The Remedy [and Results] for Israel's Rejection

Romans 10:13-21

The remedy is for them to hear the clear message of the gospel, and believe on Jesus for who He is!

Notice these verses present God's plan in reverse.  It goes from the desired end [being saved] to how it can come to pass.  Usually we apply these verses to missions, and they make great sense that way.  But the primary application here is to Israel. 

Sending precedes hearing, believing and calling.

1 Corinthians 1:21
... it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

God anoints men to preach the gospel, and soulwinners to present the gospel to the lost. 

Let's turn this reverse logic inside out now:  If preachers and soulwinners are not sent, then people cannot hear, and believe, and call on the Lord to save them.

This is why we send out missionaries, or young people to Bible college, or go on visitation.  This is why Jesus said, as the Father hath sent me, so send I you!

Paul is talking to his Jewish comrades, so he gathers some OT support that they respect:

v. 15        A quote from Nahum

Nahum 1:15
Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace!

Nahum was talking to the Assyrians, who were a brutal, savage people, known for skinning their victims alive, and cutting out their tongues...brutal torture!  God judged them, destroying them.  But in those days there was no 24 hour news.  No television, telegraph, telephone, or tell a woman!  Messengers carried the news to other regions.  And when the messenger came running w/ that good news of the Assyrians' destruction, they said, oh how beautiful are your feet which carried this good news to us!  It had a past application.

Also found in...

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Here it has a future application:

It's Jesus returning to establish His earthly kingdom.  That will be a message of good news as well.

Now, Paul makes a present application:  the messengers of the gospel.  No greater good news to share!  What's better than an enemy defeated?  An enemy saved!  What's better than peace on earth?  A peace filled eternity!  What could be better than finding out good news from the doctor [but you're still gonna die someday]?  That you are fine and will never die!

Many here go out witnessing, and they have beautiful feet!

Four reasons you should have beautiful feet too:

1.     The command from above.

Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

2.     The cry from beneath.

Luke 16:27-28
²⁷ Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
²⁸ For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
 

3.     The call from without.

Acts 16:9
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

4.     The constraint from within.

2 Corinthians 5:14
For the love of Christ constraineth us;

The remedy for rejection of Christ is hearing the Word!  The sending will result in preaching, and hearing, and believing, calling, and salvation!

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The results of Israel's rejection:

vv. 16-20

v. 16        a contrast...not ALL have obeyed the gospel.

Isaiah 53:1
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Our report is the gospel. 

Isaiah 53 is the greatest messianic chapter in your OT.  [read]

What a clear picture of Christ!

As a result of their rejection:

1.     Israel pronounced guilty.

v. 18        A quote from Psalm 19, which emphasizes God revealing Himself to the whole world.  [the heavens declare]  Then the chapter ends talking about God revealing Himself thru His Word!  Israel has the benefit of both witnesses, creation and the Bible.

Israel heard alright...they just did not heed.  They are willfully ignorant.  And so they are pronounced guilty.

2.     The gospel moves on to the Gentiles.

v. 19        'no people' = us!

v. 20        another quote

Deuteronomy 32:21
They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

One of God's reasons for this was to make the Jews jealous!  Another reason was that we might be saved, thankfully! 

So, Moses predicted this, representing the law.

Isaiah predicted this, representing the prophets.

v. 20        'found of them that sought me not'.  They found Jesus and weren't even looking for Him.  What excuse does Israel have?

3.     God patiently waits for Israel.

v. 21        This is a beautiful picture of the patience of our God.  He wants His own saved so much that His arms are extended in anticipation all day long.  "Don't leave me hanging!"

ill.--ever seen a teacher make a student hold a book out at length?  In the Marines my dad said they would do this, holding the butt of their rifle!  His idea of discipline began w/ a butt and never changed!

God is still waiting, longing, and knocking, hoping you will open the door!

Oh how He loves us!  He looked over Jerusalem and said oh, how I would gather you under my wings like a hen gathers her chicks.

Will God's patience for Israel ever wear out?

In chapter 9 we saw their past election.  In chapter 10 we see their present rejection, the reason for it, the remedy, and the final results.  In chapter 11 we'll see their future restoration!