Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, June 15, 2023
Shalom,
Victory Over Sin part 46 – Romans, part 107
Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.
We’ll get to “called, justified, and glorified” in a minute. But first, let’s deal with all this talk about “predestination.” To be clear from the beginning, nothing in the concept of predestination removes us from our freedom of choice. We are not God’s automatons, being moved and positioned like rag dolls.
When we read that God “foreknew” us, it means that He knew us in advance. His knowledge does not remove our free choice. God wants us to love Him back. 1John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us. He created the world so that He would have a place to love people, and they (we) could love Him back. God has children for the same reason we have them, because He has so much love (enough to share) that He wants to love more, and so do we.
We have been created by God with a destiny to be conformed to His image. Our choices in life can alter that destiny. If you have trouble “wrapping your mind around that,” is it easier for you to agree that our choices can alter the path of our destiny? Then why not also agree that our choices can change the end of our story?
We have all gotten off our predestined path… Isaiah 53:6a We all like sheep have gone astray. Each of us turned to his own way. This would be terrible if not for the second part of the verse. Isaiah 53:6b So Adonai has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. And how do we receive this blessing? Repent!
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua for the removal of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
Luke 13:3 No, I tell you! But unless you repent, you all will perish the same way.
The Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) will set your path straight. Yeshua has called you… 1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, (for a purpose) so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
We are justified by His blood. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us. 9 How much more then, having now been set right (justified) by His blood, shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him. (That leaves the last step, glorified.) Ephesians 2:6 And He raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua.
Rabbi Trail: As the Knight Templar in the Indiana Jones movie, “The Last Crusade” admonished, “Choose wisely.” (Warning: some scenes may be disturbing and graphic, especially for children.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGl9dBOJp9E End RT.
May God’s love be manifest for each of us, His children. He knew the path He set for each of us before we were born. Everything physical starts as spiritual. Our spiritual beginning originated in the very heart and mind of God. Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw me when I was unformed, and in Your book were written the days that were formed—when not one of them had come to be. We were born for a purpose, predestined, to be called, justified (by His blood) and glorified (together with Him), to spend eternity in the oneness of His presence. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu 15 June-2023 26th of Sivan, 5783
Nu 15:8-16 Jer 36 Da 11:21-45 2 Co 1 (Lk 1:39-80)