MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’s DESK:
March 12, 2025
Goodness: the Fifth ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit (Part 2)
David, the “man called after God’s own heart,” understood by conviction, experience, and inspiration this specific “fruit of the Spirit.” As he in true contrition and “godly repentance” petitioned God directly to be forgiven of his infamously wicked “great sin of presumption, he wisely pleaded, “Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and TAKE NOT THY HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME.” Ps. 51: 10, 11, 1-19.
Earlier, he penned the beloved and familiar Psalm 23, accurately connecting God’s GOODNESS with His MERCY “which endureth forever” in one breath, as his Shepherd, thus, considering himself as but helpless lamb needing the protection, provision, and deliverance of the GOOD SHEPHERD. “Surely GOODNESS AND MERCY shall follow me all the days of my life : and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Verse 6.
Paul, whose amazing manner of conversion to become God’s point man “apostle to the Gentiles” at the opening of the Christian era transitioning from the Old Testament Mosaic dispensation, was himself a prominent Jewish zealot, scholar of Judaism—“an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin”(11:1).
Read Romans chapter 10 and 11. Here Paul crystallizes the truth that “God is no respecter of persons.” Whether “Jew, Gentile, or Greek,” etc., all mankind are equally indebted to the undeserved “GOODNESS and mercy of God,” measured by the same eternal and universal standard of righteousness — all subject to the divinely-determined terms of salvation of the plan of redemption of the gospel, “the GOOD news” in verity!
Verses 1-3 of chapter 10 reveals the heavy burden in Paul’s heart for: his fellow Jews and Israelites of his time, fellow believers of the Christian Era, but especially for the professed followers of the ascended Christ “the Lamb of God”—still the Advocate, Intercessor, Mediator, and merciful High Priest but now the righteous Judge of all the earth—-who are being weighed in the balances of the sanctuary in heaven,” as their lives have and are passing in review during this most solemn hour of earth’s history—the pre-advent, judgement-hour announced by the first angel’s message of Rev. 14 (all emphasis mine):
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they MIGHT BE SAVED [not ‘already and irrevocably saved’ though they were the ‘first chosen people’ from Abraham!]. Here’s why; and all professed “chosen people” of God today should prayerfully, humbly, and promptly “examine and prove themselves” whether they are not, in any way, similarly guilty.
“For I bear them record that they have a ZEAL FOR GOD, BUT NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE. For they being IGNORANT of God’s righteousness, and going about to ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have NOT SUBMITTED themselves unto the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God.” Be sure to read on up to verse 21.
The opposite and counterfeit of God’s righteousness is the righteousness of the establishment; an institution of the “many inventions” of fallen, finite, mortal, sinful man, not of the immortal, infinite, divine Son of God and Son of man, Jesus Christ and Prince “Immanuel, being interpreted, God with us.”
Be sure to read on to verse 21.
Chapter 11 is a continuum and results in a logical question following the previous chapter’s narrative:
“I say then, HATH GOD CAST AWAY HIS PEOPLE? GOD FORBID. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”
Then follows HOW and WHY God “who changeth not,” is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” does not ultimately “cast away HIS PEOPLE,” in spite of corporate “Israel” and “Judah’s” dismal history of hard-heartedness, disloyalty, unfaithfulness, and betrayal of their high calling and sacred trust.
It is only because of a FEW FAITHFUL REMNANT, relative to the vast majority of “believers.”This has been true from the beginning, at the present time, but particularly stark and undeniable during the stupendous climax of the great controversy between Christ and Satan in the closing hours of earth’s probation. That time and “the day of God” is rapidly approaching and few are prepared for the close of their individual probation at death, in spite of the GOODNESS AND MERCY and the mysterious long suffering patience of God Almighty!
We will continue mining Romans 10 and 11 for the golden truth of God’s GOODNESS fully manifested in Christ and imparted through the Holy Spirit next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.