God Never Gives Up

Romans 15:4-7 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

How Do We Define “God”? How Do We Define “Fool”?

Everyone knows that there is a God Who made all things. That’s an absolute truth. Oh, there are people who say “We’re atheists. We’re agnostics. We’re scientists. We believe that all things just evolved out of nothing. We believe in the survival of the fittest. There is no God. There is only “mother nature”, a mother who came about by accident.” If that were true, the name “God” or “Jesus Christ” wouldn’t be in your language whatsoever. “OMG”. Everybody knows there is a God Who is above us.

Defining the word “fool” is easy. The Bible says that the definition of a FOOL is:

Psalm 14:1 (KJV) The FOOL hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The FOOL says there is no God. The reason they say this is that, IF there is a God (and there is), THEN the stupid things they do, they will be held accountable for it. There is a God. Without a God, then mankind is god, and we can do as we please without worry of eternity. But even scientists – though they will not acknowledge it – know there is a God. I came across this statement the other day:

“According to strict logic, mathematical probability, and observational science, the mathematical probability of a sequence of DNA letters (DNA is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions for all living organisms) forming through random to code for even the minimalistic gene that we can see …. the probability of a new functional gene around 1000 nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA) forming via random mutations is about 1 in 10 to the power of 600 … Evolution requiring new functional genetic information has never been directly observed. … It is effectively IMPOSSIBLE IN REAL WORLD CONDITIONS.

When I looked this up – and it’s from Answers in Genesis – I knew it. Scientists know this. But they lie, they hide, and they push the propaganda of Godless Evolution. There is a God, and that God made all things. That God made you, He made me, and He made everything we see and everything we do not see.

God made us in His image because He, as God, can do that. We cannot make God in our image. That “god” is imaginary. That “god” is demonic, from Satan himself.

The Bible warns against making idols (Exodus 20:4-5). Idols are useless. “They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, for they are useless” (1 Samuel 12:20-21). “People make their own gods, but they are not gods!” (Jeremiah 16:20). Those who say there is no God, and those who create false gods to worship apart from the God of the Bible have one thing in common. They are enabling demons.

Psalm 106:36-38 (ESV) They served their idols, which became a snare to them. 37 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; 38 they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.

The “God” You Worship Defines How You Live

The God you worship will determine the type of person you are. The reason our Beloved America and the Church in America is in such a state is because we have moved from the TRUE GOD reflected in the Scripture, to NO GOD or a DEMONIC GOD. Jesus said, “IT IS WRITTEN, WORSHIP the Lord your God, and SERVE Him only” (Luke 4:8, CSB). Jesus Christ believed in and preached the God OF THE BIBLE. When Jesus walked the earth, the only Scripture written was the Old Testament. The Apostles wrote the New Testament, as God the Holy Spirit enabled them (2 Peter 1:21), but that which was written of God’s Word as Paul wrote Romans focused on ISRAEL and God’s prophecies to them.

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through PATIENCE and COMFORT of the scriptures might have hope.

There is a strange idea in the Church that there are two Gods in the Bible – the harsher God of the Old Testament, and the Grace filled God of the New Testament. Whatever was written before Paul’s writing was written to teach the Church about God.

The God of the Old Testament and the Old Covenant is the same God of the New Testament and the New Covenant.

God’s grace has never changed.
God’s plans have never changed.

Word Study: The Old Testament was written so that “we through PATIENCE and COMFORT of the scriptures might have hope”. Look at those two words, “PATIENCE and COMFORT”. The word translated “PATIENCE” is the Greek hypomonē, which means “the ability to endure and wait for, to persevere”. The word translated “COMFORT” is the Greek paraklēsis, which means “to call to the side so as to comfort, to embrace”. God is PATIENT. God comes alongside to COMFORT and ASSIST. Do you know how many times Israel messed up in the Old Testament? Do you know how many times the Old Testament Saints messed up? It boggles the mind. And yet, at the end of the day, God stayed with Israel. This is Who God is. He is the …

Romans 15:5 (KJV) Now the God of PATIENCE {hypomonē} and CONSOLATION {paraklēsis}

The Apostle uses the exact same two words to describe the God of the Bible. He is the God Who is hypomonē. He is patient. He endures the silliest of things that we do. The Saints were patient because they knew how patient God had been with them. Yes, there are things in the Old Testament where the wrath of God fell, and many died. And yet, Israel continued to be God’s nation. Yes Israel repeatedly mocked and ignored God, sought other gods, and spat on Him repeatedly. Yet God did not erase Israel. Why? Because God knew what Israel would be before God called Israel to be His own. God had a plan. God is …

Exodus 34:6-7 merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty …

God did not look the other way on Israel’s sins. He did not look the other way on the sins of the key people of the Scripture. And yet, as David was quick to point out:

Psalm 86:15 (KJV) thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

God “endured with much longsuffering humans who were worthy of destruction, that He might bestow His mercy on others” (Romans 9:22-23). God could have destroyed Israel, but He did not. God took the long view. Israel walked away from God numerous times, and God could have easily destroyed that nation, destroyed the whole world in righteous anger. And who would have blamed Him? The arrogance of the created in mocking the Creator gags even the demons of hell. The demons tremble, but we mock and make light. But God had a plan. God is …

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) … longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:15 (KJV) … the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation

Romans 15:5 (KJV) Now the God of PATIENCE {hypomonē} and CONSOLATION {paraklēsis}

God is not just patient and longsuffering, but He comes alongside and encourages. He does not want to pack hell with souls, but wants whosoever will to come to Him in repentance. God wants to save souls from damnation. Now here is the amazing thing:

As God Is Long Suffering And Ever Encouraging,
We Are Called To Let Him Empower Us To The Same

Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Word Study: God calls us and empowers us to be LIKE HIM. To be “like-minded”, the Greek phroneō, which means to savor or desire the same things that God savors. To have the unity of mind with God toward one another ACCORDING TO Christ Jesus. As God was patient with Israel under the Old Covenant, we are to be patient with one another in the Church under the New Covenant. As God came alongside of Israel even when they did not deserve it, we are to come alongside others in the Body to comfort them. This is to be done …

according to Christ Jesus

Jesus set the pattern. Jesus surrendered Himself, coming from Heaven to earth, to patiently come alongside us. Jesus lived, not satisfying Himself, but satisfying God the Father Who sent Him. Jesus told His Nazarene hometown:

Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord

Jesus did not live to please Himself, but to please the Father. He was the “Beloved Son, in Whom God is well pleased”. Jesus said, “I came down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:38-39)

God invites those whom He has saved to work alongside of Him, just as Jesus did, in comforting and assisting others in the Kingdom. It is the will of God that the Church be a type of Heaven on earth. Here is our target:

Romans 15:6 … with ONE mind and ONE mouth GLORIFY GOD, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We come together not to be entertained, but to worship God, to magnify His goodness. We do not come together to make idols, but to praise and lift up the name of Jesus to the glory of God. It is impossible that – considering the history of man – there will not be offenses and minor problems in the Body.

Like God, like Christ Jesus, we need to take the long view. Praise God no matter what may come, and come alongside others to comfort them and encourage them to live for the glory of God.

Romans 15:7 Wherefore RECEIVE {proslambanō} ye one another, as Christ also RECEIVED {proslambanō} us to the glory of God.

Word Study: The word “RECEIVE” {proslambanō} means to “take to yourself as it is”. Why? Because this brings glory to God. We are not to give up on one another.

God did not give up on Israel. Israel is STILL God’s chosen nation. No matter how many times Israel went after other gods, God punished them, then stayed with Israel. Why?

Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Jesus has been given many titles in the Scripture.

Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6)
Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6)
Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
Root and Offspring of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10)
Man of Sorrow (Isaiah 53:3)
King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15)
Immanuel (Matthew 1:23)
The Great I AM (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14)
The Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)

Someone once counted up the names and titles the Bible gives to Jesus, and found about 110 in Scripture. Here is a name that the Apostle gives to our Lord:

Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision

The “circumcision” in Scripture refers to Israel, to the direct descendants of Abraham and the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17:1-14). When God made His covenant with Abraham, He established the nation Israel, as well as promised blessings to the Gentiles:

Genesis 17:5-7 KJV – [5] Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. [6] And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. [7] And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

God told Abraham that “I will make YOU very fruitful”. This spoke to Israel. But them God said “I will make NATIONS of you”. This spoke to the Gentiles. God said that this was “an EVERLASTING COVENANT”. Our God, Who “declares the END from the BEGINNING, and from ANCIENT TIMES the things that are yet to be” (Isaiah 46:10), set apart Abraham to bless the entire world. Not just the Jews, but the Gentiles too.

“Replacement Theology” also known as supersessionism is a misinterpretation of the Scripture. Those who believe this think that the Christian Church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people, because the New Covenant replaced the Old Covenant. This is false, and the text shows us this.

Jesus is a “minister of the circumcision”. Paul previously told us in:

Romans 11:1-5 (NKJV) I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin. [2] God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, [3] “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? [4] But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” [5] Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Jesus was a minister OF THE CIRCUMCISION. He came “for the Jews first, but also for the Gentiles” (Romans 1:16). Jesus came to Israel first

verse 8 to confirm the promises made unto the fathers

But God did not come for just the Jews. In Abraham, He came to fulfill His promises to Israel, as well as to the Gentiles. Paul now calls on four Old Testament witnesses to this truth:

Romans 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

This is a quotation of King David, a part of the song he sang to God “when the Lord delivered him from Saul and his enemies” (2 Samuel 22:1-51)

Psalm 18:49 (ESV) … I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name.

God saved Israel under David’s leadership, though he and the nation was attacked both from without and within. God did this so that “the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy”. The second Scriptural witness is in

Romans 15:10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, WITH his people.

There are numerous verses in the Old Testament that speak of the Gentiles praising God with Israel. One of the clearest is:

Psalm 67:3-4 (ESV) Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

God loves all. God chose Israel to be His servant to bring the Messiah to all the people. The third witness says:

Romans 15:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

A quotation of Psalm 117:1 (ESV) Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!

The Lord did not give up on Israel. The Lord does not give up on the Gentiles. The fourth witness the Apostle calls “to the dock” is:

Romans 15:12 And again, {Isaiah} saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles trust.

This is a quotation from Isaiah 11:10-11, in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. 11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left

God is not done with Israel, nor is He done with the Gentiles. God established the Church as His New Covenant people, and in the Church

Colossians 3:11 … there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Though God has raised up the Church, and through Christ calls whosoever will unto salvation:

Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

God has not cast away Israel. At this time, they may be far from God, but He has not washed His hands of His chosen people.

What Can We Take Away From This?

Romans 12:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy {Spirit}.

God does not give up on His people. He is the God Who is long suffering. He is the “Comforter”, the Paraclete, the One Who comes alongside us to lift us up. Have you failed God? “Faithful is He that called you, Who will also do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Our God is the “GOD OF HOPE”, not of hopelessness. He wants us to “ABOUND IN HOPE”. You may have failed. You may have fallen. But God is not done with you, if you are His. God gives you the “power of the Holy Spirit” to grow.

Don’t give up on yourself.
Don’t give up on others.

Trust in God, with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Give your life to Him today. Receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and live your life in Him. May God, through His Spirit and the Blood of Christ, draw you close to His side. Amen.