Introduction to Romans 11

Introduction

This mornings message is going to be heavily a teaching message because we are getting into a highly theological section of the book. These passages have been argued by Christians for a long time and so there are a variety of opinions about their meanings. Early on in Christianity, the Church became increasingly Gentile and this led to conflicts between the Jews and the Gentiles within the Church. You can see smatterings throughout all the epistles where Paul is addressing this division in the church. Over time a tendency grew among Gentile Christians to think that God was done with Israel. Around 70 AD when Israel was destroyed, and kicked out of their homeland; all hope of God working with the nation of Israel went away. Antisemitism sprung up in the heart of theologians who believed that God had replaced Israel. Though many who hold to covenant theology today would deny that the church replaces Israel, the movement had its roots in such thinking.

Martin Luther, the great reformer, began his ministry very loving and kind to the Jewish people. He advocated against violence and for love towards them, but later in his life he became disillusioned by the fact that so few Jews were getting saved. He began to make comments like this in his book Of the Jews and their lies:

We are at fault for not slaying them.

Their synagogues should be set on fire.

Today there is a strong push in Christian circles to argue against Israel. This attack has taken both a political and a religious emphasis. I mentioned a few sermons ago, the attack by Tucker Carlson against Ted Cruz. Cruz took the position that we will be blessed as we bless Israel, but Tucker in that interview implied that modern Israel is not the Israel of the bible. He has also been known for hosting both Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes who both espouse what has been called the Khazar theory. This conspiracy theory claims that modern day Israelites are actually Khazars from modern day Turkey and not Jews at all. He also platformed a singer named John Rich who claims that Jews funded the Schofield Bible to promote Christian Zionism in America.

Such thinking is gaining traction among those who are anti-dispensationalist today. Covenant theology has become a theological excuse to not support Israel. As we delve into Romans 11, the question we are going to ask is does God have a plan for Israel in the future or is he done with the nation of Israel? Today, we are going to first of all do an overview teaching on dispensationalism and covenant theology and then take a look at why your understanding of these theological frameworks is important if you are interpreting Romans 11.

Defining Terms

Dispensation- A dispensation is a distinct period in redemptive history during which God administers His will and reveals His purposes to humanity in a particular way, accompanied by unique responsibilities and tests for humanity. Most believe there are a total of Seven Dispensations: Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Promise, Law, Church, Kingdom

Covenant- A covenant is a solemn, binding relationship or agreement, initiated by God, in which He commits Himself to His people with promises and expectations, often sealed with signs, oaths, and ceremonies. In Covenant Theology there are three covenants: Covenant of Redemption before creation, the Covenant of Works before the fall, the Covenant of Grace after the fall.

Biblical Theology- Biblical theology is the study of God's progressive revelation in redemptive history, tracing the unfolding storyline of Scripture in its historical and literary contexts, with special attention to the themes, covenants, and promises as they develop through the Bible.

Progressive- God’s truth is revealed gradually over time. God’s Redemptive plan unfolds in stages.

Discontinuity/ Continuity- We speak in these terms when talking about the relationship between the OT and the NT. How much if any of the OT relates to the NT? Each version of Biblical Theology finds itself on a spectrum from discontinuity to continuity as seen on a later slide.

Core Tenets of Dispensationalism

All forms of Dispensationalism hold some key premises in common though they may disagree on other factors

DISTINCTION BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH 1 Corinthians 10:32 “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:”

2. A LITERAL INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE EXCEPT WHERE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IS USED

3. DIVISION OF BIBLICAL HISTORY INTO DISPENSATIONS

4. THE PRE-MILLENIAL RETURN OF JESUS Zechariah 14:3–4 “Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, As when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, Which is before Jerusalem on the east, And the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, And there shall be a very great valley; And half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, And half of it toward the south.” Zechariah 14:9 “And s over all the earth: In that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.”

What are the Seven Dispensations?

Innocence-this refers to the time period in the garden before Adam and Eve fell into sin. God had given them one commandment to obey

Conscience- this is the period from when they were cast out of Eden until the flood. God had instituted the practice of animal sacrifice when he made clothes for Adam and Eve and we see such a practice with Cain and Abel.

Government- After the flood, God institutes human government as a means of enforcing morality. After the flood, God told Noah whoever kills another by man shall he be killed.

Promise- this is the era of Abraham and the Patriarchs when God calls a people unto Himself through whom the future Messiah will be born and all nations will be blessed.

Law- From the giving of the law until the cross.

Church-age- the bible indicates in Ephesians 3:3–6 “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”

Tribulation and Millennium

Various Views on the relationship of Israel and the Church

Hyper-dispensationalism- This view holds that the church began either in Acts 13 or Acts 28 with Paul There is a complete discontinuity between Israel and the Church Certain books of the NT do not belong to the church

Classical dispensationalism- Proposed by John Darby and promoted by Schofield. The Church and Israel are two distinct people of God with two distinct eternal destinies.

Revised dispensationalism- Taught by Ryrie and Pentecost Israel and the Church are two distinct people of God. One Plan of God across the dispensations.

Progressive dispensationalism- Proposed by Darrell Bock, and Craig Blaising and Robert Saucy. One people of God, but Israel and the church are distinct. Kingdom is already inaugurated, but awaits a future fulfillment.

Progressive covenantal theology- Taught by Stephen Wellum and Brent Parker. All the promises are fulfilled in Christ and apply to Jewish and Gentile believers alike. Usually Ammillenial

Traditional covenantal theology- There is one overarching covenant of grace that ties all of the Bible together. The church is merely the spiritual continuation of spiritual Israel.

Core Tenets of Covenant Theology

THERE IS ONE PEOPLE OF GOD ACROSS ALL OF REDEMPTIVE HISTORY

2. THERE IS A CONTINUITY FROM THE OT TO THE NT

3. SALVATION HISTORY IS ORGANIZED AROUND THE COVENANT OF GRACE

4. THERE HAS BEEN ONE PLAN OF REDEMPTION SINCE THE FALL

Diagram of Covenant Theology

Why does this matter?

Tree diagram- Romans 11:16-24 Overview

What is the Olive Tree?

There are three main views about what this olive tree in this passage is:

The Olive tree is the spiritual Israel, the Church (Traditional covenant theology view)

The Olive tree is the place of blessing (Traditional dispensational view by CI SChofield)

The Olive tree is the people of God which includes spiritual Israel and believing Gentiles (Progressive Dispensational view)

So how do I know which of these three it is talking about? Each answer has its own implications for the meaning of the text; so it is important to decide which it is. I take the third view of the Olive tree. In this point we are going to focus on the distinction between the Traditional and the progressive view of the olive tree. In the next point we will deal with covenant theology’s view.

Schofield comments in his notes: “ The olive root represents the blessings promised to Abraham’s seed. Though Gentiles do not by faith in Christ inherit Israel’s particular promisess, they do receive the blessing promised to “all the families of the earth.”

While I agree with much of what Schofield intends here, I do believe he has misIdentified the olive tree. Here are some reason’s I believe the olive tree should be identified as the people of God and not the special place of blessing:

The context of Romans 9-11 is about people groups

Romans 9:4 “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;”

Romans 9:25 “As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.”

Romans 10:1 “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”

Romans 11:1 “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”

The Olive Tree metaphor was used throughout scripture to refer to Israel as a people.

Jeremiah 11:16–17 “The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. For the Lord of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.”

Hosea 14:5–6 “I will be as the dew unto Israel: He shall grow as the lily, And cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, And his beauty shall be as the olive tree, And his smell as Lebanon.”

Elsewhere, the Gentiles are united with believing Jews as a people. Ephesians 2:12–17 “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

The fatness of Romans 11:17 “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;” is more clearly identified as the blessings we receive from Abraham.

Paul has already established the familial connection between believing Jews and believing Israelites in Romans 4:11 “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:”

Abraham did not pass down merely blessings, but he passed down a lineage of people. Romans 4:12 “And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”

There is only one tree. - “One people of God, composed of two distinct groups who share salvation but not identity.”

So we have two people’s united into one people of God. The illustration here shows Trees have branches- the one tree has two different branches, believing Israel and believing Gentiles. Just like a kingdom has nations, families have siblings bodies have different body parts. This type of terminology is used throughout the NT to speak of the one people of God.

Ephesians 3:6 “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”

Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

Zechariah 2:11 “And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, And shall be my people: And I will dwell in the midst of thee, And thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.”

1 Peter 2:10 “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

If you must divide the sermon: try to divide it here. Application the Faithfulness of God

Is there a distinction between the Church and Spiritual Israel?

Covenant theology says that Spiritual Israel is the church. Nowhere in the bible are Christians called Israel. The closest we get to such a statement is in Galatians 6:16 “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”

The Berean Standard Bible and the Christian Standard Bible both translate this passage even the Israel of God, thus making the Church and Israel the same thing. The chapter up to this point has been addressed to the church, this verse is found in Paul’s final address to the church. Translating the word as even implies that the Church is Israel. There are two reasons to reject this translation and interpretation:

kai does not normally mean even unless there is a contextual reason to translate it that way.

The repeated use of on and upon indicate two separate groups. So what is Paul saying in this verse: He is wishing peace and mercy on those in the church who have found unity based on the work of Christ, but he is also wishing peace and mercy on the Israel of God, believing Jews.

Back in Romans 11 there is evidence that the distinction between Israel and Gentiles has not been collapsed in this new people

Gentiles are not turned into Jews- the wild branches are still wild branches and the natural branches are still the natural branches vs 24

The tree goes all the way back to Abraham and yet the Church was a mystery unknown and unexperienced in the OT. Ephesians 3:3–6 “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:” Ephesians 2:14–16 “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:” This new body did not exist prior to the cross.

The Olive tree is older than the nation of Israel- Israel as a nation comes after Abraham though it finds its roots in Abraham.

The Olive tree is never explicitly called Israel in the text and unbelieving Israel is clearly not part of the tree. Romans 11:17 “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;”

Does God have a plan for Israel?

This is the crux of the matter in Romans 11:1 “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”

We will develop a more theological and textual answer to this question as we go through the Chapter, but let’s briefly look at how our interpretation of this passage impacts our theology. For the most part, covenant theologians are either amillennial (no literal millenium) or postmil (we are in the millennium now and Christ will come when we make the earth ready). Both beliefs hold that there is no literal fulfillment of the kingdom promises to Israel. The implication is that now the Church will receive all the promises and not Israel as a nation; so believing Israel only partakes because they are part of the Church. This flips the whole scenario totally around. There is only one group of covenant theologians who wouldstill hold to a literal millenial kingdom and they are a small group: covenant premillennialists.

Examples of Amill and Post-mill preachers:

Amil:

Michael Horton

Richard Gaffin

Anthony Hoekema

Sam Storms

Post-Mil:

Jonathan Edwards

2. Charles Hodge

3. BB Warfield

4. Doug Wilson

5. Keith Matheson

To answer the question, does God have a plan for Israel we need only look at Romans 11:26 “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:”

What promises to Israel have not been fulfilled yet?

Isaiah 2:1–4 “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, That the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; And he will teach us of his ways, And we will walk in his paths: For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, And shall rebuke many people: And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruninghooks: Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war any more.”

Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, The spirit of grace and of supplications: And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, And they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, And shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” National salvation and repentance

Zechariah 14:9 “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: In that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.”

Zechariah 14:16 “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations Which came against Jerusalem Shall even go up from year to year To worship the King, the Lord of hosts, And to keep the feast of tabernacles.”

Conclusion

The belief that God still has a plan for Israel leads one to hold a dispensational, premillennial view of scripture.

Application:

We should still seek to bless Israel and look In our current age of antisemitic, theological skeptism, we must beware of getting sucked into thinking that God is done with Israel. The promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” still holds true.

We should still look forward to a literal future kingdom. God still has a plan for the nation of Israel and since we know that some of the promises made to Israel have not yet been fulfilled, we look forward to a literal future millennial kingdom where they will be fulfilled. Paul dealt with false teachers and counterfeit letters in 1 and 2 Thessalonians.