A short series on Romans 8 – 11. Part 7.
The Good News goes out to all the world, bringing salvation to Jews and to Gentiles, to all who entrust themselves to Messiah Jesus. All are invited, all are welcome, but not all will come in.
We hear God’s message of love and redemption, and the Lord draws us to himself. The ongoing process of our salvation begins, a lifetime journey of growth and transformation, all by the grace of God.
“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:16-17 ESV).
We hear God's message of love and redemption, and the Lord draws us to himself. The ongoing process of our salvation begins, a lifetime journey of growth and transformation, all by the grace of God. #Grace #Faith Click To Tweet
“They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 9:4-5 ESV).
Clearly, the biological descendants of Israel have a unique and glorious position in God’s plan, even though not all who are descended from genetic Israel are faith-filled Israel. Since the first century, Jewish followers of Jesus Christ have been woven into the tapestry of the church.
“2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 ‘Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.’ 4 But what is God’s reply to him? ‘I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’ 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written, ‘God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day‘” (Romans 11:2-8 ESV).
There is always a remnant of believers, chosen by grace.
Grace. χάρις. charis; “A favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the lovingkindness of God. . . finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor” [Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.]
Salvation is not by works, a lesson we must learn again and again. Instead, we are chosen by grace, not of our own doing, not at our own instigation, though it may feel that way. Rather, we are sought and pursued by the Savior.
Chosen. ἐκλογή eklogḗ; to choose, select. Election, choice, selection. (II) Election, the benevolent purpose of God by which any are chosen unto salvation so that they are led to embrace and persevere in Christ’s bestowed grace and the enjoyment of its privileges and blessings here and hereafter. In Rom. 11:5, “According to the election of grace” means according to the election which results from grace. (above source, Zodhiates, S.).
The rest were hardened, Romans 11:7b. Yet another controversial term. This means to make hard like a stone, calloused, dull. In the NT it is applied only in a spiritual sense to human hearts or minds.
Sometimes we harden our own hearts. We grow angry at God. We have eyes, but we do not see; ears, but we do not hear. Two examples are recorded from the disciples’ lives in Mark 6:34-52 and Mark 8:14-21.
Here, Jesus explains how we come to have hard hearts.
In Mark 6:34-52, Jesus turned a few loaves and fish into enough food for a massive crowd of 5,000 men, and probably their families. At day’s end, twelve baskets of broken bread and fish were leftover, a basket for each disciple. Jesus put the men and their food onto the boat and remained behind in prayer.
Later, he walked across the Sea of Galilee to join them in the boat. Though they had witnessed Jesus healing and feeding thousands, and they had visual evidence in the baskets of food, still when they saw him walking on water, they were terrified.
Immediately, he called: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50b). He got in the boat, the wind ceased, and “They were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:51b).
How did their astonishment betray their hard hearts? The Greek word indicates that they were out of their minds, beyond themselves in their astonishment.
Why? After all they had witnessed, why would this particular miracle astonish them more than the other miracles of the day?
Why? Because “they did not understand about the loaves.“
They hadn’t puzzled through WHAT exactly they had witnessed and WHO exactly Jesus was to be able to perform miracles.
Why? Because “Their hearts were hardened.”
In essence, this is cyclical. The disciples hadn’t even attempted to put two plus two together. These weren’t the first miracles of Jesus that they had witnessed. And yet, they hadn’t discerned that Jesus was no mere man.
When we don’t recognize the mighty acts of God, but merely roll on past an answer to prayer or a saving event without comprehending that God himself acted on our behalf, we expose the hardness of our hearts.
When we don't recognize the mighty acts of God, but merely roll on past an answer to prayer or a saving event without comprehending that God acted on our behalf, we expose the hardness of our hearts. Click To TweetSoon afterward, Jesus fed a smaller crowd of 4,000 people in Gentile territory, (Mark 8:1-12). Between these two events, the disciples had witnessed Jesus walking on water and healing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the demon-possessed, the mute, and even the sick who merely touched his robe.
And yet, once more, the disciples doubted that Jesus could feed the crowd. Yet, he did feed them, and the disciples had more than enough food afterward.
The Pharisees showed up demanding yet another sign, giving evidence of their hard hearts. Jesus sighed deeply in his spirit — an inward groan expressing intense emotions — and informed the Pharisees that there would be “no sign,” though miracles abounded for those with hearts to see them.
Meanwhile, the disciples boarded the boat, forgetting their bread back on the shore, obviously not impressed by its creation. Once in the boat, Jesus warned them to “beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod.”
Hearing the word leaven reminded the disciples that they had forgotten the bread, and they began quibbling among themselves. Jesus hadn’t been talking about bread, but about their hearts. Imagine them all bickering as Jesus considered the hard hearts all around him.
Jesus laid the evidence before them. “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?” (Mark 8:17b-18).
Jesus then rehearsed all the facts pertaining to these two significant miracles of feeding the masses, quizzing them on the outcome of each. He finished by asking: “Do you not yet understand?“ (Mark 8:21b).
A hard heart is formed by repeatedly witnessing God’s goodness and even his miracles, but never recognizing that God has acted for us in particular, and so we let it pass, never pausing to thank him. Our merciful God cares, but we’re typically unaware of it.
How often can we do this before our hearts become hardened?
A hard heart is formed by repeatedly witnessing God's goodness and even his miracles, but never recognizing that God has acted for us in particular, and so we let it pass, never pausing to thank him. Click To TweetGod sovereignly works circumstances for our good and his glory.
God hardened Pharaoh to achieve his purposes of freeing Israel and showing his power to the watching world of Canaanites and other tribes, because God’s intention always was to save people from all over the earth. The hardening of Pharaoh moved that intention forward.
“For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.‘” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills, “(Romans 9:17-18 ESV).
Mercy, ἐλεέω eleéō, a beautiful word, means “to have pity, be compassionate; extend help for the consequences of sin. Opposite to sklerunomai, to be hardened.” (Same source, Zodhiates, S.)
The mercy of God is one of the greatest gifts we ever receive.
Why harden some? Why show mercy to others?
We aren’t privy to God’s sovereign decisions. All of human history lies open before his eyes. God knows the whys of his plans and his working for our good. God is omniscient. We are not.
All of us are born with sinful natures, hardened hearts. Our natural state is to be hardened, and it is only by the work of the Holy Spirit that our hearts are softened. The longer we are hard of heart, the more our hearts are hardened.
None of us are saved except by God’s grace and mercy.
“So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace“ (Romans 11:5-6 ESV).
Consider.
When we ponder the state of our hearts, do we remember instances when God worked in a mighty way, and we simply let the moment pass? Did we take it in stride as what was deserved, as a norm, rather than stopping to thank the Lord?
When we ponder our hearts, do we remember instances when God worked in a mighty way, and we simply let the moment pass? Did we take it in stride as what was deserved, rather than stopping to thank the Lord? Click To TweetI do this regularly. I recognize the answers to “big prayers,” but I often forget the “simple answers to prayer,” like daily provision of our food, just like Jesus’ disciples did.
Examine your own heart. What do you discover? What can you do to address it?
Previous Posts in this Series:
I’ve been guilty of letting my heart be hardened, and I regret this and my former entitled ways! I’m realizing how very blessed we all are to have so many gifts from God!
These passages are so convicting, aren’t they! I think as comfortable Americans with so many freedoms and choices, it’s easy to get lulled into complacency by our culture. Focusing in on our blessings and the Giver of the blessings and the gratitude we SHOULD BE feeling and expressing is a significant step of growth. I have to monitor myself, lest I slip easily into complacency.
We must guard our hearts and focus on Christ to prevent our hearts from becoming hardened.
Absolutely, Janice! By the grace of God, we can accomplish that each day.
Praying for the world to be filled with God’s love and grace.
Amen! What a day that will be, Melissa!
I long to have a softer heart toward the things of God. I hardened it myself due to lack of trust following tragedy, yet he wooed me back to himself. I’m thankful for his ever-flowing grace!
The Lord is tender with us, Candice! When we harden ourselves because we’ve been hurt in a tragedy and, therefore, no longer trust what God might have planned for us, often because it has been downright terrifying, and we are frightened. And yet, thank God, he then does woo us back, for he is a God of love. He constantly pours out his grace and mercy upon us! I can relate entirely to how you feel as you are healing.
What a great discussion about hardened hearts–and we must guard against letting that hardness creep into us. Trust is the key–and an understanding of grace–that things that don’t feel good to us cannot be anything except His hand working to shape us.
Very wise words, Nancy! When we go through trial, it’s so easy to forget that the Lord is using all of that to shape us, to reform us, and to bring us into a stronger and deeper faith. It’s so easy for us to harden our hearts during trials, yet those trials are meant for our good.
Hard hearts, stiff necks and other descriptions of people who don’t recognize God’s hand in life. I pray God helps me to never act like that but instead trust Him even when I don’t like how things are going like pandemic and elections.
You’re so right, Yvonne. It’s so easy to respond with hardness when things aren’t going the way we want. We get angry with God, and then that brings another wealth of hardship with it, for we’ve hardened our hearts. What was interesting to me as I studied the disciples actions was that they were hardened by avoiding contemplating the goodness and power of what Jesus was doing. He’s just as busy doing good right now, and yet, we often, like them, forget to pause to contemplate that reality.
Such an excellent exposition on one of the most difficult topics in Scripture.
Hmmm…I wonder what the Lord is telling me, because I recently finished writing a chapter for a WIP on the difference between tender and hardened hearts. When He repeats a message in my life, there’s always a reason, so it’s time for me to do some introspection!
Ava, I’ve discovered the same thing. Whenever the Lord brings a topic before my eyes or to my ears — especially as it relates to potential sinfulness — I’d better pay attention. As I’m studying and writing through passages where the Lord has led me in my personal Bible study, each part touches my heart. Revisiting this section of Scripture has been helpful. In past times of trial, I have hardened my heart. Just as I don’t want to harden my heart in the “little” things like thankfulness for his intervention in even a meal, so also I want to keep my heart soft and aware in the “big” things that in the past resulted in a deep hardening, requiring years of recovery and learning once more to listen, to hear, and to trust.
Oh Melinda, this post brought tears to my eyes. Gracious, merciful Father, forgive me for passing over the blessings and miracles you have poured out upon me. The greatest of which is my salvation in Christ. Oh, give me a heart to love you with overflowing humility and gratitude.
Though I have often wondered at God’s grace and mercy for those He has chosen contrasted by verses that mention God has hardened their hearts (different from us hardening our hearts toward Him.) I believe it is very much connected to your recent post about God’s foreknowledge. He already knows whose hearts will or will not be softened to receive his grace and mercy. So He allows those who refuse him to be hardened even more. Why? As in Pharaoh He accomplishes other purposes for it magnifies the deliverance and blessing of His people. But we are not God, so we cannot know all His ways. We know this, He sent His Son to die on the cross that all who will believe are welcome in. Amazing grace!
Great insight, Melissa! The fact that he foreknows who will belong to him, those who will respond to his call, those who will not reject his offer of his grace, mercy, and love, means that he also knows who will NOT accept his free offer of salvation through the work of God the Son, Jesus Messiah, on the cross. As with Pharaoh, he permits these then to not only harden themselves, but it seems quite likely that what you said is the case—he hardens these even further because of their rejection.
He’s not a tame Lion, but a passionate God of love and mercy who gave his own Son for us in sacrifice. To reject the call of God to salvation is to reject Messiah Jesus and his horrific suffering and death on the cross for us, the ultimate sacrifice, something which God takes quite seriously and with great emotion. My husband and I were discussing your thoughts, and I posed the question to Tim. His response, I think, is spot on. He said that God doesn’t harden these, rather, he doesn’t soften their hearts. Our nature state is to be hardened, and it is only by the work of the Holy Spirit that our hearts soften. I’m editing to include that thought in the post.
Knowing the gospel is so important! God is so good!!
Yes, he is! Thanks for stopping by, Heather.
Melinda, what I love most about your writing is how you give us “meat.” There’s no fluff! Sure, humor and fun tidbits are great and make wonderful analogies and storytelling. But I’m over fluff when it comes to the nitty gritty of the Christian faith.
So much to comment on here. I enjoyed a fresh look at the definitions of grace and chosen, your study and insight from the scriptures about hard hearts. We can’t point fingers at the disciples! How many times have we chalked up an astonishing miracle to coincidence or something else…even humanistic terms, “I made that happen within my own power!” Yet, God is constantly working behind the scenes on our behalf.
Karen, isn’t it wonderful that the Lord is indeed working behind the scenes on our behalf! We’re pretty much a train wreck waiting to happen, our minds tired of the ongoing political conflict and the repeated flaring of new attacks by the coronavirus, and yet, the Lord stops the wreck and soothes our hearts with the treasures in his Word.
I love to dig into the Scriptures, and to write about the eternal words we find there that change everything for us. Thank you for your kind words about digging in and sharing meat and not fluff!