Study Desk

God knew from the beginning who would put their trust in Him. So He chose them and made them to be like His Son. Christ was first and all those who belong to God are His brothers.

What can we say about all these things? Since God is for us, who can be against us?

God did not keep His own Son for Himself but gave Him for us all. Then with His Son, will He not give us all things?

Who can say anything against the people God has chosen? It is God Who says they are right with Himself.

Who then can say we are guilty? It was Christ Jesus Who died. He was raised from the dead. He is on the right side of God praying to Him for us.

For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God. Death cannot! Life cannot! Angels cannot! Leaders cannot! Any other power cannot! Hard things now or in the future cannot!

The world above or the world below cannot! Any other living thing cannot keep us away from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.

They are Jews and are the people God chose for Himself. He shared His shining-greatness with them and gave them His Law and a way to worship. They have His promises.

The early preachers came from this family. Christ Himself was born of flesh from this family and He is over all things. May God be honored and thanked forever. Let it be so.

I am not saying that God did not keep His promises. Not all the Jews are people God chose for Himself.

Not all of Abraham's family are children of God. God told Abraham, "Only the family of Isaac will be called your family."

This means that children born to Abraham are not all children of God. Only those that are born because of God's promise to Abraham are His children.

This was the promise God made: "About this time next year I will come, and Sarah will have a son."

Even before the two sons were born, we see God's plan of choosing. God could choose whom He wanted. It could not be changed because of anything the older son tried to do about it. It was before either one had done anything good or bad.

What about it then? Can we say that God is not fair? No, not at all!

God said to Moses, "I will have loving-kindness and loving-pity for anyone I want to."

These good things from God are not given to someone because he wants them or works to get them. They are given because of His loving-kindness.

So God has loving-kindness for those He wants to. He makes some have hard hearts if He wants to.

But you will ask me, "Why does God blame men for what they do? Who can go against what God wants?"

Who are you to talk back to God? A pot being made from clay does not talk to the man making it and say, "Why did you make me like this?"