“Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake,” — that is, objects of "the just wrath of God; comp. Romans 5:10... the Jews being once determined not to abandon their law and their monopoly founded on it, needed to be struck with blindness, so that they might not discern in Jesus their Messiah; otherwise a Judaized gospel would have hindered the offer of salvation to the Gentile nations. The apostle might therefore well add to the words: ‘as concerning the gospel’, the further clause: ‘for your sakes’.” (Godet)— “but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.” Being still unconverted, the calling of God is still on the table for individual Jews to become part of God’s peculiar people centered in the church of this dispensation for the sake of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:28-29) “It does not mean that God confers his favors on man without his exercising repentance, but that God does not repent, or change, in his purposes of bestowing his gifts on man.” (Albert Barnes) We all have our own calling.
“‘For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.” (Romans 11:30-32) “The conclusion of the matter is this. As everyone has been disobedient, Gentiles and Jews alike, so God will show mercy to all as well (cf. Romans 3:9; Galatians 3:22). That is, He will show mercy to all without distinction, not all without exception (cf. Romans 9:17). This is a great ground of assurance.” (Dr. Thomas B. Constable)
This is not universal salvation, but equal opportunity. "Concluded them all in unbelief does not say God caused them to become unbelievers. The truths and facts disclosed to God that all nations were unbelievers, and for that reason He put them all in that class, which would make them all the subjects of divine mercy.” (Zerr) “Thus, all people were on a level; and thus all might be admitted to heaven without any invidious distinctions, or any dealings that were not in accordance with mercy and love. The emphasis in this verse is on the word ‘mercy.’… It does not prove that all people will be saved; but that those who are saved shall be alike saved by the mercy of God; and that He intends to confer salvation on Jews and Gentiles on the same terms. This is properly the close of the argument of this chapter.” (Albert Barnes)
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! “For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him (Isa 40:13-14)?”— Romans 11:33-35 “As God foresees the end of all possible courses from the beginning, so he prepares his own plan of conduct as to meet any result…. He is, therefore, under no liability to retract. Of his gift of mercy to Abraham, and his calling [to him and to us], he will never repent.” (Daniel Whedon) He had a plan for all before birth. And, even for the lost, He still does if they are willing to accept it.
“Behold," continues Isaiah- "the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.” (Isa 40:15-17) But the Gospel is that Jesus is seeking out recruits for a spiritual Kingdom. Jesus' Kingdom is not of the world or else His disciples would fight for Him. But He will return to a restored city of Zion and will sit on throne of His father, David, forever.
“For of Him (as the Creator- Alpha), and through Him (as the Preserver) and to Him (as the ultimate End- Omega) are all things to whom be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36) (John Wesley's words provided) In this the saints exult! Against this, the serpent and his seed constantly fight and war. If Satan cannot get himself worshipped, he will beget in man's wicked mind a vain philosophy of man-made religion or doctrines thereof.
Comments