Chapter # 10 Paragraph # 3 Study # 2
September 9, 2018
Humble, Texas
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1769 Translation:
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by [them that are] no people, [and] by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
1901 ASV Translation:
16 But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
18 But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you.
20 And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me.
21 But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
- I. The "Unexpected" Alternative Development.
- A. What the readers were "set up" for was the very positive attitude regarding the very desirable experience of having someone come with the "good news of good things".
- 1. Anyone who had any valid level of understanding of "good things", would automatically wish to be included in those who were to be told of them.
- 2. The "beauty of the feet" of those bringing the good news is a metaphor for the desirability of being told about them.
- B. "But...".
- 1. By Paul's use of this strongest of adversatives, he introduced a "contrary narrative": what the readers "expected" was going to be "countered" by a particular reality.
- 2. The contrary narrative/alternative reality is this: not everyone "liked" the "good news of good things".
- a. Both the "but" and the "not" are the strongest forms of their linguistic domain.
- b. The "reality" that creates this "alternative reality" is this: not "all" were willing to put themselves "under" the requirements of what was "heard" because a "herald" had come to make "good things" known.
- 1) The fact is, not only did "not all" submit themselves to the Gospel, "most" did not.
- 2) Paul is not saying "few" submitted themselves, but he easily could have without fear of contradiction.
- 3) So what is Paul saying? He is pointing out the depraved illogic of men -- that what would, under normal reason, have resulted in a massive embrace of the good news of good things did not happen.
- 3. The question is "Why?".
- a. How can anyone not "like" "good news of good things"?
- b. The answer: "good things" automatically assume the presence of "not good things".
- 4. What are the "not good things" that provoke the unwillingness to place oneself "under" the requirements of the "good news"?
- a. The assumed "bad news" centers upon the "good news" claim that a Redeemer has come and has been raised from the dead.
- 1) The entire notion of a "redeemer" is built on the foundation of at least four things.
- a) There is no need for a "redeemer" if there is a way for human beings to qualify themselves for the "good things" contained in the message of "good news" (10:5).
- b) There is such a thing as "infinity" in the question of "Justice" that makes finite human beings incapable of meeting the basic bottom line of its demand for equivalent recompense (even only one sin puts men beyond the pale).
- c) But there is the more profound fact: there is nothing that an unredeemed person can do that is not an expression of The Sin and, thus, is sinful (men never do only one sin because everything that they do outside of redemption is sinful); note Matthew 12:34).
- d) Men who have drunk deeply of the wine of arrogance hate to be told that they are incapable of even recognizing the truth of their wickedness, not to mention their total unwillingness and inability to do anything good about it.
- 2) The attending concept of "death" (so that resurrection is necessary) is also repugnant to "some" because it highlights and insists that the need for redemption is not because of "minor" mistakes and failures (nothing minor could explain the eternal lake of fire).
- 3) The consequent "resurrection" is also disliked because it forces the identity of the Redeemer to the surface along with everything He says and does.
- a) There were many who were offended and embarrassed by some of the Redeemer's words.
- b) There were many who were stymied in their own agendas by some of the Redeemer's actions.
- b. The assumed "bad news" actually boils down to one truth: God is God and He will never turn His creation over to anyone else because any who would accept it would be evil to the core and if God were to do it, He would be evil also.
- 1) Man's core issue with God and His "good news" is this plain fact: men lust after, and will sell their souls for, control (especially over others).
- 2) God's objection to granting the fulfillment of those lusts is one: the wickedness of such desires automatically means real damage to everyone as they fight and war against each other to be the "one" who gets control. God is the only genuinely loving person in His creation and His love is rooted in wisdom, goodness, and power. To sacrifice the "good things" of the rule of such a One simply because someone else lusts after it would be neither "good", "wise", or even "possible" because God cannot communicate omnipotence to another (not even God can create God and that is what is required for a creature to obtain an "infinite" quality such as "power").
- 3) Bottom line: creature control invariably leads to creature damage and anyone who genuinely "loves" will eventually squelch any and every intention to dominate by a created being. Every house divided against itself will fall: God is going to bring His "house" to perfect unity and love.
- C. The proof.
- 1. Isaiah is quoted: "Lord who has believed our report?"; but his quote is not a late development.
- 2. Ever since sin was found in Lucifer, there have been those who "did not believe" in the "good things" and the longer it has gone on, the harder it is to find anyone who does "believe".
- a. God would have spared Sodom if "ten" righteous had been found in it (Genesis 18:32).
- b. Years later God declared that if He could have found "one" in Jerusalem, He would have spared it (Jeremiah 5:1).
- c. And then years later Jesus asked, "...when the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8).