 11:3)
3) God’s answer
(1) God for God (Rom. 11:4)
(2) Reserved seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal (Rom. 11:4)
In Rom. 11:4, God answers him, “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand who have not bowed down to Baal.” He is saying, “You are not alone, you are not alone and there are those whom I have reserved for Myself,” but we might misunderstand, we might think the Law is oppressing the gospel and it seems like the words of legalistic people are correct. In fact, the gospel actually makes no sense rationally speaking. So, that is why the legalistic people keep on oppressing the gospel. “All of the people are gone and I am the only one left,” and God says, “It is not only you. I have reserved seven thousand.”
He has reserved those who have only Christ. If you combine the Law and the Christ together, you cannot overcome disasters or evil spirits. You can never be set free from the spiritual problems of your family line; you can only escape with only the gospel, why? Because the problem of mankind is not money, the problem of mankind is not drugs or alcohol, but if you think that that is a problem, you will try to solve that problem and it will not work. The problem of mankind is not in our actions; the problem of mankind is sin that does not believe in God. The result of that sin is that our spirit is dead and Satan rules over us. Humans do not have a way to solve this fundamental problem. Through this fundamental problem, evil spirits are working through our family line generations. On top of that, as we are maturing, we get scars and Satan uses that to control us as we age. That’s why we come to a point where we have no choice but to drink alcohol or do drugs. Do you think that the Law can change a person? Do you think a person can change just by being told to get better? That can never happen because we must change their fundamental state. There is no way to escape from the problems of sin, our spirit being dead, and seized by Satan, other than only Christ. Only Christ can set us free from that fundamental problem.
There is no other problem in America. The mental problems, that’s not the real problem. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is not the real problem. The problem is that we are seized by Satan because we do not believe in God. There is no solution to that problem other than Jesus Christ. The churches must proclaim this gospel, but they keep on talking about the Law. “Oh, it’s because you’re not coming to your senses, it’s because you’ve made bad decisions or actions, it’s because you haven’t been educated correctly,” and the people who hold onto only Christ are being oppressed by the people who hold onto the Law, today just as in Elijah’s Age. God is saying, “No, there are many people who hold onto only the gospel; I have reserved many.” Elijah heard these words of God, received strength, and ran for forty days and nights. The Lord is with us, nothing can be a problem. The real issue is that the eyes with which we look at problems are wrong, that’s why it looks like a problem. The only way to change our viewpoint is to go into only the gospel. Addiction to drugs or alcohol? That’s not the real problem; there is a problem before that. If “Only Christ” goes in, you are bound to be set free.
Yesterday, I spent a few hours with someone who is battling addiction to alcohol. Do you know whom Jesus went to find? Jesus was not close to the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees who boasted of their own legalistic righteousness. Instead, Jesus looked for the people who needed the gospel and had no strength in the world, and Jesus said, “You can come out of that because that’s not a real problem.” Nowadays, people are working from home, so when they get stressed from work, they are drinking all day long. Then, is the alcohol the problem or is the fear of getting fired from our job the problem? They keep on getting this fear of getting fired from their job, so they have no choice but to keep on drinking, because while they are drinking, their stress goes away, but it’s not that the problem goes away, they are just numbing themselves to it. Just like when you go through surgery, you get anesthesia to numb the feeling of pain, but when the medicine wears off, you suffer from pain. Right now, the fear you have of getting fired from your job comes from disbelief in God. Then, Satan uses that as a foothold to work upon you. That’s why you must go into the gospel, and inside of that, God’s Word must go in. The problem is not the alcohol; the problem is not even fear. All of these problems come from not believing in God. So, I told them a few ways to come out of this addiction to alcohol, and I’m going to talk to this person frequently. People are dying without the answer; you must relay this to them. If you have the gospel, then people who need the gospel will flock to you. But people who are boasting of their own righteousness and actions do not follow the gospel, that’s why Jesus took the gospel to the Gentiles.
(3) Called Elisha to replace Elijah (1Ki. 19:16)
2. Chosen by God’s grace
The second point for today is, there are those who have been chosen by God’s grace. What is God’s grace? It means, it cannot be done by our actions. It must be entirely by God’s grace in order for us to live. There are people who live their walk of faith for a long time but do not receive answers, or they live their walk of faith for a long time but they are not changing, then there is a problem with the basics. The base or the foundation has to be corrected today in order for your walk of faith to go well.
1) Remnant (Rom. 11:5)
(1) Cannot be based on works (Rom. 11:6)
What is the most foundational thing? Eph. 2:1 says that I used to be dead in my sins and my transgressions, that was my state before I received the gospel. At that point, there is the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit that is now at work in those who are disobedient, and I was by nature an object of wrath. If, by the grace of God, I’m able to make that confession that that is who I used to be before the gospel, then I cannot boast of my actions. That foundation has to be very firm in your life in order to not boast of your actions or anyone else’s actions. If that foundation is not firm inside of you, then you keep on trying to reveal your own good actions. Then, for those people, when they face a problem, they will say, “What did I do wrong?” or they try to solve their problems with their actions or strength. That’s the difference between the result of either knowing the gospel or not knowing the gospel. It’s not about my actions; what is God’s plan? That is how our viewpoint and our prayers change. If someone’s walk of faith is working well, it is because they have a firm foundation for the gospel; in other words, it’s not about me, it’s God’s grace.
Do you know why we keep on struggling? Because of my arrogance when it comes to my skills. On the other hand, I have powerlessness and an inferiority complex. We are afflicted because we go back and forth between these things, but the status of both of those things is not the gospel; it is our own actions, that’s where Satan burrows in. So, when things go well for me, I think they go well because I have some ability, or things do not go well? I think it’s because I’m powerless, but that is the same real state, because the foundation of my faith is not built on the gospel, it’s based on physical actions, then this will be the result.
(2) Those he predestined before creation (Rom. 8:30)
God already chose us from before creation. It is not because you did something well; regardless of that, God had already chosen you, and at some point, God called you. Then, what is everything that had happened in your life before you were called? The background of your family, the scars you received?
(3) Called, justified, glorified (Rom. 11:30)
God allowed you to experience all of those things so they would become stepping stones for you to understand and proclaim the gospel. If you understand these words by the grace of God, then you will be set free from your past. If someone is not set free from their scars, then their standard will be wrong; their standard will not be the gospel, their standard will be “my actions” or “that person’s actions.” They’ll say, “What did I do wrong?” or, “How could you do that to me?” There’s no gospel there, so they get scarred. They have no choice but to get scarred because of their state. But if they have the gospel, then instead of their actions, they’ll ask, “What is God’s plan here?” or not, “What are my actions?” but, “What is God’s plan here?” Then instead of getting scarred, I receive answers. Based on the foundation of your faith, the more time passes, the more things will work out or not in your faith.
There is always this friction in your family, isn’t there? But the result of that, there is a standard that leaves you no other choice. “Your actions, their actions,” there is no gospel there. Because there is only the righteousness of the Law, Satan enters into that family and destroys it. Even if you go to church, if you don’t have this gospel of God, there is no other choice. But that person has their family background, leaving them no choice but to act like that. You have to understand that well in order to understand that person and help them. But if you get married without knowing all of this, you’ll be overcome by it, because you only look at someone’s external appearance; you cannot see their spiritual needs. Then, from that point on, you are so ignorant that you will be overcome. So, it cannot just make it through love; it must be the gospel.
2) Israel
The greatest love of all is the gospel. You need to marry with the love of this gospel. “Oh, you think they just give you good emotions?” then you will break up. I’m not saying that breaking up is good or bad; if you have the gospel, that doesn’t matter either, but you need to know the reason why Israel failed. Why do people fail even as they go to church? It’s because they don’t understand the gospel, and it’s not as if they didn’t hear; they did. Though they heard it, they didn’t receive it, because of the righteousness of the actions of the Law. There is so much fighting in the family, isn’t there? Then that will never stop because the standard is not the gospel, but instead, our own actions, the fighting will never stop. It must be the gospel, “They have no choice but to be like that, I have no choice but to be like this; we have to hold onto only Christ.”
I had another battle with my daughter yesterday, there was no one who could interpret the Young Adult Evangelism School and the pastor was speaking in such difficult Korean, and he wanted to give the Benediction and she said she couldn’t. You can look up the benediction in the Bible, but I looked up the wrong section for her, and so during the Benediction, I turned on the speaker and told her to interpret, but she couldn’t. I was taken aback by that, so I said, “Ugh,” and offended her by my reaction. I just made a noise that offended her. She said, “You should’ve thanked me, but instead, you reacted like this,” so she went into her room and started talking on the phone with her friend, and then even working through that, it took my wife interpreting between me and my daughter last night. I said, “The noise I made wasn’t looking down or scoffing at you, it was just that I was surprised.” She was saying, “I did something that was really challenging, and you were reacting with an ‘ugh,’” so I felt offended.
Ultimately we ended it with the gospel because even those circumstances become an opportunity to look at God. So, I said, “Thank you for interpreting, I’ll give you a present,” and I said, “I felt so proud for you to be interpreting something so difficult.” I sent her that, and later on, I asked her if she saw my text, and she just stayed still but I saw she was smiling, though. So, she likes to be told, “I’m proud of you,” but the old “me” would not have done this; I would have educated her with the Law immediately. I would have told her, “If you did the work of the Lord, then that’s enough, why would you be thanked for that?” But she’s only in high school, and yes, the speaker used so many difficult Korean words, how could she interpret that? So, it ended as if nothing bad had happened, but the reason I’m explaining this to you is because the gospel is not just words. We understand one another and hold onto Christ.
(1) Did not obtain what they sought earnestly (Rom. 11:7)
In Rom. 11:7, the people of Israel sought so earnestly but they did not obtain it. In fact, if anything, their hearts became hardened. What is it the Israelites sought?
(2) Zealous for God – Correct knowledge× (Rom. 10:2)
They sought to receive the salvation that comes from following the Law, but they could not attain it. In fact, they received the gospel, but the gospel sounded stupid to them so they rejected salvation. Last chapter, we heard the Israelites had zeal for God, but they did not follow the correct knowledge.
(3) Doesn’t submit to God’s righteousness for their own righteousness (Rom. 11:3)
God gave the Israelites the Law so that through the Law, they would realize their sin and hold onto the gospel, but instead, they held onto the Law and rejected the Gospel. In Rom. 10:3, it says they did not submit to God’s righteousness to establish their own righteousness.
It’s the same thing today, you think you’re trying to be righteous by your actions? Then that’s not the gospel. That’s just you trying to feel righteous by yourself, using the actions of the Law. That person will actually push away the gospel, that person cannot testify of the gospel to the field, because their eyes only look to the standard of people’s actions, that’s why the Pharisees and teachers of the Law opposed Jesus. Those who submit to the righteousness of God, God already fulfilled righteousness on the cross, and in Romans, it says the cross reveals the righteousness of God. It cannot be by our own actions, but by simply believing in Jesus Christ’s actions on the cross, we are called righteous. It is that person.
3) One who lives for their righteousness
(1) Hardened (Rom. 11:7)
(2) Spirit of stupor (11:7)
(3) Eyes that couldn’t see, ears that couldn’t hear (11:8)
In Rom. 11:8, it says, “God gave the Israelites a spirit of stupor; eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear.” If you want to receive salvation by actions of the Law, then God places into them the spirit of stupor. This is referencing Isaiah 29:10 where it says, “I will put upon you a spirit,” what is that spirit? Is it the spirit of the gospel, or of lust, or of confusion? Theft? Murder? Conflict with people? Depending on the spirit that comes over you, you will change. The gospel is the work of the Holy Spirit of God; that’s why you must hold onto the gospel, then that spirit of stupor will go away. That spirit of sexual immorality, the evil spirit that keeps you trapped in your habits you cannot break? They will break. No matter what the Israelites tried to do, God gave them a spirit of stupor so they were in slumber. It’s not that God actively placed the spirit in, but because the Israelites rejected the gospel with the actions of the Law, the evil spirits came in. Then, even if they looked, they could not see. Even if they listened, they could not really hear. Because they were holding onto the standard of their righteousness, they could not understand the gospel even if they heard it.
Then, what is the result? Based on their actions, they have to solve their own problems. If that person is doing something wrong, then I have to judge that person based on my standards. If I do something wrong, then I feel so burdened by that, because the standard is not the gospel of Christ; it is my own actions. When I face a problem, I try to solve it, and if I cannot solve it, then I despair. Why does this happen? Because the beginning point is not the gospel.
What is the gospel? The righteousness of God, God is the Master, then when you face a problem, God is the Master, so what is His plan? That person did something wrong? The standard is not their actions, look for the gospel inside of them. Pray for them so they can change. That is the tremendous difference between the Gospel and the Law. When you are focused on the actions of the Law, only the people who behave perfectly can gather together. Among those people, people who have mental problems or addiction problems cannot gather, because they will give messages centered on people’s actions. God knows this, so He doesn’t send people to them. It must be completely and only the Gospel for God to send people.
If this person has a mental problem and you argue over what they did right or wrong, they cannot handle that, but the person who’s criticizing is also flawed. Those are the Israelites and the Jews. Whatever problem you’re facing is not a problem; it’s just that your eyes to see the real problem are not open. Because you’re looking at things incorrectly, it looks like a problem, but when you look with the eyes of truth, it is actually an opportunity for answers. But I’m looking at it as a problem not through the eyes of truth; that’s why it looks like a problem. Same thing with your family and at your job; if you’re able to hear this well through the grace of God, then you can be set free.
3. Self-righteousness / God’s righteousness
1) David’s prayer
There is something David prayed to God for the person who was trying to kill him. David is the person whom God allowed to prepare for Temple Construction, and God allowed David to exist for the Master of the Temple, Who is the Christ, but someone was trying to kill David—that was King Saul. King Saul wanted to try to kill David to pass on his throne to his own bloodline. This is when David prayed to God, that’s in Psalm 69:2. What does he say?
(1) Their table (Rom. 11:9, Ps. 69:2)
He says, “Their table,” what is this person’s table? These people are doing all of this to try to eat and survive. The reason why King Saul is trying to kill his own son-in-law is to try to give the throne to his own older biological son just so they can feed themselves.
(2) Become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution
But this will become their snare. Is what we have “a snare,” or is it liberation? That’s the difference. David had nothing that he needed, there is nothing David needed other than the Gospel, but King Saul had so much. Because of the many things he needed, Saul was destroyed. You need to have nothing you need other than Christ, why? Because everything is contained inside of Christ, so if there is something you need outside of Christ, you’ll be destroyed because of the thing that you need.
I’d like it if our future generations understood what these words mean. Then, does that mean you don’t need money, your studies, or success? No, that’s not what I’m saying; I’m saying all of those things come from within Christ. In America, there are so many good things, but you chase after all of those things and then get a mental illness, and then one day, addiction. There’s only one way to change that: there is nothing else that I need other than Christ, then the darkness is broken and problems are no longer a problem. That’s what today’s scripture is about. They have something that has no choice but to be a snare to them, so it becomes a retribution and a trap to them. Whatever you have, it becomes retribution, it comes back to you.
(3) Eyes cannot see, backs be bent
The Law oppresses you and judges and oppresses others, but the Gospel sets me free and sets others free. Whenever this person faces a problem, you can tell whether they have the gospel or the Law. For people who are centered on their actions, they will argue about their actions when they face a problem. Ultimately, they cannot escape from themselves, but if someone has the gospel, they look to God and they look for God’s will and plan. When they face a big problem, then it is a great opportunity, and when they face a small problem, they look for God’s small plan. In this way, answers should always be coming our way, but we begin incorrectly.
Elijah said, “I’m alone,” and God said, “No, there are seven thousand others.” This Gospel never takes a rest, and God is flowing everything in the direction of the gospel. If someone hears the gospel but they reject it, then God will change the direction, and God will take the gospel to the direction that is needed. In today’s field of America, there are so many people who need the gospel. All of the youth that are dying away to addiction, alcohol, substances, game addictions, they need the gospel, but so many people are trapped by their own righteousness of the actions of the law, they’re not proclaiming the gospel. That’s today’s sermon.
If you truly understand the Gospel by God’s grace today, then you are set free. I think I have more problems than you do. Even in my own family line, 99% of them have not received the gospel, and let’s talk about financially. You might at least have some savings; I have no money, isn’t that right? So, if we want to argue, I have more problems than you do, and for you, you can go get another job, but I can’t even work, so in the present reality, I have more problems, but why is that not a problem for me? Because I trust in God, that’s why it’s not a problem. Then, does that mean I don’t have problems? I do. Because humans are not perfect, we are bound to have problems in life, but it’s an opportunity for answers, because every problem, without a doubt, has an answer. But legalism says, “I have a problem, I need to find the answer.” But the answer is in Christ, the answer, the solution to all problems is in Christ. For people to have a firm foundation like that, it doesn’t matter what problem they face. Our future generations have to lead this society in the future; how can they face this myriad of problems? When they continue to face the suffering of this age, how can they overcome it? Ever since they are young, they must know the Bible. For those who are imprinted, rooted, and natured in the words of God, the words of Jesus Christ, but for those who have success without this imprint, root, and nature, they will be destroyed because of their success. The spiritual things of humans cannot be solved with money, it cannot be solved with moral education, and it cannot be solved by being with the man or woman whom you love; it cannot be solved without only Christ. That is what God is telling us today in His Word.
2) Israel’s fall
(1) Salvation has come to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:11)
(2) Israel is envious (Rom. 11:11)
(3) Israel’s loss means riches for the Gentiles (Rom. 11:12)
Because the Israelites rejected this gospel, it flowed to the Gentiles, so the Gospel flowed to the Gentiles, making the Israelites jealous, but it was fullness for the world. Then, does that mean God threw away the Israelites? No, because later on, it says the Israelites will be back to their fullness. There were 120 left in the Early Church, they seemed powerless but that’s your misconception. They had the essence that other people could not see. So, if we want to come to the conclusion of our sermon today, it is the one who sees the essence. We keep looking on the outside and getting deceived; you need to look at Christ Who is the essence. But many people look at others’ actions and fall because of that. We look at our own actions and fall because of that, but the image of God is not God Himself; if you want to look at God, you must look at His essence, then Satan will be broken down, curses and disasters will be broken down, but the minute you turn your gaze to non-essentials, Satan will attack you. May you have the blessing to understand.
3) Those remaining in the Early Church
(1) Only Christ (Rom. 1:17)
So, for the members of the Early Church, they were not doing their job in the world, they were doing the work of God. There are many Christians who have jobs and go to work, but they’re holding onto the non-essentials as their main job, but we hold onto the work of the Kingdom of God. The reason you go to school or to your job or to your business is to do the work of the Kingdom of God, then God’s Kingdom is established there.
Third, we do not rely on our own abilities because one day, we might lose all of our power. That person’s power might one day go away. So, that is not essential; what is the essence? You rely on the power of God, that person will be used to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth.
So, for you and me today, are we looking at the essence, or are we looking at the non-essential things and getting confused? The ones who remained in the early church saw the essential things no one else saw. It’s not about the person; it’s the Triune God inside of them.
(2) Only God’s kingdom (Ac. 1:3)
It’s not the work of the world; you are doing the work of God’s Kingdom, and it must not be by my strength, but it is the power of God. The people who hold onto this essence are the ones who remain by God’s grace. God changes the age through these people. If our church has the gospel, then we are bound to flow into the place that does not have the gospel. If God gives somebody the gospel, but they reject the gospel, then God will change their lampstand. That result will come without a doubt. But that is why we must take this gospel to the places that need the gospel, but the world is not interested in—those who have mental problems, addictions, personal problems. We must give them the gospel to heal them and save them. There is nothing other than “only Christ.” I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ so that you and I can be used for the work of God and so can the church.
(3) Only the Holy Spirit (Ac. 1:8)
Conclusion
1. Problem of the age: Mental illness, addiction – Posterity
2. Church – Mission (Multi-ethnic, healing, posterity)
3. Field – Work of healing, saving
Message Prayer
Let us pray holding onto the Word we have received. This passion for the gospel, our state that has no choice but to relay the Gospel. God, raise up our church to proclaim this gospel. Let us pray together.
Offering Prayer and Newcomer Blessing
God, we thank You. We thank You for giving us the grace to believe in the gospel, though we were dead. Allow us to live, not with the righteousness of our actions, but the righteousness of God’s Gospel. Allow us to know the reason why we need only this gospel and stand as a witness who proclaims it to others. Though there are many churches, this age requires the gospel and life. Allow us to become the ones who save our regions. We pray You will give us this grace and power. May You give this strength to our next generations so that they may save the future.
We have returned Your materials as offering. Everywhere it is used, we pray that those who are dying may be saved, and we pray that those who have no hope will find their hope in Christ, and God, we pray You will bless those who are discouraged so they have the power of God. May those who are diseased look to Christ and receive spiritual strength. Allow them to realize that even diseases are within the hands of God. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.
Announcements
1. Today, 12/7 Church meeting
2. 12/24 Christmas Eve, 12/25 Christmas Worship
3. LA Winter Retreat (12/27-29) Registration Deadline 12/21, From 3rd graders
4. Registration fee: $300, $350 (On-site), $370 (1 room for 2)
5. Leader’s Training, 12/27 (Sat.) 3:30-7:00pm, ICSC
6. Offering can be given to the church venmo: @Antiochmissionchurch
Benediction
Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the unending love of God, and the indwelling, working, guidance, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be upon the heads of all the people of God, the people of all nations, and the remnants who desire to find the things of God that remain and to proclaim them, be with them now until forever always, amen.