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Coffee House Chapel #3
- Thread starter Dan Todd
- Start date
April 10
Romans 11:7b-10, "and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear
unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway."
Today we look at the truth about the revelation, which is the third proof that God's setting aside of Israel is only partial. Our text tells us that God has hardened the hearts of those Jews who refused to believe.
"Were blinded" in verse 7 is the AV translation of "poros (a kind of stone); to petrify, i.e. (figuratively) to indurate (render stupid or callous) and is also rendered 'hardened' in Mark 6:52; 8:17; and John 12:40." The tense is passive, which indicates that the blinding (hardening) was caused by an outside power. That outside power is God, whom Paul says "hath given them the spirit of slumber," etc, verse 8. That verse has reference to two Old Testament passages: Deut. 29:4 which represents the Law, "Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day." and Isaiah 29:10 which represents the prophets, "For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered." "Both the law and the prophets testify to God's sovereign and predetermined hardening of hearts. But that hardening is neither capricious nor unjust. God hardens only those hearts who, in rejecting His gracious offer of righteousness, harden themselves to His grace." (MacArthur)
Check out God's dealings with Pharaoh in Exodus. In some of the passages it speaks of God hardening Pharaoh's heart (Ex. 4:21, "And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.") and in others it speaks of Pharaoh hardening his own heart (Ex 8:15, "But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.").
During the first Lord's Supper, Jesus said, "But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!" (Luke 22:21-22). "God's righteous predetermination of Judas's betrayal was inextricably connected to Judas's own unrighteous intentions, for which he was held eternally accountable. One of the great mysteries of Scripture is the coexistence of God's sovereign preordination and man's personal accountability. God's judicial hardening of a man's heart is never separate from that man's hardening of his own heart." (MacArthur)
Paul again quotes Old Testament Scripture, this time David, Psalm 69:22-23, "Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake." This messianic Psalm pronounces a curse on the enemies of God who would cause Messiah's suffering and grief. The "table" is generally a place of safety, feasting, and sustenance. But the "table" of the unrighteous will become a snare and a retribution.
It is ever so sad that people place their trust in the very thing that will damn them to eternal punishment. That is true of all false religions, whether they are pagan or a "Christian" cult. "The more their adherents feed on the falsehoods, the more immune they become to the true gospel of Jesus Christ, the living bread of life." (MacArthur)
Israel's rejection of God led to progressively more spiritual blindness. That blindness became so bad, that when their Messiah arrived, she did not recognize Him. "Because Israel refused to see the things of God, God judicially ratified her willing blindness. 'Bow down their back alway' suggests the hunched over position in which blind people sometimes walk as they grope their way on a path they cannot see that leads to a destination they do not seek." (MacArthur)
Adapted from "Romans" by MacArthur.
In Christ,
Dan Todd
[ April 12, 2004, 07:05 AM: Message edited by: Dan Todd ]
Romans 11:7b-10, "and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear
unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway."Today we look at the truth about the revelation, which is the third proof that God's setting aside of Israel is only partial. Our text tells us that God has hardened the hearts of those Jews who refused to believe.
"Were blinded" in verse 7 is the AV translation of "poros (a kind of stone); to petrify, i.e. (figuratively) to indurate (render stupid or callous) and is also rendered 'hardened' in Mark 6:52; 8:17; and John 12:40." The tense is passive, which indicates that the blinding (hardening) was caused by an outside power. That outside power is God, whom Paul says "hath given them the spirit of slumber," etc, verse 8. That verse has reference to two Old Testament passages: Deut. 29:4 which represents the Law, "Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day." and Isaiah 29:10 which represents the prophets, "For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered." "Both the law and the prophets testify to God's sovereign and predetermined hardening of hearts. But that hardening is neither capricious nor unjust. God hardens only those hearts who, in rejecting His gracious offer of righteousness, harden themselves to His grace." (MacArthur)
Check out God's dealings with Pharaoh in Exodus. In some of the passages it speaks of God hardening Pharaoh's heart (Ex. 4:21, "And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.") and in others it speaks of Pharaoh hardening his own heart (Ex 8:15, "But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.").
During the first Lord's Supper, Jesus said, "But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!" (Luke 22:21-22). "God's righteous predetermination of Judas's betrayal was inextricably connected to Judas's own unrighteous intentions, for which he was held eternally accountable. One of the great mysteries of Scripture is the coexistence of God's sovereign preordination and man's personal accountability. God's judicial hardening of a man's heart is never separate from that man's hardening of his own heart." (MacArthur)
Paul again quotes Old Testament Scripture, this time David, Psalm 69:22-23, "Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake." This messianic Psalm pronounces a curse on the enemies of God who would cause Messiah's suffering and grief. The "table" is generally a place of safety, feasting, and sustenance. But the "table" of the unrighteous will become a snare and a retribution.
It is ever so sad that people place their trust in the very thing that will damn them to eternal punishment. That is true of all false religions, whether they are pagan or a "Christian" cult. "The more their adherents feed on the falsehoods, the more immune they become to the true gospel of Jesus Christ, the living bread of life." (MacArthur)
Israel's rejection of God led to progressively more spiritual blindness. That blindness became so bad, that when their Messiah arrived, she did not recognize Him. "Because Israel refused to see the things of God, God judicially ratified her willing blindness. 'Bow down their back alway' suggests the hunched over position in which blind people sometimes walk as they grope their way on a path they cannot see that leads to a destination they do not seek." (MacArthur)
Adapted from "Romans" by MacArthur.
In Christ,
Dan Todd
[ April 12, 2004, 07:05 AM: Message edited by: Dan Todd ]
The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?"
John 12:34
Now that passage, I feel, goes to the center of the whole problem.
What the Jews, "heard from the law", was what they wanted to hear, the good stuff, from their point of view. Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 and other passages that spoke of a suffering servant, they just couldn't see as relating to the same person, that is, their Messiah.
Jesus did not fit their ideals and so, was rejected.
John 12:34
Now that passage, I feel, goes to the center of the whole problem.
What the Jews, "heard from the law", was what they wanted to hear, the good stuff, from their point of view. Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 and other passages that spoke of a suffering servant, they just couldn't see as relating to the same person, that is, their Messiah.
Jesus did not fit their ideals and so, was rejected.
RESURRECTION SUNDAY
April 11, 2004
"FirstFruits"
1Corinthians 15:20 & 23
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the Firstfruits of them that slept . . . But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming."
Over in Matthew 27 the "sorry" Sadducees and Pharasees plead to Pilate--"Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure . . ." Imagine that??? They wanted the sepulcher to be steadfast---and unshakeable---they wanted it to be "sure"---impenetrable!!
"Sure" was the word they were looking for!!
I heard a message a long time ago by a preacher named Shadrach Meshack Lockridge---titled, "Friday's Here! But Sunday's Comin'!!"
"Sure"---says the Pharisees!!
"Friday's here!! . . . . But Sunday's comin'!!"
The soldier thrust the spear into Jesus' side!
"Friday's here!! . . . But Sunday's comin'!!"
They came to Jesus to break His legs---but found Him dead already!
"Friday's here!! . . . but Sunday's comin'!!"
They were sure then He was dead!!
"Friday's here!! . . . but Sunday's comin'!!"
The grave was made "SURE!!"
"Friday's here!! . . . but Sunday's comin'!!"
Sunday came!!! Jesus is "sure" alive!!!
And had become our "Firstfruits!"
Part of the Jewish Feasts days was the Feast of Firstfruits!! Every feast pointed---in one way or other--to Messiah's life---death---resurrection--or His coming again!!!
Firstfruits worked like this!
The Israelite farmers would plant their wheat crop in the winter of the year! As the crop matured and began to grow---they'd watch it--they'd watch their crop!!
The wheat would begin to form a "Head" and would finally reach full maturity!!
But the farmer would watch his field full of wheat! He's watch---watch---watch!!! He'd watch close and hard! In that watch---he would single out the first "shock" of wheat that has reached maturity---he would then pluck that shock from the ground and would "bee-line" it to the priest who would then declare it to be the farmer's "Firstfruit!"----That "FirstFruit" would guarantee the farmer that----the rest of the crop was to follow! The "Firstfruit" guarantee the rest of the crop!!
Friend----Jesus is our "Firstfruit"----that guarantees our resurrection!!
How about that this Easter???
Are you saved?? Are you born again?? What a wonderful day to be saved if you're not already! Give your life to Jesus--receive Him into your life as your Firstfruit!!
Maybe you are saved---what a better day than today---to celebrate Jesus' resurrection----and to celebrate yours---"sure" to come!!!
Have a glorious Resurrection Day!!
Brother David
April 11, 2004
"FirstFruits"
1Corinthians 15:20 & 23
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the Firstfruits of them that slept . . . But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming."
Over in Matthew 27 the "sorry" Sadducees and Pharasees plead to Pilate--"Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure . . ." Imagine that??? They wanted the sepulcher to be steadfast---and unshakeable---they wanted it to be "sure"---impenetrable!!
"Sure" was the word they were looking for!!
I heard a message a long time ago by a preacher named Shadrach Meshack Lockridge---titled, "Friday's Here! But Sunday's Comin'!!"
"Sure"---says the Pharisees!!
"Friday's here!! . . . . But Sunday's comin'!!"
The soldier thrust the spear into Jesus' side!
"Friday's here!! . . . But Sunday's comin'!!"
They came to Jesus to break His legs---but found Him dead already!
"Friday's here!! . . . but Sunday's comin'!!"
They were sure then He was dead!!
"Friday's here!! . . . but Sunday's comin'!!"
The grave was made "SURE!!"
"Friday's here!! . . . but Sunday's comin'!!"
Sunday came!!! Jesus is "sure" alive!!!
And had become our "Firstfruits!"
Part of the Jewish Feasts days was the Feast of Firstfruits!! Every feast pointed---in one way or other--to Messiah's life---death---resurrection--or His coming again!!!
Firstfruits worked like this!
The Israelite farmers would plant their wheat crop in the winter of the year! As the crop matured and began to grow---they'd watch it--they'd watch their crop!!
The wheat would begin to form a "Head" and would finally reach full maturity!!
But the farmer would watch his field full of wheat! He's watch---watch---watch!!! He'd watch close and hard! In that watch---he would single out the first "shock" of wheat that has reached maturity---he would then pluck that shock from the ground and would "bee-line" it to the priest who would then declare it to be the farmer's "Firstfruit!"----That "FirstFruit" would guarantee the farmer that----the rest of the crop was to follow! The "Firstfruit" guarantee the rest of the crop!!
Friend----Jesus is our "Firstfruit"----that guarantees our resurrection!!
How about that this Easter???
Are you saved?? Are you born again?? What a wonderful day to be saved if you're not already! Give your life to Jesus--receive Him into your life as your Firstfruit!!
Maybe you are saved---what a better day than today---to celebrate Jesus' resurrection----and to celebrate yours---"sure" to come!!!
Have a glorious Resurrection Day!!
Brother David
David,
I have a video tape and an audio tape (two completely different messages - except the title and the ending) by Tony Compolo. He tells of a Good Friday Service at his church in Philadelphia - where his "black" pastor preached - "It's Friday - Sundays A Coming!"
Very powerful - would have loved to hear that sermon in person!
I have a video tape and an audio tape (two completely different messages - except the title and the ending) by Tony Compolo. He tells of a Good Friday Service at his church in Philadelphia - where his "black" pastor preached - "It's Friday - Sundays A Coming!"
Very powerful - would have loved to hear that sermon in person!
April 12
Romans 11:7-10, “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.”
Ray Stedman tells the following story in his book “From Guilt to Glory, vol. 2, Reveling in God’s Salvation.”
There is a story about a rabbi who was trying to explain a Jew’s way of thinking to a Gentile. “I’ll show you how a Jew thinks,” he said. “Give me the answer to these three questions. Here is the first. Two men fall down a chimney. One comes out clean and the other dirty. Which one washes?”
“That’s easy,” the Gentile said. “The dirty one, of course.”
“Wrong,” said the rabbi. “After they fall down the chimney they look at each other. The dirty one sees that his friend is clean and assumes he is clean, too. So he does nothing. The clean one washes because he looks at the other man, sees that he is dirty, and thinks that he is dirty, too.”
“Here’s the second question. Two men fall down a chimney. One comes out clean and the other dirty. Which one washes?”
“That’s the same question,” said the Gentile.
“No, it isn’t,” said the rabbi. “It’s quite different.”
“Well, the, I suppose it’s the one who is clean.”
“Wrong again,” the rabbi replied. “The dirty one washes because he looks at his hands and sees that they are dirty. He washes. What could be more obvious than that?”
“Here’s the third question. Two men fall down a chimney....”
“That’s the same question again,” said the Gentile.
“No,” said the rabbi. “It’s entirely different. What’s the answer?”
“I don’t know,” said the Gentile.
“Neither of them washes, because it’s a ridiculous story to begin with. How could two men fall down a chimney and one come out clean and the other dirty?”
It is because of this kind of thinking that Jews say that whenever two Jews are together you are always going to find at least three opinions. [Sounds like it could be a couple of Baptists as well - to me!] Perhaps this is one of the problems Paul faced when he was dealing with his countrymen about Jesus the Messiah. It is certain that this was not the way Paul thought or argued. Paul presents a reasoned, relentless, and irrefutable argument as he presents the gospel to the Romans - and ultimately to us.
Next time we will begin to take an in depth look at our text. I trust that we will see that Paul is giving us a summary of what he has taught us thus far in Romans 9-11.
Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.
In Christ,
Dan Todd
Romans 11:7-10, “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear
unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.”Ray Stedman tells the following story in his book “From Guilt to Glory, vol. 2, Reveling in God’s Salvation.”
There is a story about a rabbi who was trying to explain a Jew’s way of thinking to a Gentile. “I’ll show you how a Jew thinks,” he said. “Give me the answer to these three questions. Here is the first. Two men fall down a chimney. One comes out clean and the other dirty. Which one washes?”
“That’s easy,” the Gentile said. “The dirty one, of course.”
“Wrong,” said the rabbi. “After they fall down the chimney they look at each other. The dirty one sees that his friend is clean and assumes he is clean, too. So he does nothing. The clean one washes because he looks at the other man, sees that he is dirty, and thinks that he is dirty, too.”
“Here’s the second question. Two men fall down a chimney. One comes out clean and the other dirty. Which one washes?”
“That’s the same question,” said the Gentile.
“No, it isn’t,” said the rabbi. “It’s quite different.”
“Well, the, I suppose it’s the one who is clean.”
“Wrong again,” the rabbi replied. “The dirty one washes because he looks at his hands and sees that they are dirty. He washes. What could be more obvious than that?”
“Here’s the third question. Two men fall down a chimney....”
“That’s the same question again,” said the Gentile.
“No,” said the rabbi. “It’s entirely different. What’s the answer?”
“I don’t know,” said the Gentile.
“Neither of them washes, because it’s a ridiculous story to begin with. How could two men fall down a chimney and one come out clean and the other dirty?”
It is because of this kind of thinking that Jews say that whenever two Jews are together you are always going to find at least three opinions. [Sounds like it could be a couple of Baptists as well - to me!] Perhaps this is one of the problems Paul faced when he was dealing with his countrymen about Jesus the Messiah. It is certain that this was not the way Paul thought or argued. Paul presents a reasoned, relentless, and irrefutable argument as he presents the gospel to the Romans - and ultimately to us.
Next time we will begin to take an in depth look at our text. I trust that we will see that Paul is giving us a summary of what he has taught us thus far in Romans 9-11.
Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.
In Christ,
Dan Todd
Sorry, this is a bit off topic, but when you mentioned his name, I can not resist making this comment.
Ray Steadman:
www.pbc.org Graduate of D.T.S., served in the ministries of H.A. Ironside and, later, J. Vernon McGee.
On the topic O.S.A.S. and on Hebrews 6:4-6 he had a view point on this subject that I have not heard from anyone else. He tries to reconcile the Hebrews passage with the parable of the sower and other verses the O.S.A.S. opponents use.
His viewpoint was that the Christian life is, in the Bible compared to our natural life: Birth to babies to little children to young men to fathers, as John in 1John discribes mature Christians.
His view is that, in this life, at the moment of conception, the fertilized egg is human, but is not born. That baby could come out still-born.
Now, he submits, is this what happens with the CHRISTIAN baby? Is there a gestation period, if you will, from the time one is a believer, to the time one is born a child of God? If they have fallen away, they are still-born as a child of God.
Again, a strange and unique view of this subject!
Ray Steadman:
www.pbc.org Graduate of D.T.S., served in the ministries of H.A. Ironside and, later, J. Vernon McGee.
On the topic O.S.A.S. and on Hebrews 6:4-6 he had a view point on this subject that I have not heard from anyone else. He tries to reconcile the Hebrews passage with the parable of the sower and other verses the O.S.A.S. opponents use.
His viewpoint was that the Christian life is, in the Bible compared to our natural life: Birth to babies to little children to young men to fathers, as John in 1John discribes mature Christians.
His view is that, in this life, at the moment of conception, the fertilized egg is human, but is not born. That baby could come out still-born.
Now, he submits, is this what happens with the CHRISTIAN baby? Is there a gestation period, if you will, from the time one is a believer, to the time one is born a child of God? If they have fallen away, they are still-born as a child of God.
Again, a strange and unique view of this subject!
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
"Jesus The Lamb"
Last time I began looking at Jesus pictured as God's Lamb! What a subject to consider at Passover season!!! Amen?? Jesus is our Passover, dear friend!
We looked in Genesis 22:1-8 at how the Lamb was seen in the picture of Abraham and Issac----"Behold, the wood and fire! But where is the Lamb"
Abraham's response was one of faith looking forward to the future Messiah---"God will provide Himself a Lamb."
We looked in Exodus 12: 3-5 at the Passover Lamb! Four different times the verses speak of a Lamb! Then in verse 5---it speaks of "Your Lamb"---ooooohhh how the Lord Jesus wants to get personal with you today!! He is my Lamb---and at the same time He is your Lamb---He belongs to us---and at the same time--We belong to Him! The Lamb belongs to us and we belong to the Lamb!
The Hebrews were to take the Lamb at Passover---and they were to kill the Lamb and drain the blood into a basin and with hyssop they were to apply the blood to the doorposts of their homes! The Death Angel was going to come and when the Death Angel saw the blood applied---He would pass over that particular home!!
The Hebrews were to roast that Lamb over fire! That pictured the Judgment Fire of God that would come upon the Lamb of God---Messiah would come and obsorb the Eternal Judgment Fire from the Father on our behalf!!
The Hebrews were to eat that Lamb! Did you know that when those Hebrews left Egypt---that they were leaving with a Lamb inside of them?? They, in a physical way---picture the Spirit of Jesus inside of us---"Christ in you, the hope of Glory!"
The Lamb of God is also seen in Isaiah's prophecy of Chapter 53---"He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter!"
Verses 1-2 picture the Messiah's birth and early life!
Verse 3 speak of the days of rejection
Verses 4-11 speak of the sacrificial death for the sins of the people.
In Genesis---the Lamb(ram) was provided for Issac--an individual
In Exodus---the Lamb was provided for a household
In Isaiah--the Lamb was provided for a nation
John the Baptist proclaimed there at River Jordan--"Behold! The Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world!"
A Lamb for a Person!
A Lamb for a House!
A Lamb for a Nation!
A Lamb for a World!
"Jesus The Lamb"
Last time I began looking at Jesus pictured as God's Lamb! What a subject to consider at Passover season!!! Amen?? Jesus is our Passover, dear friend!
We looked in Genesis 22:1-8 at how the Lamb was seen in the picture of Abraham and Issac----"Behold, the wood and fire! But where is the Lamb"
Abraham's response was one of faith looking forward to the future Messiah---"God will provide Himself a Lamb."
We looked in Exodus 12: 3-5 at the Passover Lamb! Four different times the verses speak of a Lamb! Then in verse 5---it speaks of "Your Lamb"---ooooohhh how the Lord Jesus wants to get personal with you today!! He is my Lamb---and at the same time He is your Lamb---He belongs to us---and at the same time--We belong to Him! The Lamb belongs to us and we belong to the Lamb!
The Hebrews were to take the Lamb at Passover---and they were to kill the Lamb and drain the blood into a basin and with hyssop they were to apply the blood to the doorposts of their homes! The Death Angel was going to come and when the Death Angel saw the blood applied---He would pass over that particular home!!
The Hebrews were to roast that Lamb over fire! That pictured the Judgment Fire of God that would come upon the Lamb of God---Messiah would come and obsorb the Eternal Judgment Fire from the Father on our behalf!!
The Hebrews were to eat that Lamb! Did you know that when those Hebrews left Egypt---that they were leaving with a Lamb inside of them?? They, in a physical way---picture the Spirit of Jesus inside of us---"Christ in you, the hope of Glory!"
The Lamb of God is also seen in Isaiah's prophecy of Chapter 53---"He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter!"
Verses 1-2 picture the Messiah's birth and early life!
Verse 3 speak of the days of rejection
Verses 4-11 speak of the sacrificial death for the sins of the people.
In Genesis---the Lamb(ram) was provided for Issac--an individual
In Exodus---the Lamb was provided for a household
In Isaiah--the Lamb was provided for a nation
John the Baptist proclaimed there at River Jordan--"Behold! The Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world!"
A Lamb for a Person!
A Lamb for a House!
A Lamb for a Nation!
A Lamb for a World!
April 14
Romans 11:7-10, “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.”
My fourteen year old nephew came up to me a couple of weeks ago and told me that he had started to take notes on the messages he hears. I told him that that was a good idea, taking notes would help him remember the sermon better. I also told him that there was one more thing he could do that would help him remember the sermon even better, type up his notes on the computer! Every time you go over the material - you will remember it longer.
Good teachers take a break during their lectures, to review or summarize the material just given. Paul does such a thing in our text. The subject material Paul has given us thus far in Romans 9-11 is summarized in Romans 11:7-10.
What has Paul been teaching in these chapters?
1. Election - a subject that is often shunned, because it runs counter to man’s thinking processes. A subject that is often shunned, because man doesn’t understand it. But a subject that’s in the Word of God, and a subject we need to make every effort to understand and believe. In Romans 9, Paul told us that the great majority of the Jewish people had (would) reject the gospel. The ones that God elected to salvation - would however - be saved. In Romans 11, Paul gives an example when he tells us that God “ha[d] reserved to [Him]self seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.” (verse 4).
In our text - Paul speaks of election in verse 7, where he says, “but the election hath obtained it.”
2. Reprobation - the doctrine that states that God passes over the many who are not saved, “sovereignly declining to elect them to salvation.” (MacArthur) Romans 9:13, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” In Romans 10, Paul goes to great lengths to show that reprobation does not eliminate the guilt of those who were passed by. We all willing chose to sin, making us guilty of rejecting God and His Word.
In our text - Paul speaks of reprobation in verse 7 and 8, when he writes, “and the rest were blinded” and “God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear.”
3. Paul tells us that there is a reason for man’s rejections of the gospel. In Romans 10, Paul discusses the fact that unregenerate man goes about trying to establish his own righteousness, and rejects God’s righteousness through Christ. The Jews were particularly prone to do this, by trying to keep the law in their own strength. But all of us are guilty of this to a great extent, before our salvation.
In our text - Paul alludes to this in verse 7, when he writes, “Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for.”
4. Finally Paul tells us that what has happened historically in the overall rejection of Christ by Israel had been foretold by God. God is sovereign, and nothing surprises Him. Furthermore, this unbelief was not a departure from His plan. In Romans 9, Paul quoted Old Testament Scripture four times. In our text, Paul quotes the Old Testament Scripture another three times. All of these quotes to show that God was not caught off guard by what man does.
Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.
In Christ,
Dan Todd
Romans 11:7-10, “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear
unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.”My fourteen year old nephew came up to me a couple of weeks ago and told me that he had started to take notes on the messages he hears. I told him that that was a good idea, taking notes would help him remember the sermon better. I also told him that there was one more thing he could do that would help him remember the sermon even better, type up his notes on the computer! Every time you go over the material - you will remember it longer.
Good teachers take a break during their lectures, to review or summarize the material just given. Paul does such a thing in our text. The subject material Paul has given us thus far in Romans 9-11 is summarized in Romans 11:7-10.
What has Paul been teaching in these chapters?
1. Election - a subject that is often shunned, because it runs counter to man’s thinking processes. A subject that is often shunned, because man doesn’t understand it. But a subject that’s in the Word of God, and a subject we need to make every effort to understand and believe. In Romans 9, Paul told us that the great majority of the Jewish people had (would) reject the gospel. The ones that God elected to salvation - would however - be saved. In Romans 11, Paul gives an example when he tells us that God “ha[d] reserved to [Him]self seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.” (verse 4).
In our text - Paul speaks of election in verse 7, where he says, “but the election hath obtained it.”
2. Reprobation - the doctrine that states that God passes over the many who are not saved, “sovereignly declining to elect them to salvation.” (MacArthur) Romans 9:13, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” In Romans 10, Paul goes to great lengths to show that reprobation does not eliminate the guilt of those who were passed by. We all willing chose to sin, making us guilty of rejecting God and His Word.
In our text - Paul speaks of reprobation in verse 7 and 8, when he writes, “and the rest were blinded” and “God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear.”
3. Paul tells us that there is a reason for man’s rejections of the gospel. In Romans 10, Paul discusses the fact that unregenerate man goes about trying to establish his own righteousness, and rejects God’s righteousness through Christ. The Jews were particularly prone to do this, by trying to keep the law in their own strength. But all of us are guilty of this to a great extent, before our salvation.
In our text - Paul alludes to this in verse 7, when he writes, “Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for.”
4. Finally Paul tells us that what has happened historically in the overall rejection of Christ by Israel had been foretold by God. God is sovereign, and nothing surprises Him. Furthermore, this unbelief was not a departure from His plan. In Romans 9, Paul quoted Old Testament Scripture four times. In our text, Paul quotes the Old Testament Scripture another three times. All of these quotes to show that God was not caught off guard by what man does.
Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.
In Christ,
Dan Todd
I Am Blessed 24
Active Member
April 16
[Friends, if all has gone as planned, Jan and I are on our way to Vermont to spend the weekend with our children and grandchildren. I asked Sue to post these devotionals on the appropriate days, and I thank her for doing so!]
Romans 11:7-10, “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.”
Our text is a summary of what Paul has written in Romans 9-11, to this point. But as the Apostle summarizes, he carries his argument a bit farther. Paul is highlighting the doctrine of election, which brings him back to the place he started in this section.
Robert Haldane (“An Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans”) asks this questions of Paul’s teaching in verse 7, “What is the result of all that the Apostle has been saying? It is this: Israel as a nation hath not obtained righteousness, of which it was in search (Rom. 9:31), but the election among them – the chosen remnant reserved by God, spoken of above – hath obtained it.” Haldane then suggestively asks, “Can anything more expressly affirm the doctrine of election?”
Ken Wuest writes, “Paul says all in Israel not included in the remnant chosen to salvation by sovereign grace were hardened.” This is one of those difficult concepts to accept, yet this is what the Word of God plainly says. Wuest puts it this way in his expanded translation, “What then? That which Israel is constantly seeking, this it did not obtain. But those chosen out obtained it. And the rest were hardened.”
There is a bit of subtlety involved in the exact Greek word used by the Apostle. The Apostle used “ekloge” (selection, chosen, election) rather than eklektos (select, chosen, elect). Boice suggests that “If he had written only that ‘the elect obtained it,’ the wording might be seen as suggesting that salvation was something the elect were themselves able to achieve. When he says ‘the election obtained it,’ it is clear they obtained it only because God first gave it to them?”
We cannot earn our salvation. There is nothing we can do that could ever meet God’s standard of righteousness. Salvation is entirely of grace, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Rom 11:6). When we take verses six and seven together, we see “that grace is election and that election is grace. Without one you just do not have the other.” (Boice)
Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.
In Christ,
Dan Todd
[Friends, if all has gone as planned, Jan and I are on our way to Vermont to spend the weekend with our children and grandchildren. I asked Sue to post these devotionals on the appropriate days, and I thank her for doing so!]
Romans 11:7-10, “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear
unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.”Our text is a summary of what Paul has written in Romans 9-11, to this point. But as the Apostle summarizes, he carries his argument a bit farther. Paul is highlighting the doctrine of election, which brings him back to the place he started in this section.
Robert Haldane (“An Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans”) asks this questions of Paul’s teaching in verse 7, “What is the result of all that the Apostle has been saying? It is this: Israel as a nation hath not obtained righteousness, of which it was in search (Rom. 9:31), but the election among them – the chosen remnant reserved by God, spoken of above – hath obtained it.” Haldane then suggestively asks, “Can anything more expressly affirm the doctrine of election?”
Ken Wuest writes, “Paul says all in Israel not included in the remnant chosen to salvation by sovereign grace were hardened.” This is one of those difficult concepts to accept, yet this is what the Word of God plainly says. Wuest puts it this way in his expanded translation, “What then? That which Israel is constantly seeking, this it did not obtain. But those chosen out obtained it. And the rest were hardened.”
There is a bit of subtlety involved in the exact Greek word used by the Apostle. The Apostle used “ekloge” (selection, chosen, election) rather than eklektos (select, chosen, elect). Boice suggests that “If he had written only that ‘the elect obtained it,’ the wording might be seen as suggesting that salvation was something the elect were themselves able to achieve. When he says ‘the election obtained it,’ it is clear they obtained it only because God first gave it to them?”
We cannot earn our salvation. There is nothing we can do that could ever meet God’s standard of righteousness. Salvation is entirely of grace, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Rom 11:6). When we take verses six and seven together, we see “that grace is election and that election is grace. Without one you just do not have the other.” (Boice)
Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.
In Christ,
Dan Todd