ROMANS 9:30-33 NOT BE ASHAMED It may seem to some people unfair that Gentiles who were, and many still are, idolaters and those who weren't even interested in righteousness, are ones that God in sovereign electing grace saves. The Israelis who were pursuing the law earnestly to become righteous have not succeeded in attaining God's salvation. The problem was the Jews were pursuing the law and were seeking to attain a righteous standing before God by their own self-efforts and couldn't rise to the standards of the law. Their object of trust was themselves, and when Christ came, instead of repenting of their sin and failure, and turning to Christ and trusting Him, they turned on Him and killed Him.
The One they stumbled over was the One who was promised in the Garden of Eden. He was the Promised One to Abraham, David and all the people of faith who looked beyond the law to Him - the Messiah. It was actually in Zion where He laid the basis of our faith. The Rock of offence the Jews stumbled over, is the Chief Corner Stone to the Church.
To seek the righteousness of God by works is a form of an insult. The sin-polluted works of men, only serve to make the free gift of God's salvation by grace, seem of lesser value by those who hold to that "Jesus plus ---" teaching. The Jews would not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ because He didn't meet their expectations of the One coming as the conquering King. Even today some people expect God to simply overlook their sin and accept them as they are. Others think they can manipulate God into accepting them because of who they are or what they do. Any who refuse to humble themselves and put their faith in Christ alone will be put to shame.
it is important that we accept the truth of God's electing grace. No one will ever meet the standard of perfection for salvation. Meeting the demands of holiness, the law gives, is impossible by our efforts. We have to believe, through the understanding given by the preaching of the Gospel, that Christ is the Savior of sinners and any person who trusts in Him will not be put to shame.
We are by nature, lost because of sin and as guilty sinners, cannot save ourselves from being children of wrath. Because we are of the world, God had to make His move to us, which He graciously did. In mercy and love, He presented us with His great salvation - full and free to "whosoever will may come." His desire is that "all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." His offer of salvation still holds true, and we can invite all who hear the Gospel to come to Him and be saved.
God does not compromise His holiness and righteousness because that would be inconsistent with His nature. But in grace and love, His mercy reaches to us with forgiveness through Christ. Salvation is not because of any works we may do but is all of God Himself. These parallel truths make our acceptance with God possible.
There are some things I cannot explain or define. But I know they are real because they are personally mine. What makes "life" to be "life indeed" is to me a real fact. The promise that brings it about is not by some human act. Its Source is not in man; it is in God alone. And I know what it is when I see it in many forms. It is real I know because the evidence of life I can see. I just can't explain all about it, and how it came to be.
When it comes to election and God's saving grace - These parallel truths, I gladly accept for myself by faith. I know God saves people by His own sovereign choice - And I know people are responsible to hear and obey His voice Being proclaimed in the Gospel so that all men can choose Life, and not blame God if their own soul they will loose - For God's offer goes out to each one called "whosoever-" The simple faith that is needed forms a tie that nothing can sever.
Whether a Jew or Gentile. a Christian's child or a pagan - God is not limiting His atonement to actions which are taken By people to make themselves acceptable to God - Because it is made plain to us according to His Word, God in sovereign grace chose to allow all to come And put their faith alone in God's only begotten Son. Looking back, I can understand the fact that by His choice God knew - Those who trust Christ personally would be those He did choose.
"I know Father, the blessings of Thy electing grace, and I know the blessings of putting my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ myself. Even though I may not be able to tell others of the compatibility of electing grace and human responsibility in a way they can grasp, I can let them know the rest and contentment that I have because of these two truths working in my life. I thank Thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."