Hi Charlie,
You said,
If things are as you say - at least as I understood you - and God considered them basically just like the rest of the unbelieving world, then why all the prophets and the calls to repentance? Why does he still call "his people" back to fellowship with him when they have been apostate for generations? By then wouldn't they have forfeited the right to the covenant?
They
were as the rest of the unbelieving world – uncircumcised in heart – and yet were in the sphere of the covenant nation; they had the oracles of God, the worship, the promises. Were there elect among the wicked, either backslidden or yet uncalled? All those in the sphere of the covenant who did not walk with God were being evangelized, and as you say, called to repentance.
In Exodus 20:6, after saying He would visit the iniquity of the fathers on children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him, He says His way is also "shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." We know from Deut 7:9 He means "to a thousand generations". Now figure, to
this day in 2008 there have been perhaps 88 generations (if we give 40 years per generation) since the time of Moses (roughly 3,500 years); and He said He would be showing mercy till a
thousand! So, yes, He was working His elective purposes, even among an adulterous and wicked generation, calling His people to Himself through prophets, teaching priests, &etc.
I am a Jew, of the tribe of Levi, and could it be that one of my ancient ancestors loved the LORD, and in the line of generations of that one, the Lord showed mercy to this wretch?
You say,
I suppose an answer could be that God is doing it for the sake of a faithful remnant, which makes sense. However, I still wonder what to make of Romans 11:28-29?
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Is this speaking of an ethnic Israel? If so, doesn't it show that the national/generational aspects of the covenant of God are not dependent on belief?
Do you have Wm. Hendriksen's commentary on Romans available to you, or Herman Hoeksema's,
Righteous By Faith Alone? These both handle this portion of Romans well, in my view.
The Jews are the enemies of God
"for your sakes", that Christ is made available for the Gentiles, and they be grafted in to the olive tree of Israel; but as touching the election they are beloved for the fathers' sakes, that is Abraham's, and those to whom the covenant promises were made. Every time a Jew converts to Christ these promises are fulfilled, and these of the election are beloved. The calling pertains to the election.
I would say he is speaking of world Jewry, whether in Palestine or scattered throughout the world. The promise to love to the thousandth generation (I think He will return before that time is fulfilled) no doubt pertains to the generations descending from Abraham, Jacob, David – all the godly Israelites –
as well as to those descending from godly Gentile families.
I do not believe a national covenant of God exists for those who apostatized from Israel – who were cut off as noted above – even though the Lord clearly has His hand on scattered Jews here and there throughout the world, calling them to Himself. I know Messianic Jews laboring in Palestine to bring the knowledge of Messiah to the people, Jew and Arab both. These Messianic Jews are often harshly persecuted.
All the promises of the covenants were fulfilled in the Seed, Jesus of Nazareth. And those in Him are fellow heirs with Him of the Kingdom of everlasting glory.
I sometimes wonder what the great Sovereign had in mind allowing the Baptist doctrine to flourish, instead of causing it to cease, as He did with other errors. And this comes to me: Sometimes those who hold to the Presbyterian and Reformed view of salvation coming primarily through the line of generations – through godly families – tend not to fulfill the Great Commission and go out into the world to call the lost (of course some P&R churches vigorously reach out to the lost world – I think of my church in Manhattan, Redeemer PCA); but Baptists now, they are gung ho in that respect. They go into the highways and byways. They are the Lord's evangelists. It is written in Daniel 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.
It may well be that many Baptists will outshine Presbyterians in the glorious kingdom.