Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience, Sermons
I. THE DUALISM. As Godet very strikingly says, "The entire course of the religious history of the world is determined by the antagomsm created among mankind by the calling of Abraham, between a people specially destined by God to receive his revelations, and the other nations given over to themselves. From that moment (Genesis 12.) there begin to be described those two immense curves which traverse the ages of antiquity in opposite directions, and which, crossing one another at the advent of Christianity, are prolonged from that period in inverse directions, and shall terminate by uniting and losing themselves in one another at the goal of history." 1. The early period of the history of the world, after the call of Abraham, consisted of the contrast between believing Israel and the unbelieving nations. The Gentiles, as the beginning of the Epistle reminded us, were given over to their ignorance and sin. Why? Because they "were disobedient to God." Theirs was a negative discipline to fit them for the reception of the truth. They were "shut up unto disobedience," that they might be prepared to receive unmerited mercy at the hands of God. And the discipline did its work. For them there came a "fulness of the times." They became sick of their own endeavours after wisdom and righteousness, and when Christ was preached unto them they received him. How had it been with the Jews? They were chosen by God to receive his truth, and the preparations for his salvation, in trust for the world. Theirs was a positive discipline. But the same sinful nature was in them as in the Gentiles, and it operated against the truth. They became hardened. Their very privileges became a snare to them. And at last, the "fulness of the times" having arrived for them also, when their own Christ came unto them, they received him not! 2. The later period of the world's history, after Christ, consisted of a contrast, which itself was in contrast with the former one. The Jews were given over, are given over still, to their hardness of unbelief. They are the stoutest opponents of the gospel. They are "enemies." God was compelled to cast them off, that the gospel which they refused might be set free for the acceptance of the world. And the Gentiles are reaping the benefits of their rejection still. Not as dogs, eating the crumbs from the children's table, but themselves admitted to the forsaken festal board. II. THE UNIVERSALISM. The dualism shall not always last; God is preparing the way for the religious fusion of all the peoples of the world; they shall become one in Christ. 1. The gospel which the Jews despised, and the salvation of their own Saviour, is leavening the Gentile world; the nations, one by one, are passing out of heathendom into Christendom. Apart from the question of the conversion to true spiritual religion of individuals, the world is being won for Christ. 2. But what of Israel? "The fulness of the Gentiles" shall "come in; and so all Israel shall be saved." Oh, the strange irony of history! By the agency of the Israelites the world should have been won; now by the example and agency of Gentiles the Israelites shall be won. Yes; the hardening was but "in part," some being believers from the first; but likewise only temporary - "until." For they are still the people fitted by their gifts for God's great work, and therefore his call is not revoked. And the very working of their disobedience, as in the case of the heathen nations once, is but to fit them to receive his grace. And according to their own prophecies the Deliverer shall come, and "from Jacob" ungodliness shall be turned away. So then God will "have mercy upon all." Let us learn his ways of judgment. He will give us up to our sins, if we persist in cherishing them, till we repent. But let us learn also his marvellous love: repenting, he will receive us freely! - T.F.L.
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy. 1. Promote humility.2. Awaken gratitude. 3. Soften our censures. 4. Strengthen our hopes of others. (T. Robinson, D.D.) I. WE HAVE RECEIVED MERCY —1. Unmerited. 2. Free. 3. Through the unbelief of Israel. II. WE MUST SHOW MERCY — 1. As an expression of gratitude. 2. A debt of justice. 3. A Christian duty. (J. Lyth, D.D.) Observe —I. THE MYSTERIOUS WAY IS WHICH GOD HAS DISPENSED HIS BLESSINGS TO MANKIND — first the Jew, then the Gentile; all Israel, then the fulness of the Gentiles. The mysteriousness of this plan — delay, partial bestowment, transfer, final restoration. II. THE DESIGN OF IT. 1. To provoke the Jews to jealousy. 2. To provoke the Christian world to love. (J. Lyth, D. D.) The argument is taken from the like dealing of God with the Gentiles. The impiety of the Gentiles was no impediment to their mercy, neither shall the infidelity of the Jews to theirs.I. THE GENTILES WERE INFIDELS (Ephesians 2:12), BUT BY THE UNBELIEF OF THE JEWS THEY ARE RECEIVED TO MERCY. 1. Forget not what thou wert, for we have all fun the race of the prodigal son. It is God's grace if it be otherwise with thee now. Be thankful. How if God had taken thee away in thy sins? Let this bind thee to thy good behaviour for ever (1 Timothy 1:15; cf. Titus 3:8). 2. Faith is a sweet mercy, so is the Word of God, the means of that faith. Alas for them which, having the means of faith, yet contemn the same! 3. Sin breeds sorrow, and many times sorrow kills the sin which bred it, as a worm breeding in timber consumes it. So the sin of the Jews works to the good of the Gentiles by the goodness of God. calls the sin of Adam happy, because it was the occasion of salvation; so in some sort may we say of the unbelief of the Jews. 4. God forbid that we should lightly esteem the grace God offers us, it coming unto us at so dear a rate as is the casting off of His people. 5. When we were infidels, God showed us mercy; much more will He be merciful to us now we believe. II. THE JEWS ARE NOW IN AN ESTATE OF UNBELIEF, BUT THEY SHALL BE RECEIVED TO MERCY (Isaiah 46:4; Jeremiah 24:6, 7). 1. There is yet mercy for the Jews, by the example of the like mercy to the Gentiles. But it is now sixteen hundred years ago since they were cast off; is it likely that after so long time they should be called? Yes; for the Gentiles lay longer under their infidelities, yet at last received grace. 2. Faith is not in the power of man, nor can any means effect it without God's blessing. One would think that this long affliction of the Jews might make them cry peccavi, beside other means God hath afforded them. In trouble, then, pray it may be sanctified to thy profit. Pray also for a blessing on the Word, else it will be unprofitable, though the preacher were a son of thunder. 3. Carry thyself meekly toward a Jew, and toward unbelievers among ourselves, considering thyself, who wert in the same condemnation. Judge not thy neighbour for damned; He that converted thee can in His good time convert him also. Play the physician to thy neighbour's soul; show him of the mercy thou hast received, that he also may be stirred up to seek to Him who is merciful. God gave Paul consolation in distress, that he might comfort others; so if He give thee knowledge, faith, etc., use them in like manner. 4. Who, then, is the better for thy gifts? The Jew compasseth sea and land to make a proselyte. The Jesuits wind themselves like serpents into every place to make a papist. Drunkards and other ungodly persons seek to draw others to their practices. 5. Let the Jew follow the faith of the Gentile, so do thou the example of good Christians among whom thou livest. It is a great furtherance to godliness to have an example to the rule. It is a help to the scholar to have a copy to write by, but a greater furtherance to his profiting to see his master make the letters. (Elnathan Parr, B.D.) For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all I. How?1. By nature. 2. By providence — first the Gentile, then the Jew. 3. By the appointment of eternal justice. II. WHY? 1. That God's mercy. 2. To all. 3. Might be more gloriously manifested. III. IN WHAT WAY THIS DIVINE ARRANGEMENT CONTRIBUTES TO SUCH A RESULT. 1. By convincing man of his sinfulness and utter helplessness. 2. By preparing him for the reception of mercy. (J. Lyth, D.D.) 1. That their salvation might be manifestly seen to be by grace.2. That self-righteous boasting might be excluded. 3. That men might duly appreciate the blessings of His redemptive love. 4. That scope might be afforded for the full display of His mercy. (C. Neil, M.A.) Here is an elegant similitude. Men unconverted are prisoners — God the Judge, unbelief the prison, the devil the gaoler, the law the sergeant, and natural corruption the fetters.I. GOD HATH SHUT UP ALL IN UNBELIEF. This is the common condition of all men (Romans 3:9, 19, 23; Galatians 3:22). 1. Paul hath in the passage of this business ten times told us of our miserable condition by nature. Here we are poor sinners; it is our part to take knowledge of our corrupt nature. 2. Great is the misery that accompanies imprisonment, restraint of liberty, hunger, cold, shame, chains, but no dungeon more loathsome than an unbelieving heart. Oh that we could be sensible of it, that we might sigh to God for deliverance, as did the Israelites in Egypt. When a man is arrested, what lamenting among his friends: but our very souls are imprisoned in the worst of prisons, under the worst of gaolers, and yet we are merry, as though it were but a trifle. 3. We may know whether we be yet in this prison by two things.(1) By faith in God. Hast thou this? If not, there needs no jury to find thee guilty: thou art in the very bottom of the dungeon. But thou sayest there is a God. Thy life condemns thee, for thou actest as if there were no God.(2) By faith in His Word. The Scripture threatens ungodly men with the plagues of God, and promiseth eternal life to the godly. Did men believe this, durst they run on in all profaneness? II. THAT HE MIGHT HAVE MERCY ON ALL (Galatians 3:22). 1. Our salvation is of mere mercy, but it is a hard thing to be brought to acknowledge it. The Gentiles were 2,000 years before they could learn this lesson, and the Jews have been 1,600 about it, and yet have not learned it; yea, there are many amongst us that cannot say this lesson right. Most men hope to be saved by their prayers and good serving God; we are loth to lose the commendation of our own goodness. 2. Jews and Gentiles should live together, seeing they are both in one prison for one end, and set free by one and the same mercy. 3. If any be set free, it is by the mercy of God, who hath the key of our unbelieving hearts, doth open and shut them at His pleasure. As a man committed by the king can be set free by none but the king, so God committed us, and none can set us free but Himself. Cry, therefore, to the Lord for mercy. 4. There are two notes whereby we may discern whether we be released out of the prison or no.(1) Our joy. A liberated prisoner leaps and dances, so as no ground will hold him; so birds and beasts escaping from their restraint scud about, as sensible of the sweetness of liberty.(2) Our carefulness not to commit anything that may bring us into such bondage. So he that believeth the pardon of sin will for ever hate sin. For the most part, prisoners are of wicked behaviour; so if thy conversation be lewd, it is a manifest sign thou art not yet delivered. (Elnathan Parr, B.D.) People Benjamin, David, Elias, Elijah, Jacob, Paul, RomansPlaces Rome, ZionTopics Believe, Believed, Disobedience, Disobedient, Formerly, Got, Indeed, Kindness, Mercy, Objects, Obtained, Past, Received, Result, Rule, Shown, Turning, Unbelief, YetOutline 1. God has not cast off all Israel.7. Some were elected, though the rest were hardened. 16. There is hope of their conversion. 18. The Gentiles may not exult over them; 26. for there is a promise of their salvation. 33. God's judgments are unsearchable. Dictionary of Bible Themes Romans 11:1-36 5325 gifts Library June 19. "Who Hath First Given to Him, and it Shall be Recompensed unto Him Again" (Rom. xi. 35). "Who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again" (Rom. xi. 35). The Christian women of the world have it in their power, by a very little sacrifice, to add millions to the treasury of the Lord. Beloved sisters, have you found the joy of sacrifice for Jesus? Have you given up something that you might give it to Him? Are you giving your substance to Jesus? He will take it, and He will give you a thousandfold more. I should rather be connected with a work founded on great sacrifice … Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth Trinity Sunday the Article of Faith on the Trinity. Trinity Sunday the Doctrine of the Trinity. Spiritual Blindness. Christianity Requires the Temper of Childhood. The Hardening of Nations. Of Holy virginity Now this Election the Apostle Demonstrating to Be... History of Arian Opinions. Epistle Xliii. To Eulogius and Anastasius, Bishops. The Beatific vision. (Continued. ) The Sovereignty of God in Operation Reprobation Asserted: Or, the Doctrine of Eternal Election and Reprobation Promiscuously Handled, in Eleven Chapters. The Original and the Actual Relation of Man to Law. "Wash You, Make You Clean; Put Away the Evil of Your Doings from Before Mine Eyes; Cease to do Evil," God's Works of Providence Because of Its Bearing Upon the Gentiles. Christ a Complete Saviour: Some General Uses. The Work of the Holy Spirit Distinguished. I Fear, I Say, Greatly for Thee, Lest... Concerning the Ministry. The Angel's Message and Song Links Romans 11:30 NIVRomans 11:30 NLT Romans 11:30 ESV Romans 11:30 NASB Romans 11:30 KJV Romans 11:30 Bible Apps Romans 11:30 Parallel Romans 11:30 Biblia Paralela Romans 11:30 Chinese Bible Romans 11:30 French Bible Romans 11:30 German Bible Romans 11:30 Commentaries Bible Hub |