Israel’s spiritual blindness

Why did Israel become so blind to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Romans 9:31,32 - Israel insisted on approaching God via works, in their own way.
Mat 13 - God hides his treasure in a field until a later time.
- God temporarily ceased his work through the Jews.

Israel’s past Election

Context of Roman’s 9 is:
- God’s sovereign election of national Israel
- not talking about the church
- not talking about salvation
Deuteronomy 7:6
- God Chose the nation of Israel
  - to bring his son
  - to witness to a heathen world
Romans 9:4,5 - Privileges given to Israel
- as a nation, Israel was adopted by God
- Glory
- Covenants
- recipient and custodians of God’s law
- Priesthood
- Promises regarding the coming King
- Given fathers
- Received Jesus
Israel is God’s earthly people solely because of God’s Sovereign choice.

Romans 10:3, 4
- being ignorant of Christ’s righteousness
- Christ is the end of the law
Romans 10:11-25
- Israel’s blindness is only until the fullness of the Gentiles.

What ought to be the Church’s response to the nation of Israel?

Romans 11:1-5
- God is not done with Israel.
- God has NOT cassed away his people
- There is a remnant
- The blindness is temporary
- Replacement theology is wrong, and teaches a false teaching
  - The new testament Church has NOT taken the place of Israel
  - The Church is NOT spiritual Israel
Romans 11:11, 12
- Through their fall, salvation has come to the gentiles
- God used their unbelief to reach the world
- How much more their fullness
- Their restoration will be a great blessing to the entire world.
Romans 11:15
- If God can use the setting them aside of Israel to bring about a great thing
- What will their restoration bring
Prediction of the setting aside
- Isaiah 6
- Isaiah 59:27
Romans 11:26 - 28
- All Israel shall be saved
- As it is written
- Deliverer
- I shall take away their sin