Romans 11:30-32 (WEL) For just as in times past you refused to believe in God, yet now you have received mercy through their stubborn disobedience. 31 Even now they refuse to believe, so that through the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy. 32 For God has shut them all up in stubborn unbelief so that he may have mercy on all.
V30 For just as in times past you refused to believe in God, yet now you have received mercy through their stubborn disobedience.
There is time after the Holy Spirit initiated His prevenient grace (as mentioned in John 16:8 and Romans 2:4) before people refuse to believe. Why do some people believe and some do not?
Those who refuse to believe in Jesus do so from pride (Psalm 10:4 and Isaiah 66:4 (NLT)), love of sin (John 3:19 and 2 Thessalonians 2:12), and/or believe lies (Ezekiel 13:19 (NLT) and Jeremiah 2:35).
Some in Israel refuse, but many believe. God’s mercy is available to all, but today most Jews refuse to believe just like most Gentiles do. The Gospel has been made available to all people, not just Jews. One does not have to convert to Judaism to be saved.
V31 Even now they refuse to believe, so that through the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy.
This happens by making Jews jealous that God blesses the Gentiles.
Constable:
“These verses are a warning to Gentile believers. Gentiles should beware of becoming critical of God for planning to bless the Jews in the future. We should also beware of becoming proud because we are presently the special objects of God’s favor. We need to remember that God chose Israel so that we who are Gentiles could enjoy salvation (Genesis 12:1-3).”
Warren W. Wiersbe:
“We must remember that God chose the Jews so that the Gentiles might be saved. “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed,” was God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). The tragedy was that Israel became exclusive and failed to share the truth with the Gentiles. They thought that the Gentiles had to become Jews in order to be saved. But God declared both Jews and Gentiles to be lost and condemned. This meant that He could have mercy on all because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.”
Compare the preaching of Noah for 120 years (Genesis 6:3). See 1 Peter 3:20 and 2 Peter 2:5. All had the opportunity to enter the Ark, but most refused to believe and reject God’s saving grace.
V32 For God has shut them all up in stubborn unbelief so that He may have mercy on all.
A punishment for unbelief is more unbelief. A person will grow more and more calloused to the Gospel until sometime, somewhere God will not convict them of sin.
This mercy is for any person to have an opportunity to be saved. God sovereignly frees their will. He opens their eyes and heart to understand, and with their freed will, they can freely choose or reject God’s condition for salvation. Compare Acts 16:14 and Luke 24:45.
We learn:
- God’s plan for Israel to spread God’s Gospel was not obeyed.
- God’s plan for the Gentiles was then offered by God to the Gentiles.
Questions:
- Are you spreading the Gospel?
- Are you thankful for being a Christian?