Cut Short

[Woody]

Quote:

Rom. 9:27-8 "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

For he will finish the work, and cut [it] short in righteousness"

What is the significance of "cutting it short". Are we going to be cheated? What will be missed out if it is cut short?

[Guest]

What will be missed out if it is cut short?

A whole lot of sin, murder, and mayhem.

[Gail]

TU

[phkrause]

Quote:

Rom. 9:27-8 "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

For he will finish the work, and cut [it] short in righteousness"

What is the significance of "cutting it short". Are we going to be cheated? What will be missed out if it is cut short?

Interesting passage Redwood. I'd have to look at the whole context. But I'd say it sounds to me like, when we think that things in this world are getting so bad and that if it goes on any longer I just might not make it, he will finally come and take us home. But it probably doesn't mean that, but it sounded good in my minds eye when I read the passage.

Here's what my Complete Jewish Bible says: But Yesha'yahu, referring to Isra'el, cries out, "Even if the number of people in Isra'el is as large as the number of grains of sand by the sea, only a remnant will be saved. For Adonai will fulfill his word on the earth with certainty and without daly."

pk

[Woody]

Let me ask ... what is the 'work' that is being cut short?

Richard and Gail seem to be implying that it is:

"A whole lot of sin, murder, and mayhem."

But is that really what is meant by "work"?

[Guest]

The work of spreading the gospel to the rest of the world. God will finish it himself if need be, and cut it short in righteousness.

[Woody]

The work of spreading the gospel to the rest of the world. God will finish it himself if need be, and cut it short in righteousness.

[Guest]

The original plan was for us to do it. But he knows the future, hence the text.

[pnattmbtc]

God can't finish the work Himself, apart from us. That's the whole point of why the Great Controversy continues. If He could have done that, He would have done so thousands of years ago and saved the planet all the misery there's been.

The questions of the Great Controversy cannot be answered by God's arbitrarily taking things into His own hands. He could have just destroyed Satan at the beginning if such tactics would suffice.

[teresaq]

i think part of it is that He is no longer waiting for "His" church to do the "work". He has moved on, so to speak, and we join in the movement, or....

He has gone to those who will listen and respond and grow.

Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

what is scary is that if we dont know what God is like, the work can be going on around us and we will not know it, til it is far too late!

[pnattmbtc]

God cannot accomplish the work without the church. He can't move without the church because the church is the body of Christ. Christ is the head, which gives order to the body, but the body has had the palsy, or Parkinson's disease (or choose your own disease) and does obey the instructions the head gives. At some point the body will, however, and then the following will be fulfilled:

Quote:

"When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. (COL 69)

We should keep in mind, however, the the church consists of believers, regardless of the denomination or religion. God has a special purpose for the SDA church, and it's possible that the SDA church could fail in its mission and be rejected (although I'm convinced this won't happen) but it's not possible for God to accomplish the work necessary to prepare the world for the coming of Christ without the church.

[oldsailor29]

Again I am reminded of God's message to Job and his friends, who were also expounding on what God could and could not do.

Job 38-41.

[teresaq]

We should keep in mind, however, the the church consists of believers, regardless of the denomination or religion.

which is my point, exactly.

In the parable, all the ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom. All had lamps and vessels for oil. For a time there was seen no difference between them. So with the church that lives just before Christ's second coming. All have a knowledge of the Scriptures. All have heard the message of Christ's near approach, and confidently expect His appearing. But as in the parable, so it is now. A time of waiting intervenes, faith is tried; and when the cry is heard, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him," many are unready. They have no oil in their vessels with their lamps. They are destitute of the Holy Spirit. {COL 408.2}

Without the Spirit of God a knowledge of His word is of no avail. The theory of truth, unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit, cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart. One may be familiar with the commands and promises of the Bible; but unless the Spirit of God sets the truth home, the character will not be transformed. Without the enlightenment of the Spirit, men will not be able to distinguish truth from error, and they will fall under the masterful temptations of Satan. {COL 408.3}

The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit's working. They have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature to be broken up. This class are represented also by the stony-ground hearers. They receive the word with readiness, but they fail of assimilating its principles. Its influence is not abiding. The Spirit works upon man's heart, according to his desire and consent implanting in him a new nature; but the class represented by the foolish virgins have been content with a superficial work. They do not know God. They have not studied His character; they have not held communion with Him; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live. Their service to God degenerates into a form. "They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness." Ezekiel 33:31. The apostle Paul points out that this will be the special characteristic of those who live just before Christ's second coming. He says, "In the last days perilous times shall come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves; . . . lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 2 Timothy 3:1-5. {COL 411.1}

The grace of God has been freely offered to every soul. The message of the gospel has been heralded, "Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17. But character is not transferable. No man can believe for another. No man can receive the Spirit for another. No man can impart to another the character which is the fruit of the Spirit's working. "Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it [the land], as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness." Ezekiel 14:20. {COL 411.2}

It is in a crisis that character is revealed. When the earnest voice proclaimed at midnight, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him," and the sleeping virgins were roused from their slumbers, it was seen who had made preparation for the event. Both parties were taken unawares; but one was prepared for the emergency, and the other was found without preparation. So now, a sudden and unlooked-for calamity, something that brings the soul face to face with death, will show whether there is any real faith in the promises of God. It will show whether the soul is sustained by grace. The great final test comes at the close of human probation, when it will be too late for the soul's need to be supplied. {COL 412.1}

The ten virgins are watching in the evening of this earth's history. All claim to be Christians. All have a call, a name, a lamp, and all profess to be doing God's service. All apparently wait for Christ's appearing. But five are unready. Five will be found surprised, dismayed, outside the banquet hall. {COL 412.2}

At the final day, many will claim admission to Christ's kingdom, saying, "We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets." "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?" But the answer is, "I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me." Luke 13:26; Matthew 7:22; Luke 13:27. In this life they have not entered into fellowship with Christ; therefore they know not the language of heaven, they are strangers to its joy. "What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." 1 Corinthians 2:11. {COL 412.3}

Saddest of all words that ever fell on mortal ear are those words of doom, "I know you not." The fellowship of the Spirit, which you have slighted, could alone make you one with the joyous throng at the marriage feast. In that scene you cannot participate. Its light would fall on blinded eyes, its melody upon deaf ears. Its love and joy could awake no chord of gladness in the world-benumbed heart. You are shut out from heaven by your own unfitness for its companionship. {COL 413.1}

Ask God to give you much of the oil of His grace. {AG 214.6}

quite scary to think about. makes one fall on their knees before God asking, where do i lack?

[Woody]

God can't finish the work Himself, apart from us. That's the whole point of why the Great Controversy continues. If He could have done that, He would have done so thousands of years ago and saved the planet all the misery there's been.

The questions of the Great Controversy cannot be answered by God's arbitrarily taking things into His own hands. He could have just destroyed Satan at the beginning if such tactics would suffice.

Christ IN me can accomplish much. I can't do ANY of it. It has to be ALL Him or it will be worthless.