Even so Then At This Present Time....

We're gonna be in Romans 11 and look at the first five verses, actually one verse in particular, but we'll read five verses. Paul addressing the saints in Rome. I say then, hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I am also an Israelite of the seed of Benjamin, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people, which he foreknew. Wilt ye not that the scripture saith of Elias, how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets and dig down thine altars And I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? What does he say unto us?

I can't believe this is it. This is the only people who are chosen in Jackson, in Cape County, in the area. At this point, I'm not ready to concede. So what does the scripture say to us as well? I have reserved to myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal, to idols. Here's what we're going to look at. Even so then at this present time, what time is it? It's now.

It's now. there also a time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And we'll read verse six, and if it's by grace, it's no more works. Otherwise, grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace. Otherwise, work is no more work.

There's only two religions. There's a religion of Cain and the religion of Abel. Doesn't matter what the domination are called. You're either trusting in God's grace or you're trying to work your way to heaven. It's just only two. There's only heaven and hell. works in grace, oil and water. I just like to simplify it, and that's the case.

So I'm gonna tell you that every sinner, every sinner chosen in salvation has been rescued and atoned for by the sweet and costly blood of Christ. And they will eventually, eventually, be confronted with the everlasting gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, regenerated called and quickened by the free and sovereign grace of God. That's just what's going to happen. You can look through the whole scriptures. We're going to give, I think, five examples, but there's so many more. Actually, every person that's saved is saved by the grace of God.

Repentance and faith will be gifted and salvation had by all his people because of this phrase right here. A remnant according to the election of grace. Or as one preacher said recently, election will never be disappointed. Election will never be disappointed. Let's look at some examples. Abram. Abram. Turn with me to Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11. What about this one Abraham?

He was an idolater. He was an idolater. Captive under sin in his native home, which was called the Ur of Chaldees. So I did a little research on the Ur of Chaldees. It was a place of comfort, worldly comfort, worldly prosperity, paganism, and it was far from God. So God had to call him out. Hebrews chapter 11. Hebrews chapter 11, starting in verse 8. By faith, Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for inheritance, called out.

There's election. There's election. He didn't call himself out. His family was there. God called him out. should after receive her inheritance, obeyed and went out, not knowing whether he went. By faith, he sojourned in a land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. Same promise. And verse 10, for he looked for a city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

He wasn't looking on this earth. He was just passing through. But we see that this example of Abram, before he was called Abraham, was called out. That's the remnant according to the election of grace. Hebrews chapter 11, flip over or stay on the same page of Hebrews 11 and we'll look at verse 31. Let's talk about Rahab.

She was a harlot. But before her city could be destroyed, she must be rescued. Election. She's got to be rescued. Election. The city was going to be totally annihilated. She's going to be rescued. Verse 31 of Hebrews 11, By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not when she had received the spies of peace. She was rescued. Election. a remnant according to the election of grace.

You can also read her story in Joshua 2. Now in the New Testament, time obviously is a factor, but we could talk about Moses, and David, and Elisha, and Samuel, and Eli, and Samson. All these men, the Lord called them out. What about this one called Zacchaeus? Luke chapter 19. Turn to Luke chapter 19. Christ had to call him down. That's election. From that tree, where was he at? He was in the accursed city of Jericho. He was in that accursed city of Jericho. Luke chapter 19. Look at verses 1-10. And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was a chief among the publicans, and he was rich. Nothing wrong with rich, but we usually have a tendency to trust in riches. But he was a publican. He was just a sinner, just a plain old sinner. And he sought to see Jesus, who he was, and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

And he ran before, climbed up a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass by that way. And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up, saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down." There is election. Specifically, saw that man, called him, told him to come down for today I must stay abide with thee in that house. Verse six, he made haste, came down, received Christ joyfully, and when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, he had gone to be a guest with a man and as a sinner. There you go, that's us, that's you, that's me. And Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord, behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

So the riches didn't mean anything. It's like that widow. She gave all she had. She didn't give up the abundance. This isn't going to hurt me. And that's how a lot of times we give. This isn't going to affect me. It's not going to affect my 401k. It's not going to affect this. It's not going to affect that. She gave it all.

This man, it's the same attitude. It's the heart attitude. It's a change of heart. You see that? And Jesus said unto him, this day is salvation. Come to this house for as much as he also is a son of Abraham. That's election according to the grace of God. For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost. He said, Zacchaeus, you're lost. People would be offended.

I'm not lost. Let me go get my baptismal certificate. Let me show you my pins. As Bruce is always, he's, well, I'm glad you don't find those pins, Bruce. When you find them, just burn them. Just kidding. Okay, so we have an idolater, we have a harlot, we have a publican and a sinner. Well, what about the dying thief?

Turn over to Luke chapter 23. Luke chapter 23. Starting in verse 39. And one of the malefactors, Luke 23, 39, one of the malefactors which was hanged, railed on him, saying, if you be the Christ, save yourself. But the other malfactor, the other felon, answering, rebuked him, saying, do you not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we, he's including himself, we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man hath done nothing amiss. And this man then turns to Christ and says, Lord, remember me when you come in your kingdom. There is the remnant according to the election of grace. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, verily, I say to thee, today you shall be with me in paradise.

Today. That's what Nathan and I were talking about when we were back there. We are told to wait on the Lord, but we're never told to wait. in coming to Christ. Come today. Today may be the day the Lord has your ear, maybe has the ear of your heart. Today may be the day. This man, fourthly, was a felon, a convicted felon. He's just a breath away from eternity. At the appointed time, the ordained time, He was called from darkness into Christ's marvelous light, confessing His sin, acknowledging Christ as King, as Savior, and He accompanied our tender Redeemer into glory.

What about Saul of Tarsus? Philippians chapter 3. Saul of Tarsus. Philippians chapter 3. He was a self-righteous Pharisee. He was religious, very religious. Philippians chapter three, verses five and six, he said he was circumcised in the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee concerning zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law, I was blameless, blameless. Self-righteous Pharisee, yet selected, chosen, and loved before the world began.

That's election according. He's a remnant, that's the, there he has a remnant according to the election of grace. That's that right there. Not according to his own works or our own works, but God who showed mercy. And this last, turn back to Acts chapter 17, Acts chapter 17. Dionysus and Demarius, what about these two people? Saved from heathenism. You know, like the early Americans called the Indians savages. They were better. They were better than the savages. Well, where's this all taking place? It's in verse 17, verse 22.

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars Hill and he said, you men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. Superstitious. What does that mean? Well, I was curious the last time I looked it up. It's a combination of two things, religion, false religion, and has to do with bad fortune, bad luck, black cats, walking under ladders, knocking on wood. My brother does that all the time. It's blasphemy. That's what it is. You're too superstitious.

For I pass by and behold your devotions. They're devoted. As people are religious, they were created to worship God, but then they substituted when they fell, when we fell. Passed by and behold your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, to the unknown God, whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him I declare, him I declare. So this superstition has to do with ignorance, has to do with ignorantly worshiping, has to be devoted.

He saved these two from heathenism. Look over in the last verse of the chapter, chapter 34. Verse 32, so when they heard these same people, the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, others said, we'll hear this matter again. So Paul departed from among them, how be it certain men clave unto Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, the Agraphite, and a woman named Demetrius and others with them. He'd saved these two, just these two people.

A bunch of people heard, some of them mocked, Oh, you're going to that church? There's nothing there. It's just an old house converted into a church. Why don't you just divide up and go to some of these other bigger churches? Because we've heard the truth as they heard the truth. Some mocked, but God had His people and they will come unto Him that we might have life.

I don't know all these other churches. I haven't been to all of them, pretty well can say that the ones I do know, and if I read correctly in a paper or whatever, they're not preaching the gospel. They're not preaching the gospel. So I say this, back to our text in Hebrews, I'm sorry, in Romans, I'll get it right here in a minute, back to our text in Romans, even so at this present time, there's a remnant according to the election of grace. And if it's grace, it's not works.

So no matter where his people are scattered about, God, who is in total and complete control, will have his way, and his way is through the son of his love. It's through the Lord Jesus Christ, not through anybody else. He it is that shed his blood and washed us clean and will secure us up to glory and into glory.

We used to be a big deal to preach 100 years or so ago of the three R's, ruin, redemption, and regeneration. Ruin, yes we are, we're ruined. And if that, you know, what I just said, the six examples, an idolater, a harlot, a haughty man, a felon, a self-righteous religionist, and heathenism. That's, however you want to say it, that's this society. We haven't grown anymore in religion, God's religion. We grow our own way, in a way which we think is right, but the end is destruction. So yes, we are ruined. Redemption is only by the bloodletting of the pure, immaculate Lord Jesus Christ. And regeneration is only by the Holy Spirit of grace and supplications. So these three things, ruin, yes, that's us. redemption in Christ only, and regeneration. So I close, he will clothe us in his righteousness. Turn to Ezekiel 34. In closing, Ezekiel chapter 34.

He will clothe us in his righteousness, he will justify us through his work on Calvary's tree, and he will succeed in bringing every lost sheep to his kingdom, world without end. Like I said, I quoted that preacher earlier, election will never be disappointed. It can't because it's sealed by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. But what does God say about such things?

Let's look at Ezekiel 34. Let's start in verse 11. Ezekiel 34, starting in verse 11. For thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep, that are scattered, so will I seek out my sheep and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

And I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the countries and will bring them to their own land and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers and all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be. There shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost, I will bring again that which was driven away, and I will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick, but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and I will feed them with judgment.

And look at verse 30. Thus shall they, who's the they, the sheep, they shall know that I, the Lord, their God, am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, that's the remnant according to the election of grace, are my people, saith the Lord God. Affirmation, what more, as that song says, what more can he say than to you he has said? The word, the truth, the gospel. May the Lord bless Bruce. Would you close this?

Even so Then At This Present Time....

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Even so Then At This Present Time....

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