Romans chapter 10, the verses we're gonna look at today is verses 16 through 21. The verses I'm gonna read is verses nine through 21 of chapter 10. That if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart a man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him in whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring clad tidings of good things. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes, verily their sound went into all the earth, and the words unto the ends of the world. 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. But Isaiah says very bold and saith, I was found of them that sought me not. I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, all day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gang saying, people, you may be seated. To believe in Jesus is to surrender to his Lordship. The Bible says to confess with your mouth, not Savior, but Lord Jesus. And the Lord is something bigger than just a title. It is a definitive term that has to do with authority, ruler, master. Lord, you will rule me, mold me. You are the potter. So we surrender to His Lordship, embracing His sovereignty over every facet of our lives. It's a heart-deep conviction that shatters our self-rule, crucifying our flesh and enthroning Christ as the Supreme Master. Confessing Jesus as Lord is not a mere utterance, but a life-altering declaration of dependence, humility, and submission. We forsake our rebellion We forsake our pride. We forsake our selfish ambitions, pleading Jesus, take the reins of my life, rule me, mold me, use me for your glory. My brethren and sisters in Christ, we gathered last week to confront the harsh reality, the pervasive deception that masquerades as faith. We were reminded that true faith is not merely a profession but a passionate pursuit of God's will. And in verse 14, we discovered a pivotal role of the divine call to preach. It's a call that compels us to venture beyond the comfortable confines of the church walls and to proclaim Christ to a world who needs redemption. We are mere vessels. obedient instruments to the hands of the almighty God. Our mandate is clear, to preach the gospel, unadulterated, uncompromisingly. But dear saints, we must confront the compromise. that has crippled the church. We've lost sight of our primary mission, to equip the body of Christ, to disciple, and to deploy ambassadors of the gospel into the lost and dying world. We've traded biblical evangelism for intellectualism, replacing passionate proclamation with polished oratory. Many behind the pulpit have never experienced the transformative power of evangelism, God's way. How can we lead others where we ourselves have not gone? We must practice what we preach. We saw last week that our authority stems not from human appointment, but from divine commission. We are sent not by our own initiative, but by God himself, working through the means of sending out the local church. So let us rise, dear church, and reclaim our divine mandate. Let us shatter the deceptive faith and embody the authentic, spirit-empowered gospel. And may our words be backed up by works, and our message be marked by the power of the cross, where churches have been totally neglecting biblical evangelism. I tell people this all the time. There's two fundamental problems with the church. Ignorance about the purpose of the church. They honestly believe the purpose of the church is about evangelizing the lost instead of edifying the body. There would be no need for Bible colleges if churches were the Bible college, but because they're changing the purpose of the church to be about edifying the unsaved sinner, the saints in the body of Christ are going malnourished. They're hungering and thirsting, but the pastor won't feed the sheep. They're too busy feeding the lost. how very dangerous it is to be a pragmatic believer today, because a pragmatic believer isn't trusting in the Word of God as the lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. They're doing it what works, what seems right is irrelevant. The Bible warns, there's a way that seemeth right unto a man, but in the end, they're rough with the ways of death. The Bible warns in Proverbs Three, that we lean not on our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledge him and he shall direct our path. So the Bible clearly states we don't appeal to self. Then what do we appeal to? The word of God. The foundation of the purpose of the church should be grounded and rooted on the rock of God's infallible word this morning. So may we stand on it. May pastors learn to go outside the walls with the church and do the work of an evangelist. Do you go to a church with a pastor? Have you ever seen him go outside and pass out tracts? Have you ever seen him go outside and proclaim the gospel and fulfill the Great Commission? There's too many intellectual religionists behind the puppet that should never be behind the puppet. Far more than you can imagine or we can imagine together. The title of today's message is The Human Heart, Death to God's Voice. The Human Heart, Death to God's Voice. We understand when we go out there this coming week to proclaim the good news as today is the first day of the week. We understand the attitude of the unregenerate sinner. They are without a spiritual nature. They have only a sinful nature. and their sinful nature is to rebel. It's what's norm to them. We have a spiritual nature and what we are speaking is spiritual truth. And the spiritual truth cuts deep to the heart and what it either does, offends or convicts in such a way that brings one to Christ or running away from Christ. In most times, this truth we speak creates more tension and adversity and more enemies. than those who want to receive. Hell is full of people going the broad way. They've all heard the message, but they rejected it. The context today is specifically the Jews. Keep in mind that this is a greater passage. Romans 9 and 10 or 11 are really Paul talking about not all Israel is of Israel. defining the purpose of the Jews, because the Jews had a problem. Here comes Christ, his and his people, offering salvation and equalness, the promises of Abraham to the Gentiles. The Jews, like the Pharisees, always looked down on the Gentiles. But here comes Christ, separating the wall of partition, separating the divide. and offering himself to every kindred, tongue, and tribe, the world. So may we understand the heart of the unregenerate sinner. You're not called to please them, but you are called to tell them the truth. Paul says, do I become your enemy because I've tell you the truth? We are mere vessels of God this morning, obedient instruments in the hands of an almighty God, and may we be used for his purpose. So let us rise, dear church, and reclaim the purpose of our mission. Let us shatter deceptive faith and embody an authentic spirit-empowered gospel. So now in Romans 10, 14 through 15, Paul employs rhetorical questions to drive home the urgency of the gospel preaching. Rhetorical questions aren't actual questions for you to respond back to, but it is a statement of questions that you would already know in your mind. How shall they call on him whom they have not believed to? How shall they believe in whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? How shall they preach except they be sent? These questions aren't seeking information. They're emphasizing essential truths. Paul's rhetorical questions assume the obvious answers, making his point unmistakable. The gospel must be preached, and we must be sent. Will you be the messenger this morning? Will you share the gospel with the dying world this morning? It's crucial to find a church that stands firmly on the word of God, not only preaching, but also practicing it. And unfortunately, many churches today leave their members spiritually malnourished. A truth I speak about often in this church. Instead of seeking substance, people often settle for emotional worship or a sense of fulfillment from simply attending services. Jesus instructed Peter, feed my sinners, goats, sheep. Feed my sheep. in John 21, 16. However, many churches neglect this mandate. Simply why do many profess, simply because they fail to provide sound doctrine and biblical nourishment to God's people. We need churches to prioritize feeding the flock with wholesome biblical truth, satisfying the spiritual hunger of their members. Consider dining at a restaurant where you were left hungry and served subpar food. Would you return to that restaurant? Similarly, why do many professing believers attend churches that offer spiritual emptiness? Why would you ever return to a church that isn't feeding you the word of God in sound doctrine and the pastor isn't leading you? The Bible says whoever wants to be chief among you, let him be the least. All these elders of these churches, they never come to you, they never guide you, they never disciple you. Most of these churches, they never. Most of these churches all around, I can tell you that. I remember being part of a church, and I was there for two years, two years, and the elders of these church never one time ever came up to me, so I had to go to them. Except for the assistant pastor. We were together five days of the week. For a couple years, he was training me, rebuking me, reproving me. I took it all. I wanted to know everything he knew. I wanted to be more conformed to the image of Christ. I wanted to be more a light to this world. That's what each and every Christian here should be doing. Learn from those who know more than you. Be moldable. Allow the shepherd to lead the sheep. Are you leadable today? but are there elders that are able to lead? I was there for two years, and I went to them, and one guy just got emotional. He cried, and he knew he'll stand before God. He's not doing his job. He admitted it. The church was going through a lot at that time, but the responsibility to disciple is important. Keep your pastor accountable. If he isn't doing his job, but giving you an intellectual sermon each and every week, you're not really growing, he's impersonal with you, you do good to run. So like I said, we need churches to prioritize feeding the flock with sound doctrine. Romans 10, 15, how shall they preach except they be sent as it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things? The urgency of the gospel is clearly seen. How can souls be saved if no one shares the good news? It's not enough to simply know the truth, we must proclaim it. And what a privilege it is to be sent by God himself to spread the message of salvation. But this morning, we continue to verse 16. We notice here now a turning point, the rebellious, their response to the gospel. Paul uses Isaiah 53, which is arguably the most pivotal chapter in the entire Old Testament, picturing Christ. Listen closely, Romans 10, verse 16. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? Note the verb tense. Isaiah spoke these words over 2,700 years ago, 700 years before Christ, yet when Paul references them in the New Testament, he shifts to the present tense. Why? Because Isaiah's message remains alive and active today. The scripture is not merely a historical relic. It's a living, breathable word of God. Isaiah's voice still echoes throughout the ages, speaking directly to our hearts. The question remains urgent. Who will believe the message of salvation? To whom will the arm of the Lord be revealed? The answer lies in our response to the gospel. So let us heed to Isaiah's call, embracing the good news that transforms lives. May the living word of God stir our souls, compelling us to share this timeless message with the world desperate for hope. Verse 16 shows the negative side of preaching the gospel. Not everyone who will receive the gospel with open hearts. Many will reject the message despite its beautiful beauty and power. Isaiah's words echoes throughout the ages. Lord, who has believed our report? The question still resonates today. And we must not be grown discouraged by the unbelief of the sinners. we must continue to proclaim, to preach, and share the gospel with the lost and dying world outside the far walls of comfort. You can't understand this if you think this is referring to go out and share the gospel to the church. What do you think the definition of the church is? Called out. Ones from whom? The world. You're called out of the world. The problem with a lot of evangelism today, they're too busy not telling people to come to Christ, but come to my church. So you got the whole world coming to church, and then you have the pastor, so-called, not feeding the sheep. He's shepherding nobody, really. He's focusing on the unregenerate sinner and sharing the gospel with them. The whole entire method changes. The focus of the church completely changes. It's no longer, by definition, church, because the church is full of worldly people. Like I said, you're not gonna find one single verse in the entire Bible that shares evangelism is for the church. Not a single. Evangelism is to go out to the world and be a light in the darkness. What kind of light are you are if you're just being a light with other lights? Go out to the world and proclaim repentance and faith to them. They need it. Your neighbor needs it. Your workers need it. Your neighbors need it. And get out of your comfort zone. Get out of your convenience. Get out and do it because you care. You see the reality of heaven and hell before your eyes. For every rejection, there will be those who believe, those whose hearts will be transformed by the power of the gospel. Let us be faithful messengers sent by God, declare his glory to the nations. Let us pray for boldness and courage and for the words to speak, for in the end, it's not our success that matters, but our obedience to the Great Commission. Lord, who has believed our report? Their answer is not many, very few. But this leads now to the glory of the gospel preaching in verse 17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God. I want you to pay attention here. I'm gonna play the Greek game a little bit, because it is important. Here, here, let me share something. Because if you didn't do Greek, you're gonna miss the context of this verse. Faith, then, so then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. What type of word are they hearing? Now, I want you to learn, or even make note of this in your Bibles. This is where it's good to learn Greek words, because it helps make sense of the meaning of verses and words used. In Romans 10, 17, we find a crucial distinction. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word, the Greek word rhema of Christ. Note this is rhema, not logos word. Logos refers to the written word, the scriptures. But rhema signifies the spoken word, the living, breathing message proclaimed through human voice. Different than reading the word, this is referring to speaking the word. Faith isn't sparked solely by reading the Bible, as vital as that is. Faith comes alive when we hear the spoken word according to the Greek word used here, infused with power of the Holy Spirit. It's fascinating just to learn that. Rima speaks, the word rima speaks of utterance, a declaration, a sermon. It's a word preached, proclaim, spoken into our lives. This is where faith takes root. Dear brothers and sisters, we've lost sight of the very thing that fueled the first century church, explosive growth. Amidst our pragmatic approaches and modern methods, We've marginalized of every one thing that truly ignites revival, the uncompromised preaching of the word of God. We become masters of marketing, experts in efficiency, and pros at programming. But what about the raw, unbridled power of the spoken rhema word? What about the rhema that sparks faith? convicts hearts, and transforms lives. The early church didn't rely on trendy strategies or seeker-sensitive tactics. They preached Christ crucified, resurrected, and reigning. They proclaimed the unadulterated gospel, and the world was turned upside down. We need every means possible to spread God's word, yes, but let's not forget the mainstay of our mission, the preached word to the world. We are commanded, and it's a neglected mandate. Now comes to verse 18, Romans 10, 18 through 21 unveils a sobering truth. Israel's unbelief stems not from ignorance, but rebellion, though ignorance is, but rebellion. They have no good excuse to justify their unbelief. Keep in mind that in Romans 9 begins the very detailed explanation of not all Israel is of Israel. Israel today, if they deny Christ, isn't the Israel of God. Oh, Zionism is hurting the church today. Dispensationalism is hurting the church today. It is a damnable doctrine. It is a heretical belief system that is leading many to twist the word of God. The true Israel of God is the Church of Christ today, has always been in the Old Testament. This is how you know if someone's been paying attention. This is how you know if someone's actually reading the Bible. Israel, God had a problem with Israel in the Old Testament. God used prophets like Ezekiel to go tell them that you are the most rebellious nation out of all the Gentile nations. And then he comes to his own. Peter calls the Gentile church a holy nation. Ephesians and Colossians and Galatians tells them that you are inheriting the promise, you are co-citizens, you are receiving all the promises of Abraham, you are children of Abraham, you are the seed of Abraham, you are the spiritual Israel, the Jews of God today. And when Jesus spoke to the Jews in their unbelief, he says, you are of your father, the devil. You're not of me, but you're of your father, the devil. So now he's talking about this. He's in line and talking to the Jews. He's heartbroken over them, but explaining to them this message isn't only to you, but to all the world. Not all Israel is of Israel. What he's saying is the true Israel of God is scattered throughout all the world, made up of both Jew and Gentile believers. Bible, God doesn't care if you've been circumcised in the flesh. God cares if you've been circumcised in the heart. There's no confidence in our flesh. Let's continue. Jews have no good excuse to justify their unbelief. Keep in mind Romans 9, as I stated, is an explanation of not all Israel is of Israel. And he brings this type of theme carried over to the next couple chapters. And then Romans 10, 18 strips away Israel's feeble excuses. Verses 18, but I say, have they not heard? Who is he referring to? The Jews. Have they not heard, Paul responds, yes, verily. It says, their sound went into all the earth. And the words, unto the ends of the world. Fascinating. There is no excuse to the Jews today. For centuries, the Jewish people have heard the gospel's thunderous voice, yet they refused to listen. Prophets declared, scriptures testified, Jesus taught, apostles preached, all to no avail. Today, many Jews still blaspheme Christ. Rejecting the very one who came to redeem them, they attribute his miracles to Satan, denying his divinity and scorn his sacrifice. But God's word will not be silenced. Romans 10, 19 stands as an indictment. Their unbelief is not from ignorance, but rebellion. Their hearts are hardened, their ears dulled, and their eyes are blinded. Notice verse 18 says, their sound went out. The preaching of Christ, crucified, resurrected, and reigning, every nation, every tongue, and every people group has been reached. No corner of the earth remains untouched. No Jew, no Gentile can claim ignorance. You're without excuse. God's sovereignty shines forth. He reveals himself to whom he chooses. He molds both vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor. Israel's rebellion against the gospel is not from a lack of knowledge, but from hardness of hearts. Romans 10, 18 isn't saying every individual has personally heard the gospel. Paul's emphasizing that God's message has been proclaimed universally to all nations. Israel, in particular, has been well aware of God's revelation through scripture, through prophets, and through Jesus' teachings. Paul's point is then clear. Israel cannot claim ignorance as an excuse for their unbelief. God's message has been clearly proclaimed, leaving them without excuse. In context, Paul addresses the Jewish people's unbelief, highlighting God's sovereignty and salvation, and the distinction between physical and spiritual Israel. So Paul's statement echoes in Psalms 19.4, where David writes, their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Here, their line refers to God's revelation, his message of salvation. Paul is saying God's message has been universally proclaimed, and Israel has been well aware of this message. Their unbelief is then without excuse. There's no excuse for unbelief. The invisible God is visible to all. Romans 1.20, for the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Psalms 19.1-3, the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork. There is no speech nor language where the voice is not heard. Paul's words in Romans 1.20 that I read pierced the heart of humanity's rebellion. We're accountable to God, not due to a special revelation, but because of general revelation. God's manifest presence in verse 19 declares that which may be known of God is manifest in them in chapter one. What can be known in Romans 1? God's existence, his power, his divine nature, how is it manifest? In your conscience, in the world, in creation. Bible says, I've written my law upon every man's heart. His law is upon all our hearts. That's why we know thou shall not lie. We know lying is wrong. We know murder is wrong. You know, stealing is wrong. You know, adultery is wrong. You know, disobeying your parents is wrong. You know, taking God's name in vain is wrong. Why? Because God has written his law upon every man's heart. That's why we use the law in evangelism, to touch the heart of the sinner that has the law of God, the conscience, but they have to sear it. America, through 100% of demons, are trying to normalize sin, to change their heart, to change their conscience, to be seared, as if it was seared with a hot iron. to change their conscience, to take that which is good and to make that which is good evil, and to make that which is evil to be good. You see the creation's testimony in verse 20 unfolds the majestic convas of creation, the invisible things of him, of the creation of the world are clearly seen. What are these invisible things? God's eternal power and Godhead, no excuse. There's no consequences. I mean, there are consequences, forgive me. So they are without excuse. No one can claim ignorance. All people, everywhere, have sufficient knowledge to acknowledge God. Now look at verses 19 and 20 with me. Israel's unbelief in God's sovereignty we see here. 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. But Isaiah says very bold and saith, I was found of them that sought me not. I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. Paul confronts Israel's unbelief head on, and we must not shy away from the truth. Did Israel not know? Yes, they knew. Moses clares that they knew. Moses thundered. I will provoke you, Jews, to jealousy by them, Gentiles, that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. Israel was warned long ago this is going to happen, that God is going to use the Gentiles, and the Gentiles that offered salvation are going to provoke the Jews under anger and jealousy. That's what he's saying. This is a fulfillment of it. It's fascinating. Israel was warned, yet they rejected God's plan. But Isaiah's words are like a trumpet blast. I was found of them that sought me not, I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. This is the heartbeat of God's sovereignty. He initiates, he seeks, he saves, not because we deserve it, but because of his mercy. You don't seek after God as an unregenerate sinner with only a sinful nature. That's why free will is such a lie. Not of will of man, not of will of flesh, but of God. The Bible says, none understandeth, none seek after me. There's only one true seeker, the Son of Man has come to seek and save whom are lost. You're not lost, if your free will and your might and strength is able to come to Christ and choose Christ without a spiritual nature, without a change of heart, without spiritual conviction, There's more power to you than Christ. But that's not the truth. They have a low view of God and a high view of man. The reality is, the proper view is a low view of you and a high view of God. God gives us a new nature, and in this new nature, he makes us willing in the day of thy power. We choose him only because his spirit now lives in us. He makes us willing in the day he first displays his power. He gives us a new heart, that a heart wasn't after him before, but he gives us a new heart that seeks after him. Are you here with me today? We must proclaim. The truth, boldly, God's sovereignty reigns supreme. Israel's unbelief cannot thwart his plan. He will save whom he will save, and his mercy extends to all nations. God isn't begging for all to come to him, because he already planned who will come to him before the foundation of the world. All who are intended to come to Him will come to Him. Why? Because predestination, foreknowledge, called, justified, glorified, it's all by God. None of you. God's foreknowledge isn't looking towards the future and seeing who will come to Him. That's not foreknowledge, that's foresight. It's as if God isn't all-knowing, and so God needs to be educated by what people will do. And so people are actually teaching God to plan his plan. How weird is that? Are you okay with God not knowing all things? God knows all things, because he plans all things, decrees all things, vessels of honor, vessels of dishonor, both double predestination. I rose Pharaoh up for this very purpose. From a child, I rose you up, that my power might be displayed through you. If God never hardened Pharaoh's heart, so much so, though his heart was already hardened, he had to harden even more. If he didn't harden his heart in the way that he hardened it, And if he just accepted Christ, I mean, accepted the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob right away, we would never know the story of Israel that well. We wouldn't know the story of Egypt that well. We would have never saw the power of the salvation. But God hardened his heart. Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. He's speaking to the Jews here. He wants you to understand Jews, But God will save whoever he wants to save. God will love whoever he wants to love. And God will hate whoever he wants to hate. And he says, I never knew you, you workers of iniquity. What do you mean he never knew you? He never from eternity past, predestination, chose to have a personal relationship with you. So when he says, I know you, it means that God chose you, and he's developing a relationship. His love is towards you. But Esau, his love isn't towards, but holy hatred. Psalms 95, the fool shall not stand in thy sight. Thou hateth all workers of iniquity. Why? Because he does not have a personal relationship with M, never chosen from eternity past to do so. This is clearly seen in Romans chapter 8 and Romans chapter 9 explicitly. It's irrefutable. I don't know how anyone could do verse by verse and try to twist it. You have to avoid it at all costs. God is truly in control. Are you trying to understand God through you, trying to conform Him into your likeness? And is there something I'm saying that you may not like? I assure you it's grounded in the Word. You may not like what I have to say, but it's surely backed up in the Word. May we conform to the mysterious ways of God, who He is, understanding that He's unsearchable. The mysteries of God and who He is is unsearchable. So we cry out to God, O Lord, reveal yourself to those who don't seek you. We tremble before his sovereignty, acknowledging our own helplessness. Let us proclaim the gospel to all nations, trusting in God's power, not our own. We are not saved by our own seeking, but God's initiative. We are not righteous by our own efforts, but by God's righteousness revealed in the gospel in whom he imputes. Faith is not our work, but it's a gift of God. God both imputes his repentance and grants us faith. All are all of him. In Romans 10, 21, you see the sovereign plea of a heartbroken God. Sin affects God. God gets angry with the wicked every day, and God has joy over those and whom he saves. But to Israel it saith, all day long I have stretched forth my hand unto a disobedient and gang-saying people. Last verse. The Jews were a gang-saying people means to declare untrue. They were always declaring what we were to believe is to be untrue. to deny, to speak against, to contradict, no different than anyone of the unsaved worlds that we deal with on a regular basis. They're against saying people. Paul quotes Isaiah 65 too, in this verse, revealing the depth of God's sorrow over Israel's rebellion. Note the language, all day long. I've stretched forth my hand. This is no mere invitation. It's a sovereign call. God initiates. God draws, God saves, yet Israel resists. Israel rebels. Israel rejects. No, John 6, 44, no man can come unto me. No man can come unto me. No man in and of themselves can approach me. No man can, has the ability in and of themselves can, refers to, come to me unless God draws you, doesn't will you like a cheerleader. He draws you as he draws a prisoner to the prison gates, to the courts, that you do so willingly, wantingly. Romans 1916 reminds us, so then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Salvation is of the Lord from start to finish. Election, predestination, regeneration, all are works of God's sovereign grace. Unconditional election, God chooses whom he will save apart from human merit. Are you Romanist? unwavering predestination. God ordains the path of the elect, securing their salvation, irresistible regeneration. God quickens the dead sinner, granting new life. We know that sinners quench the, we know that Christians can quench the spirit. We know that people resist God all the time. But when God wants to make his grace irresistible, he does. Example, Jonah. Example, Paul. Example, you and me. So we see Israel's rebellion in its proper light. Not a hindrance to God's plan, but a demonstration of human depravity, total depravity, that is, our complete inability to seek God apart from his initiative. And yet God's patience endures. His long-suffering is not forever, but for now, his arms remain open. The invitation still stands. Come unto me, all ye that are labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. But make no mistake, beloved, make no mistake. This invitation is not a well-meant offer to all. It's an effectual call to the elect, securing their salvation. John 10, 27 says, my sheep hear my voice. Is everybody in the world his sheep? My sheep. Hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. The sovereign shepherd calls and the sheep responds. We rejoice in this truth this morning. You were chosen before the foundation of the world. You were predestined to be adopted as sons and daughters. You were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. But here's the interesting point Paul makes. This quotation in verse 21 from Isaiah 65 too is added to show that the Jews' rejection of the gospel was not unexpected. It wasn't unexpected, it was expected. Like a good lawyer, Paul, is knowing how to deal with them. He's expecting how they're gonna act, so he writes it before it happens. He's familiar with them as well. For God, the rejection of the gospel should be expected. For God had long ago foreseen and foretold of their rejection. God's stretched forth hand signifies his invitation and readiness to receive them, while disobedient and gang saying describes the Jews' resistance to God's will. This passage also demonstrates the patience and long-suffering God, who, despite Israel's continued rebellion, still holds out his hands to them. Will the remnant of the true Israel come out of the false Israel? Not all Israel is of Israel. So in conclusion, Romans chapter 10, 16 through 21, we find ourselves at the crossroads of human responsibility and divine initiative. We seek the stark contrast between Israel's resistance and God's irresistible will. We are reminded that salvation is of the Lord, not human effort. And as we close this passage, our hearts must swell with sorrow for Israel's unbelief. Yet we must also rejoice in God's unstoppable plan. which extends mercy to all nations. May we, like Paul, yearn for the salvation of the disobedient, even as we trust in God's sovereignty for mercy. May Isaiah's words echo in our hearts. All day long have I stretched forth my hand unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. May we feel the weight of God's plea, and may our response be one of humble obedience, unwavering faith, unshakable hope in the sovereignty of God. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, we are overwhelmed. The fact that we are just chosen by you, the fact that you have chosen to love us, we are unworthy. We are not like the Pharisees that think we are better than other people. We are nothing but dust and ashes, but we glorify you alone in your ways, your purpose, Lord, your will. Let you be magnified. Help us to exalt you in our life, oh Lord. Help us to be lights in darkness. Help us to be lights of the world. Help us to share the gospel out in the world. Help us to be a body that works with each other. Help us a body to not just be one head and the head does everything. Each part of the body has a member and has a spiritual gift and help us to work together as a way that you want us to, Lord. Grow the small body, Lord, but help us to understand that we are used. We are small, but do great things within us, O Lord. We give you all glory and praise, amen. And amen, if you will, please turn in your hymns to page 206 in the closing hymn, page 206.