April 21, 2023 Sunday Sermon Romans 11:11-
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
God makes Israel envious by bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles.
God makes Israel envious by bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles.
I'm sure American shows are full of tropes or things done in every story , but it's always fun to watch Korean dramas with Ashley. You see examples of repetitive storylines that keep happening the same way every time. That way, you can tell someone likes you in a Korean drama if they get super jealous of you. Or you do something to make them jealous… The most significant way to indicate that you like someone is to act jealous.
In a similar way here God is showing His love for Israel by making them jealous. He does that by giving something precious to someone else. He gives salvation to the Gentiles.
11 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.
12 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!
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Did you catch that verse?
11 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.
Paul already dropped hints to this reality
19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”
God wanted to provoke Israel to Jealousy. But so often we think of jealousy in a negative light. This is not the case here.
Romans B. God Has Delivered the Gospel to the Gentiles (11:11–22)
The primary difference between God’s “jealousy” for Israel and the modern version of jealousy lies in the beneficiary. In modern terms, the jealous person wants someone back for his or her own benefit. In God’s case, he wants Israel back for Israel’s benefit.
The Valley of dry bones—can they live? —Ezekiel
The story of the the prodigal son— “My son was dead and now he lives.”—Luke
Israel was called by God in the beginning and God will hold a remnant faithful to the end.
The two types of trees
The two types of trees
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,
18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
22 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.
Paul is using the illustration of grafting to make the point that God is the One doing the work. Paul wants us also to see our health doesn’t depend on what we bring to the table but on the roots of what God has already established through Israel.
Quote about Aslan not being a tame lion
Aslan is not a tame lion, but He is good.
God will bring the Gospel to Israel again.
God will bring the Gospel to Israel again.
23 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.
24 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 start off by saying that God is already done something extraordinary. If God has the capacity to bring wild olive trees into the good tree that is Israel, then he certainly has a capacity to bring Israel the natural tree back.
25 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.
26 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”;
27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
Paul starts off by warning against arrogance here. What's happened with Israel is a temporary thing. What happen to close their eyes to gods working is not something that will always stand. And then he goes on to say that when the time comes Israel will be saved. But we need to understand in the same way that calls reference to the gentiles isn't referring to every Gentile being saved in the same way this passage doesn't say that every single due on earth will be saved. I think commentator FF Bruce captures this well
Romans C. God Will Deliver the Gospel to Israel Again (11:23–32)
‘All Israel’ is a recurring expression in Jewish literature, where it need not mean ‘every Jew without a single exception,’ but ‘Israel as a whole’
At some point the nation of Israel, the people of Israel will resume their position as the elect people of God before him.
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,
31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.
32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
The conclusion of the section does not mean that God is condemning all mankind. But it means that at one point all Jews and gentiles will find themselves fully, realizing they are at the mercy of God.
Remember, back in genesis when God looked across the whole earth, and found all humanity disobedient to him. It was even after the flood when God saw extraordinary disobedience throughout mankind. And God could've let us continue on our path without interceding whatsoever.
But because of God's mercy, God saved Abraham, and then he sent the children of Abraham to be a blessing to the world .
At the moment Israel is an enemy of the Gospel. But one day Jews and Gentiles will praise God for His mercy.
Praising the God who gives the Gospel
Praising the God who gives the Gospel
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Paul finishes the passage praising God; not demystifying election.
As Martin Luthor wrote about this passage:
Romans D. Praise to the God of the Gospel (11:33–36)
There is still something which is hidden and too deep for us to understand
We can’t fully understand how God hardens hearts or elects and chooses people while still holding us responsible for our choices.
It’s like going down into the ocean diving without a sub. A human body can only take a certain depth of water. We can’t handle the weight of truly deep water. In the same way we can’t fully understand how God thinks and acts.
in verse 35 Paul quotes Job.
11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.
You remember Job. He was the good man that Satan got permission to test. And so Satan took nearly everything from Job in the first several chapters of the book. What follows for the next 37 or so chapters is Job’s friends trying to get Job to confess to His sins and Job defending himself as blameless in God’s sight.
God finally steps into the conversation. And you might think that God is there to explain that this has all been just some masterful test. You might think that God would reassure Job that Job really is a good guy.
But such is not the case …read what God says.
1 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?
3 Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?
4 Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever?
5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls?
6 Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?
7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?
8 Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again!
9 Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him.
God makes a point. Obviously Job doesn’t have the capacity or understanding of God. No one. Therefor God says this:
10 No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?
Who dares make a claim before God if no one shares the authority, knowledge and power God has.
11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.
God owns everything. Who can make a claim against Him?
Remember what Paul said in chapter 9
20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”
God is self sufficient and doesn’t need to explain Himself. To whatever extend God shares Himself and lets us understand, it is mercy.
Romans D. Praise to the God of the Gospel (11:33–36)
After all, how much motivation would there be in worshiping a God whose purposes were totally exhausted by the finiteness of our intellect?
Conclusion
Let’s relish in the mercy God shows in saving us.
Let’s worship a God who is far beyond our ability to understand.
Let’s receive with gratitude what God chooses to reveal about Himself to us.