God's People, Part 1 (Romans 9:25-26)
Gary McManus, 01/26/2020Part of the New Life series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Romans 9:25-26 God’s People Part 1
What does it mean to be God’s people?
DCC declares it in the affirmations of faith.
Today: I Peter 2:9-10
As a matter of fact the phrase God’s people or God’s own people is in
three of our affirmations of faith.
DCC also claims: Ephesians 2:17-19, Titus 2:11-14.
Notice: God decides that we are God’s people.
A person can decide that they don’t want to
be God’s child.
See Jesus’ story, Luke 15:11-32.
You and I CAN decide that we don’t WANT
to be God’s child. We can reject God as Father.
(No one would do that? Yes, they would.
See the history of Israel in the Old Testament.
But since it was God’s decision to make you
and I God’s child, we cannot boast about it.
“My people” or “God’s people” = 450 times in
the Bible.
See for example 2 Chronicles 7:14.
What does it mean?
In today’s reading the Apostle Paul
quotes the Old Testament—the prophet Hosea. . .
There are similar statements:
Leviticus 26:12, Jeremiah 32:38,
Ezekiel 37:27.
Paul’s problem = Paul’s peoples problem:
“I am a little bit superior Christian.”
They were making claims, boasting,
saying I am a better Christian than you. . .:
Paul: “the only reason you are a
Christian at all is GOD. Period.”
There is even better news. . .
when you mess up—not IF,
God is going to be faithful and keep you
as one of God’s people.
The Lord God has made a new covenant.
Does the covenant have rules?
That isn’t a very accurate statement.
Are we living out of the FLOW of abiding in Jesus?
Are the the ten commandments rules or flow?
They are flow-ers /flowers from your relationship
to God in covenant.
The way we behave is defined by our God given
identity as God’s people. (Not the other way around.)
behavior indicates relationship/abiding
behavior does not make for relationship/abiding
Acting married does not make you married.
Being married should make you act married.
--and so Titus’ statement.
We work not for salvation but work (out) our
service/calling as God’s people. ( Philippians 2:12)
See Greg Boyd, ReKnew ministires
God has a chosen people for a mission to serve God.
(Isaiah 61:6, 42:6; 49:6; 60:3). Through them all the nations would be blessed. ( Gen 12:2-3; 18:18; 22:18; Ps 67:1-2; Isaiah 2:2-4; 55:5; 61:9-11; 66:19-20; Jer 3:17; Rom 4:12-18).
Their adoption as God’s own people was
always primarily about service,
not individual salvation.
The emphasis is/was on being saved FOR SOMETHING
not just being SAVED.
No matter what we may have done. . .
you and I, the sons and daughters of God still are
sons and daughters of God (John 1:12-13, John 11:52, Romans 8:14, Romans 8:17, Galatians 3:26, 1 John 3:1)
Amen.
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