No Excuse for Israel’s Unbelief Romans II Series [8] Romans 10:16-21

Romans 10:16-21 [ESV] 16Butthey have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 18But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.“ 19But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”

Romans 10:16-21 [ESV] 20Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."

WHY HEARING IS SO IMPORTANT FOR SAVING FAITH “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (v.17) Hearing brings God’s word about Christ to the soul of hearers. The word of Christ is the CONTENT of faith—what we believe. The word of Christ is also the CAUSE of faith—what produces faith in us. Therefore, saving faith depends on HEARING the Word of God about Christ.

WHY ISRAEL HAS NO EXCUSE FOR THEIR UNBELIEF 1)Israel has no excuse because they have HEARD the gospel. 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” (v.16) But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." (v.18)

WHY ISRAEL HAS NO EXCUSE FOR THEIR UNBELIEF 1)Israel has no excuse because they have HEARD the gospel.  The word, “obey” [hupakouo] (v.16) has its root meaning as “to hear under”—they [Israelites] did not submit to what they heard.  God’s message about Christ came to the Jews first but they did not believe the message [Isaiah’s prophecy].  Quoting Psalm 19:4 [general revelation], Paul extends it for special revelation [the gospel] to contend that Israelites indeed have heard the gospel.

WHY ISRAEL HAS NO EXCUSE FOR THEIR UNBELIEF 2)Israel has no excuse because they have UNDERSTOOD the gospel. But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry." (v.19)  Israel not only heard God’s message but understood the Word.  Paul quotes Moses (Deut. 32:21) first: The Jews knew that judgment would come upon them if they didn’t trust and obey in God’s law.  This was also the prophecy that Israel’s unbelief would result in God’s turning to Gentiles to provoke Israel’s jealousy.

WHY ISRAEL HAS NO EXCUSE FOR THEIR UNBELIEF 3)Israel has no excuse because they have deliberately REJECTED the gospel. 20Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me." 21But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people." (vs.20-21)

WHY ISRAEL HAS NO EXCUSE FOR THEIR UNBELIEF 3)Israel has no excuse because they have deliberately REJECTED the gospel.  Ultimately, Israel’s unbelief is due to their rejection of God’s message about Christ.  The unbelieving Jews have lost their place with God, and the believing Gentiles have been drafted in the “olive tree” (Romans 11:17)  Two emphases in v.21 (Isaiah 65:1-2): [1] God’s unceasing mercy and [2] Israel’s stubborn disobedience.

FOUR VIEWS*: “WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVEN’T HEARD?” 1)Normative Pluralism: All ethical religions lead to God. Therefore, those who haven’t heard can be saved through all “good” religions leading to God (e.g., John Hick). 2)Inclusivism: Salvation is found in Christ alone, but that conscious faith in Christ is not necessary for salvation. Therefore, those who haven’t heard can be saved through an implicit faith response to general revelation (e.g., Clark Pinnock & John Sanders). 3)Traditional Exclusivism: This is the traditional evangelical view of salvation in Christ alone and the necessity of conscious faith in Christ. Therefore, those who die without Christ—including those who haven’t heard—are not saved (Most conservative evangelical theologians).

FOUR VIEWS*: “WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVEN’T HEARD?” 4)Agonistic Exclusivism: Salvation is in Christ alone, but we cannot know for sure the fate of those who never heard the gospel because Scripture is explicitly clear about them. (e.g., Alister McGrath). * See Four Views on Salvation in a Pluralistic World (Zondervan, 1996)

FOUR VIEWS*: “WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVEN’T HEARD?” How should we approach this question?  Scripture does NOT say specifically about what will happen to those who have never heard.  BUT Scripture is CLEAR and straightforward about salvation and judgment of those who have heard the gospel (Romans 10:9-15; Acts 4:12).  In this light of the Scriptural guidance, the only two biblically viable options are the views #3 & #4. In either case, what is certain is God’s sovereign justice & mercy.  Therefore, while we can say that we don’t have an absolute answer, we must direct the focus back to what Scripture clearly reveals to us: [1] hearers’ responsibility of faith and [2] believers’ responsibility of evangelism to all nations.

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Thank God for REACHING OUT TO YOU in his sovereign mercy.  Remember that all day long God had “held out his hands” to us during our disobedience.  Stay humbly dependent on God’s mercy for your renewal.  Thank God for those who shared/preached about Jesus, so you could hear and believe. 2.Mirror God’s mercy and love for you by REACHING OUT TO those who still need Jesus.  Patiently hold out your hand with the gospel to the people who need to hear and believe.  Act on God’s mercy and love for those who need Jesus.  Pray for their salvation.

Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling by Will L. Thompson [1880] Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me; See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching, Watching for you and for me. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, Pleading for you and for me? Why should we linger and heed not His mercies, Mercies for you and for me? Come home, come home, You who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home!