Chosen by Mercy

04/05/2025 45 min

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Episode Synopsis

This week, we come to one of the most difficult and challenging sections in all of God’s Word. The text itself is not that hard to understand but is often hard for us to accept. Many come to these chapters looking for clarity and answers to some of their deepest theological questions. Some of you will come over the next few weeks to find out where I land on some of these issues regarding Israel and the sovereignty of God. However, if we simply come to this text with a desire for greater clarity on the theoretical and theological questions of our mind, we will have missed the point.

Having just finished a chapter on the greatness of the salvation, assurance and security that we have in Christ, Paul’s heart breaks for his lost kinsmen who do not have this same salvation. While Paul’s heart breaks for this loss, his heart is also filled with worship at the “riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” In other words, if our study in these chapters does not develop a greater desire to see the lost saved and a deeper sense of love and worship for the God we serve, then I will have failed us, and we will have certainly missed the point.

I pray you will come prepared to worship this weekend. Make plans now. Begin to prepare your heart today. Read ahead. Study the text, prepare your heart and pray for the lost. As we gather for corporate worship, let’s expect God to move in response to the study of His Word and the worship of His people.

— Pastor Chad McDonald