What is not chosen
By Larry White
February 11, 2007
Sometimes in the scriptures what is chosen and emphasized makes an unstated assessment of what is not chosen. Jesus used this form with the Jews during his ministry in Nazareth.
Luke 4:23-29
He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in your home town.' Then he said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his home town. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust him out of the city;What were these People so upset about? When Jehovah chooses Gentiles with which to work and bless, it is because of Israel's lack of faith.
Paul uses it with the example of Abraham.
Romans 4:1-3
What then shall we say that Abraham our forefather has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”What advantage did Abraham have by his own effort and labor in the flesh? This is how Paul knew the judgement that God put on Abraham's works, namely, he was justified by faith. That is what God thought of his works.
Paul uses this kind of comparison argument with the Galatian assemblies.
Galatians 3:1-3
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?Obeying the truth then, would be living and walking in the spirit. And Jesus, their life, was no longer in the flesh but in the spirit, having been crucified.
What assessment should the Galatians put on the works of the law through the flesh?
Jesus the Messiah was crucified.How important in our religion are fleshly, worldly distinctions?
Jesus our Lord and Master was crucified.Where can the truth of the gospel that should be obeyed be found?
Jesus our Savior was crucified.What is the estimation of the evangelistic blockbuster program with the polished and coifed preachers with their cameras and multi-million dollar institutions?
Jesus was dragged through the streets and crucified.Where is the most popular, inspirational, "Christian" musical group that will bring the local community to Jesus?
Jesus, the one who was crucified.So what do you suppose God thinks of the flesh? Just before this statement, Paul had said,
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave up himself for me.If we are dead with Christ, if we have been buried with him in baptism from the rudiments of the world, from earthly distinctions, and dead to the former fleshly person we once were, then we are in the spirit and our true life is hidden (encrypted) with Christ in God. Therefore we should walk in newness of (read spiritual) life. We should stop acting like mere men. Jesus was not of the world, therefore believers will be acting like they are not of the world.
Remember,
"And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."
John 16:15"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 1 John 2:16
Other references to Romans 6, Colossians 2 & 3, 1Corinthians 3, John 17
LW