Background: 8:28 all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called/invited according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Because whom He predestined/planned, these He also called/invited; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
9:6 it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For not all ekIsrael who are of Israel (Gal 3:7-9), 12 "The older shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have exalted/raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. Ex 9:27 “I have sinned this time, the Lord is righteous?
10:21 But to Israel he says: "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people."
Heritage is not Holiness; Election is corporate and to Blessing (not individual forgiveness). Hardening/belief are consequences of our choices
I. National Blessing is by Grace; Promised Individual Blessing is by Faith & Works; Blindness is by Works
11:1 has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite...2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.
4 "I have remaining/left over for Myself 7000 men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. 7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were/became calloused (Mr 6:52; Mr 8:17 they closed; Jn 12:37:41) 8 As it is written: “God has given them over to a spirit of stupor, eyes...not see, ears...not hear, to this very day." (Isiah 29:10 below) [Isa 6; Mt 13:13-17; Ac 28:24-29]
Isa 29:10; 9 Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. 13 The Lord said, "Because this people draws near with their mouth and with their lips to honor me, but they have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which has been taught; 22 Therefore thus says YAHWEH, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: "Jacob shall no longer be ashamed, neither shall his face grow pale. 23 But when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they will sanctify my name. Yes, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.24 They also who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will receive instruction." 9 And David says (Ps 69:21-28): "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always. (69:26 Because...)"
II. Blessing requires faith in God's revealed promises, & in the means He specified (obedient goodness cf Jer 7:1-11)
11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches..remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in."
20 Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in goodness/virtue. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
APP: Justified believers will be cut off from blessing if they don't continue in goodness; those who repent and return will be blessed.
III. God keeps His sovereign promises, esp. Blessing the whole world through the descendents of Abraham (Gen 12)
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: " The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob (Isa 59:20) 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins." 28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 " For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?" 35 " Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?" 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:
1. Does this passage indicate that God has replaced Israel with the Church, or that Israel has permanently forfeited their blessings?
2. Why and how do people get or develop a spirit of “stupor” (Isa 6:8-13)? How can you prevent that from happening in your life?
3. How and when will Israel get blessed? Is there anything they or we can do to help or prevent it?
4. How does God get glorified by our faith? How does He get glorified by our works? How does He get glorified by your life?
5. How does knowing that God has a plan to glorify Himself through blessing the faithful have an influence in your life? |
