Neither Presumption nor Legalism

As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 9:25-33)

I am going to look at this passage again, last time I just dwelt mostly on the last paragraph.

Why did Jacob get God's favour and not Esau? Why did Isaac get God's favour and not Ishmael? Why did the Gentile Christians get God's favour and not the Jews? The Jews were given God's true and holy law and eventually they did their best to reach this standard. The Gentiles never really tried to keep the law very much, and we still don't really attempt it, though Seventh-day Adventists try harder than most. God gave the law, but the law was always meant to be the standard for judging the sinner not the means for saving the repentant. The law shows me God's standard for behaviour, but it is the Holy Spirit, who works in my life through faith, that brings me up to that standard.

The Christian who is not interested in living up to God's law cannot really exercise faith, because he is comfortable with his law-breaking, his sin, Jesus cannot save him. But the Christian who strives to keep the law cannot exercise faith either, because he is trying to save himself, Jesus cannot save him. Both the presumptuous and the legalist are in an unsaved condition, but repenting from this error and turning to Jesus for help will bring you salvation.

God wants to save you more than you want to be saved. He has given you Jesus' blood to save you and he has given you Jesus' law to show you what being saved looks like. Don't try to hop around on one leg or row with one oar. Have faith in God that brings good works.

I have often seen reading the Bible as something I must do, because after all, I really must do it. But God wants to rework my attitude to read the Bible because I know how greatly it will bless me. Praise the Lord for understanding my weaknesses!