WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.140 So if you want to open your Bibles and your apps to Romans 10 from verse 14 we'll be reading. 00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:25.120 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.820 And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:43.079 And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:47.460 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? 00:00:48.879 --> 00:00:54.140 As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! 00:00:54.140 --> 00:00:59.960 But they have not all obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah says, 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:03.799 Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us? 00:01:05.019 --> 00:01:10.140 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:13.879 But I ask, have they not heard? 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:16.099 Indeed they have. 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:21.480 For their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:25.299 But I ask, did Israel not understand? 00:01:26.740 --> 00:01:28.240 First Moses says, 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:40.119 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:43.700 I have been found by those who did not seek me. 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:47.640 I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me. 00:01:49.100 --> 00:01:50.900 But of Israel, he says, 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:57.420 All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people. 00:01:57.420 --> 00:02:00.439 I ask then, 00:02:01.379 --> 00:02:03.579 Has God rejected his people? 00:02:05.240 --> 00:02:08.900 By no means, for I myself am an Israelite, 00:02:09.640 --> 00:02:11.120 a descendant of Abraham, 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:14.060 a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:17.860 God has not rejected his people, whom he foreknew. 00:02:18.920 --> 00:02:21.560 Did you not know what the scripture says of Elijah? 00:02:22.480 --> 00:02:24.840 How he appeals to God against Israel? 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:28.259 Lord, they have killed your prophets, 00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:30.659 they have demolished your altars, 00:02:30.920 --> 00:02:32.560 and I alone am left, 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:34.699 and they seek my life. 00:02:36.420 --> 00:02:38.560 But what is God's reply to him? 00:02:39.860 --> 00:02:44.199 I have kept for myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to Baal. 00:02:45.920 --> 00:02:47.740 So too, at the present time, 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:50.360 there is a remnant chosen by grace. 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:53.360 But if it is by grace, 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:56.080 it is no longer on the basis of works. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.420 Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:01.680 What then? 00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:05.100 Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:07.740 The elect obtained it, 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:10.260 but the rest were hardened, as it is written. 00:03:11.420 --> 00:03:13.200 God gave them a spirit of stupor, 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:14.520 eyes that would not see, 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:16.220 and ears that would not hear, 00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:18.160 down to this very day. 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:20.639 And David says, 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:23.780 let their table become a snare and a trap, 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:26.719 a stumbling block and a retribution for them. 00:03:27.519 --> 00:03:30.019 Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:32.479 and bend their backs forever. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:41.359 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:43.859 My name's David. 00:03:43.979 --> 00:03:45.339 I'm one of the pastors here. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:48.699 Warm welcome to you if this is your first time with us. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:54.079 Will you pray with me as we come to hear God's word? 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:54.679 Let's pray. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:04:02.680 Father, we... 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:08.640 Please help us not come with our own understanding to your word. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:14.580 Please help us all sit under your word and learn from you. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:21.899 Lord, I pray that each one of us will see just how gracious a God you are. 00:04:22.660 --> 00:04:23.899 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:24.560 Amen. 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:24.759 Amen. 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:28.480 Well, I don't know about you, 00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:35.420 but when you look at the current condition of either individuals or society, 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:40.180 it can be easy sometimes to lose hope. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:47.079 There's loved ones of mine who don't trust Jesus, 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:50.639 and to be honest, I've given up praying. 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:55.459 I'm not putting that forward as an example to follow. 00:04:55.459 --> 00:04:57.180 I'm just confessing. 00:04:57.180 --> 00:05:00.000 It's easy to lose hope. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.819 We can look at our post-Christian society. 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:10.459 We can look at all Western societies that we've cut off our Judeo-Christian root. 00:05:10.459 --> 00:05:14.239 We can just lose hope. 00:05:14.239 --> 00:05:21.399 We can look within yourself and you're losing hope. 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:26.779 We might wonder, has God tried? 00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:27.879 God has tried. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:31.739 He's got his arms open wide and there's no response. 00:05:31.740 --> 00:05:34.620 Is he just wiping his hands? 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:35.300 I'm finished. 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:35.879 I'm done. 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:38.800 Is that God's attitude? 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.459 Is that God's heart? 00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:50.740 I want to consider that question, is God finished with us, by looking at Romans 11, 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:55.439 and the question is, is God finished with Abraham's descendants, with his people Israel? 00:05:58.699 --> 00:06:00.960 So have your Bibles open to Romans 11. 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:03.840 We're just covering the first 10 verses today. 00:06:05.860 --> 00:06:13.280 From what we've learned so far in Romans, what would our answer be to the opening question? 00:06:13.460 --> 00:06:17.980 Has God rejected his people, that is the ethnic people, Israel? 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:19.460 Has he rejected them? 00:06:19.459 --> 00:06:23.539 I think logically we might go, well, yeah. 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:34.120 Chapter 10, so many in the days of Christ and the days following Christ rejected Jesus, 00:06:34.379 --> 00:06:38.740 even though clearly the Old Testament pointed forward to him. 00:06:38.919 --> 00:06:42.579 They should have been first in line in believing in him. 00:06:43.740 --> 00:06:49.439 We saw that the reason they've just totally missed it is because they were trying to earn 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:52.379 a right relationship with God by what they do. 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:54.699 And the law, you could never keep the law. 00:06:56.500 --> 00:07:00.480 Romans 3 verse 9, all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:02.019 Sin is too powerful. 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:10.199 They didn't submit to God's way of being right with him by faith in his sons. 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:19.379 We saw that God has brought salvation right up to their mouth and heart in the message of Jesus. 00:07:19.939 --> 00:07:21.719 Just accept Jesus. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:24.360 Confess him as Lord and you're saved. 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:29.699 But they haven't obeyed the message. 00:07:33.100 --> 00:07:40.680 So individuals who remain in that condition, refusing Jesus, they are sadly lost. 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:46.240 But Abraham's descendants as a whole group. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:52.920 The people God chose for himself with their mass rejection of Jesus. 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:57.740 Surely that means God has rejected them as a whole. 00:07:57.740 --> 00:08:06.720 We all need to come up and sit under Romans 11. 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:09.060 It is a tricky passage. 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:11.720 There's a lot of puzzling bits. 00:08:13.019 --> 00:08:15.460 And a lot of those puzzles are next week. 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:17.139 So come back next week. 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:18.819 That'll be a good one. 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:23.860 But the chapter has a simple point overall. 00:08:23.860 --> 00:08:25.360 And it's a thrilling point. 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:27.120 And it shows the heart of God. 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:31.819 He's not giving up on his people. 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:33.779 It's quite a simple point. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:37.840 And that is really good news. 00:08:38.300 --> 00:08:39.639 Even if we're not Jewish here. 00:08:39.899 --> 00:08:41.000 That's the heart of God. 00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:44.840 Now, I want to be clear. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:51.180 There's not a hint anywhere in this chapter or in the New Testament generally that there's two ways to be saved. 00:08:51.179 --> 00:08:55.779 One by faith and one by being a physical descendant of Abraham. 00:08:56.799 --> 00:09:00.939 Not all Israel belong to Israel, chapter 9 says. 00:09:01.659 --> 00:09:05.039 It's always by faith in him, in Jesus. 00:09:07.539 --> 00:09:17.639 So this week and next week, let's sit under chapter 11 and see in what way has God remained faithful to Israelites to make them his people. 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:24.899 What we're going to see today, verses 1 to 6, is that God has kept a remnant for himself, chosen by grace. 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:33.399 And verses 7 to 10, we see God's judicial just hardening of the rest. 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:43.200 Now, it's a bit surprising in verse 1, Paul immediately points to himself as evidence. 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:45.620 No, God hasn't rejected his people. 00:09:46.280 --> 00:09:47.440 I'm an Israelite. 00:09:47.860 --> 00:09:51.800 It feels a bit narcissistic, to be honest. 00:09:52.520 --> 00:09:57.780 But the conclusion he's working towards is verses 5 and 6. 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:05.160 Like when Israel was rejected and went into exile in the Old Testament, 00:10:06.300 --> 00:10:11.240 God always kept a remnant for himself, a part for himself. 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:12.259 He always did. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:15.259 So that's the hope in the prophet Micah. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:17.720 He finishes his prophecy with, 00:10:18.060 --> 00:10:19.300 Who is a God like you? 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:26.360 Pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance. 00:10:27.220 --> 00:10:29.100 He's always kept a remnant. 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:35.759 So Paul's not boasting in him choosing Christ. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:44.340 He's putting himself forward as evidence of God's incredibly gracious choosing grace. 00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:46.840 I've mixed up those words, but you get my point. 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:49.539 Even someone as hardened as himself. 00:10:49.539 --> 00:11:01.419 I think some Christians today engage in evangelism and apologetics. 00:11:02.099 --> 00:11:09.039 And I could be wrong here, but I pick up this attitude that it's as if by their rational arguments, 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:12.419 they can reason someone into faith. 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:15.019 Now, I'm all for apologetics. 00:11:15.019 --> 00:11:16.360 Please hear me correctly. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:20.379 I'm all for giving reason for the hope that we have. 00:11:22.439 --> 00:11:25.519 But you can't reason someone into faith. 00:11:26.079 --> 00:11:27.519 It's not powerful enough. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:38.000 I think you can't show such sacrificial love and compassion. 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:41.059 You can't love someone into faith. 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:44.779 By all means, I'm saying we should do these things. 00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:45.740 Please hear me right. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:51.799 I don't think compassion on its own is powerful enough to save. 00:11:51.799 --> 00:12:03.639 When we read Acts 1-7, the love of the church, it was such a bright, burning light. 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:07.099 There was not need anywhere in the church. 00:12:07.439 --> 00:12:11.219 Widows were cared for, left, right, and said, anyone who had property, I'll sell it. 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:11.679 I don't care. 00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:12.519 I want to help them. 00:12:13.099 --> 00:12:14.379 It was such love. 00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:21.799 And then you had Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:27.320 The scripture says no one could withstand his wisdom. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:30.539 Like he gave the greatest gospel presentation. 00:12:31.939 --> 00:12:36.779 And you add to that, they were doing miraculous signs in those days. 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:45.100 God had given all this light in word, in love, in signs. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:52.819 Now, if we looked around Jerusalem at that time, and would we conclude, I think Saul is a bit of agnostic. 00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:54.919 He's just weighing up the evidence still. 00:12:56.439 --> 00:12:57.740 We wouldn't conclude that. 00:12:57.740 --> 00:13:07.200 We would look at Saul and go, he is incredibly hardened to the light. 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:24.100 In choosing to open Saul's eyes to see Jesus, God's grace is far greater than you and I would ever expect. 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:33.080 He's living proof that God chooses to save part of Israel. 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:37.840 The mercy shown to Paul is an enormous encouragement. 00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:40.019 He can have mercy on anyone. 00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:50.840 I think an implication for his readers would be all those resistant people in the synagogue, 00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:54.519 don't give up on them. 00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:57.320 Remember me. 00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:59.399 Remember how hardened I was. 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:10.580 He restates the question in verse 2 as a solemn, emphatic statement. 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:14.720 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:22.180 To foreknow is for God to choose to set his love on. 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:30.160 Now, it's hard to decide here whether Paul is speaking about the people as a whole. 00:14:30.300 --> 00:14:32.519 He chose Israel as a whole. 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:36.160 Or whether he's talking about individuals. 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:38.200 I've set my love of individuals. 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:40.879 And they will certainly be saved. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:45.360 I think scripture says both, so I don't really want to debate that point. 00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:47.980 Scripture says both. 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:53.019 I lean slightly towards that he's talking about individuals here. 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:57.759 Because his whole point in this section is God has kept part. 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:01.200 He's saved part for himself. 00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:05.580 But talk about over morning tea, I don't mind. 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:13.300 Then he goes, verses 2 to 4, he offers Elijah as evidence that this is the way God has always operated. 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:14.759 This is God's heart. 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:21.379 It was a very similar situation to the mass rejection of Jesus. 00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:27.259 If you know the story, I'm going to retell it in case you haven't heard it before. 00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:38.179 But King Ahab at that time and Jezebel, they had led the whole people, basically the whole people, astray to worship Baal. 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:43.419 They had killed Yahweh's prophets, or most of them. 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:52.740 And then you've got that famous confrontation up the top of Mount Carmel, where you've got all the prophets of Baal versus lonely Elijah. 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:58.399 And they build two altars, and they're crying out, okay, let's test, who's the living God? 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:05.639 And the prophets of Baal build an altar, and they're crying out, they're cutting themselves, and there's silence. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:12.100 And then Elijah pours so much water on his altar that it fills a trench. 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:14.500 It's just dripping wet. 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:16.740 He prays a simple prayer, and... 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:21.159 And then what happens? 00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:24.460 There's mass revival. 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:30.580 Israel turn in repentance, and they seek forgiveness, and they get a fresh start. 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:31.799 And... 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:32.960 No. 00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:36.960 There is not a mass revival. 00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:41.240 They stay loyal to Baal. 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:46.200 Jezebel said, I'm going to kill you, Elijah. 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:46.280 Elijah. 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:49.540 And he runs for his life. 00:16:50.560 --> 00:17:00.160 And he's crying out to God, and he's accusing Israel, I'm the only one left who is faithful to you. 00:17:00.660 --> 00:17:02.040 And what's God's response? 00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:07.840 He reassures Elijah, my plans have not failed. 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:33.399 God was saying to Elijah, open your eyes to the horizons of my grace. 00:17:33.399 --> 00:17:35.359 It is far bigger than you can see. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:46.459 Verses 5 and 6 are the conclusion. 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:59.919 So too, at the present time, in the time of God revealing his Christ, there is a remnant chosen by grace. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:04.960 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works. 00:18:05.060 --> 00:18:07.440 Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. 00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:15.980 Even with the widespread rejection of Jesus, God's faithfulness to his promises haven't failed. 00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:18.620 He's keeping apart for himself. 00:18:19.840 --> 00:18:21.060 It's no longer by works. 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:22.880 That's not saying it used to be by works. 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:24.640 It's saying no longer think like that. 00:18:24.860 --> 00:18:26.779 It was never about works. 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:28.859 We've already covered that in chapter 10. 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:32.519 Don't think it was ever by works. 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:36.299 If it were by works, in Elijah's time, he would have rejected his people. 00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:39.940 So many times he would have rejected his people. 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:44.420 After the golden calf, in Elijah's time, in the exiles. 00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:58.000 Because it's by grace, and it's always been by grace, God is totally free to shower down his salvation blessings. 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:03.660 And he's committed to saving part. 00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:18.220 Now, if the idea of God choosing is troubling you, you look within yourself to figure out, am I one of the ones God has chosen? 00:19:19.300 --> 00:19:23.420 To ask that question, it's not helpful. 00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:26.300 It's to treat it as if it's on the basis of works. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:30.540 Am I seeing enough works in me that God is choosing me? 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:34.779 I loved Martin's metaphor of the car a few weeks ago. 00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:41.339 You don't need to know how the car works under the hood to drive a car. 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:45.740 You don't need to know how salvation totally works to be a Christian. 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:49.200 That's God choosing. 00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:51.259 If you don't get it, that's okay. 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.579 Just leave it to the mechanic. 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:53.960 God knows how it works. 00:19:53.960 --> 00:20:01.539 Our business is to look at Christ and confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord. 00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:06.480 And believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.380 That's our business. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:15.059 So there's two groups within Israel. 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:17.980 There's the elect and then there's the rest. 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.059 Verse 7. 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:30.679 He's saying the elect, the remnant, did get a right relationship with God by faith in Christ. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:35.740 But the rest have been hardened in their unbelief. 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:45.400 I think it's important to note the ground, the reason for being a remnant. 00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:52.640 If you dig down, what's the bottom line reason that I'm one of the remnant? 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:57.339 What you'll find at the bottom is God's grace. 00:20:57.339 --> 00:21:05.299 If you look at the ground, if you dig down, what's the reason for being hardened? 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:07.419 It's my unbelief. 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:18.659 It's God handing over someone to their choice not to believe. 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:25.559 Paul, again, he creates a medley here of Old Testament verses and he's picking from, 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:30.240 of the three major sections in the Old Testament, he picks one from each. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.839 The whole Old Testament is saying this. 00:21:32.679 --> 00:21:35.440 So you've got the prophets, the law and the writings. 00:21:37.419 --> 00:21:38.859 This has always been the case. 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:43.599 So what is hardening? 00:21:44.399 --> 00:21:45.720 What is God hardening? 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:49.879 It's not God adding something into a person that changes them. 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:52.720 It's what we see in Romans 1. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:56.400 It's God handing someone over to their unbelief. 00:21:58.860 --> 00:22:00.920 Romans 1, he gave them up. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:07.319 They were suppressing the truth and he gave them up to that foolish thinking. 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:10.740 He gave them up to their idolatry. 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.380 He let them go. 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:17.259 He gave them up to their depravity. 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:19.759 It's not God adding something in. 00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:22.500 It's just handing over. 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:30.940 Here in these verses that he quotes, we get a further description of the effect of this hardening. 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:33.319 Isaiah describes it as a stupor. 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:35.259 It's a spiritual... 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.759 You're just numb. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.420 You're just apathetic. 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:43.039 All this light. 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:47.460 It's just insensitivity. 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:56.120 Moses says, 00:22:56.120 --> 00:23:04.940 You've seen all that the Lord did before you, before your eyes in the land of Egypt, the signs and those great wonders. 00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:11.980 But to this day, the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:19.680 It's not responding to salvation and God just hands over to that thinking. 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:25.039 It's like what we see in John 9. 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:28.839 Jesus healed the man born blind. 00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:33.140 And the man testifies before the Pharisees, if you remember it. 00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:38.819 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.380 And what's their conclusion? 00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:42.840 Excommunicate this guy. 00:23:44.780 --> 00:23:47.760 And Jesus finds the man, the healed man later. 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:49.320 And the man confesses him Lord. 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:50.360 He worships him. 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:52.900 And Jesus says these piercing words. 00:23:53.760 --> 00:23:55.320 And the Pharisees were in earshot. 00:23:55.320 --> 00:23:57.780 For judgment I came into this world. 00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:01.680 That those who do not see may see. 00:24:02.820 --> 00:24:04.920 And those who see may become blind. 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:11.900 They had enormous light. 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:19.039 But by rejecting Jesus' clear evidence, they were hardening. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:21.560 They were getting harder and harder to Jesus. 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:26.980 It was the same in King David's day. 00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:30.800 There was those within Israel who wanted his death. 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:32.899 Even though he's God's chosen king. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:37.279 All these quotations. 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:40.740 From Moses to David to Isaiah to the Christ. 00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:49.079 There's always been many within Israel who reject God's word and salvation. 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:52.180 And God's hands them over to more and more insensitivity. 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:54.779 And numbness and blindness. 00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:01.620 So has God rejected his people? 00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:05.940 No. 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:09.980 The elect deserve the same hardening. 00:25:11.820 --> 00:25:17.940 But by his gracious choice, he's kept a remnant for himself. 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:24.700 And next week, it's not the end of the story. 00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:34.240 I grew up surrounded by the gospel in my childhood. 00:25:36.840 --> 00:25:40.000 Like Sunday through Saturday. 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:42.279 School, church, family. 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.519 It was everywhere. 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:49.940 Now, I look back at my late teenage years and university days. 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:52.160 Where I was trying to belong to the world. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:57.480 I was teetering on the edge of church. 00:25:58.620 --> 00:26:04.860 God had every right to hand me over to my foolish choices and my thinking. 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:07.540 He would have done me no wrong. 00:26:12.060 --> 00:26:14.560 Now, your story will be different in details. 00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:17.640 And you're wondering my details, aren't you, now? 00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:34.540 But can't you look back and see that the only reason you came to faith or remained in faith was your great shepherd left the 99, picked you up, put you on his shoulders and carried you back. 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:43.639 Why should I gain from his reward? 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.879 I can't give an answer. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.720 Why should I gain from his reward? 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:47.000 I can't give an answer. 00:26:47.000 --> 00:27:02.059 Let me tell you about someone else hardened in unbelief. 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:05.659 Her name's Ayan Hrsi Ali. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.899 She was born in Somalia. 00:27:09.679 --> 00:27:12.059 In a clan that was Muslim. 00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:17.279 And when she was 21 years old, her father arranged a marriage saying it's God's will. 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:22.819 And she didn't want to get married to this man, so she ran away. 00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:27.939 She ran to Holland and found refuge there. 00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:35.720 So she wrote to her father asking for forgiveness and he wrote back disowning her. 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:38.740 So there was a lot of hurt there. 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:49.079 In 2002, she decided she wasn't a Muslim and decided to be an atheist. 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:51.480 That was her conclusion. 00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:54.299 And she wasn't just any atheist. 00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:58.480 She became an active public atheist. 00:27:58.700 --> 00:28:00.620 She spoke out about all religion. 00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:06.559 And she was almost as prominent as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, if you've heard of those guys. 00:28:07.959 --> 00:28:09.679 That new atheism movement. 00:28:09.919 --> 00:28:15.939 She was, some considered her the fifth horseman of the new, like, she was very prominent. 00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:24.159 In her own words, she said, going all over the US and Europe, mocking Christians, making fun of them, making fun of faith. 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:33.019 Ayaan teamed up with a prominent film director, Theo Fongau. 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:37.540 And she wanted to speak out about the treatment of women. 00:28:37.540 --> 00:28:46.200 And she was going to put verses of the Koran printed on actresses in this movie. 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:57.799 And when the film was aired, three months later, a man rode on a bicycle and chased Theo down and shot him and killed him. 00:28:57.880 --> 00:29:01.880 And left a note on his body saying, you did this. 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:04.120 It shall happen to you. 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:10.559 And, like, the FBI would come to her regularly saying, you've got active threats against your life. 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:15.159 She became very afraid. 00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:18.859 She was overwhelmed by negative thoughts, she said. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:20.779 And she became dependent on alcohol. 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:23.819 And just, she just went rock bottom. 00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:26.960 And she saw a psychologist. 00:29:27.419 --> 00:29:31.799 And the psychologist suggested, I think you're spiritually bankrupt. 00:29:34.139 --> 00:29:36.159 You're just empty. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:39.980 And her advice was, you've tried everything else. 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.000 Try praying. 00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:46.880 Probably get kicked out as a psychologist these days. 00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:48.740 She gave that good advice. 00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:54.460 And the psychologist asked, if God existed, what would be his qualities? 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:57.440 And she started describing them. 00:29:57.460 --> 00:30:00.040 And she said she realized she was describing Jesus. 00:30:01.340 --> 00:30:03.400 And so she started to pray to Jesus. 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:06.180 And she said something clicked. 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:12.600 I haven't touched a drink since, she said. 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:14.420 Negative thoughts have ceased. 00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:18.000 The closer you get to the person of Jesus, the more attractive he is. 00:30:19.100 --> 00:30:21.000 All my life I have craved freedom. 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:22.160 I crave love. 00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:24.160 In Jesus Christ I've found both. 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:33.200 In 2004 she has a public debate discussion with Richard Dawkins. 00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:35.400 You can go look this up. 00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:37.620 And Dawkins presses Ayan. 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:41.800 The stuff they believe is absolute nonsense. 00:30:43.320 --> 00:30:46.340 You don't believe Jesus rose from the dead, surely. 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:53.019 And Ayan responds, I choose to believe that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:30:53.019 --> 00:31:06.920 Whatever limits you and I have placed on God, his power and his grace to save, the living God won't stay in your box. 00:31:07.379 --> 00:31:08.680 He won't stay in my box. 00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:13.339 Because he's got a remnant. 00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:17.339 He's got a remnant chosen by grace. 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:26.199 Like Elijah, we need to lift our eyes to the horizons of his grace. 00:31:26.899 --> 00:31:29.240 They are so much bigger than we can imagine. 00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:45.240 When our loved ones first were insensitive to the cross of Jesus, we were in anguish. 00:31:45.399 --> 00:31:46.939 But then we got used to it, didn't we? 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:49.799 Maybe you're not like me, sorry. 00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:51.519 We get used to it. 00:31:54.699 --> 00:32:00.359 We do need to accept that God has done them no wrong if he hands them over to their choices. 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:04.319 But we should never accept that that's the end of the story. 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.819 Don't get used to it. 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:09.879 Let's be in anguish again so that we pray again. 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:39.880 Please may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may 00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:50.400 Sorry. 00:32:58.160 --> 00:33:01.320 Oh, look, I'm going to take that as a sign I should stop. 00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:05.580 So I'm just going to hand over to Matt. 00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:23.920 I think Dave's expressing for all of us how we should feel about those in our life who are lost and who don't know the gospel. 00:33:24.360 --> 00:33:32.880 It is easy, I think, to fall into feeling like a feeling of they'll never be saved or it's too hard. 00:33:33.300 --> 00:33:38.700 I think about some of my colleagues or some of my friends, I'm just like, how? 00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:44.100 Wow. Especially the ones who I think have everything, who seem like they've got everything together. 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:52.500 But we know God has chosen a remnant and we don't know who that is. 00:33:52.500 --> 00:34:06.880 Thanks, Dave, for I guess, even though not finishing the talk, in some ways I think it's powerful to see the emotion and to remember what's at stake here. 00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:11.199 It's not just, you know, a different way to live life. 00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:11.940 It is life. 00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:14.420 It is life to have Jesus.