Nov
7
Written by:
Bob Flynn
11/7/2009 10:04 AM
Our vocation or calling is free, and of grace, even as our predestination is: and therefore there is no reason why either our own unworthiness, or the unworthiness of our ancestors should cause us to think that we are not the elect and chosen of God, if we are called by him, and so embrace through faith the salvation that is offered us. (Geneva Bible Translation Notes)
As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. (Romans 9:25 KJV)
As He says also in Hosea, "I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, 'MY PEOPLE,' AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, 'BELOVED.'" (Romans 9:25 NASB)
As he also says in Hosea:
"I will call those who were not my people, 'My people,' and I will call her who was unloved, 'My beloved.' " (Romans 9:25 NET.)
Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, "Those who were not My people, I will now call My people. And I will love those whom I did not love before." (Romans 9:25 NLT)
The meaning is the same in Hosea and in this place, that God would bring those into a covenant relation to himself, who were before deemed outcasts and strangers. Thus, he supports his main position that God would choose his people from among the Gentiles as well as the Jews, or would exercise toward both his right as a sovereign, bestowing or withholding his blessings as he pleases. (Dr. Albert Barnes)
Here we see the furtherance of God's purposes. He extends His Grace to all the world! As recipients we see His love but how then might we extend His love. We are quick to see the falleness in those around us but in this context from Hosea we see that we are the prostitute who was redeemed. How are eyes are effected by what we see in this corrupt world where Satan rules the principalities and powers unseen. And we ought to be ever vigilant that the light we see is not darkness. For when we see those around us in any other light but that of Grace we have been darkened indeed. For the Son of God came to liberate sinners and His Grace extends to all who would believe. For those who are still held captive, it is because they cannot see not that they do not see! And such were we before the Light of Lights illuminated our cavernous soul. Why then does the dog return to his own vomit? Because that is who we are! Our flesh seeks after the things of the flesh and apart from Grace would remain on course to destruction. But we were called into this greatest of all loves to be partakers of this tremendous gift that is not and could not be earned. Nor is it dependent upon anything we could have said or done! It is then easy to see why the Apostle Paul counted himself as a debtor to the whole world because he was the one who held the coats of the murderers while they stoned Stephen. Yet Christ in His sovereignty called Paul to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. So where then is the boasting?
Sovereignty. We need not hesitate to affirm God’s sovereign power. He is the only one who can be trusted to use such power wisely. And He has proved in Christ that He uses it to choose the course of love and grace.
Richards, L. O. (1991). The Bible readers companion.
Hos 1:1-2 The LORD gave this message to Hosea son of Beeri during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel. When the LORD first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, He said to him, "Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the LORD and worshiping other gods." (NLT)
Hos 2:23 At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites and raise them for Myself. I will show love to those I called 'Not loved.' And to those I called 'Not My people,' I will say, 'Now you are My people.' And they will reply, 'You are our God!'" (NLT)
1Pe 2:10 "Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy." (NLT)
Joh 16:27 for the Father Himself loves you dearly because you love Me and believe that I came from God. (NLT)
Copyright ©2009 Robert Flynn