If you wish to follow along,
turn to Romans chapter 10 again. And again, just for the sake
of a little more, you know, the overall context, I'll kind of
overlap, but I want to start in verse 13. Romans chapter 10
and verse 13. For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call
on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they
hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except
they be sent, as it is written? How beautiful are the feet of
them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings
of good things. But they have not all obeyed
the gospel. For Esaias, or that is Isaiah,
for Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then
faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But
I say, have they not heard? Yes, verily their sound went
into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
But I say, did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke
you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish
nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and
saith, I was found of them that sought me not. I was made manifest
unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel, he saith,
all day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient
and gainsaying people. I say then, hath God cast away
his people? God forbid, for I also am an
Israelite of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. God
hath not cast away his people, which he foreknew. which he foreknew. What, ye not, what the scripture
saith of Elias, or that is Elijah, how he maketh intercession to
God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets,
and dig down thine altars, and I am left alone, and they seek
my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved
to myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to the image
of Baal. Even so then at this present
time also there is a remnant according to the election of
grace My title this morning is this
Israel's dilemma much hearing no perception Israel's dilemma much hearing
no perception now in our text Paul is continuing, and let's
not forget this, let's stay with the context here. In our text,
Paul is continuing with his sadness over national Israel's spiritual
emptiness. You know, they had a lot of zeal. They had a lot of zeal. But it
was not according to knowledge. Think about just a few things
here, first of all. They had the word of faith. Chapter 10,
verse six, seven, and eight. And they had that even when Moses
was alive. Well as Paul is quoting from
Moses as a matter of fact, they had the gospel Hebrews says concerning
those people who went through the wilderness that they had
the gospel preached unto them The same gospel that's preached
unto us, but that gospel preached did not profit them not being
mixed with faith in them that heard it so they had the word
of faith and Israel had godly zeal, but no god-righteousness
knowledge. Chapter 10, verses two and four.
So remember, Paul is talking here about national Israel in
particular. That's what he's talking about.
Third thing, they had heard the gospel, but they had not obeyed
the gospel. Chapter 10, verses 16 through
18. And then, of course, Hebrews
chapter four. I mentioned that, but let me
read that. Hebrews chapter four. And this is something that seems
as though today's so-called Christian religion seems totally ignorant
about. They think in Israel's time,
back in what we call the Old Testament time, that all they
ever heard was sacrifice and do's and don'ts, but they did
hear those things. They heard the thunderings coming
down from Mount Sinai. They seen Moses with the tablets
of the Decalogue written by the finger of God on those two, Two
tables of stone, but they still had the gospel preached to them
Now look at it verse 4 or chapter 4. I'm sorry of Hebrews Let us
therefore fear lest the promise be left us of entering into his
rest any of you should seem to come short of it like old Scott
Richardson used to say I used to be prayed up packed up and
ready to go and He said, God's rocked my boat a little bit now.
I'm not so sure like that now. In other words, we don't take
the grace of God for granted. Look, for, here's why. For unto us was the gospel preached,
as well as unto them, the people who did not enter into God's
rest, the people that God swore would not enter into his rest
because of unbelief. For unto us was the gospel preached,
as well as unto them. So I take God's word for it.
When men say, well, there was no gospel back then. There was
gospel right after man fell. And as a matter of fact, the
gospel was already established by God before man even fell. Because Christ is declared to
be as the Lamb slain even before the foundation of the world.
Before there was a sin, there was a Savior. For and thus was
the gospel preached as well as unto them. But the word preached,
do you see it? They heard it preaching. Moses
preached of that one that was to come. But the word preached
did not profit them, not be mixed with faith in them that heard
it. So remember, they had the word
of faith. They had a godly zeal, but no God-righteousness knowledge. They didn't truly know God's
righteousness. Thirdly, they had heard the gospel,
but they had not obeyed the gospel. Now let me say this, there's
a lot of people today that think they're saved because they come
forward, they prayed some prayer, they shed some tears, they acknowledge
certain historical events concerning Jesus Christ. But believing Christ is obeying
the gospel. The gospel calls for obedience
to Christ. But here's the fourth thing.
But Israel's not alone in this emptiness. It's easy to point
the finger at those empty Jews, right? This is not anti-Semitic. This is the facts. This is the
facts. Brethren, my heart's desire and
prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. That's not
anti-Semitic. Even Paul says in chapter 11,
I say that as God cast away his people, God forbid, I am a Jew. I'm a real bonafide 100% Jew. But back to chapter 10. Brethren,
my heart's desire, prayer to God for Israel is that they might
be saved. For I bear them record, they have a zeal of God, but
not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's
righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness
have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
But turn to 2 Thessalonians for just a moment. If you're following
along, 2 Thessalonians. This is what the Apostle Paul
wrote your second Thessalonians chapter 30 Finally, brethren,
pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course,
and be glorified even as it is with you, and that we may be
delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for all men have
not faith. You see that? Also, turn to Ephesians. I know this is familiar, but
turn to Ephesians. Yeah, I say Israel's not alone
in this emptiness Ephesians chapter 2 and you have the quicken who
were dead Do you see that? who were dead. Now these were
mainly Gentiles. You read the context, you'll
see he's speaking mainly to Gentiles. You'll read that in the context
if you read all of chapter two. And you hath he quickened who
were dead in trespasses and sins wherein in time past you walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air. We were under satanic influence. but we weren't good people that
the devil tricked into being bad, we were just bad people,
ungodly people, sinful people that love to have it that way.
The prince of the power of the air, the spirit that thou workest
in the children of disobedience. Our disobedience was not just
out here, it was in here. in here, do you see it? The spirit
that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also
we all had our way of life, our conversation in time past, do
you see it? Israel's not the only people
that have spiritual emptiness, this spiritual deadness, huh? In the times of the past, the
lust of the flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and
of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, we hated
God like everybody else did. Even as others. But then we read
this next phrase. I'll just read just the short
part of it. But God, who is rich in mercy. Isn't that glorious? But God, who is rich in mercy. Let's do it. Hearing the gospel
is essential. I mean, it's absolutely essential.
I mentioned that somewhat last week, but again, I want to emphasize
that this morning. Hearing the gospel is essential. Look, verse 13 of Romans 10. For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved. But that don't mean you
just pronounce some name. How then shall they call on him
in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in
him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without
a preacher? This is not God being stuck with
these means. This is God ordaining these means. It pleased God. It pleased God. God was not constrained to do
this other than in his own pleasure. It pleased God by the foolishness
of preaching. And there's a couple ways in
which it's foolishness. You got an ungodly sinner standing
here speaking to you the words of God. Nothing more at best
than a clay pot, Mac, a night jar. A thing that people put
under their bed where they didn't have to get up and go outside
in the middle of the night if they had to relieve themselves.
Just nothing but a clay pot, but God ordained it that way.
How shall they preach it? Let me read it. How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall
they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall
they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach? except
they be sent. Now this is to preach a certain
message, the gospel of peace. To announce glad tidings of good
things. There's a lot of preaching out
there that is not the gospel. Paul says it's not even a gospel.
He said you're, he told the Galatians, I marvel you're so soon removed
from him that called you into his grace to another gospel.
And he's quickly moved by the Spirit, which is not another,
but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel
of Christ. That's sad. That's dangerous. Yea, even damning, but it's so
nonetheless. So again, hearing the gospel
is essential. Hearing the gospel always precedes
faith in Christ. You can't believe in a person
you've never been informed of. But it's much more than just
being informed of. This is what religion does today,
so-called professing Christianity. We just need to let the masses
know who Jesus is and what he did. Now, a couple problems.
One, they don't tell people the truth about who Jesus Christ
is and what he actually did. That's one of the problems. But
the other problem is this is not, you do not educate people
into the kingdom of God. They have to be born by God into
the kingdom of God. So again, hearing the gospel
is essential. Hearing the gospel always precedes
faith in Christ. Hearing by preaching manifests
faith, but physically hearing the gospel preached is no guarantee
of faith. You see verse 16? But they have
not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath
believed our report? But I say, have they not heard?
Without a doubt, they heard. As a matter of fact, this gospel
has went all over the world. You see that? But I say, have
they not heard? Yes, truly, their sound went
into all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world. But Israel still, as a nation,
did not believe. Okay? Is there a conundrum here? It would seem as though there's
a conundrum here, right? There is no conundrum here. Now,
let me read you. Penny sent this to me this morning. This is a
quote by Spurgeon, and she knew a little bit about where I was
going with this, but we hadn't talked about it in a lot of detail,
but this fits perfectly with what I'm trying to point out
this morning. Our point is this. that when the Lord Jesus Christ
visits us, he actually brings light to our darkness, really
leads us into the way, and makes that way a way of peace to us. Put all together and remember
what the Lord has done for you. You did not know the way once,
and all the preaching in the world would have made no difference
would not have made you know it if Jesus had not by his spirit
visited you as the day spring. Now, while Paul himself doesn't
deal with that here in the immediate context, I'm saying this, this
book teaches that before anyone ever believes the gospel, God's
got to do a work of grace first. just the preaching of the gospel
itself, though it is God's ordained means, and do not think I'm belittling
that. I'm not. I am telling the truth
about what we are by nature. All the preaching in the world
only adds to our condemnation apart from an act of mercy and
grace and compassion from God. And somebody says, preacher,
sounds like to me you're saying it's all up to God. I hope you
get that out of it. I hope you're getting that out
of it. There's no conundrum here. Thank God that his grace does
not depend on the hearers. But Esaias is very bold and saith,
I was found of them that sought me not. I was made manifest unto
them that asked not after me. Aren't you glad it don't depend
on us? Because if it depended on us,
if it's, just like David Dotson texted me yesterday and said
the church that he goes to, said the preacher preached it to him,
and he said this, God's done all he can do, now it's up to
you. He said it just totally destroyed everything that he
at least tried to say beforehand. But that is the mentality of
so-called professed Christianity today. God's not done all He
can do. God has done what had to be done. God's preachers are preaching,
they're not preaching do, they're preaching done. Done. Done. I thank God it doesn't depend
upon the hearers, even amongst the Israelites. Again, look at
it. I say then, hath God cast away his people? God forbid,
for I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe
of Benjamin. He talked about Jews here, right?
Israelites. God hath not cast away his people,
which he foreknew. Now, what are we talking about?
Remember chapter eight? Everyone he foreknew he predestinated
to be conformed to the image of his son. That's who we're
talking about here. Not just being an Israelite, but being
a foreknown Israelite, okay? God hath not cast away his people
which he foreknew, what ye not, what the scripture saith of Elijah,
how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, said Lord,
they've just ruined it all. Lord, they've killed thy prophets,
they've digged down thy altars, I'm left alone, they seek to
kill me. But what did God say? I've reserved
to myself. God didn't get lucky there were
7,000 men, Jack. God chose 7,000 men. You see
that? But what saith the answer of
God unto him? I have reserved to myself 7,000
men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so
then at this present time, amongst the Israelites, amongst Jews,
that's the main context here. Even so then at this present
time also, there is a remnant according to the election of
grace. Thank God for that. God's grace
don't depend upon the hearers. Now God's purpose that men hear,
women hear, and hear they must. But here's the sixth thing. God
must first give spiritual ears to hear. Just physically hearing
it in our eardrums and making this mental contact with it,
Mac, that's not enough. Turn with me to Matthew chapter
13. These are Lord's own words. This is the master himself. This
is the master himself. Matthew chapter 13 and verse
13. Therefore speak I to them in
parables because they seen, amazing phrase, because they seen, see
not. Almost sounds to be a contradiction
and it is if all you're thinking about is physically hearing.
But a man or a woman's got to be able to spiritually hear these
things. Therefore speak I to them in
parables, because they seeing see not, and hearing they hear
not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the
prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, by hearing ye shall hear and
shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive. Remember what I said, Israel's
dilemma, much hearing, but no perception. But I'm saying we're
shut up under God's mercy and grace for that perception. It
takes an act of God. Look what he says. I understand
and seeing you shall see and shall not perceive for this people's
heart is waxed gross. Now this is not God doing rough
things to good people. We're bad by nature. We're rebels
by nature, Jew and Gentile. Paul said, I proved before that
Jew and Gentile were both, what, all under sin. For this people's
heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and
their eyes have they closed, lest that at any time they should
see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand
with their heart. That's what we're talking about.
Understand with their heart, and should be converted, and
I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for
they see. Do you see it? And your ears,
for they hear. For truly, or verily, I say unto
you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those
things which ye see, and have not seen them. And to hear those
things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Hear ye therefore
the parable of the sower. Long story short, The good seed
is the good word of God. It's the word of faith which
we preach. It is the message of the person and work of Jesus
Christ. But it will have no true spiritual lasting effect. The
seed has to fall onto good ground. The ground don't make itself
good. God's the one that gives that good heart. The good seed
has to come into contact with good ground. Aren't you glad
God's ordained some good ground? because we'd all perish if God
didn't ordain that. So again, thank God, thank God
His grace does not depend upon the hearers. God must give spiritual
ears to hear, and He does, but it's at His sovereign pleasure.
It's at His sovereign pleasure. Jew or Gentile, Israel's dilemma
is my dilemma. Israel's dilemma is your dilemma. Israel's dilemma is the same
dilemma we have by nature. We're no worse than they are,
we're certainly no better than they are. Much hearing, but in
and of ourselves, no perception, no perception. There can be much
hearing, and there is, sadly, much hearing. I mean, Jesus Christ,
though some men Don't tell the truth about it. The name of Jesus
Christ has went all over this globe. You understand what I'm
saying? I mean, when we look online,
we look up sermon audio, Paul, we've got a way we can do that.
We have people from all kinds of the country, all over this
world, all this Tanzania, Algeria, places out of the way where idolatry
and superstition runs rampant, yet there are people who are
listening even to the preachers of this small group. But it still
takes an act of God in the soul and in the heart and in the mind
to give eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to perceive. Number seven, God must act. I've done said it, but I want
to emphasize it. God must act in free grace. Yet God is still
never unjust or aloof to his creatures. But to Israel, he
sayeth, that's God says all day long have I stretched forth my
hands. You see that come believe, repent, bow, submit, right? All day long. God is not being aloof. The book of the Revelation even
says, you remember the woman Jezebel? I forget which local
assembly it was in. Does anybody have it right off
the top of your head? That woman Jezebel was a case now. And God said, I gave her space
to repent. and she repented not. God's not insincere in that.
If any man or woman in this world would just bow down to Jesus
Christ, they shall be saved. God sends this message all over
this world and people hear it, but they say, I will not have
that man reign over me. Oh, they may accept him as their
personal savior, but that ain't it. That's not God's ordained
way. They will submit to Jesus Christ
as the righteousness of God and quit trying to work out their
own righteousness. God must act in free grace, but
God is never unjust or aloof to his creatures. Turn to Acts
chapter 17. Acts chapter 17. This is the apostle Paul here
preaching. Acts chapter 17, let me find
my spot. Nope, that's not it. Well, we're
probably not gonna have to, I'm gonna have to just give that
to you. Well, I got the wrong reference
down. Let me just, I'll just put it
to you this way. The Apostle Paul was preaching, and he was
preaching mainly to start with to Jews, to Israelites. And he
told them that through this man, that's Jesus of Nazareth, is
preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. And all that believe
him are justified from all things by which he could not, by which
he could not be justified by the law of Moses. God's sent
preachers don't offer forgiveness of sins. They preach that through
Jesus Christ, there is forgiveness of sins. And if you're a believer,
it applies to you. But beware, lest you're not a
believer. Beware, lest you do not believe
these things, though a man declare them unto you. God, again I say,
must act in free grace. Yet God is never unjust or aloof
to his creatures. We live and move and have our
being. He sustains us and to some degree
lets us enjoy the wonders of this world, though it's under
the curse and the fall. I understand that, but he lets
his creatures enjoy the bounty of his world. It gives us life
and breath, sustenance. But we say, I will not bow to
his son. Here's number eight and yet and
yet let me read it chapter 10 of Romans For whosoever Shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Do you see that?
That's a broad word Whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved now heavy note this God said preachers
preach the gospel of peace The gospel of peace declares God
to be sovereign over Peace look at Isaiah 52 if you wish to follow
along Isaiah 52 Isaiah 52 and verse 7 that this will sound
familiar to you. I Isaiah 52 and verse seven,
how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth
good tidings. You see that? And publisheth
peace and bringeth good tidings of good. Brings it, publishes
it, not offers. We're not offering anything.
We're declaring him who wrought it all. and publisheth peace,
bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that
saith unto Zion, what do they say? Thy God reigneth. Now that is one thing that is
most conspicuously absent in most of the preaching I hear
today, if I listen to it for very long at all. They are not
preaching that in salvation, God reigneth So under this eighth
heading here that God said preachers preach the gospel of peace The
gospel of peace declares that God is sovereign over peace There's
a second thing the gospel of peace declares one person to
be that peace He's actually that peace It's not just what he gives
though. He does give peace but he is
peace the Apostle Paul puts it in Ephesians chapter 2 verses
13 through 18 if you want to read it later the gospel of peace
declares one person to be that peace and that one person made
peace Now I want you to just turn to Ephesians 2 got just
a couple minutes Ephesians 2 and let me read that you know one
more passage Ephesians chapter 2 in verse 13 But now, in Christ
Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off, and he's talking to
Gentiles, uncircumcised people, people not brought up under the
commonwealth of Israel, but now in Christ Jesus, ye who were
sometimes far off are made nigh, do you see it? Made nigh how,
by your decision? Not even by faith, not even by
God-given faith. Though God-given faith is an
absolute necessity We've seen that, but how? By the blood of
Christ. For he is our peace. Do you see it? This peace is
a person. For he is our peace, who hath
made both one. That's Jew and Gentile, he's
made us one. We ought to be one. We are, if
he died for us. We are. For he is our peace,
who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of
partition between us, and hath abolished in his flesh the enmity,
even the law of commandments, contained in ordinances, for
to make in himself of two, of the twain, one new man, so making
peace. and that he might reconcile both
unto God in one body. How? By the cross. This is all
about something he's already done. By the cross, having slain
the enmity thereby and came and preached peace. Now, how can
you preach about a peace that ain't even happened yet? How
can you bring glad tidings, Jack, if it ain't even done yet? The
answer is done. It's done. The great transaction's
done. God has brought a people in the
person of his son to himself and we're reconciled to God,
though we may be of totally different walks of life. Jew and Gentile. And came and preached peace to
you which were far off and to them that were nigh, for through
him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father. Now Colossians chapter one. Colossians
chapter one. Colossians chapter one verse
13. who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, that's
talking about God Almighty, God the Father, who hath delivered
us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the
kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Look, who is the image
of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, for by him
were all things created that are in heaven, that are in earth,
whether you can see them or you can't, visible or invisible,
whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers,
all things were created by him and for him, do you see it? And
by him all things consist. He is before all things, and
by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body,
the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he might have the preeminence, for it pleased
the Father. that in him should all preeminence
dwell. Jesus Christ is just, Jesus Christ
is not just an important part of the equation. He is the whole
equation. He is the whole equation. For
it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.
Now look, and having made peace. You see it? If we're not preaching,
he's already made peace, we're not preaching the gospel. and
having made peace, how? Through the blood of his cross. By him to reconcile all things
unto himself, that's all things for which he shed his blood,
that's the context, all things unto himself, by him I say, whether
they be things in earth or things in heaven, and you that were
sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works,
yet now hath he reconciled, how? In the body of his flesh through
death. It's done. I thank God it's done. Listen, and, or to present you
holy and unblameable and unreprovable. Here's where that, in his sight.
Now that's what matters anyway, isn't it? I'm not that way in
your sight. I understand that. And you're
not that way in my sight, but thank God we're that way in God's
sight. Because it's all based upon his person and his work.
And somebody says, well, preacher, I just can't believe that. I
know. I know. I know there are people
like that. But I can, because God Almighty worked the work
of grace in my soul. And now I can't help but believe
it, Jack. Look, in the body of his flesh, through death, to
present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight.
But don't take it for granted. Don't think this is a one-time
thing. Well, that happened to me years
ago. It better still be happening to you today. If ye continue
in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the
hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached
to every creature which is under heaven, where I, Paul, am made
a minister. Last thing, God sent preachers,
again, do not offer peace, they preach peace. Amen. Heavenly Father, thank you for
your word and thank you for your ordained means, your way. We
know that the power and the excellency resides and rests and depends
upon you, not upon us in any way. God, forgive us of our sins,
our shortcomings, our poor choices. Sometimes we don't know what
to do when it comes to certain personal decisions, but Lord,
lead, guide, and direct us by the power of your spirit and
by the truth of your word. Lord, we thank you for the food
we have We miss those who couldn't be here for whatever reason may
they have some sense of that presence through Jesus Christ
our Lord this day and Lord help us to have Sweden durable fellowship
as we have a meal together in Christ's name. Amen