Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow| Learn more With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later! Jesus healed the paralytic on the mat when he saw the faith of the man's friends; he healed the Roman centurion's daughter based on that man's statements about Jesus ( Matthew 8, 9 ). However, two broad categories shine forth in the Scriptures: 1. God's Voice is Relational Download our eBooks to read on your computers, phone, tablet, or eReader. According to 1 Peter 5:8 the devil is always prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Something has been on my mind for a long time and have never had the guts to ask. "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. Some might say that his prayer team lacked faith, except for the fact that Joann was healed in response to their petitions. God does choose people and not others. Its not feasible to take the words that way. God doesn't bless everyone alike. American King James Version). Its the problem within Israel. His point is that when God chooses one over another it is not because that one deserves greater blessings. As for our brother Nabeel (or, another loved one you lost to sickness), God alone can tell us why he (or that loved one) was not healed. As for the reason why we can only surmise that it is . ( Romans 5:3-4) 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 Paul says, I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 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. Put all this together and its a wonder God is able to intervene as often as He does. [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. Permissions She can choose to learn from his mistake and finish her own education. Our spirits were just as strong, our hope and faith was unbreakable. The Bible tells us that you were chosen from the beginning ( 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ), before the foundations of the earth (Ephesians 1:4-5), that we did not choose Him, but that He chose us (John 15:16) and that as part of His Holy people we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for God's own possession (1 Peter 2:9). When Paul says, What if God, desiring to show his wrath and make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, well, hes restating the very thing that he just said he did in regard to Pharaoh in verses 17 and 18. However, two broad categories shine forth in the Scriptures: 1. But Gods Word does remind us of three important truthstruths we easily forget. Local: 704-401-2432 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. 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. Because of wrong teaching, it can be hard to accept this selfless, generous voice when we hear it. Finally, the Bible reminds us that someday we will all stand before God. People want . The first was to reflect on our own stories of finding faith, and on the factors involved, in two stages: Think for a moment about the process by which you came to faith. 2. In the Old Testament, the blessings of God were intertwined with the Promised Land. Preparing us for a future that is bigger and brighter than anything we might enjoy in our present physical lives. I understand your hurt, but I want to assure you that God understands your hurt even more than you do and wants to surround you with His love and compassion during this difficult time. God's Word says that His people perish because of a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Its not a question of whether its going to happen it did happen. Some of us work longer, but we don't necessarily get more out of it. We cannot possibly know all the reasons why God chooses to heal or not to heal. You are reading this article because God is helping you! [3] Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. But what about situations where none of these is a factor? Lamentations 3:22 says the Lords compassions never fail and according to Hebrews 13:8, Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. 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. Why Does God Protect Some and Not Others? Anything good that we have from God is by His grace, not because we can earn it. Why would God ever choose not to heal a person? 22 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. God's love is the answer to suffering. First, it reminds us that wealth is not necessarily a sign of Gods blessing. So the question addressed in this chapter is, Has Gods promise to Israel fallen? Out of that nine months or so came the book The Justification of God: An Exegetical and Theological Study of Romans 9:123. 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.) The reason is that the if that introduces verses 22 and 23 has really already happened in Romans 9. 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? "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.". 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. 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. He is drawing out the application namely, with regard to Pharaoh. I take the phrase all things to mean everything, good or bad. [8] For this thing I sought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Jesus said, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Matthew 5:6). 274. God's wisdom skillfully guided him. He is author of. Episode 1320. Some day in heaven well understand, but in the meantime we can only look to Him in faith and trust. C.S. Never forget: Because of Christ we have hope. Then he gives his basic answer why: "For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel." That's his basic answer. It does deal with individuals, not just corporate peoples. Unfortunately, God did not promise us easy lives. Pauls overall point in this section is that God is just in having mercy on whom he will (Romans 9:14). 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). Is there injustice on Gods part? Thats where I started in writing my book: Is there injustice on Gods part? And his answer is by no means., The rest of it, verses 1523, offers support for why theres no injustice on Gods part. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. They are perishing. Highest rating: 3. Grace thru Faith is a 501(c)3 non-profit. He was one of the original 12 disciples, he was privy to direct conversations with you when you were here on earth. 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. Modern translations prefer the word curse. This is because of Job's reply: That is how foolish women talk. You are chosen. Matthew 9:28-29; Mark 2:5, Luke 17:19; Acts 3:16; James 5:14-16 . Is the language here being used as we would use it today? When I was teaching Bible and Greek at Bethel College from 1974 to 1980, virtually every class brought up the problems of the sovereignty of God vis--vis the will of man. Everybody should put their ears up when I say that. 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. It's not how much faith we have, but in whom our faith rests that matters. 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.. Our Creator can and does heal people. Isnt health and wholeness in this life what He wants for us? If we dont, well only end up in bitterness, anger and confusion and thats a dead-end road. You can call 1-800-KEY-LIFE, 24 seven, record your question and sometimes we'll put your voice on the air. And he was still so young too. God is no less capable of transforming our lives into His powerful instruments than He was with Joshua's life. God's hand was powerfully upon him. These attributes are justice, wrath, power, love, mercy, and grace. He desires to act with kindness and gentleness towards human beings. 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 is the very sentence that Aaron asked about. He does no one no human being ever anywhere any wrong. Journal of Christian Nursing: Summer 2005 - Volume 22 - Issue 3 - p 40-41. doi: 10.1097/01.CNJ.0000262315.94061.4b. By Billy Graham We have to be free to believe in him or not. To reflect on this issue in the group, we did three things. Preparing us for a future that is bigger and brighter than anything we might enjoy in our present physical lives. 5 Ways to Honor God with Your Christmas Giving. On the. And there is nothing like the experience of being comforted by God alone in that dark hour." 3. Instead, he adopts a comparatively quiet plan: local teams of sober-minded teachers. As with Pauls life, our present lives with all their trials and suffering should be viewed as a training ground. Or is it because we have simply not asked? 289. I don't fully know why God restores some people to health but doesn't do it for others. God does not control everything because He chooses not to. Well, perhaps just to encourage those who struggle with the message of Romans 9, let me give a little autobiography. I had been there about six years, so it was time. PrivacyPolicyTerms ofUse. 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. 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? If we take happiness from God's hand, must we not take sorrow too? Read or subscribe: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/why-does-god-choose-some-and-not-others How do you explain this conjunction and its implications?. But its worse than that. Many times God deliberately chooses not to heal. While I believe God is sovereign, I cant help but take into account Pauls what if statement at the beginning of verse 22. Topics: God. 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. In the case of rape, murder, abuse, etc. His teachings made the Bible clear and easy to understand, and impacted millions of lives. Throughout the Bible God constantly refers to life as being hard. God does choose to allow some to suffer and not be healed while others are miraculously healed when it was unexpected. Humans are free to exercise free will (within the context of that complicated web of cause-and-effect). 2. Heres one of them, a recent email from a listener named Aaron. The same people who asked for intervention in her life were also praying for Von. 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: Here are just a few: 1. American King James Version). 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. The what if is asking, What if he did it can any legitimate reaction be raised? And he answers no. Why Does God Intervene Sometimes And Not Others? He did it. It is not always God's will to heal a person physically. The answer is no, thats not a feasible interpretation. 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 Find & sort all our resources. This means that God can choose to allow suffering in the lives of some of His children if that is what it takes. Thats verse 23, and thats the ultimate goal of the universe. Were on a mission to change that. 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. What Should I Expect From Myself in 2021? is a good place to continue learning. Gods purpose was that Paul be moved towards this goal through physical suffering. Israel was given this land by God, during the Leadership of Joshua and later, King David. Whoa, thats a big claim. We are all sinners and no one is more deserving than another. Second, the Bible reminds us that lifes greatest blessings come from knowing Christ and walking with Him every day. When men are tempted, therefore, they should not say that God sent the temptations. The presenting issue is precisely that some Jews not the people as a whole have fallen. American King James Version. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. God is perfect, and His ways are far beyond human comprehension ( Isaiah 55:8-9 ). [14] That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; United Church of Godis a501(c)3organization. "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. [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: That's the reality of lifethat we don't always get an equivalent amount of blessing from 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). Our present lives with all their trials and suffering should be viewed as a training ground. 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? We have sin in our lives We cannot willfully choose to disobey God and simultaneously expect him to bless us. 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. We might expect Jesus to appoint world-class executives or entertainers to lead his church. Well only be asked one question: Have you put your faith and trust in Christ alone for your salvation? It is not difficult to get to the out of date English but gives it a rather classical feel to it. Think about it. But here goes. Listen to our Bible studies now from your browser. God heals because He is compassionate. Box 5000 Maitland, Florida 32794 In Canada, it's Key Life Canada P.O. Answer. The best way to view our articles and Q&A. I dont fully know why God restores some people to health but doesnt do it for others. Centuries ago the prophet Habakkuk complained to God, Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? The Bible admittedly doesnt answer all our questions about Gods ways; only in eternity will we fully understand them. Gods reasons for answering no were not because of sin in Pauls life or some lack of faith. Why does God heal some and not others? Then he gives his basic answer why: "For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel." That's his basic answer. You can also download them to your computer, phone, or tablet. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. 2022 BGEA Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. [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: The Apostle Paul made this very clear in Romans chapter 9. God is extremely humble; He puts others above Himself. I had to settle it for myself. Instead of letting fear dictate our decisions, we step out in faith, even when it doesn't make sense. Death has taken her, and you cant help but grieve over her passing. Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (Habakkuk 1:3, 13). The presence of Jesus is real and changes millions of lives every day. But let me ask you a question: Where is your little niece now? Personal updates from Samantha. Job had been consistently blessing God. The Bible says that in heaven, There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4). Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God ." He is the author of all the teachings here, and all materials are available free of charge! Two days after the storm, the Rev. I have been a believer for 27 years. Let me show our listeners from Romans 9:23 how I approached the chapter, and I think theyll see it. Home The answer to these two questions is that God has certain attributes that He desires to exercise and make known. We can question God about why He doesn't heal us or someone we love, but we cannot know what God does not answer from His Word. 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: . Is your faith in Him? "God can't reveal himself to us clearly," this argument goes, "because he wants us to have free will. Hello, Pastor John! His only Son died on the cross for us. We grow food to support a community, build and repair homes, and support the poor, widows, and the fatherless. And life goes on. Why God blesses some and does not bless others is a complex and sensitive issue requiring theological carefulness. 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). 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. 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. So what are these other factors? But in this very moment, the vessels of mercy (Im talking now to our listeners) are everyone and anyone who calls on the name of the Lord. 2022 BGEA The people were blessed based upon their obedience. Now why does God exercise his freedom in choosing one and not another? He often heals for the purpose of building and strengthening newly formingbelief in Himself, either in the person being healed or ones looking on. Jack Kelley published over 9,000 Bible Study resources here from 1999, until the Lord called him home in the fall of 2015. She has been healed completely and forever! Think about the "goods" you possess: life, sight . I have shared that. You might believe that the devil is a thief and a murderer, and therefore, in your view, Satan killed our brother. Without that kind of carefulness, you might have a misunderstanding of the Lord and His purposes in your life. Then there would be great disputes over how to handle Romans 9, especially verses 123. Jesus comes to His own and his own receive Him not. So Romans 9:14 asks, What shall we say then? (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. 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.. 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. [9] And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. The apostle Peter said, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. Home But God's will is that those individuals knit together to form a new community. SHELLY, JUDITH ALLEN. Second, the Bible reminds us that life's greatest blessings come from knowing Christ and walking with Him every day. She can learn to live frugally and to discover life can be joyful even without having a lot of material possessions. 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. Remember: God knows what it is to lose someone to death. Billy Grahams 9/11 Message From Washington National Cathedral, Summer Soul Refresher: God Will Fight for You. God gives good gifts to all people, regardless of their righteous deeds. James called this being double-minded and said we shouldnt expect anything when we pray like that (James 1:6-8). A person may be poor as far as this worlds goods are concernedbut rich beyond measure if they know Christ. He desires to act with kindness and gentleness towards all human beings. It is often through suffering that man starts calling upon the name of the Lord. The Bible offers a very good answer to the question of suffering in the book of Romans. If you found this helpful, please consider supporting our work.
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