We looked at Romans 9:1-18 in the Bible study, a chapter that has helped shaped Calvinist doctrine over the years and which can, at first glance, appear to paint a picture of a very arbitrary God. God’s sovereignty is indeed stressed in this chapter, but whilst it is true that “God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden” (Rom 9:18), there is also plenty of evidence that Paul and others were labouring to reach both the Jews and the Gentiles with the gospel of Christ and that they were entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, convinced that Christ died for all (2 Cor 5.)

It is always difficult for the finite human mind to begin to grasp something of the timeless, eternal God. Paul goes back to look at Israel’s history (the footnote references take us through Genesis, Exodus, Malachi, Hosea and Isaiah, and we also did a mini-Bible study on Esau and Edom which took in Ezekiel as well!) and we see ultimately how God has the foreknowledge that man lacks. Not all those born physically of Abraham’s descendants are spiritual believers; as in so many other places, Paul is at pains to show that faith is required, not mere circumcision. We need to understand that far more than proud heritage is required in order to enter God’s righteousness; instead, we need that submissive, obedient embrace of faith for which Abraham is commended.

Paul’s passion for the lost shines through in the opening verses of this chapter and challenge us, whatever our views on sovereignty, election and predestination. He has ‘great sorrow and unceasing anguish’ in his heart because Israel is not yet saved. “I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel,” he declares (Rom 9:3-4). May we, too, burn with that same passion to reach out to those who do not yet know the Lord and may we never become complacent, arrogant or indifferent to the needs of those who have yet to hear and respond to God’s amazing call to repentance.

Whilst musing on paradox, submission and how victory comes through defeat (all while swimming… it’s amazing what thoughts you can have while counting off the lengths… 110 today, if anyone’s interested…), the lyrics of a song I last listened to about seven years ago came into my mind. ‘Magnificent Defeat’ is a song by Wes King, who hasn’t brought out any albums lately because he’s been battling leukaemia. I actually heard him play live a good many years ago and his guitar playing was amazing. This song, though, is reflective and contemplative and reminds me a great deal of Genesis 32, that story when Jacob, about to meet his brother Esau after so many years of estrangement and hostility, wrestles with the angel of the Lord. Funnily enough, the meeting with Esau goes much better than he could ever have hoped for, but it’s this encounter with God which is the most significant thing, because it’s the place where Jacob the schemer and deceiver is given a new name, ‘Israel’, ‘because you have struggled with God’.

Jacob went away from this encounter permanently marked, limping, for his hip socket was wrenched by God. But he knew what it was to win through defeat, for he named the place of the encounter Peniel (face of God), saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Gen 32:30).

Victory really does come through defeat…

Magnificent Defeat (Wes King)
What is my purpose for being here?
I’ve had no burning bush
Or voices in my ear
I have been wandering for all these years
But I’ve seen no manna or angels appear

And now I long for the solace of my soul
I have wandered from pole to pole
Here I lie, broken at Your feet
Rejoicing at this magnificent defeat

I have been wrestling all through the night
The darkness hides the face of the One I fight.
Beloved enemy demands my life and all I am
But then He blesses me and gives it back again

And now I long for the solace of my soul
I have wandered from pole to pole
Here I lie, broken at Your feet
Rejoicing at this magnificent defeat

http://grooveshark.com/#/s/Magnificent+Defeat/2p9mnu?src=5

“But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles…” (1 Cor 1:23)

Our itching ears want to hear
The latest methodology.
We long to discover
The newest novelty, the most innovative technique.
We clamour for metamorphosis,
Craving newness,
Searching for the discovery of
Something revolutionary to turn our world upside-down.

And then we discover Jesus.
We long to find in Him
A raging warrior,
A powerful ally,
A magic healer,
A super-hero.
But instead we discover paradox.

We walk down the lonely path
To Calvary.
To death.
To abandonment.
To a man of sorrows, familiar with grief.
And we discover
The way to life is through death,
The way to victory is through surrender;
The portals that lead to hope
Are edged with the black trim of death,
And the way to life is called love.

Words that seem so insignificant litter this way:
Love, hope, forgiveness, trust.
“Is that it?”
We stand in disillusioned disbelief.
We’d expected more:
A magic formula, a secret recipe,
A stunning farrago of fantasy.
We’d wanted the Hollywood version,
And all we get is a
Crucified Saviour,
Known by the scars?
And these weapons that
‘are not of this world’,
That’s all we have?
Prayer?
Love?
Forgiveness?
Worship?
Preaching?
That’s it?

Offended by the Cross,
Stumbled by the Scandalon,
We are sidelined by the enemy’s seductive lure
That promises peace through prosperity,
That teaches subjugation is the path to fulfilment,
That elevates fear and ridicules faith.
But if we choose the narrow way,
The path leads to freedom.
Paradox opens our eyes.
The centrepiece of Heaven is the Lamb who was slain.
The first shall be last.
The servant shall be master.
The dead shall live.

The way of living offered us
Is wide and spacious and free,
Tardis-like in being much bigger on the inside
Than it appears on the outside.
We can be squinty-eyed in disbelief
Or wide-eyed in wonder.
The choice is ours.
The consequences eternal.

July is obviously a popular month for birthdays in our church!

Dave spoke from Eph 1:4-5 last night on the theme of redemption – which means to restore something that has been lost. Adam and Eve were created perfect (God said His creation of mankind was ‘very good’), but because of their disobedience, sin entered the world (Rom 5:12) and the perfect relationship with God was lost. Thankfully, He had a rescue plan!

Redemption is entirely of God
2 Cor 5:19 shows how God took the initiative in this plan of redemption. God didn’t abandon mankind but sent His only Son to save us.

Redemption was planned before the creation of the world.
Redemption is no ‘plan B’, no alternative method to ‘fix the mess’. Eph 1:4, Acts 2:23, 1 Cor 2:7, 1 Pet 1:20 and Rev 13:8 are just some indications of the fact that this redemption planned by God was in His mind even before the world was made, even before man had first sinned.

Redemption is a proper, perfect plan
This plan is according to God’s will and was planned for the right time (see Gal 4:4). We may not understand God’s timing, but we can be confident that no power of man or hell will stop God.

The plan is centred on Jesus
Eph 1:10 tells us that all things will be brought together ‘under one head, even Christ’. Salvation is only possible through Christ (John 14:6). From the prophecy in Genesis that the seed of woman would crush Satan’s head to the last book in the Old Testament when we read about the ‘sun of righteousness’ (Mal 4:2-3), the Bible is full of Jesus and all He will do in this great plan of redemption.

The plan is complete in Jesus
The angel proclaimed that this Messiah would be called Jesus, for ‘He will save His people from their sins’ (Matt 1:20-21) Throughout His earthly life, we see Him developing and ministering in the power of God’s Spirit. The Babe of Bethlehem, the child from Nazareth, the teacher and healer was fully human (experiencing tiredness, thirst, hunger, sorrow, anguish, being tempted in every way as we are and yet not sinning) and was able to accomplish our rescue, crying ‘It is finished’ from the Cross. The plan of redemption was completed – a fact proved by His resurrection from the dead.

Our sins, though red as scarlet, have been made white as snow – we are as pure as the most beautiful bride in white. All because of God’s marvellous redemption!

Stephen continued his journey through Genesis this morning, looking at Genesis 4:25-26: “at that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.”

This highlights the need for communication and relationships. God always intended to have a relationship with His creation and that involves communication. For us to foster that relationship, we have to call on the name of the Lord, which activates the communication channel.

Do we only call on the name of the Lord at church? Stephen highlighted several occasions and attitudes in the Bible which illustrate the need for ongoing communication with God:

Gen 12:8
Abraham built an altar and called on the name of the Lord. God had called him to venture out in faith and so he left his familiar home and began a journey of faith.

1 Kings 18:24
The fire of God fell on Elijah’s sacrifice as he called on God in faith; the prophets of Baal were unable to get any response from their god!

Ps 116:17
We call on God’s name with thanksgiving and humility.

Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. There is redemption and salvation for those who learn to communicate with God. God hears and answers.

1 Cor 1:2
We are called to be holy; those who call on the name of the Lord are part of God’s worldwide family. God may well already know about our situations and problems, but He wants to know us in a personal way and longs to communicate with us. Communicating with Him needs to become a way of life for us. We may call to Him in the day of our troubles (Ps 86:7), but we need to learn to call on Him in every situation and at all times – from early in the morning to late at night!