Israel’s Rejection of God’s Saving Promises (9:30-10:21)

Introduction:

God’s sovereignty is compatible with human responsibility. Israel should have believed the gospel and trusted in Christ, but the majority refused to do so. Still, God’s saving promises will be fulfilled.

III. THE BASIS OF GOD'S CHOICE: FAITH vs. NO FAITH (9:30-33)

A. FOR THE GENTILES (30)

1. Though they had not actively been looking for it (30a)

They had not made it their main object to justify themselves had no such mighty obstacle in a system of self-righteousness to overcome as the Jew had

2. Yet many have attained righteousness through faith (30b)

Justification by faith in Christ.

B. FOR ISRAEL (31-33)

1. Though diligent for the Law, did not have the attitude of faith (31-32a)

The phrase, “the law of righteousness,” means the law of justice, or the just law

They depended on their own righteousness, and not on the mercy of God to be obtained by faith

2. And therefore stumbled over Christ, as foretold by Isaiah (32b-33)

Isaiah 28:16 (ESV)

16 therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

How should they know anything about justification by faith?

The doctrine was stated in the Old Testament. (Hab 2:4 “4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” )

The sacrifices had reference to a future state of things, and were doubtless so understood

The principle of justification, and of living by faith, had been fully brought out in the lives and experience of the saints of old. (Ro 4 & Heb 11)

A stumbling-stone is a stone or impediment in the path, over which men may fall

IV. ISRAEL'S REFUSAL OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS (10:1-15)

A. PAUL'S EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR ISRAEL (1-4)

1. That Israel be saved, for they have zeal but not knowledge (1-2)

my heart’s desire (eudokia) - good will, kindly intent, benevolence

zealous (zelos) for God - excitement of mind, ardor, fervor of spirit

not based on knowledge (epignosis) - precise and correct knowledge

2. Through ignorance, they seek to save themselves by the Law, and do not submit to God's righteousness in Christ which brings an end to the Law (3-4)

Self Righteousness vs. God’s Righteousness

Christ is the end (telos) of the law - the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose

B. RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW vs. RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH IN CHRIST (5-15)

1. Righteousness of the Law as defined by Moses (5)

The righteousness which a perfect obedience to the law of God would produce. That consisted in perfectly doing all that the law required

2. Righteousness by faith as defined by Paul (6-15)

a) Involves the mouth and the heart (6-8)

Paul quotes from Moses in Deut. 30:11-14 “11 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”

Used by Jews to declare something difficult to understand

We world say, “It’s not Rocket Science...”

No further investigation needed

b) Involves confessing Jesus and believing in His resurrection (9-10)

Confess (homologeo) - to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent

Believe (pisteuo) - to entrust a thing to one

The true test of inward belief is the manifestation of outward confessions!

c) Offered to all who believe and call on Him (11-13)

Everyone (Jew and Gentile alike) who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The word call (epikaleomai) here means more than just the general word for call. It means to address one by name recognizing both the relationship to that one and the resource that the one can give.

d) Accomplished through the medium of preaching (14-15)

V. ISRAEL'S NEGLECT OF THE GOSPEL (10:16-21)

A. NOT ALL OBEYED THE GOSPEL (16-18)

1. As Isaiah predicted (16)

Taken from Isaiah 53:1 “1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

Jews not looking for a suffering Messiah

John repeats in John 12:38-40 “38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.””

2. Even though they had ample opportunity (17-18)

Faith comes from hearing God’s Word

Not all who hear believe, but all who believe must hear

This “hearing” of God’s word did go out to the Jews

B. THEIR NEGLECT, AND THE GENTILES RECEPTION, FORESEEN BY SCRIPTURES (19-21)

1. As spoken by Moses (19)

Taken from Deut. 32:21 “21 They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”

God’s plan from the beginning was that Jew and Gentile alike would believe the same message (vs. 12)

2. As spoken by Isaiah (20-21)

Isaiah 65:1 - “…those who did not seek me…those who did not ask for me” : Gentiles

Isaiah 65:2 - “…disobedient and obstinate people” : Jews