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What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n God chooses some and hardens the rest.<\/p>\n \u201cSeeks<\/span>\u201d is from epidz\u0113te\u014d<\/em><\/span>, made up of epi<\/em><\/span>, used as an intensifier and dz\u0113te\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto seek.\u201d Thus, we see it means \u201cto intensely seek\u201d or \u201cto strive for.\u201d<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cblinded<\/span>\u201d is p\u014dro\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto make hard as stone\u201d hence, \u201ccalloused or insensitive.\u201d Applied to the mind, it means \u201chardened, insensitive, or not comprehending.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul is now drawing a conclusion regarding the statements that he has just made. That is, God has not abandoned His people, but neither has Israel obtained the righteousness that they tried to obtain for themselves. Those whom God has chosen have obtained this righteousness (because God imputed it to them) but the rest, those who are not elect, were hardened.<\/p>\n We see here, then, two things at work with regards to the righteousness of the elect (Jews in this case). The first is that it is not earned. There is no amount of works that will save them (or us). There is absolutely no single thing or combination of things that can be done which will save them (or us) and give them (or us) the righteousness of God. It is, as Paul says in Ephesians 1:5<\/strong><\/span>, \u201caccording to the good pleasure of His will<\/span>\u201d that they (and we) were chosen.<\/p>\n The second thing that we see here regarding election, and the righteousness that comes with it, is that those who were not chosen were hardened. But the obvious question is, \u201cWho is responsible for this hardness or blindness?\u201d Let\u2019s see what Jesus, Isaiah, and Paul have to say about it:<\/p>\n Jesus – He<\/span> (God, the Father) has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts, and turn, so that I should heal them.<\/span> (John 12:40<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Isaiah – For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, the seers. <\/span>(Isaiah 29:10<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Paul – Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.<\/span> (Romans 9:18<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Paul – whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. <\/span>(2 Corinthians 4:4<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n It is God who chooses and it is also God (through various means, including Satan) who blinds or hardens those whom He has not chosen, so that they cannot believe. And even now I can hear some saying, \u201cBut that\u2019s not fair!\u201d<\/p>\n In the next few verses Paul will continue with this statement of God\u2019s hardening by quoting a couple of Old Testament passages which affirm what he has just said.<\/p>\n Application<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n We may not want to believe that God chooses some and hardens others, but that\u2019s precisely what Paul teaches. Your church may teach something different, and you may believe that teaching. We want to believe that we are the ones in control of our own eternal destiny, but Paul teaches that God chooses whom He wants to choose and He hardens the rest. That\u2019s what the Bible teaches; therefore, I believe it.<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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