"Beware, Of the Hardening!"

INTRODUCTION.

Romans 11:1–10 LSB

1 I say then, has God rejected His people? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 GOD HAS NOT REJECTED HIS PEOPLE whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.” 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I HAVE LEFT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.” 5 In this way then, at the present time, a remnant according to God’s gracious choice has also come to be. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but the chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 just as it is written, “GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.” 9 And David says, “LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. 10 “LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.”

MESSAGE.

I. God’s Promise.

God has not rejected His promise.

Paul.

Romans 11:1 LSB

1 I say then, has God rejected His people? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Those He Foreknew.

Romans 11:2 LSB

2 GOD HAS NOT REJECTED HIS PEOPLE whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?

Elijah.

Romans 11:2 LSB

2 GOD HAS NOT REJECTED HIS PEOPLE whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?

Story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal on top of Mount Carmel.

Flees from Jezabel.

Just seen God work. In reference to 1 kings. 19:18.

Romans 11:3 LSB

3 “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”

God Responds

Romans 11:4 LSB

4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I HAVE LEFT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

II. God’s Remnant.

God works with a remnant.

Romans 11:5 LSB

5 In this way then, at the present time, a remnant according to God’s gracious choice has also come to be.

God’s Grace.

Romans 11:6 LSB

6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

God giving what is not deserved.

III. God’s Hardening.

Rejection of God’s Grace leads to hardening of the heart.

Seeking Righteousness.

Romans 11:7 LSB

7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but the chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

Israel wanted Righteousness but they sought their righteousness through works.

Romans 10:3 LSB

3 For not knowing about the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

Let us notice first that neither here nor anywhere else is God said to harden anyone who had not first hardened himself. - Leon Morris.

Hardening.

Romans 11:7 LSB

7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but the chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

Petrify (wood)

to render insensitive.

mostly of the heart

make dull, blind, close the mind.

God gave them over.

Romans 11:8 LSB

8 just as it is written, “GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.”

Stupor

a condition of greatly dulled sense.

a state of extreme apathy.

They were satisfied with their own religions works

Romans 11:9 LSB

9 And David says, “LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.

Table - psalms 69:22-23.

Psalm 69:22–23 LSB

22 May their table before them become a snare; And when they are in peace, may it become a trap. 23 May their eyes darken so that they cannot see, And make their loins quake continually.

Religious processes

Church

tithing

Religious observances.

Baptism

Lord’s Supper

They would not get it.

Romans 11:10 LSB

10 “LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.”

CONCLUSION.

Salvation comes one way and one way only.

That is through the grace of God through the gift of His Son, Jesus.

Holy Spirit convicts the lost of their need for Christ.

enough rejection of that conviction and one will no longer feel the calling.

Also, the rejection or delayed response in conviction to sin in the life of the believer will lead to dulness and apathy.