Скачать или смотреть #29 - WHY WOULD A GOOD GOD BRING SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS TO ISRAEL?

#29 In The Series "ROMANS - The Letter That Changed The World"

The meaning of God’s dealings with all mankind is covered in this letter. The very first question sets Paul’s agenda for this passage - Romans 11:11 - “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall?....”

Note the difference in Paul’s word play between the two verbs “stumble” and “fall.” To stumble is to trip over something (in the case of the Jews, God’s plan to save by grace plus nothing). To fall is the end result of stumbling. Sometimes you stumble temporarily - losing your balance momentarily. But other times you stumble and then fall. You land flat on your face. And sometimes you can’t get up.

So we can see Paul approaching the second of his two main questions in Romans chapter eleven. The first question - did God reject the Jewish people partially or totally? - we studied last week. God has rejected the Jewish people partially, not completely. The key verse stating this fact is Romans 11:7 - “What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened....” The separation is clearly spelled out. There is the elect in Israel who have found favor with God, and there is the rest of Israel, who have been judged by God.

Now on to Paul’s second question. Has God rejected the Jewish people permanently or temporarily? That’s what Paul is asking in verse 11. Certainly Israel has stumbled, but has she fallen to the point where she cannot get up? Paul’s answer is “No, she has stumbled, but has not permanently fallen.” And then he goes on to explain God’s marvellous plan and purpose in the predominant unbelief of Israel and God’s resulting judgment on her.