There is a popular
notion that since Christ came and established His church, God no longer has
plans for the OT nation Israel. The Apostle Paul, himself being Jewish, gives a
special message to the Jews in Romans 11 and the message is that God is not
finished with them. Chapter 11 for the most part does not apply to the church
but in the end I believe there is a wonderful spiritual lesson for all of us in
this section.
It is good to
occasionally remember that the Bible wasn’t written with these chapters and
paragraphs in it, those were added later simply as reference points for us.
Romans is a letter and meant to be read straight through. If we remember that
then much of the letter makes more sense to us. We see that here as we read the
next section and see Paul asks a question that is in response to what he just
wrote in what we call chapter 10.
Romans 11:1
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
Paul answers his own
question and makes it clear; God is not finished with the Jews. Yes certainly
as a whole the Jewish people have rejected Christ but listen to Paul’s good
news in light of the bad.
Romans 11:5-6
So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
God
has, by His own choice and grace, kept a remnant of Israel.
Paul
goes on in more support for the doctrine of divine election here in this
chapter. I present this for those of you who vehemently deny this doctrine and
rather then argue with you I suggest you carefully consider the words of
scripture. I do suggest we quit trying to explain the mystery of election and
simply trust God in accepting it. But we all must “work out own salvation with
fear and trembling”, so I leave you to your own for that process. But these are
strong words.
Romans 11:7-8
What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”
What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”
Paul
then explains what God has done with the failure of the Jews and it is clearly
good news to the gentiles.
Romans 11:11-12
So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
Romans
8:28 is one of my favorite verses because it helps us live through things that
seem to be terrible tragedies and if we trust God we can know that something
greater will come from our sorrows. God used the failure of Israel for good and
that failure will, in the end, work out for God’s glory to be revealed in both
the election of Gentiles and the remnant of the Jews who will be saved in the
end.
Paul
then takes time to offer a warning to us gentiles. Since we as gentiles were
not part of the original choice of God to be His people as Israel was, Paul
explains how we are grafted into God’s family. Paul warns us not to become
proud of our salvation because God can cut us off as simply as He did Israel.
And Paul says that God can graft them back in as well, so we need to respect
that the Jews are still His chosen people.
Romans 11:19-24
Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
Paul wraps up chapter
11 by speaking of the mystery of all this. He warns us to be careful in
thinking ourselves wise.
Romans 11:25-27
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
As Paul explains this,
an important truth becomes clear. God does not go back on His promises.
Romans 11:29-32
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
God
keeps His word. He is not done with Israel as He made promises to them and He
will keep them. The wonderful spiritual lesson for us in this is seen in this
idea of God’s remnant. The lesson for us is that there is always hope for us as
long as we have breath. If you are reading this now then salvation is still
available to you. All you need do is go humbly to Jesus with a repentant heart
and He will do the rest.
Chapter
10 finishes up with a reminder to us that we are not able to totally understand
everything that God does. If you get nothing else from this lesson read the
final verses and make them real in your life. Then start to live with simple
faith in God and stop worrying about the “whys” and the “hows.” Just have faith
in God.
Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment