Rejection, Redemption, Restoration
Romans 10:19-21
Romans 10:19-21
Introduction
Preceding Context (cf. Romans 10:12-18):
- The Word of God is to be preached everywhere that those who hear might believe and be saved.
- It is the duty of the church to send preachers everywhere to sound forth the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Present Concern:
A concern was raised about the rejection of the Gospel by the nation of Israel, while it is accepted increasingly by the Gentiles.
v.19 - “But I say, Did not Israel know?”
- Why is it that while people from all nations are turning to Christ, Israel, as a nation, shows no knowledge of Christ?
- Israel’s present ignorance of Christ and Gentiles acceptance of Christ are not because the Gospel was not preached to Israel, while it is preached elsewhere.
- Jesus was born in the midst of Israel. He lived, ministered, died, resurrected and ascended to heaven from their midst. Jesus said in Matthew 15:24, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
- The apostolic ministry of the Gospel began in Jerusalem of Israel. Peter told the Jews in Acts 3:25-26, “Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”
- So Israel had the witnesses of:
Christ who lived in their midst
The early apostlic preaching ministry
The early Christians
The testimony of John the Baptist
The covenants & promises in the Old Testament that pointed to Christ
The prophets who testified of Christ
• Why are they still ignorant of Christ?
Rejection (v.19b)
- It was the rejection of Christ, even though all of those testimonies were before them, that made them ignorant of their Saviour.
- To prove this is the case, Paul cited the words of Old Testament prophet, Moses in Deuteronomy 32:21.
- Paul cited in verse 19b the last part of Deuteronomy 32:21, “First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.”
- The larger context of Deuteronomy 32:21 – “They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”
- Through Moses God has prophesied that when Israel would go after other gods, He would provoke them by leaving them for foolish nations who knew Him not.
- Paul cites a very early prophet as Moses to show how early God has warned against their rejection of Christ.
- A two-fold rejection – When Israel rejected Christ, God rejected Israel.
Redemption (v.20)
- Israel rejection of Christ has turned God to the Gentiles that He might redeemed them through the Gospel of Christ.
- To prove this is the case, Paul cited another prophet other than Moses, even Isaiah.
- In verse 20, Paul cited Isaiah 65:1, "But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me."
- Here Isaiah boldy told a proud Israel that God will turn toward a people, who never sought Him in worship or prayer, even the Gentiles, that He may become their God.
- Let us take note that it is not the goodness of Gentiles that moved God to save them.
- It was His own gracious decision that brought salvation to us, who are non-Israleites.
- It is man’s duty to “Seek and find.” But we failed.
- So God revealed Himself to them who never sought Him that He may be found of them.
- He dispenses His grace at His good pleasure to whom He chose. Thus he manifested himself to the Gentiles, by sending the light of the gospel among them.
- So let us not become proud because we are now favoured at the expense of Israel and become like Israel who rejected God and His Word in their pride.
- Paul warns us in Romans 11:19-22 – “Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”
Restoration (v.21)
“But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” This is a citation of Isaiah 65:2.
- The Lord is patient to His people. He yearns over Israel all day long.
- Though He left them for now, He still awaits their returning with stretched hands.
- So Paul pleaded that they would believe on the Lord
Conclusion
- Let us return to Him, from all our backsliding. He will receive us with open arms.
- Let us echo the message of Romans 10:19-21 by singing Fanny J. Crosby’s famous hymn, “Jesus is calling”. Encourage ourselves and others around us to be restored to Christ from all our backsliding.
Jesus is tenderly calling thee home
Calling today, Calling today
Why from the sunshine of love wilt thou roam
Farther and Farther away
Chorus: Calling today, Calling today,
Jesus is calling,
Is tenderly calling today
Jesus is calling the weary to rest
Calling today, Calling today
Bring Him thy burden and thou shalt be blest
He will not turn thee away . . . . chorus
Jesus is waiting, O come to Him now
Waiting today, Waiting today
Come with thy sins at His feet lowly bow
Come and no longer delay . . . . chorus
Jesus is pleading, O list to His voice
Hear Him today, Hear Him today
They who believe on His name shall rejoice
Quickly arise and away . . . . chorus
