Spiritual Shortsightedness

1999043

Introduction

A. TEXT: Rom. 11. Often hear phrases: “If it were a snake it would have bit me.” Or “I can’t believe that I didn’t see that…it was right here in front of me.” We often laugh at ourselves for such. But…what about when it comes to application of knowledge & Biblical principles?

1. Often times we are so focused in on one thing – that we fail to see the whole picture.

2. Other times we do not see things because we do not want to.

B. For example…the Bible contains God’s instructions on godly living & what man must do to be saved.

1. we can understand the scriptures and we can understand it alike!

2. God has given us truth according to Jhn. 17:17 & truth does not contradict itself.

3. Each individual has responsibility to bring himself into compliance.

C. That simple plan had been given to Israel following the death of Jesus.

1. all of them had heard the provision of salvation in Christ. But all of Israel had not called upon the name of the Lord.

2. Observe Rom. 11:5-7.

3. What was Israel seeking? Salvation! But only few had found it by calling upon the name of the Lord.

D. Just a minority realized that calling on the name of the Lord involves acting upon one’s belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. One must through faith – repent, confess that Jesus is the Christ, and be baptized for the remission of sins.

1. Rom. 10:11,13,16. Notice importance of calling on the name of the Lord!

2. Majority of Israel failed to do that & were rejected as God’s people.

a) 10:1-3 – seeking a righteousness of their own.

b) 9:19-20 – some even determined to argue w/God.

E. What were they thinking? Why did majority fail to see what God has so clearly set forth as his plan of redemption for man?

1. same problem that confronted Israel during Paul’s day – confronts men today!

2. We need to take notice of what they did wrong so we will not fall into the same trap!

3. Make no mistake – Israel had been warned! They were w/o any excuse!

a) 9:25-27; 10:19-21

b) their own prophets had warned them – that salvation would be for all men – not just the Jews only! Had been warned that the Jews would continue to be stubborn & hard hearted to change.

c) Seems that Israel had a very bad case of spiritual shortsightedness.

4. Salvation & state of being in favor w/God right in front of them!

5. Right in front of many people today as well! But many never take hold of it.

F. Rest of lesson will talk about some characteristics & consequences of spiritual shortsightedness.

1. people can be shortsighted and not see importance of obeying gospel.

2. Christians can be shortsighted and not see need for correcting sins in their life.

I. Shortsightedness is caused by unbelief.

A. Very simple: Majority of Israel did not believe in Jesus Christ & there are still many today who do not – both Jew & Gentile.

1. Jesus a good man but that’s it. Or…I believe that Jesus is the Christ – but do nothing to bring themselves into compliance.

2. In Paul’s day…Jews wanted to hang onto OT system. Obtain righteousness through works of OL. See 9:30-33.

a) as a result: many unwilling to come to Christ.

b) See also 11:20 – Paul says that unbelieving Jews were cut off. They were separated from God!

B. We need to understand that God has always expected that men believe in Him!

1. Heb. 11:1, 3, 6.

a) bottom line: want to please God? Have faith & more importantly be willing to act upon that faith.

b) Look through rest of Heb. 11! Men not only believed…but acted upon it to do what god required!

c) Men such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, etc.

2. God has given the facts out: man has to respond accordingly!

3. There is ample information available to produce faith:

a) Jhn. 20:30-31. Things w/in Scripture produce faith!

b) Jhn. 8:24; 14:6 – must read & apply…b/c if do not…et. death.

c) Must note: simple faith DOES not bring salvation…but the right to become a child of God! Jhn. 1:12.

C. Many are shortsighted today b/c they fail to understand that they must believe it the way God expects – not just they way they want it to!

1. Some read passage & say I don’t believe that. i.e., Mk. 16:16; 1 Cor. 6:9-11.

2. That’s just your interpretation.

a) not at liberty to accept what we like/reject what we don’t like.

b) This exactly what Jews in Paul’s day were condemned for!

c) Didn’t like what they heard – so we’ll seek to obtain righteousness our own way.

1) 9:30-33

2) seeking righteousness anyway but God’s = futile!

3) Man no right to complain/whine/change what God has prescribed.

3. to not accept what God says – one DOES NOT believe!

4. To believe – we MUST take the Bible for what it says!

II. Shortsightedness is caused by one having become hardened.

A. Israel could not see their rejection & condemnation b/c they were hardened against it. See 11:7.

1. How/why had they been hardened?

2. Basically: pride led to their downfall. Jesus NOT what Jews wanted! Physical king. Liberate from Romans. Get physical pride back.

a) Mt. 13:11-15 – they rejected God & were too puffed up to see that.

b) Had eyes…but would not see. Had ears….but would not hear.

3. Even David – who they loved to quote said that they would b/c hardened a/g God. Psa. 69:22-23.

a) again this hardening due to their pride in themselves & their nation.

B. Who can cause spiritual shortsightedness?

1. This where application comes in for us today! We need to understand that the same thing can happen to us!

2. SATAN can cause spiritual shortsightedness & harden our hearts to the truth!

a) 2 Cor. 4:1-4, 6

b) Satan blinds hearts of many by deceiving masses into thinking no consequence for sin.

1) want to have sex out of marriage but not face potential physical consequences? Just get a condom. Everyone does it. Schools teach kids no conseq. for actions

2) want to get drunk? Just get a designated driver. Its’ OK…everyone does it!

3) Want to cuss? OK as long as you don’t use worst kind of words – everyone does it.

c) perhaps this why Jesus said what he did in Jhn. 3:18-21.

d) Satan can harden one’s heart to extent that he will NEVER resp to the truth b/c he loves sin so much!

e) Not only applicable to alien sinner but Christian as well.

3. Christians must be aware that they can be hardened by the devil & fall short of glory of God.

a) Heb. 3:12-15 – must keep open heart toward truth. Easy to get prideful in self – esp after being Christian for many years

b) Some NEVER admit that they wrong in anything. Just talk about how they’ve been wronged through the years.

c) Christians: TAKE NOTICE TO ISRAEL. They heard what God wanted. They rebelled! They died in wilderness. Heb. 3:16-19.

d) We have truth. But if we rebel a/g it – we die spiritually!

e) Eph. 6:11-13 – we need to fight devil to keep from being hardened.

4. Men can harden themselves.

a) due to wrong attitude. Some never get their “want to” fixed.

b) Some harden hearts to extent that eyes do not see & ears do not hear. All b/c they don’t’ want to.

1) some don’t go to church/think on spiritual – b/c they don’t want to hear that they night need to correct their life.

2) If I don’t hear…then I won’t have to change.

c) when this happens – God will run out of patience eventually. We can be given over to hard heart. Don’t wait till it’s too late! 2 Pet. 3:9-11.

III. Observe what happened to Gentiles after Paul wrote Rom. 11

A. Rom. 11:17-22- warning to Gentiles. Casting away of Jews led to grafting in or acceptance of Gentiles by God.

1. Notice exhortation here: don’t b/c haughty…but fear! (11:20)

a) not concerning cowering fear.

b) But a respect for God & a doing of what He expects. Requires humble heart.

2. there was great danger that those Gentiles who had been nobody would b/c proud & bigminded now that they had b/c somebody. (11:19-20)

B. Why couldn’t they see that? Why did they NOT listen to command of God?

1. few generations later – most gentiles had forgotten this great warning & apostasy crept in church.

2. 2 Tim. 4:2-4; 1 Tim. 4:1-4 – Paul warned of this coming into church.

3. Why didn’t they learn from example of Israelites? No doubt this for same reason that Israel had refused to obey God.

C. This has also happened to Christians in the 19/20^th century. Pride/contentment/etc. get involved & men slip away from the truth.

1. corrupt worship

2. corrupt the work of church.

IV. Bottom line: Spiritual shortsightedness will cause one to lose his salvation!

A. We need to be impressed w/fact that Christians today may develop the same attitude that caused Israel & early Christians to fall.

1. Rom. 11:21 still applicable to Christians today!

2. Christians: just b/c you’ve been baptized…does NOT guarantee your salvation!

3. Rom. 11 NULLS the doctrine of impossibility of apostasy!

B. Only ones who will be saved are those who act upon their faith to b/c & remain obedient to will of God!

1. Rev. 2:10; Mt. 7:21-23; 1 Cor. 15:58

2. Notice Rom. 11:22 – if you continue in it’s goodness.

3. How about you? Are you continuing in goodness of God? Have you been made righteous by obedience to the gospel & are you continuing to live righteously?

4. If not YOU will be CUT OFF b/c of your unbelief!

C. Such is only fair. God is fair/just in all things.

1. See 11:22 again. You do right – you will be rewarded.

2. You do wrong – you will be punished.

3. Judgment coming. Not a question – we will be there – Heb. 9:27. Are you ready?

Conclusion

A. Don’t be like Israel, the Gentiles, & some many other Christians b/f you! Don’t develop a problem of spiritual shortsightedness!

B. Evaluate your life! Where do you stand before God? Are you outside the body of Christ? Obey the gospel today!

C. Christians: are you in danger of being cut off? 2 Cor. 13:5 – prove yourself!

D. I N V I T A T I O N



Spiritual Shortsightedness 1999043 Introduction A. TEXT: Rom. 11. Often hear phrases: “If it were a snake it would have bit me.” Or “I can’t believe that I didn’t see that…it was right here in front of me.” We often laugh at ourselves for such. But…what about when it comes to application of knowledge & Biblical principles? 1. Often times we are so focused in on one thing – that we fail to see the whole picture. 2. Other times we do not see things because we do not want to. B. For example…the Bible contains God’s instructions on godly living & what man must do to be saved. 1. we can understand the scriptures and we can understand it alike! 2. God has given us truth according to Jhn. 17:17 & truth does not contradict itself. 3. Each individual has responsibility to bring himself into compliance. C. That simple plan had been given to Israel following the death of Jesus. 1. all of them had heard the provision of salvation in Christ. But all of Israel had not called upon the name of the Lord. 2. Observe Rom. 11:5-7. 3. What was Israel seeking? Salvation! But only few had found it by calling upon the name of the Lord. D. Just a minority realized that calling on the name of the Lord involves acting upon one’s belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. One must through faith – repent, confess that Jesus is the Christ, and be baptized for the remission of sins. 1. Rom. 10:11,13,16. Notice importance of calling on the name of the Lord! 2. Majority of Israel failed to do that & were rejected as God’s people. a) 10:1-3 – seeking a righteousness of their own. b) 9:19-20 – some even determined to argue w/God. E. What were they thinking? Why did majority fail to see what God has so clearly set forth as his plan of redemption for man? 1. same problem that confronted Israel during Paul’s day – confronts men today! 2. We need to take notice of what they did wrong so we will not fall into the same trap! 3. Make no mistake – Israel had been warned! They were w/o any excuse! a) 9:25-27; 10:19-21 b) their own prophets had warned them – that salvation would be for all men – not just the Jews only! Had been warned that the Jews would continue to be stubborn & hard hearted to change. c) Seems that Israel had a very bad case of spiritual shortsightedness. 4. Salvation & state of being in favor w/God right in front of them! 5. Right in front of many people today as well! But many never take hold of it. F. Rest of lesson will talk about some characteristics & consequences of spiritual shortsightedness. 1. people can be shortsighted and not see importance of obeying gospel. 2. Christians can be shortsighted and not see need for correcting sins in their life. I. Shortsightedness is caused by unbelief. A. Very simple: Majority of Israel did not believe in Jesus Christ & there are still many today who do not – both Jew & Gentile. 1. Jesus a good man but that’s it. Or…I believe that Jesus is the Christ – but do nothing to bring themselves into compliance. 2. In Paul’s day…Jews wanted to hang onto OT system. Obtain righteousness through works of OL. See 9:30-33. a) as a result: many unwilling to come to Christ. b) See also 11:20 – Paul says that unbelieving Jews were cut off. They were separated from God! B. We need to understand that God has always expected that men believe in Him! 1. Heb. 11:1, 3, 6. a) bottom line: want to please God? Have faith & more importantly be willing to act upon that faith. b) Look through rest of Heb. 11! Men not only believed…but acted upon it to do what god required! c) Men such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, etc. 2. God has given the facts out: man has to respond accordingly! 3. There is ample information available to produce faith: a) Jhn. 20:30-31. Things w/in Scripture produce faith! b) Jhn. 8:24; 14:6 – must read & apply…b/c if do not…et. death. c) Must note: simple faith DOES not bring salvation…but the right to become a child of God! Jhn. 1:12. C. Many are shortsighted today b/c they fail to understand that they must believe it the way God expects – not just they way they want it to! 1. Some read passage & say I don’t believe that. i.e., Mk. 16:16; 1 Cor. 6:9-11. 2. That’s just your interpretation. a) not at liberty to accept what we like/reject what we don’t like. b) This exactly what Jews in Paul’s day were condemned for! c) Didn’t like what they heard – so we’ll seek to obtain righteousness our own way. 1) 9:30-33 2) seeking righteousness anyway but God’s = futile! 3) Man no right to complain/whine/change what God has prescribed. 3. to not accept what God says – one DOES NOT believe! 4. To believe – we MUST take the Bible for what it says! II. Shortsightedness is caused by one having become hardened. A. Israel could not see their rejection & condemnation b/c they were hardened against it. See 11:7. 1. How/why had they been hardened? 2. Basically: pride led to their downfall. Jesus NOT what Jews wanted! Physical king. Liberate from Romans. Get physical pride back. a) Mt. 13:11-15 – they rejected God & were too puffed up to see that. b) Had eyes…but would not see. Had ears….but would not hear. 3. Even David – who they loved to quote said that they would b/c hardened a/g God. Psa. 69:22-23. a) again this hardening due to their pride in themselves & their nation. B. Who can cause spiritual shortsightedness? 1. This where application comes in for us today! We need to understand that the same thing can happen to us! 2. SATAN can cause spiritual shortsightedness & harden our hearts to the truth! a) 2 Cor. 4:1-4, 6 b) Satan blinds hearts of many by deceiving masses into thinking no consequence for sin. 1) want to have sex out of marriage but not face potential physical consequences? Just get a condom. Everyone does it. Schools teach kids no conseq. for actions 2) want to get drunk? Just get a designated driver. Its’ OK…everyone does it! 3) Want to cuss? OK as long as you don’t use worst kind of words – everyone does it. c) perhaps this why Jesus said what he did in Jhn. 3:18-21. d) Satan can harden one’s heart to extent that he will NEVER resp to the truth b/c he loves sin so much! e) Not only applicable to alien sinner but Christian as well. 3. Christians must be aware that they can be hardened by the devil & fall short of glory of God. a) Heb. 3:12-15 – must keep open heart toward truth. Easy to get prideful in self – esp after being Christian for many years b) Some NEVER admit that they wrong in anything. Just talk about how they’ve been wronged through the years. c) Christians: TAKE NOTICE TO ISRAEL. They heard what God wanted. They rebelled! They died in wilderness. Heb. 3:16-19. d) We have truth. But if we rebel a/g it – we die spiritually! e) Eph. 6:11-13 – we need to fight devil to keep from being hardened. 4. Men can harden themselves. a) due to wrong attitude. Some never get their “want to” fixed. b) Some harden hearts to extent that eyes do not see & ears do not hear. All b/c they don’t’ want to. 1) some don’t go to church/think on spiritual – b/c they don’t want to hear that they night need to correct their life. 2) If I don’t hear…then I won’t have to change. c) when this happens – God will run out of patience eventually. We can be given over to hard heart. Don’t wait till it’s too late! 2 Pet. 3:9-11. III. Observe what happened to Gentiles after Paul wrote Rom. 11 A. Rom. 11:17-22- warning to Gentiles. Casting away of Jews led to grafting in or acceptance of Gentiles by God. 1. Notice exhortation here: don’t b/c haughty…but fear! (11:20) a) not concerning cowering fear. b) But a respect for God & a doing of what He expects. Requires humble heart. 2. there was great danger that those Gentiles who had been nobody would b/c proud & bigminded now that they had b/c somebody. (11:19-20) B. Why couldn’t they see that? Why did they NOT listen to command of God? 1. few generations later – most gentiles had forgotten this great warning & apostasy crept in church. 2. 2 Tim. 4:2-4; 1 Tim. 4:1-4 – Paul warned of this coming into church. 3. Why didn’t they learn from example of Israelites? No doubt this for same reason that Israel had refused to obey God. C. This has also happened to Christians in the 19/20^th century. Pride/contentment/etc. get involved & men slip away from the truth. 1. corrupt worship 2. corrupt the work of church. IV. Bottom line: Spiritual shortsightedness will cause one to lose his salvation! A. We need to be impressed w/fact that Christians today may develop the same attitude that caused Israel & early Christians to fall. 1. Rom. 11:21 still applicable to Christians today! 2. Christians: just b/c you’ve been baptized…does NOT guarantee your salvation! 3. Rom. 11 NULLS the doctrine of impossibility of apostasy! B. Only ones who will be saved are those who act upon their faith to b/c & remain obedient to will of God! 1. Rev. 2:10; Mt. 7:21-23; 1 Cor. 15:58 2. Notice Rom. 11:22 – if you continue in it’s goodness. 3. How about you? Are you continuing in goodness of God? Have you been made righteous by obedience to the gospel & are you continuing to live righteously? 4. If not YOU will be CUT OFF b/c of your unbelief! C. Such is only fair. God is fair/just in all things. 1. See 11:22 again. You do right – you will be rewarded. 2. You do wrong – you will be punished. 3. Judgment coming. Not a question – we will be there – Heb. 9:27. Are you ready? Conclusion A. Don’t be like Israel, the Gentiles, & some many other Christians b/f you! Don’t develop a problem of spiritual shortsightedness! B. Evaluate your life! Where do you stand before God? Are you outside the body of Christ? Obey the gospel today! C. Christians: are you in danger of being cut off? 2 Cor. 13:5 – prove yourself! D. I N V I T A T I O N