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FROM THE PASTOR'S STUDY

Topic: Message Outlines: Chapter 9 (Include Audio)

Romans 9:1-5 (10)

by Darrel Cline
(darrelcline biblical-thinking.org)

Chapter # 9 Paragraph # 1 Study # 10
September 16, 2008
Lincolnton, N.C.
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(434)

Thesis:   Possessing the promises boils down to having an incredibly committed Ally in the process of living.

Introduction:   In our studies of the extraordinary advantages possessed by the nation of Israel, we have seen that they had a "scenario of the future" that is unmatched by anything anyone could possibly "dream up". This scenario was captured by Paul's declarations regarding the adoption and the glory.

We have also seen that they possessed a two-fold, historically set, methodological process that was intended to be the means to the fulfillment of the future scenario. That process consisted of being given both "covenants" and "law". The "covenants" were specifically designed commitments on God's part to address the matters which would undercut their participation in "the glory", which, in turn, would directly affect the quality of "the adoption". On the other hand, the "Law" consisted of an immutable revelation from God in verbal form that superseded the generational, hand-me-down form of oral "traditions". With such an improvement, the foundations of faith were greatly solidified and established.

Last week, in our look at "the service", we saw that God had given to Israel a very detailed "first rail" for the accomplishment of the acquisition of "the glory" and, thus, a phenomenal "adoption". That "first rail" consisted of an enormous set of "phenomenal" indicators of the reality of the "glory". These phenomenal indicators did two things. On one hand, they became a part of the warp and woof of the entire culture so that they colored how the Israelites "saw" things. This made it possible for the people to "understand". And on the other hand they contained physical level illustrators of the Spirit Who is God. If the Israelites had been willing to use these indicators of the reality, they could have entered into a rich life of relationship with God. This was the reason for the apostle's unceasing grief: to see people have such a present opportunity and to do nothing with it is sad indeed.

This evening we are going to look one step further: Paul says Israel possessed "the promises". We want to try to understand his point.


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