Rejection Not Final

Study of Romans: Message Twenty-Four

Wednesday Nights at MFBC

Romans 11:11-36.

ETS: God’s plan had purpose from the beginning.

ESS: God is still working through His people to bring others back to Himself.

OSS: [Devotional] {I want the hearers to rejoice and praise God for His glorious plan and power to save the lost.}

PQ:

What points of encouragement can we find in this passage?

UW: Points of encouragement

Intro: [AGS]: “There was a soldier who was wounded in battle. The padre crept out and did what he could for him. He stayed with him when the remainder of the troops retreated. In the heat of the day, he gave him water from his own water bottle, while he himself remained parched with thirst. In the night, when the chill frost came down, he covered the wounded man with his own coat, and finally wrapped him up in even more of his clothes to save him from the cold. In the end, the wounded man looked up at the padre. ‘Padre,’ he said, ‘You’re a Christian?’ ‘I try to be,’ said the padre. ‘Then,’ said the wounded man, ‘if Christianity makes a man do for another man what you have done for me, tell me about it, because I want it.’ Christianity in action moved him to envy a faith which could produce a life like that.” [1] [TS]: The text records the plan of God unfolding. The rejection of the Israelites was not final, and God used the Gentiles to draw the Israelites to Himself, in a sense. God’s plan had purpose from the beginning. [RS]: We do not always understand the operations of God. However, we should commit our lives to follow Him and live for Him. When we live genuine faith-based and motivated lives, others are attracted to the faith we possess, to the God we serve.

TS: Let us examine together a few points of encouragement now:

Israel’s rejection was not final, and it had greater purpose for God’s glory. [11-12]

APPLICATION: There are people, today, who still reject God. By their unbelief, they are also rejected by God. Yet, it is not final. there is still time.

Is. 55:6-7 “6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call to him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive.”

Rev. 3:20 “20 See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Paul embraced his ministry to the Gentiles while still being zealous for his own people. [13-16]

APPLICATION: It is possible for us to still be heartbroken over people we love who have not turned to the Lord while living faithfully to fulfill our calling to others. By doing so, God will use us and the others we are called to that those we love might be reached.

Believers should be careful to not boast in themselves: salvation is through faith because of grace. [17-21]

APPLICATION: We have no reason to boast about ourselves, claiming better status than those who have rejected God. It is only because God’s grace that we are who we are now.

No one is out of God’s reach. [22-32]

APPLICATION: God can save both the Jews and Gentiles alike. “Salvation is by faith, and the Gentiles need to be humble about their position. Spiritual pride has no place in salvation by grace. God is able to restore the Jewish people to the place of faith. Salvation is always a miracle. It is no harder for God to save a Jew than a Gentile.” [2]

God’s plan is better than our plan. [33-36]

APPLICATION: We do not always understand God’s plan. Part of the Christian faith is mystery. That’s where faith enters the picture. We have to trust and know that while we do not understand God’s plan, it is always better than our own.

Is. 55:9 “9 “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Takeaways:

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

[1] William Barclay, “The Letter to the Romans” in The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY: The Westminster John Knox Press, 2017), 175.

[2] Edwin A. Blum, “Romans,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1799.

Consulted Resources:

[1] Edwin A. Blum, “Romans,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017).

[2] Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Romans, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885).

[3] Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, New Edition., vol. 6 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014).

[4]William Barclay, “The Letter to the Romans” in The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY: The Westminster John Knox Press, 2017).

[5] Warren W. Wiersbe, “Romans” in Be Right: How to be Right with God, Yourself, and Others (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2008).