The Mystery of God
Notes
Transcript
Recap
Recap
In this section between Romans 9 to 11, Paul has been discussing the role and future of Israel. Paul has been asking the question: Does Israel’s rejection of the good news of Yeshua the Messiah mean that the promises made by Adonai to Beni Yisrael have failed?
Paul’s questions have led to this point. Now he not only summarises his response, but also reveals the fullness of this mystery.
May it never be!
May it never be!
Ten times in the letter to the believers in Rome, Paul asks a question and gives the most potent negative response, “May it never be!” Before we go over the passage for today, I would like for us to remember these questions and see where they are leading.
The first is in Rom. 3:1-4
Then what is the advantage of being Jewish? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Much in every way. First of all, they were entrusted with the sayings of God. So what if some did not trust? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? May it never be! Let God be true even if every man is a liar, as it is written, “that You may be righteous in Your words and prevail when You are judged.”
This passage deals with the breach of trust of the majority of Israel as compared to the faithfulness of God.
The second question is a few verses later in Rom. 3:5-6
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God is not unrighteous to inflict wrath, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?
Here Paul addresses Adonai’s righteousness in bringing judgement, not only of Israel but also on the whole world.
And the third question, still in the same chapter, is in Rom. 3:31
Do we then nullify the Torah through faithfulness? May it never be! On the contrary, we uphold the Torah.
Paul points out that none of our actions nullify the Torah, rather we show that Adonai is righteous, faithful and true. Our actions prove the reality and truth of the Hebrew Scriptures.
The next four questions deal with the process of us walking a holy life through the power of the Ruach HaKodesh, otherwise known as Sanctification.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound? May it never be! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that to whatever you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to what you obey—whether to sin resulting in death, or to obedience resulting in righteousness?
What shall we say then? Is the Torah sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the Torah. For I would not have known about coveting if the Torah had not said, “You shall not covet.”
Therefore did that which is good become death to me? May it never be! Rather it was sin working death in me—through that which is good—so that sin might be shown to be sin, and that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
As I mentioned these four passages deal with daily walking in the grace of Adonai and rejecting the sin filled life that we once had. The Scripture still faithfully points out what is holy and what is an abomination before God.
In the section that we have just been studing, Rom. 9 to 11, Paul asks the final three questions, with the assumed negative response. Rom. 9:14-15
What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For to Moses He says, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
Just because God has chosen to work through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, does not mean that he is unjust. This is simply the way that He has chosen to do it. Just as we have the free choice to choose to love God or choose to hate Him, so He has a choice as to how He will show compassion on the world.
Then Pauls asks in Rom. 11:1
I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Adonai has not changed His plan just because a majority of the Jewish people have not accepted Yeshua. Adonai instead is working through these events, and the final question that Paul asks is in Rom. 11:11
I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their false step salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke Israel to jealousy.
The rejection of Adonai, and of His Messiah Yeshua, by the majority of the Jewish people is not permanent. Instead as we spoke about last time, it is only a slip, not a complete fall. A time is coming when “all Israel will be saved.”
So now that we have reminded us of some of the questions, let’s read the conclusion to the mystery of the good news in Rom. 11:25-36
For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be ignorant of this mystery—lest you be wise in your own eyes—that 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 shall come out of Zion. He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” Concerning the Good News, they are hostile for your sake; but concerning chosenness, they are loved on account of the fathers— for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you once were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, in like manner these also have now been disobedient with the result that, because of the mercy shown to you, they also may receive mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He might show mercy to all. O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how incomprehensible His ways! For “who has known the mind of Adonai, or who has been His counselor?” Or “who has first given to Him, that it shall be repaid to him?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Mystery Revealed!
Mystery Revealed!
Last time we covered Paul’s warning to the Gentile believers warning them not to boast nor be arrogant against the Jewish people. This is a warning that Paul repeats in this passage, which I fear has not been listened to by many people throughout Church history. But Paul reminds his audience that both Messianic Jews and Gentile Christians are brothers and sisters in the faith. None of us perfectly follow Yeshua, but we are all called to be a part of the one Olive Tree.
A mystery, in Scripture, is a “truth which God formerly concealed but has now revealed. And what is this mystery? David Stern puts it this way:
The Jewish New Testament Commentary Romans, Chapter 11
Why is what Sha’ul says here a secret truth that was not understood until he explained it? Because one would have expected Israel to be the first nation to be saved. Israel has had advantages enjoyed by no other people (
Paul is very specific in how he phrases vs. 25, and we will look at each individual part:
Partial hardness on Israel
Until the fullness of the gentiles
In this way all Israel will be saved
Partial Hardness
Partial Hardness
I won’t spend too much time today on this, but remember from earlier in the chapter, that a remnant of Israel accepted Yeshua, and a majority were hardened. This does not mean that those Jewish people who accepted Yeshua are no longer a part of Israel (as is claimed by both the Rabbis and many in Christendom), but rather that Adonai continues to treat Israel (both believing and unbelieving) as a whole.
Fullness of the Gentiles
Fullness of the Gentiles
The term “fullness of the Gentiles” comes from two places. It is used by Yeshua in the Gospel of Luke as He is quoting from a passage in the prophet Daniel 8:9-14. Let’s go to Luke 21:7-28. I will read the full passage, and see if you can hear the referrence to the “fullness of the Gentiles”.
And they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, so when will these things happen? What will be the sign that these things are about to take place?” And He said, “Watch out that you are not led astray! For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He’ and ‘The time is near!’ Do not follow them. And when you hear of wars and chaos, do not be terrorized. For these things need to happen first, but the end will not come at once.” Then He continued telling them, “Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes along with famines and epidemics in various places, and there will be terrors along with great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will grab you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons, and leading you away to kings and governors on account of My name. This will lead you to be a witness. So make up your minds not to prepare ahead of time to defend yourselves— for I Myself will give you speech and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will be lost. By your endurance, you will gain your souls. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must get out, and those in the countryside must not enter her. For these are the days of punishment, to fulfill all that has been written. “Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars. And upon the earth nations will be confused by the roaring of the sea and its waves. People will lose heart from fear and anticipation of what is overtaking the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, stand straight and lift up your heads, because your salvation is near!”
Yeshua is very clear. The times of the Gentiles is fulfilled once Jerusalem is no longer being trampled by the Nations. The context for all of these events is certainly war, and prior to the return of Yeshua. Some people might try and say that this referred to 70 A.D., and while Jerusalem was certainly surrounded at that time, the passage seems to refer to events that are bigger than that, and I would say that 70 A.D. was only the beginning of the time where Jerusalem would be under the control of the Gentiles.
Based upon this, some people may see the ending of “the times of the Gentiles” as referring to 1967 A.D. when Jerusalem was once again reunified under Jewish control. This may indeed turn out to be correct, however, as we have seen, there is still a portion of Israel where Jewish people are not alowed to freely go and pray. Does anyone know where that is? Correct, the Temple Mount, and from Adonai’s perspective, the place of His future throne.
As for fullness, David Stern points out:
The Jewish New Testament Commentary Romans, Chapter 11
“Fullness” probably refers not to number (the full complement of Gentiles to be saved throughout history) but to breadth of representation. Sha’ul wrote when the Gospel mission to the Gentiles was just beginning; but already he foresaw what Yeshua had prophesied, that “this Good News about the Kingdom will be announced throughout the whole world as a witness to all nations [or: “to all Gentiles”]. It is then that the end will come” (
I think that Stern is correct, and I think that both events are quickly coming to completion: the return of control of the Temple Mount to the Jewish people, and the reaching of every ethnic group in the world with the Good News about Yeshua.
All Israel will be Saved
All Israel will be Saved
Sometimes as I am preparing my sermon, I have pre-conceived idea of what I think that the passage means, and then half-way through I learn something I did not see before. This same is true before. I had always thought that vs. 26 said “then” all Israel will be saved, but it does not.
The Jewish New Testament Commentary Romans, Chapter 11
In this way.
I just pointed out that there are 2 events that are coming to completion:
The reaching of all nations (“ethnos”) with the Gospel of Yeshua,
Return of control of the Temple Mount to Jewish hands.
Both of these are exciting. Last week someone asked me if I support missions and missionaries to the Gentile world. The answer is, “Absolutely yes!” I have for most of my life, both gone on short term mission trips, and supported missionaries throughout the world. And I would encourage anyone who feels called to go, to do so, and we would love to support you.
The second event is also interesting. Right now less than 10% of Israel’s popluation desires to have the Temple Mount back under the control of the Jewish people so as to rebuild the temple, and less than 20% of the population even believes in God. The super-majority are not interested in changin the Satus Quo (leaving the control of the Temple Mount under the Jerusalem Waqf. And what is the waqf?
The Jerusalem Waqf is an organ of the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf Islamic Affairs and Holy Places.
For there to be a change in control of the Temple Mount, there needs to be a change in the hearts of the people of Israel. Now how would both Jewish and Arab people agree to changing the control of the Temple Mount?
I think that the best way is for both Jews and Arabs to come to faith in Yeshua as Messiah and Lord. And this is what we are actively promoting, as Paul quotes from the prophet Isaiah (Rom. 11:26-27)
“The Deliverer shall come out of Zion. He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”
Gifts & Callings of God are Irrevocable
Gifts & Callings of God are Irrevocable
I understand that our ministry of Hineh Yeshua is at odds with the Rabbis and Rabbinical Judaism. This is because the Rabbis are hostile against the Good News of Yeshua. But we must all remember that the Jewish people are loved by Adonai because of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Now many people take Rom. 11:29 and apply it to themselves personally, but that is not the context that Paul is using this statement. Paul is pointing out that the promises made to Israel will be fulfilled by Adonai, because God will achieve it. Although we have not yet seen the fulfillment of this, we have not yet seen the nation of Israel turn to Yeshua enmasse, yet the day is coming, and we want to be a part of it!
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Paul breaks out into praise of Adonai because of all that He has done and is continuing to do. The best that I can do is simply read it again: Rom 11:33-36
O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how incomprehensible His ways! For “who has known the mind of Adonai, or who has been His counselor?” Or “who has first given to Him, that it shall be repaid to him?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
