Humility and Sovereignty: Lessons from Israel's Blindness

 

Summary

In Romans 11:7-10, Paul addresses the spiritual state of Israel, emphasizing that while the elect have obtained what they seek, the rest have been blinded. This blindness is not merely a historical or doctrinal issue but a profound spiritual lesson for us today. The danger of seeking God in the wrong way is highlighted, as Israel's failure to obtain what they sought was due to their reliance on their own righteousness rather than God's grace. This serves as a perpetual warning to Christians to remain humble, recognizing that we are sinners saved solely by grace.

The concept of judicial blindness is introduced, where God allows a spirit of slumber to fall upon those who persistently reject His truth. This is not a matter of God creating sin or making people sin, but rather a withdrawal of His restraining grace, allowing the natural consequences of sin to manifest. This hardening is both punitive and revelatory, demonstrating the severity of unbelief and the necessity of divine election for salvation.

This doctrine challenges us to approach God with humility, acknowledging the limits of human understanding. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of God's sovereignty in salvation, as no one can come to faith apart from His election. The current spiritual state of the world, with widespread indifference or hostility to the gospel, may be a reflection of this judicial blindness. Yet, it is not for us to cease praying for revival, as God remains in control and can bring about renewal in His timing.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Danger of Self-Reliance: Israel's failure to obtain what they sought serves as a warning against relying on our own righteousness. True salvation comes only through recognizing our status as sinners saved by grace, not by our works or heritage. This humility is essential for a genuine relationship with God. [03:39]

2. Understanding Judicial Blindness: Judicial blindness is a divine response to persistent unbelief, where God withdraws His restraining grace, allowing sin to manifest fully. This serves as both a punishment and a revelation of the true nature of sin, highlighting the necessity of divine intervention for salvation. [06:29]

3. God's Sovereignty in Salvation: Salvation is entirely a work of God, and no one can come to faith apart from His election. This underscores the importance of humility and gratitude for those who have been called by His grace, as it is not by our merit but by His sovereign choice. [31:08]

4. The Role of Affluence in Spiritual Blindness: The current spiritual apathy in many societies may be attributed to affluence, where material blessings become a snare, distracting from spiritual truths. This calls for vigilance and a focus on eternal values over temporal comforts. [37:19]

5. The Mystery of Revival: Revival is a sovereign act of God, not something that can be manufactured by human effort. While we are called to pray and seek revival, we must recognize that it is ultimately in God's hands, and His timing and purposes are perfect. [41:35]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Introduction to Romans 11:7-10
- [00:51] - Exposition of the Text
- [02:11] - The Practical Relevance of Doctrine
- [02:54] - The Danger of Wrong Seeking
- [03:39] - The Humility of a Sinner Saved by Grace
- [05:02] - Judicial Blindness Explained
- [06:29] - The Spirit of Slumber
- [09:06] - The Inscrutable Will of God
- [13:34] - Human and Divine Elements in Blindness
- [17:09] - God's Restraining Grace
- [21:50] - The Process of Hardening
- [31:08] - Sovereignty in Salvation
- [37:19] - Affluence as a Snare
- [41:35] - The Mystery of Revival
- [44:39] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 11:7-10
- Psalm 69:22-28
- Isaiah 6:9-10

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Paul mean when he says, "the election has obtained it, and the rest were blinded" in Romans 11:7? How does this relate to the concept of judicial blindness? [00:14]

2. How does the sermon describe the role of God's grace in the spiritual state of Israel, and what warning does it provide for Christians today? [03:39]

3. In the sermon, how is the concept of judicial blindness explained, and what biblical examples are used to illustrate this? [06:29]

4. What is the significance of the references to Psalm 69 and Isaiah in the context of Romans 11:7-10, as discussed in the sermon? [01:39]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon interpret the relationship between self-reliance and spiritual blindness, and what implications does this have for understanding salvation by grace? [03:39]

2. What does the sermon suggest about the role of God's sovereignty in salvation, and how does this challenge common perceptions of human free will? [31:08]

3. How does the sermon explain the connection between affluence and spiritual apathy, and what biblical principles are used to support this view? [37:19]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the current spiritual state of the world might reflect the concept of judicial blindness? [36:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you relied on your own righteousness rather than God's grace. How did that affect your relationship with God, and what steps can you take to cultivate humility in your faith journey? [03:39]

2. Consider the concept of judicial blindness. Are there areas in your life where you might be resisting God's truth? How can you open yourself to His guidance and avoid spiritual hardening? [06:29]

3. How does the idea of God's sovereignty in salvation impact your understanding of your own faith journey? In what ways can you express gratitude for being called by His grace? [31:08]

4. In what ways might material blessings be distracting you from spiritual truths? Identify one area of your life where you can shift your focus from temporal comforts to eternal values. [37:19]

5. The sermon discusses the mystery of revival as a sovereign act of God. How can you actively participate in praying for revival while recognizing that it is ultimately in God's hands? [41:35]

6. How can you ensure that your pursuit of spiritual growth is aligned with God's grace rather than self-reliance? What practical steps can you take to deepen your dependence on Him? [03:39]

7. Reflect on the current spiritual climate in your community. How can you be a light in a world that may be experiencing spiritual blindness, and what role can prayer play in this effort? [36:13]

Devotional

Day 1: The Peril of Self-Righteousness
Relying on one's own righteousness rather than God's grace is a dangerous path that leads to spiritual blindness. Israel's failure to obtain what they sought serves as a warning against self-reliance. True salvation comes only through recognizing our status as sinners saved by grace, not by our works or heritage. This humility is essential for a genuine relationship with God. The danger lies in the subtlety of self-righteousness, which can manifest in pride, judgment, and a lack of compassion for others. It is crucial to continually remind ourselves of our dependence on God's grace and to approach Him with a humble heart. [03:39]

Isaiah 64:6 (ESV): "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself relying on your own righteousness? How can you actively remind yourself of your need for God's grace today?


Day 2: The Reality of Judicial Blindness
Judicial blindness is a divine response to persistent unbelief, where God withdraws His restraining grace, allowing sin to manifest fully. This serves as both a punishment and a revelation of the true nature of sin, highlighting the necessity of divine intervention for salvation. It is not that God creates sin or makes people sin, but rather He allows the natural consequences of sin to unfold. This hardening of hearts is both a warning and a call to repentance, urging us to seek God's truth earnestly and to remain open to His guidance. [06:29]

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (ESV): "Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you have been resistant to God's truth? How can you open your heart to His guidance and avoid the danger of spiritual blindness?


Day 3: The Sovereignty of God in Salvation
Salvation is entirely a work of God, and no one can come to faith apart from His election. This underscores the importance of humility and gratitude for those who have been called by His grace, as it is not by our merit but by His sovereign choice. Understanding God's sovereignty in salvation should lead us to a deeper appreciation of His grace and a greater sense of responsibility to live in a way that honors Him. It is a reminder that our faith is a gift, and we are called to steward it well, sharing the hope of the gospel with others. [31:08]

Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."

Reflection: How does understanding God's sovereignty in your salvation change the way you view your faith journey? In what ways can you express gratitude for His grace today?


Day 4: The Snare of Affluence
The current spiritual apathy in many societies may be attributed to affluence, where material blessings become a snare, distracting from spiritual truths. This calls for vigilance and a focus on eternal values over temporal comforts. Affluence can lead to complacency, where the pursuit of wealth and comfort overshadows the pursuit of God. It is essential to evaluate our priorities and ensure that our hearts are set on things above, not on earthly possessions. By doing so, we can guard against the spiritual blindness that affluence can bring. [37:19]

Proverbs 30:8-9 (ESV): "Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God."

Reflection: In what ways has affluence or the pursuit of material comfort affected your spiritual life? How can you refocus your priorities to align with eternal values?


Day 5: The Mystery of Revival
Revival is a sovereign act of God, not something that can be manufactured by human effort. While we are called to pray and seek revival, we must recognize that it is ultimately in God's hands, and His timing and purposes are perfect. This understanding should lead us to a posture of prayer and dependence, trusting that God can bring about renewal in His timing. It is a call to remain faithful in our spiritual disciplines and to be open to the ways God might work in and through us to bring about revival. [41:35]

Habakkuk 3:2 (ESV): "O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in seeking revival in your own life and community? What steps can you take today to prepare your heart for the work God might want to do through you?

Quotes

I will now provide you with 12 quotes from the transcript, each followed by its starting timestamp:

Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for and the reason for that is that he didn't seek it in the right way that's the whole tragedy of Israel and we saw how that's got a great deal to say to us at the present time this is the terrifying thought which we must always keep in our mind as Christian people. [00:03:01]

There is only one position for the Christian not only at the beginning but even at the end of his life he's nothing but a sinner saved only by the grace of God doesn't matter what he's done doesn't matter how useful he's been in the kingdom when he comes to die and to face God. [00:03:39]

Judicial blindness where is it well it begins there at the end of the seventh verse the rest were blinded Israel has not obtained that which he seeketh for but the election has obtained it now we've dealt with that the election has obtained it and they've obtained it because they are the elect of God. [00:05:02]

The rest and this is the bulk the majority the nation looked at as a whole were blind and then he goes on to elaborate this in the remaining verses of this portion according as it is written God ha given them the Spirit of Slumber eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear unto the this day. [00:05:40]

There are those who dislike this Doctrine and who reject it and then there are others who react against them and are almost proud of it but both are equally wrong it's a doctrine that ought to fill us all with a sense of amazement and astonishment any partisan spirit that comes in on any side with regard to a matter like this. [00:07:24]

God did not create sin it is impossible that he should do so God is light and in him is no Darkness at all God didn't create sin God never made any man a sinner God has never made anybody sin that is impossible it is inconceivable as James reminds us God neither tempteth neither can be tempted. [00:29:49]

God has given them a Spirit of Slumber they had been Rec Gant disobedient they had been murdering God's prophets as he sent them to them one after another and even when he sends his son they do the same thing very well God is there as it were showing this terrible thing called unbelief. [00:32:53]

The religious situation in this country is mainly to be explained by affluence the table never heard it so good you see the table is full plenty of money in our pockets plenty of drink M car all let their table be made a snare so off they go in their cars on the Sunday to the Seas side or the Mountaintop. [00:37:19]

Poverty is a terrible thing but you know affluence is a more dangerous thing in a spiritual sense the table has so often been the snare and I believe that we are seeing something of this at this present time that this country and other countries are under this process of judicial blindness. [00:37:49]

There is a point at which it is well for us to stop presenting the truth of the Gospel to certain people if you find that somebody whom you're trying to bring to a knowledge of the truth begins to blaspheme I say stop doing it stop doing it just tell them that you're not going to talk to them about it anymore. [00:38:29]

You can really have a REV Revival almost whenever you like there are certain things which you've got to do if you do those things you will get a Revival so in his lectures he tells ministers what to do you get people to make confession of their sins and this and that you do these things he says and Revival is bound to happen. [00:40:20]

There are some of us who've been praying for Revival for many years and preaching and talking about it and urging people to pray for it why doesn't Revival come say people well you know this may be a part of the answer it may be that we are at the moment passing through a phase of judicial hardening. [00:41:35]

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