Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Christ Covenant Reformed (PCA)
For many years there have been on the market dog whistles which can set off barking throughout the whole neighborhood without anyone knowing who started the ruckus! But, if you want your pet only to respond, your pooch needs to know his name and your voice. Sounds very simple doesn't it, yet when we say something similar about the human nature and our relationship to the Lord God Creator of the universe, people suddenly get upset about the implicit theology. Now, the theological issue before us today concerns the difference between general and specific revelation.
John Murray shows us the relationship between our Romans passage in verse eighteen and Paul's quotation from the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Since verse eighteen is the key passage to understand our Scripture portion today, we would do well to put the psalm quotation in proper perspective. First of all, we need to know that Psalm Nineteen which Paul quotes is mightily concerned with our two types of revelation. If you would turn with me to that short psalm and consider the two halves, you should note that the first six verses describe what we now call general revelation, and verses seven through fourteen describe special revelation. Read these majestic words and wonder at how ancient indeed are the doctrines before us today. John Murray observes that in "the esteem of the psalmist and in the teaching of Scripture throughout these two areas of revelation are complementary."
Further in Acts 17: 24-31 we find that just as men everywhere have sought to worship the God of creation, not all of the religious responses to the general revelation are appropriate. The command for repentance is universal and a day of judgment has been appointed under the Lordship of God's risen Son. There in the verses following our reference in Acts, very many scoffed at the idea of resurrection from the dead, but some few wanted to hear more. We are not surprised at the reaction of the humanistic Greeks, but within the Covenant community we have higher expectations!
Over the years, as I have heard of those becoming reformed in their beliefs, I marvel at the misunderstanding of the friends and relatives surrounding them. Patiently and carefully or tactless and abrasive, however the one's becoming believers respond to their critics, those around them seem not to be able to comprehend the special revelation of the Spirit. Certainly, we would wish that many many more could comprehend the amazing grace which we are finally allowed to understand. However, just as Paul observed in our passage before us.
Some simply do not hear. Look at verse sixteen to see Paul share your frustrations: "But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our message?'" This truth and our common experience of it should help us comprehend the clear teachings of the Scripture. The essence here is summarized by Calvin's notation that Paul is demonstrating "that there are many called who are not chosen." With this said we can better appreciate that like the Old Covenant community, the New Covenant community as well may at times include very many who despise the true faith by preferring their own religious viewpoints.
Even in the midst of the general invitation of the gospel, which we as Christians must preach to every man and nation, there are those whose coming might surprise the saints of every time. There are also those whose ignorance distresses the universal church. "Did they not hear?" Paul asks about the Jews of his own time. In prefacing that question, he observed that "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." My commentators suggest that verse seventeen's impact is that every man and nation will hear the basics of the gospel offer just. Like that silent dog whistle which we cannot hear, the whole world will have no excuse, the general revelation goes out through our preaching and sharing the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. But, all of those who bark and bray at that disturbing sound, have no hope in heaven unless their spirit hears the Master's voice calling them home. "Did they not hear", Paul asked and then he quickly observed "of course they did".
But did they understand? This is the more important question which follows in the context of verses nineteen to twenty-one. To understand the illustration from Moses, let me share some wisdom from the Church planting sessions which I have had the privilege to attend. Now this wisdom is controversial, however I do believe that the observation is correct. The observation is that it is easier to start a new congregation than it is to revitalize and extend an old congregation. Look carefully at the envy that Moses predicts Israel will one time experience. Certainly in the New Covenant era, the Christian Church multiplied beyond measure because all sorts of outcasts, pagans, gentiles and unbelievers in general were invited to share in the grace of the gospel. Paul's experience in the Eastern Mediterranean confirms this prophecy. Wherever he went, he always went first to the Jewish synagogues. When he and any new believers were rejected and cast out, gentiles were always added on to create the New Covenant communities.
The second illustration from Isaiah confirms the experienced growth of the New Testament congregations. All sorts of peoples from every tribe and nation under the sun will be coming into Christ's everlasting kingdom. Still, tragically there are those in the Old Covenant community who will not heed the gospel call. Their rejection is made all the more tragic in the confirmation of verse twenty-one. John Murray observes that "the overtures of grace are not merely represented as rejected but as made to 'a disobedient and gainsaying people'." Here Paul demonstrates the inexcusableness of Israel and does so by appeal to their own Scriptures.
Charles Hodge goes a step further in this matter when he notes that "God has opened wide his arms and has frequently urged men to return his love; and it is only those who refuse whom he finally rejects." Now that last statement may make some uncomfortable, so let me quote Calvin's observations here as well. "Paul repeats the reason why God passes over to the Gentiles. It is because He sees that His grace is treated with contempt by the Jews. ... God says that He stretched forth His hands to Israel, whom He constantly called to Himself by His Word, and did not cease to allure by every kind of favor. ... In particular, however, He has complained of the contempt shown to His doctrine. This contempt is all the more detestable the more strikingly God reveals His fatherly care in calling men to Himself by His Word."
Many years ago my father bought a gangly enthusiastic puppy. Her heritage was certain, she was from the north side of the border if you comprehend the lowland nature of her Scots ancestors. She was a Border Collie. I lavished love, affection, good food and patient training on our chosen pet. But she always had a problem with obedience, she would not always come when I called. Trixie Two was her given name. One day when we playing in the yard, she went out on the highway and laid down to soak up some sun. At that age, I was not allowed to go out to the road. So I called and called for her to come back into the yard. I stretched out my hands and yelled louder. She sat up, look my way and laughed, as disobedient dogs often do. Too late, she saw the neighbor's car coming down the road and we had to bury her. You know, we didn't cry too much at the time, because the whole family had been exasperated at her continuing disobedience.
As I understand the gospel of elected grace and the condemnation of those who are not chosen. There is a reason why the many do not hear! They do not want to and as Paul quotes Isaiah we see that there are indeed disobedient and obstinate people. That does not mean that we are ever to give up in this life praying for those we know need to be saved. But it does mean that their lack of faith and refusal to accept Christ must at long last rest upon their own heads. May we be eternally thankful that we are not stubborn and obstinate people and that by God's gracious calling of our names we have heard, believed and may enjoy Him forever.
Resources Used: The Holy Bible, New International Version
Places Preached:Hodge, Charles. Romans. Mackenzie, R. Calvin's New Testament Commentaries: Romans. Murray, John. New International Commentary: Epistle to Romans.
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America) Post Office Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213-7926
Rom10b.htm 17 December 95
To Subscribe or Unsubscribe go to: http://www.tulip.org/trf-list - Permission granted to redistribute unedited versions with this notice.