The Depths of God's Mercy
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Romans 11
I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,
“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?
But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.”
And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them.
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.”
I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,
do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.”
Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience,
even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.
For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?”
“Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?”
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Big Idea: God's mercy knows no bounds and is extended to all who believe, calling us to
embrace our role in His redemptive plan and share that mercy with the world.
INTRO:
INTRO:
AG:
TS: Romans 11 explores the intricate relationship
between God's sovereignty, the remnant of Israel, and His grace extended to the
Gentiles, illustrating the depth of His mercy and the mystery of His plan for
salvation. The text teaches us that God's mercy is vast and all-encompassing,
drawing both Jews and Gentiles into His redemptive plan. It emphasizes the
importance of humility in recognizing our dependence on God's grace and the
unity that this understanding brings within the church.
RS: This passage encourages Christians to trust in God's sovereignty and mercy, reminding us that even when we face doubts or struggle with our faith, God’s
purposes are perfect and unfailing. It reassures believers that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace, motivating us to share this message of hope
with others.
1. Reassurance of Relentless Grace
1. Reassurance of Relentless Grace
I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,
“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?
But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.”
And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them.
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.”
Paul
addresses the question of whether God has rejected His people, Israel, by
citing his own existence as an Israelite and follower of Christ. He references
Elijah's lament in 1 Kings 19 to illustrate that even in times of apparent
apostasy, there remains a faithful remnant chosen by grace.
Rejected- to thrust away from
Paul uses the rhetorical question to point out God has NOT rejected
all of Israel in spite of their dispobedence.
May it never be!
Strongest possible way
to answer it in Greek language!
Paul Divides
Israel into 2 groups
The Saved Minority
Jewish believers who have been born again and follow the
Messiah, Jesus Christ
Paul was in this minority
Elijah spoke to it and Paul references his ministry in 2-6
Though seemingly all Israel followed along to worship Baal there was a remnant of 7,000 faithful followers of God.
They may be rejected as a nation at this point, but there are tens of thousands of individuals of Jewish descent who have been saved!
By the way, contrary to some false teachers’ statements, we NEED to witness to them! They are part of the Great Commission
The Lost Majority
They were seeking righteousness, but didn’t find it since
they were trusting their own abilities.
V. 8-10 speaks of God’s judicial hardening of the nation of Israel
Judicial hardening in Christian theology refers to a concept where God is believed to actively
or passively allow, or even cause, an individual or group to become hardened in their sin, disbelief, or opposition to divine truth.
Here's a breakdown of the idea:
Here Paul speaks of a "hardening" in relation to Israel, similar to Exodus 7-14, where Pharaoh's heart is hardened.
In these contexts, "hardening" suggests that God
either directly hardens someone's heart or withholds grace, leading to a
person's increased stubbornness or resistance to God's will.
God gives people over to their own desires when they
repeatedly reject Him.
It is a judgment from God
They had rejected Messiah
Even calling for His death and cried out “We have no King but Caesar!”
They had not repented and did not follow the Savior
Sadly, they are lost and it was the majority of Israel.
Moses, David, and Isaiah had all predicted this turn of events
Application: Recognize that God always preserves
a remnant of believers. This should encourage us not to judge the spiritual state of a community or group by its majority but to look for the faithful few, encouraging and supporting them.
Understand that God's ways are beyond human understanding. We should be cautious not to boast in our own understanding or salvation but to remain humble and prayerful for those who are hardened.
2. Reaching Out to the Grafted
2. Reaching Out to the Grafted
I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,
do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.”
Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Paul introduces the concept of the Gentiles' salvation as a means to provoke Israel to jealousy, leading to their eventual salvation. He uses the metaphor of an olive tree, where wild branches (Gentiles) are grafted in, and natural branches
(Israel) are broken off but can be grafted back in.
Gentiles were brought near by Jesus and it was always part of God’s plan!
Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Fullness of Gentiles: v. 25
Basically the Church Age From Jesus’ ministry
founding the Church through the Rapture
God deals with the Earth through churches today
Details:
Purpose 11-12
One purpose was to make Israel jealous to be in God’s favor again
Preacher 13-15
Paul was appointed by God to help make this a reality by
sending him to the gentiles.
Though he was faithful to proclaim the gospel to all, the Gentiles made up the
bulk of the redeemed in the churches he organized
Parable 16-24
Paul employs the parable of an olive tree to help us picture this:
Root are Abraham other godly people from OT
Original branches broken off
Unbelieving Jews
Wild branches grafted in
Gentiles
Original branches will be returned
Future repentance of Israel
Many foresee this as ultimately during the Tribulation period described by Daniel and Revelation
Application: Embrace the unity of the church, where Jews and Gentiles are
one in Christ. This should motivate us towards inclusivity in our congregations
and personal evangelism, always keeping room for the return of Israel to faith.
Never forget we have no reason for pride and arrogance (v. 18 and v 20)
3. Revelation of Redemption's Mystery
3. Revelation of Redemption's Mystery
Romans 11:25-32
Paul explains the mystery that all Israel will be saved, highlighting God's irrevocable gifts and call to Israel. He discusses mercy towards both Jews and Gentiles as part of
God's plan.
The use of "mystery" (mysterion) here indicates a truth previously hidden but now revealed, emphasizing divine sovereignty over salvation history.
God’s redemptive plan is a mystery, but it highlights how amazing His grace and mercy are.
His mercy extends to all kinds of people!
v.26 Israel will be restored
Through their Deliverer Isaiah 59:20
Through their Covenant Isaiah 59:21
All of this, comes to pass because of God’s faithfulness
God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable!
He keeps His covenant!
Ultimately, Jews and Gentiles are part of 1 plan to redeem mankind!
Application:
Reflect on God's mercy which encompasses all humanity. This should lead to an attitude of humility in evangelism, understanding that salvation is of grace, not merit, encouraging us to extend mercy to others as we have received it
4. Reflecting on God's Riches
4. Reflecting on God's Riches
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?”
“Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?”
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
This section concludes
with a doxology,
celebrating the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge, which are unsearchable and
inscrutable.
These verses are Paul’s doxology
Song of praise to God
Exalts His Wisdom Knowledge and Goodness
Application: Cultivate a life of worship and wonder at God's ways. This should lead to a life of praise, reducing our pride and increasing our trust in God's sovereignty, even when His plans are not fully comprehensible.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
