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Sermon: And the Rest Were Blinded (Romans 11: 7 -11)

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ROMANS XLI: AND THE REST WERE BLINDED

Douglas Wilson

Christ Church - Moscow, ID

A.D. November 29, 2009

INTRODUCTION:

So we have learned that there are two Israels, formed as a result of two different ways of “hearing” the Word of

God. One hears the Word in a way that quickens true faith, and the other hears (after a fashion) in a way that

hardens the heart in a persistent but wrong-headed pursuit of God—because it is a pursuit of God on our terms,

instead of on His.

THE TEXT:

“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

stumbling block, and a recompense unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down

their back always. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall

salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy” (Rom. 11: 7-11).

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT:

What then is the result? Israel has not obtained it (v. 7), but the election has obtained it (v. 7). This means that the

election here were those Israelites who heard to the salvation of their souls. Those who did not hear were Israel in

the other sense, Israel according to the flesh. And so the election (which included Paul) obtained, while the rest

were blinded (v. 7). This fulfilled the Word from two places—Deuteronomy 29:4 and Isaiah 29:10, quoted in

verse 8. David also points to the same reality in Psalm 69:22-23), quoted here in vv. 9-10. This being the case,

Paul asks if they have stumbled past the point of no return (v. 11). Is the apostasy final? His answer to this is his

standard may it never be, rendered here as God forbid. This answer sets up the discussion to follow, where we learn

how Israel according to the flesh will eventually be brought back, to be grafted back in. In the meantime, they have

stumbled for a time, and that stumbling resulted in salvation coming to the Gentiles, which in its turn will provoke

the Jews to jealousy, and cause them to return again to the true Israel (v. 11).

ROMANS 11: 7 -11: AND THE REST WERE BLINDED
Douglas Wilson
Christ Church - Moscow, ID
A.D. November 29, 2009

Watch Listen Outline

INTRODUCTION:

So we have learned that there are two Israels, formed as a result of two different ways of “hearing” the Word of God. One hears the Word in a way that quickens true faith, and the other hears (after a fashion) in a way that hardens the heart in a persistent but wrong-headed pursuit of God—because it is a pursuit of God on our terms, instead of on His.

THE TEXT:

“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 stumbling block, and a recompense unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy” (Rom. 11: 7-11).

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT:

What then is the result? Israel has not obtained it (v. 7), but the election has obtained it (v. 7). This means that the election here were those Israelites who heard to the salvation of their souls. Those who did not hear were Israel in the other sense, Israel according to the flesh. And so the election (which included Paul) obtained, while the rest were blinded (v. 7). This fulfilled the Word from two places—Deuteronomy 29:4 and Isaiah 29:10, quoted in verse 8. David also points to the same reality in Psalm 69:22-23), quoted here in vv. 9-10. This being the case, Paul asks if they have stumbled past the point of no return (v. 11). Is the apostasy final? His answer to this is his standard may it never be, rendered here as God forbid. This answer sets up the discussion to follow, where we learn how Israel according to the flesh will eventually be brought back, to be grafted back in. In the meantime, they have stumbled for a time, and that stumbling resulted in salvation coming to the Gentiles, which in its turn will provoke the Jews to jealousy, and cause them to return again to the true Israel (v. 11).

Watch Listen Outline

Sermon: And the Rest Were Blinded (Romans 11: 7 -11)

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