Hearts, Dough, Roots and Rejoicing Romans 11:7-36

Hardened Hearts

Deuteronomy 7:6 “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are

on the face of the earth.”

The Covenant

Isaiah 10:22 But though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant of them will return. The Lord has rightly decided to destroy

his people.

1 Kings 19:18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”

2 Corinthians 3:12–16 Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old

covenant is being read,

the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with

that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Mark 6:52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

Ephesians 4:18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.

Revelation 2:1–5 “...I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first…”

Israel rejected Christ–not the end of the story. 11-16

of Dough and Roots

• Israel rejected Christ, but won’t forever.

• Because Israel rejected Christ, Gentiles were saved.

Acts 18:6 But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go

preach to the Gentiles.”

• Paul hoped his ministry to Gentiles would make Jews want Christ.

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;”

Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal

life, we now turn to the Gentiles.”

Deuteronomy 32:21 They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols. I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make

them angry by a nation that has no understanding.

• A blessed Israel brings blessing to all.

God sovereignly works throughand despite human failure.