"In the Same Boat"

Summary Conclusion

Summary with highlights - he’s not saying anything new, but summarizing in a way that brings emphasis to some things.

Broader context - will God keep His Word?

Immediate context - warning against Gentile arrogance.

What’s special about Israel? (vv. 28-29)

Status Summary (v. 28)

Because they have rejected the Gospel, God has rejected them; BUT, not fully and finally, because they are still His chosen nation. And He will prove that in the end with believing Israel, while including believing Gentiles.

“Indeed, verse 28 insists that they are objects of God’s love and wrath simultaneously.” (John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans: God’s Good News for the World, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 306.)

Here election is national (not salvation)...

The enemies are elect.

It is due to the choosing of the forefathers or the race.

So, the message to the Gentile believer here is, yes, they are rejected as a nation now, but remember that they are still chosen as a nation as well (which is why there is a salvation for them yet to come).

Reason Summary (v. 29)

Gifts and calling give to the forefathers (Romans 9:4–5 “They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”)

All of this was uniquely given to Israel by God and is “irrevocable” - without regret, no reason for change.

This is how God designed the plan to include both Jews and Gentiles.

So, Gentiles should want God to be faithful to His promises to Israel.

Romans 9:6 “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,”

Ephesians 3:6 “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

What’s not special about Israel? (vv. 30-31)

Being disobedient and then receiving mercy.

Gentiles have experienced both (v. 30).

Disobedient - to the gospel (opposite of 1:5)

Romans 1:5 “through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,”

Ephesians 2:2 “in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—”

Received mercy (compassion) - gospel offered to them.

Because of Israel’s rejection (vv. 11, 12, 15, 17, 19-20).

Israel will have experienced both (v. 31).

Disobedient - predominantly as a whole

Receive mercy (compassion) - through the gospel

Because of Gentiles’ acceptance (v. 11, 14)

Paul is summarizing salvation history past, present, and future.

The phases of the Jews and Gentiles vary.

But the history of believing Jews and Gentiles reveals the same heart of the matter - disobedience then mercy.

What stands out about God? (v. 32)

Mercy/compassion (4x in vv. 30-32)

Context of God’s mercy (v. 32a)

Consigned - shut up, imprisoned (Galatians 3:22–23 “But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.”)

Without escape, pardon, or release in and of themselves.

All - every, whole

Can not be universalism

Romans 2:5 “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”

Romans 9:22 “What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,”

2 Thessalonians 1:6–10 “since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

Must mean all as in both in summary of what he just said.

Romans 3:22 “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:”

Romans 10:12 “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.”

“That is, on all without distinction rather than all without exception.” (F. F. Bruce, Romans: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 6, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 220.)

“Thus “mercy upon all” means all without distinction who are the partakers of this mercy.” (John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans, vol. 2, The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1968), 103.)

It doesn’t say that God will have mercy on everyone, but everyone who is saved has received God’s mercy after being disobedient.

So, Jewish and Gentile believers are in essence the same, and God is merciful to both.

What do we learn about God?

He is Faithful.

He is Righteous.

He is Merciful.

What do we learn about ourselves?

We have much to be thankful for.

We have no reason for boasting.

Benediction: 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.”

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:1–13