Then theres our sin nature that can place us outside of Gods protective power without us even being aware of it until its too late. We currently have 150 emails now about Romans 9, by far the most asked-about chapter in the Bible in the inbox. I know God loves both the victim and the criminal with a love we can never understand this side of eternity. The point of what Im saying is that it was a great struggle for me. That transformation is what makes us fit to receive Gods gift of eternal life. Whoa, thats a big claim. We might expect Jesus to appoint world-class executives or entertainers to lead his church. And there is nothing like the experience of being comforted by God alone in that dark hour." 3. There are Israelites who are perishing, and Paul solves the problem theologically by saying, Gods word to Israel has not fallen because not all Israel is Israel.. Isnt health and wholeness in this life what He wants for us? Then there would be great disputes over how to handle Romans 9, especially verses 123. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). His teachings made the Bible clear and easy to understand, and impacted millions of lives. The choices described in Romans 9 are not that one will live and be blessed while the other dies. Including photos each week from our outreaches and the weekly review. These attributes are justice, wrath, power, love, mercy, and grace. Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. He is drawing out the application namely, with regard to Pharaoh. 7 days ago. Those vessels of mercy are prepared beforehand by God for glory. Unfortunately, God did not promise us easy lives. His wife Samantha maintains this site as well as their missionary outreaches. Think about it. The presence isn't something in your head or just emotions, when His presences is experienced then you will see miracles in your life. [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: So when God chooses one group He has a specific purpose in mind. I have shared that. Jack Kelley published over 9,000 Bible Study resources here from 1999, until the Lord called him home in the fall of 2015. He did it. I had to settle for myself whether this chapter meant what it seemed to mean, what I was saying it meant. All rights reserved. Copyright 2022. Why then does God choose to heal some people? It is not always God's will to heal a person physically. I think the hardest part of being a Christian is forgiving and letting go of the ugliness that you hold against other people. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 You are chosen. From May of 1979 through January of 1980, as I studied, all I did was think and pray over Romans 9 day and night, every day. Heres what that says: For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills (Romans 9:1718). He desires to act with kindness and gentleness towards human beings. You can call 1-800-KEY-LIFE, 24 seven, record your question and sometimes we'll put your voice on the air. 165. r/Christianity. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. We grow food to support a community, build and repair homes, and support the poor, widows, and the fatherless. God's Word says that His people perish because of a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). We have sin in our lives We cannot willfully choose to disobey God and simultaneously expect him to bless us. 5 Ways to Honor God with Your Christmas Giving. He desires to act with kindness and gentleness towards all human beings. Job had been consistently blessing God. Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (Habakkuk 1:3, 13). And life goes on. Almost implying that God can but doesnt necessarily mean he does it? That means Hes not arbitrary, intervening sometimes and not others without any apparent reason. And he was still so young too. He came to be crucified, that he might hang the sins and sufferings of those he loves with him there. It can even be through this suffering that God gets the MOST glory. Bad things happen to some people for *reasons* and not to other people for *other reasons* and ultimately God's protection or lack thereof has very little to do with it. Answer: Jesus healed everybody at one time by dying from every disease known and unknown to man on the cross. Contact Us. Israel was given this land by God, during the Leadership of Joshua and later, King David. 21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Lamentations 3:22 says the Lords compassions never fail and according to Hebrews 13:8, Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. Permissions God heals because He is compassionate. Did we lose or did we truly feel we could outsmart God and his ultimate plan so that we could have our loved one here and absent from eternity? But God's will is that those individuals knit together to form a new community. Descriptions: Yes. Browse, sort & search all Bible Study resources. This means that God can choose to allow suffering in the lives of some of His children if that is what it takes. I take the phrase all things to mean everything, good or bad. Check that out. So Im going to say it again: verses 22 and 23 are Pauls most and I would say the Bibles most ultimate answer for why God does what he does in choosing one and not another. PrivacyPolicyTerms ofUse. Universalism. Death has taken her, and you cant help but grieve over her passing. " Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows and pains of punishment, yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God ." We cannot possibly know all the reasons why God chooses to heal or not to heal. He accepted God's answer He received God's strength to endure He chose to embrace his affliction and glorify God in and through it God heals some people.for His glory. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh (Romans 9:23). In the Old Testament, the blessings of God were intertwined with the Promised Land. The Apostle Paul made this very clear in Romans chapter 9. To reflect on this issue in the group, we did three things. Author Information. When men are tempted, therefore, they should not say that God sent the temptations. Does He withhold healing because we havesin we haven't repented of yet? Gods purpose was that Paul be moved towards this goal through physical suffering. Is your faith in Him? Of course the answer is yes and the Master Potter has every right to determine our lot in life. Finally, the Bible reminds us that someday we will all stand before God. Paul says, I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. Suffering Produces Character. God visits everyone in his good time and desires that we all be saved, provided we desire to be saved. To more fully explorewhat God's Word has to say about the larger questions related to human suffering in this world, our free Bible study guideWhy Does God Allow Suffering? First, it reminds us that wealth is not necessarily a sign of Gods blessing. The death of Christ was no accident. A person may be poor as far as this world's goods are concernedbut rich beyond measure if they know Christ. The best way to view our articles and Q&A. 2. (Psalm 119:1; Prov 20:7) Some blessing comes as a reward for blessing others. Two days after the storm, the Rev. Something has been on my mind for a long time and have never had the guts to ask. Its the lostness of individuals that creates the problem its not imposed on this chapter. How do you explain this conjunction and its implications?. Sign up for our free daily newsletter. God does choose to allow some to suffer and not be healed while others are miraculously healed when it was unexpected. I feel like Romans 9 is a watershed of how you view God. You are reading this article because God is helping you! Read or subscribe: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/why-does-god-choose-some-and-not-others His was a divinely lived life. She can learn to live frugally and to discover life can be joyful even without having a lot of material possessions. [8] For this thing I sought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Permissions Moreover, if rightly met, in the strength God supplies, tribulations may be the means of promoting the Christian's growth in grace. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. Lowest rating: 1. Topics: Money. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. And Paul is restating what he has already said. That's the reality of lifethat we don't always get an equivalent amount of blessing from God. Our spirits were just as strong, our hope and faith was unbreakable. Think about the "goods" you possess: life, sight . They are perishing. Only God can know whether to healor not heal will best move the person forward toward His goal of building the mind of Christ in them. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Grace thru Faith is a 501(c)3 non-profit. The Bible offers a very good answer to the question of suffering in the book of Romans. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. Everybody should put their ears up when I say that. It is not difficult to get to the out of date English but gives it a rather classical feel to it. [3] Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Throughout the Bible God constantly refers to life as being hard. Box 5000 Maitland, Florida 32794 In Canada, it's Key Life Canada P.O. Centuries ago the prophet Habakkuk complained to God, Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? 2022 BGEA The deeper answers explaining why people don't seem to receive physical healing are, however, very helpful and I would like to share several of them that have guided me in that spiritual direction that does lead to physical healing, for I do believe that, ordinarily, God wants us to be physically whole and healthy. "God changes us, molds us, strengthens us, and builds us through hardship. Because of wrong teaching, it can be hard to accept this selfless, generous voice when we hear it. The people were blessed based upon their obedience. We cannot possible know all the reasons why God chooses to heal or not to heal. Hes saying that individual Jews, kinsmen of Paul, are lost and perishing, and this creates for Paul not only a heart-wrenching personal agony, which he describes, but a massive theological problem: Have the promises of God failed? Heres one of them, a recent email from a listener named Aaron. Preparing us for a future that is bigger and brighter than anything we might enjoy in our present physical lives. He said we would have troubles in this world, then told us to take heart because Hes overcome the world (John 16:33). As with Pauls life, our present lives with all their trials and suffering should be viewed as a training ground. (Matt 5:9; James 3:18) is a good place to continue learning. Second, the Bible reminds us that lifes greatest blessings come from knowing Christ and walking with Him every day. I have shared the struggle with those who read this chapter and scratch their heads and try to reorient their minds. Dont be envious of what others have, but make certain of your commitment to Christ. On the. He does no one no human being ever anywhere any wrong. I have rather grown tired of hearing that God will save everyone and that in the end, everyone will go to heaven, because that's clearly wrong. If you found this helpful, please consider supporting our work. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Humans are free to exercise free will (within the context of that complicated web of cause-and-effect). Today, God still blesses the obedience of the saints, albeit not always through an abundance of physical earthly goods. Topics: God. 19952022 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. God still uses people today for His purposes and for His glory. Billy Grahams 9/11 Message From Washington National Cathedral, Summer Soul Refresher: God Will Fight for You. And there are several reasons, but let me just zero in on one. We relate to God directly, through Christ, as individuals, yes. He upholds his glory. God heals to demonstrate His power to perform works in this world (John 9:2-3 John 9:2-3 [2] And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Then there's our sin nature that can place us outside of God's protective power without us even being aware of it until it's too late. [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: He is free to show mercy and grace to whomever he wills. Why Does God Protect Some and Not Others? In the midst of your tears, ask God to help you lift your eyes to heaven and the promise we have of eternal life through Christ. it seems God sometimes intervenes and sometimes He doesnt. God is no less capable of transforming our lives into His powerful instruments than He was with Joshua's life. Never forget: Because of Christ we have hope. The same people who asked for intervention in her life were also praying for Von. Local: 704-401-2432 It does deal with individuals, not just corporate peoples. Listen to our Bible studies now from your browser. So God is free to have mercy on whom hell have mercy. . Now in the Greek it is just if, but what if is okay because we should answer the what if question by saying, Well, no legitimate objection can be raised. Ill come back to that. Or did it have some other explanation? In the greater world around us human disobedience, indifferenceand disbelief often disrupt the flow of His compassion. (Romans 9:2223), Aaron is asking, Do the words what if at the beginning of verse 22 mean that God could act this way, but doesnt act this way? Thats what hes just asking. Pauls answer comes in Romans 9:6: It is not as though the word of God has failed. Then he gives his basic answer why: For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. Thats his basic answer. Home He is the most generous being alive. By contrast, Pauls strong faith was tested and strengthened when he was required to persevere through the trial of not being healed. He gives his argument in Romans 9:15, where he says, For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Matthew 5:45 says "He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.". She can choose to learn from his mistake and finish her own education. Why Does God Heal Some People But Not Others? But let me ask you a question: Where is your little niece now? You will not see any change in your life until you start thinking differently. He is the author of all the teachings here, and all materials are available free of charge! Some might say that his prayer team lacked faith, except for the fact that Joann was healed in response to their petitions. You can also download them to your computer, phone, or tablet. Instead of letting fear dictate our decisions, we step out in faith, even when it doesn't make sense. Its the problem within Israel. However, two broad categories shine forth in the Scriptures: 1. Anything good that we have from God is by His grace, not because we can earn it. Instead, he adopts a comparatively quiet plan: local teams of sober-minded teachers. Personal updates from Samantha. Find & sort all our resources. Because this is Pauls most ultimate answer in the Bible, I think. Well only be asked one question: Have you put your faith and trust in Christ alone for your salvation? The Bible admittedly doesnt answer all our questions about Gods ways; only in eternity will we fully understand them. As. In his absolute, glorious freedom Ill have mercy on whom I have mercy; Ill be gracious to whom Ill be gracious he makes known the riches of his glory for the vessels of mercy. Our Creator can and does heal people. As for the reason why we can only surmise that it is . 2. We have to be free to believe in him or not. The Bible says that He truly is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Some day in heaven we'll understand, but in the meantime we can only look to Him in faith and trust. 289. SHELLY, JUDITH ALLEN. Out of that nine months or so came the book The Justification of God: An Exegetical and Theological Study of Romans 9:123. He always upholds the infinite value of what is infinitely valuable that is, his righteousness. "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." ( Ephesians 4:30 NIV) This is why it's important for us to stop making excuses when we sense God leading us to do something. Put all this together and its a wonder God is able to intervene as often as He does. Well, perhaps just to encourage those who struggle with the message of Romans 9, let me give a little autobiography. Why God intervenes to save one and not another, when all are equally undeserving; why the things of God are revealed unto babes while hidden from the wise and prudent, can only be answered in the language of our Lord, "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." (Matthew 11:26.) [10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. He often heals for the purpose of building and strengthening newly formingbelief in Himself, either in the person being healed or ones looking on. "And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.". C.S. God does not control everything because He chooses not to. He desires to act with kindness and gentleness towards human beings. . In one instance the answer was yes, and in the other it was no. Its not a question of whether its going to happen it did happen. More : Yes. 2. Well, first of all theres our fallen creation which is currently under the control of the evil one (1 John 5:19). I have been a believer for 27 years. Can you please help me understand why its OK for Him to stop attacks like this sometimes and not others? According to 1 Peter 5:8 the devil is always prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. God said no because He had something much bigger and much better in mind for Paul that could only be achieved through perseverance in suffering. It begins by saying, What if. Journal of Christian Nursing: Summer 2005 - Volume 22 - Issue 3 - p 40-41. doi: 10.1097/01.CNJ.0000262315.94061.4b. The presence of Jesus is real and changes millions of lives every day. And then what does John say in verse 12? [9] And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. The Bible teaches that "many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt 22:14), and "the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matt 7: . Michael Welch. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Remember: God knows what it is to lose someone to death. ( Romans 5:3-4) I think Romans 9 really addresses the eternal destinies of people, not just historical roles. The what if is asking, What if he did it can any legitimate reaction be raised? And he answers no. In other words, Paul answers the problem precisely by pointing out that individual lost Israelites are not really part of the Israel who inherits the promises. A person may be poor as far as this worlds goods are concernedbut rich beyond measure if they know Christ. They say this because they themselves never experienced Jesus in a real way, all they have is going to church or some religious beliefs. Or you can send your question into Key Life Network P.O. And then there are those that put out lesser effort but still receive the same or sometimes even more. I had been there about six years, so it was time. While I believe God is sovereign, I cant help but take into account Pauls what if statement at the beginning of verse 22. Our present lives with all their trials and suffering should be viewed as a training ground. I mean if Jews and hes not talking one or two, but most of them have a veil over their face, then theyre not seeing Jesus as their Messiah. However, He did make us some promises: He promises to be by our sides and help us through the pain. If we were to receive that gift of eternal life without having first undergone this transformation in the way we think and act, eternity could end up being a very unhappy place. Why Does God Intervene Sometimes And Not Others? This book was written in an earlier generation by a godly man who worked closely with many very spiritual men who were not always healed even those who strongly preached God's desire to heal. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Therefore, there have to be other factors involved that are currently not under His control, because He certainly didnt create the world this way. "And nobody would wish that upon you, and God would himself not have that come upon us." Lowery has been dealt a double blow after the tornado. Highest rating: 3. God's wisdom skillfully guided him. Given the multitude of Scriptures connecting faith to healing, we must conclude that sometimes healing does not occur because of a lack of faith, or better, the pleasing kind of faith that God honors. Without that kind of carefulness, you might have a misunderstanding of the Lord and His purposes in your life. Modern translations prefer the word curse. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Even in this physical suffering, Paul was following the example set down before by Jesus Himself (Hebrews 2:10 Hebrews 2:10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.American King James Version). In that day we wont be asked for the size of our bank account or the importance of our jobs. If God is as sovereign as you say, Piper, how can man be accountable for his sin? And eventually in these discussions, I would go to Romans 9 as part of my answer. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. People want . Recently, a supporting member wrote me asking why God does not bless everyone similarly. Hello, Pastor John! January 25, 2017 Why would God ever choose not to heal a person? James called this being double-minded and said we shouldnt expect anything when we pray like that (James 1:6-8). A person may sincerely pray and truly have faith that God can heal, but if it is not God's will to provide the healing at that time, then no healing will come (see 1 John 5:14 ). And yet, in the end, we lost. You know it's the same thing that John says in John 1:11-13, do you remember that? Is that a feasible interpretation? God only permits it. If there is some research out there about why some find faith easier and others harder, let me know in the comments. 2. By Billy Graham The apostle Peter said, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. God did give her the right to make choices in her life that can help her overcome or even benefit from her father's choice. This is the very sentence that Aaron asked about. American King James Version. Only God, who knows the heart, can properly assess a persons life. However, two broad categories shine forth in the scriptures: God heals because He is compassionate. God's Voice is Relational Home Download our eBooks to read on your computers, phone, tablet, or eReader. Surely it would be better to keep all your original disciples alive as long as possible! I have been a Christian for a long, but I realize that its hard for me to forgive people but yet I expect and demand that God forgives me. This what if is not hypothetical its actual. Think of the insights and wisdom he could have continued bringing to our work. The Bible says that He truly is "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Join. What Should I Expect From Myself in 2021? Box 28060 Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6J8 Or you can send your question to Steve@keylife.org. Consider Pauls prayers for his own healing 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 [7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. We simply have no definitive answer as to why some are healed in this life and others are not. You might believe that the devil is a thief and a murderer, and therefore, in your view, Satan killed our brother. The Apostle Paul made this very clear in Romans chapter 9. Preparing us for a future that is bigger and brighter than anything we might enjoy in our present physical lives. God's love is the answer to suffering. The presenting issue is precisely that some Jews not the people as a whole have fallen. For believers, that bigger and better goal God has in mind is to be transformed into a new type of person who thinks and acts like Jesus himself (Romans 12:2 Romans 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.American King James Version, Ephesians 4:12-15 Ephesians 4:12-15 [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
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