THOSE WHO REJECT THE GOSPEL WILL BE REJECTED BY GOD

Anyone who hears the gospel of the grace of God and yet refuses to believe is courting Divine judgment. This fact is clearly set before us in the Parable Of The Marriage Feast (Matt. 22:1-14), and in the history of the nation of Israel. The gospel was first revealed to the Jews, the nation of Israel, under the types and shadows of the Mosaic economy. To Israel alone God gave the law, the priesthood, the tabernacle, and the prophets. And when Christ came he preached the gospel to none but the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But that nation, being blinded by their religious leaders, despised the opportunities of grace which God had given them, despised the gospel, and despised the Lord Jesus Christ. Though they had feverishly adhered to the rites and ceremonies of the law, they had long rejected the message of the prophets. When John the Baptist came preparing the way of the Lord, they ignored him. When God's own Son came, they hung him up on a tree to die. And when God sent the apostles and disciples of Christ to proclaim the message of Christ, the ascended King, they rejected their message, imprisoned the messengers, beat them, and murdered them. Therefore, in 70 A.D. the Lord God sent the Roman army, under the command of Titus, and utterly destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel. At the end of Daniel's 70th week, the house of Israel was left desolate. Their light was turned into darkness. Never again would Israel have a word from God. Never again would God deal with that nation. God said to his servants, "Israel will not hear; leave her alone. Go ye therefore into the highways and hedges of the world, and as many as you find, whether Jew or Gentile, bid them come. And whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

This parable of the marriage feast speaks of the Divine retribution which fell on Israel for her rejection of the gospel. Israel rejected God; therefore, God rejected Israel. Israel despised the light God gave her; therefore, God withdrew the light. Israel trifled with the gospel; therefore, God cast her off. God's judgment upon Israel stands as a solemn warning to all men: GOD WILL NOT TRIPLE WITH THOSE WHO TRIFLE WITH THE GOSPEL OF HIS GRACE. TO REJECT THE GOSPEL IS TO COURT REPROBATION.