Romans 11:7-10
Introduction
Most of us in this room have experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit, who has opened our spiritual eyes to His truth and offered us mercy. It’s that moment when our brain and heart connect to something beyond us. It’s that feeling of unconditional love that makes no sense because it hasn’t been earned or deserved. In that moment, we can either say yes and repent as the Lord calls us to be His or refuse to believe. When we refuse to believe, we harden our hearts. It is the only way to escape the power of His call that draws us to Him. This is the hardening of the heart that Paul is talking about in this passage. When a person refuses the witness of the Holy Spirit, they damage their own spiritual competence, which in turn causes God to withdraw His Spirit. God will not go where He is not invited. He respects the free will that He gave us. However, this leaves the person vulnerable to dangerous impulses that tend to escalate, including persecuting others for their belief. A person who takes part in persecuting God’s people invites upon themselves His divine justice. In effect, the prayers of Psalm 69 will be turned against them (Ro. 12:19). Yes, God is a God of mercy, but He is also a God of justice. He is patient but will not allow His people to suffer forever. In time, He will bring upon their persecution the punishment they deserve. This is why we must forgive those who persecute us. Showing mercy instead of justice gives others a second chance for redemption and healing. We call this damage control.
Damage that Hardens (vs. 7-8)
• Verse seven explains verse six. Let’s read verse six for context.
• Paul begins with a question, “What then?” This question addresses the status of Israel. To be more precise, it asks, “If God has not abandoned His covenant with Israel, then what is their status?”
• The issue is the question. Are they saved or not? Can they reject the gospel and still find salvation?
• Every human being, whether Jew or Gentile, is sinful and in desperate need of forgiveness (Ro. 2:12; 3:9,19-20,23; 5:12). So, He says, “What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, meaning those who are trying to become righteous by keeping the Law have fallen short.
• Instead, God has given His righteousness to those “who were chosen,” meaning those who humbly responded to the gospel by faith (Ro.9:11; 1 Co.1;27-28).
• The act of refusing to believe has left many people spiritually damaged. Closing their minds to the witness of the Holy Spirit has left them hardened (thick-skinned). This will cause them to find it even more difficult the next time the presence of the Holy Spirit comes, offering them mercy.
• Their capacity to “hear” and “see” has been dulled as if a thick callous skin had covered their spirit. This is the power of no.
• Both Isaiah and Moses speak of the damage that takes place inside when a person hardens themselves, and Paul mixes statements of each to describe that damage—using Isaiah 29:10 and Deuteronomy 29:4.
• This language gives us some key descriptions of what this looks like: deep sleep, closed eyes or blindness, numbness, drunk without wine, burdened, not able to feel or think, not able to sense or understand, not able to comprehend.
• What’s important to note here is that their “no” made them responsible for bringing divine judgment on themselves, but God is so good, and there was a solution for them.
Divine Justice (vs. 9-10)
• Verses seven and eight reveal the internal damage that takes place when someone rejects the gospel.
• In verses nine and ten, Paul cautions about the severe divine justice that occurs when an individual persecutes the righteous.
• Paul is specifically speaking of the hardening that had taken place in some Jews that had erupted into violent persecution. Paul himself had been on the worst in his early years of the church (Ac 8:1; 9:1-6). It’s important to understand that while Paul is speaking of this, He is thinking about his own experience. He was both the persecutor and the persecuted.
• God does not stand by passively when those who love Him are cruelly treated. A fierce judgment is described in Psalms 69, which Paul quotes in this passage.
• David composed this Psalm as an appeal for relief from religious persecution, seeking justice against those who caused him harm.
• He encountered opposition and dishonor from multiple adversaries due to his dedication to God (Ps 69:7,9). The hostility directed at God was reflected in their attitude towards him. He was separated from his family (vs. 8), faced ridicule (vs. 11-12), experienced threats to his life (vs. 15), and suffered from a sense of isolation and heartbreak (vs. 20). David wanted them to suffer as he had suffered. So, in his despair, he cried out for justice.
• Why is Paul drawing our attention to Psalms? This is because the same persecution David experienced happened in the early church.
• Innocent people whose only offense was loving God and proclaiming His salvation were being attacked. Paul’s words were a comfort to those who were suffering for their faith.
• It’s an assurance that God sees what we endure and will be justice.
• However, there is also a warning in this. We should not rejoice in the justice, but like our Lord Jesus, we should pray for God’s mercy on those who persecute us (Lk. 23:34).
Reversing Damage (Acts 7:54-8:1)
• Stephen was the perfect candidate to receive Psalms 69 justice. He was a godly man who was murdered (stoned to death) because he loved Jesus and boldly spoke the truth. Under these circumstances, God would have indeed punished his tormentors.
• But that is not what happened. Stephen loved Jesus so much that He wanted to be like Him. So, in this horrific moment, He remembered what Jesus said.
• As he fell to his knees under the weight of the stones pelting him, he cried, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them! (Ac. 7:60).
• Paul was the one taking full responsibility for Stephen’s persecution. Paul would have been the one condemned. Paul was deserving of divine justice. But Stephen, being full of the Spirit, rather than calling down justice, called down mercy. He was doing damage control.
• Stephen had no idea he was forgiving a man who would become the greatest apostle. He had no idea that we would be reading passages penned by his persecutor. We should all be grateful that Stephen used Jesus as his example. We are the beneficiaries of that mercy.
• Jesus is the One who changes this whole equation of divine justice for mercy. In this passage, He is not telling us to allow ourselves to be senselessly abused, but He does call us to extend mercy to those who, in their spiritual blindness, persecute us because of our faith (Mt. 5:38-41).
• He is asking us to separate the sin from the sinner, to see lost people, and to prioritize them. Why?
So that the world will experience His love through us (Mt. 5:43-48).
Because Jesus has given us grace, we did not deserve, so it is morally wrong to demand justice for those who sin against us (Mt. 18:21-35).
By forgiving, we introduce a powerful influence. The cycle of revenge is broken, and grace is experienced.
• Because of Christ’s sacrifice and the possibility of new birth, the human heart can change (Ez. 36:26). Showing mercy instead of justice gives others a second chance for redemption and healing. We begin the process of reversing the damage done through the hardening of the heart.
Conclusion
As we reflect on the profound impact of forgiveness, we recognize the transformative power of mercy in our lives and the lives of those around us. Stephen’s choice to follow Jesus’ example and forgive paved the way for remarkable change, reminding us of the importance of grace over justice. Through mercy, we break the cycle of revenge and open doors to healing and redemption, demonstrating Christ’s love to the world. May we take to heart the teachings from Matthew 5:38-41 and 5:43-48, embracing the call to extend grace to those who persecute us and remembering the promise of a new heart and spirit in Ezekiel 36:26. By showing mercy, we offer others a second chance and contribute to the healing of hardened hearts, furthering the possibility of change through Christ’s sacrifice.
Discussion Questions
- How do you balance the concept of God as both merciful and just in your understanding of His nature__?
- Reflect on a time when you chose to show mercy instead of seeking justice. How did this decision impact you and the other person involved__?
- In what ways does Stephen’s example of forgiveness challenge your own approach to forgiving those who have wronged you__?