ROMANS UNWRAPPED 178

"What then?   Israel  hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election obtained it and the rest were blinded (hardened r.v.)"   Romans 11v7

We now come to verses 6 - 10 to a very solemn subject in Holy Scripture, that of Divine hardening, or as it is otherwise called  "judicial hardening."   This is the point where God, by an act of Divine discipline, actually hardens human beings against the light which they have received, because of their continual refusal to receive the light they have been given.   Humanly speaking of course this is not a nice subject, but it is a fact and we must face it and understand the consequences of it.   Paul's thought process in this regard , began in chapter 10v16 when he said  "they have not all obeyed the gospel."   He continued in chapter 10v21 reminding them that God had "all day long stretched forth His hands to an unbelieving and gainsaying people,"   He completes the teaching by referring to the Old Testament scriptures  "God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear."   This is a quotation from Isaiah chapter 6.   The principle being established here is exactly that which was first spoken to Noah in Genesis chapter 6v3  "My spirit shall not always strive with man."     When God closes the door of opportunity, no man will be able to open it (see Revelation chapter 3v7).   The risen Lord Jesus Christ holds the key of David, the key to Divine blessing, and when He shuts that door, no one, but no one, will open it.   This is something beyond our understanding, but what the Bible is teaching here, is that there may be people still alive who have so rejected God, it will be impossible for them to do anything about it.   Judicial hardening is a biblical truth, solemn as it is, but it only happens after human hardening of the heart has taken place.    In the words of another, "the same sun which melts ice, hardens clay".   "Today if you will hear His voice harden not your heart."  

The verses 6 - 10 give the background against which this hardening may take place.   We will look at it in three ways as follows:

• Verse 6         THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT IS THE DESPISING OF DIVINE GRACE.
• Verses 7-8    THE CONTEXT FROM ISAIAH CHAPTER 6 IS THE DISREGARD OF THE DIVINE GLORY.
• Verse 9-10     THE CONTEXT FROM PSALM 69 IS OF THE DELIBERATE OPPOSITION TO THE DIVINE WILL.  

We will consider these three aspects of this difficult subject, difficult to explain, and even more difficult to accept, nevertheless solemnly true, in the next blog.   In the meantime we have to understand that a Sovereign God must be free to act judicially in certain circumstances and He does.   He will conclude this chapter with a statement that "hardness in part is happened unto Israel."   This portion however also contains a warning to the Gentile nations, that they face the same process if they turn away from the gospel of grace "be not high-minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches take heed lest He also spare not thee."   Romans 11v21   Paul explains this in terms of the goodness of God and the severity of God (verse 22), which we will discuss later, but for now enough to state the fact that God in His goodness offers men salvation and if they reject it they will experience His severity.   What has happened to Israel in the main today, will also happen to the Gentile nations who turn away from the grace of God.   The following is a solemn statement, the fulfillment of which is yet future, but it serves to remind every generation that they need to take account of the goodness of a gracious God, if they want to avoid His eternal punishment;            "And then the lawless one (the anti-Christ) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming.   The coming of the lawless one is through the activity and working of Satan, and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of pretended miracles and signs and delusive marvels - all of them lying wonders - and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the truth but refused to love it that they might be saved.   Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false.   in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe, who refused to adhere to, trust in and rely on the truth, but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness."  2nd Thessalonians 2v8-12  Amplified Version.

The opportunity to receive the truth is only for the present.   It will cease immediately we die; it may even cease during our lifetime if we constantly throw back in His face the Divine mercy which is freely offered to all.