A relentless love
Powerful faith in a fallen kingdom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:10:22
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Romans 11:11-32
Romans 11:11-32
Summary & Background
One of the books that pointed me toward salvation was a library book called Judeo-Christianity. It was through that book that I began to fall in love with the person and life of Jesus.
If you’re a follower of Jesus, once you start reading the Bible, you quickly realize you’ve stepped into an ancient belief system that began long before Jesus. This is Judaism—the story of God reaching out to a people group known as the Jews or Israelites. For many of us as gentiles (meaning non-Jewish), that isn’t our introduction to faith. We usually begin with Jesus—his story and how it applies to us—but it goes much deeper. In Romans, Paul addresses both Jews and Gentiles, because the early church was made up of converted Jews and Gentiles who became followers of Jesus.
Chapter 9-11
Paul addresses an issue in our understanding of God and salvation. He begins answering the question of salvation regarding his ethnic people, Israel. Much of Romans shows that God has a plan of salvation for the whole world, including the Jews. Yet throughout ancient history, God’s chosen people were Israel—the physical descendants of Abraham who received the promise. A recurring Old Testament phrase describing Israel is “My people are a treasured or prized possession.” So the coming of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah for the world, and not for Jews alone, became a point of problem for many ethnic Jews.
Paul begins to explain how Israel as a nation, group, or collective rejected the Messiah, and through that rejection found themselves on the outside looking in at a salvation they believed they couldn’t obtain. As a Jew himself—a direct descendant of Israel—Paul brings clarity to God’s plan of salvation for ethnic Jews, reminding us that God always keeps His promises.
In chapter 9, Paul looks at Israel’s past, revealing that not all ethnic Israel is truly Israel. Not all skinfolk are kinfolk. True Israel consists of those who put their faith in Christ, because they are the ones God has chosen through the process of election.
Chapter 10 looks at Israel through the present and says, unfortunately the Israelites tried to justify themselves by their right behavior and keeping the law and Paul says, “4 Christ is the end law” for those who believe. Meaning no matter who you are, there is no difference. Jew or Gentile the way to salvation is confessing with your mouth, and believing in your heart that Jesus is LordGod, and has died for your sins and raised again from grave. Sadly he states Israel as nation still rejects the gospel, He ends chapter Romans 10:21, with
“All day long I held out my hands to this disobedient and stubborn people!”
3. A few weeks ago, Pastor Nate began in Romans 11:1–10, where Paul considers salvation for Israel—still addressing the present while looking into the future. Paul asks since the Jewish nation rejected God, has he completely and forever rejected Israel. Paul responds with a firm no, offering three answers.
First, Paul himself is evidence that God is still saving ethnic Israelites and including them in His covenant family.
His second example is that God has a small remaining portion of faithful people (remnant) when overall Israel was hard of heart and stubborn.
Introduction
Now we look at verse 11-32 which will contain some heavier theological points, but I don’t want the overall point to be missed and that is, That those whom God has called, he will will grant mercy to and see their salvation through to the end. Going back to Romans 8:28-30
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
This means that whether Jew or Gentile, those who surrender to the gospel of Jesus Christ are holders of a promise—a promise to be saved, to look like Jesus, and to spend eternity with Him. He has moved and will move heaven and earth to redeem His people, no matter their ethnicity or background. Black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern or other; churched or unchurched; religious, hood, middle class, ghetto, ratchet; what some call themselves—poor trash, poor thing; rich, smart, simple, affluent, or far off—God pursues the ultimate good for all who call on His name and love Him.
God’s relentless in his pursuit. Jackie Hill Perry described God’s calling as “haunting me”.
3. The exposition
Did God’s people sin take them to a place of no return (or) no redemption?
I ask, then, have they stumbled in order to fall? Absolutely not!
Explanation: In the previous verses Paul asked a question Romans 11:7
What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,
Nate used the analogy of old toughened leather. Israel was hardened and unbending in their unbelief. They not only rejected Jesus and the Gospel. They were hostile toward it. Pauls says in 1 Corinthians 1:23
but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
Paul, once a hater and persecutor of Christians, asks whether the Israelites have gone too far in their sin as a people. Has the door to redemption been completely closed? He begins answering this in the first eleven verses.
The key to understanding this chapter is to think not about individuals, but about Israel as a group, collective, or nation. Paul has his ethnic, blood-related brothers and sisters in mind. After Israel’s rejection of the gospel, is God finished forever with this people group? It may seem wild, but this is the same nation that persecuted God’s prophets, compromised His truths, rejected Jesus, and crucified Him. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15
they in fact did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people,
In verse 11 he says NOT AT ALL. The NLT renders this best to me. Romans 11:11a
Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not!
God still has included Israel in his plan of salvation. Even though they have rejected Jesus as a whole.
ii. Application: What does that mean for us? Paul is referencing Israel as a group or nation but the principle remains the same for all people. When God pursues you, nothing can hold us back from redemption. No one’s resume is too tainted for God.
In the context of Romans 3 Paul is saying that some of the Jews re keeping parts of God’s command (partially good) and they do have the word of God, but when it comes to redemption. Everyone’s resume is shot. But it says, in verse Romans 3:22-24
We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
God still has a redemption available for the liar, the thief, the prideful, the atheist and the God hater. If God didn’t give up on Israel after thousands of years of rejection and failure. God is not giving up on you while there is breathe in your lungs.
b. Salvation will bring about a good jealousy to an unbelieving world.
On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. Now if their stumbling brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring! Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if I can somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them. For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
Explanation
In the world we live in, unfortunately because of sin wealth and riches can bring jealousy or envy. James 3:16
For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
To rephrase a NT scholar Bock, “there are two kinds of riches”, riches that fade and rot, and ones eternal. Just like riches there are two types of Jealousy. Jealous means a deep desire or passion for something or someone. In Exodus 34:14 God is known as a “Jealous God”, who name is “Jealous”
For you must not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Jealousy in itself isn’t bad; the issue is the object of our jealousy. Envying what was never meant for us is sinful, but being jealous for what rightly belongs to us can be good. I can be jealous for my wife’s attention or my children’s time. God can be jealous for us because we belong to Him..
Paul says that salvation and God’s promises were once given exclusively to the Jewish nation, but they rejected them. That rejection became part of God’s plan, allowing salvation to come to the gentiles—“riches to the world.” God’s wealth isn’t material; He doesn’t need money. His riches are His kindness, grace, glory, and relationship with Him. Since Israel rejected that kindness, the gentiles now receive these riches.
But God has a purpose. He uses Israel’s rejection in His plan for both gentiles and Jews. His grace works in two directions: As the text says, bringing “salvation to the gentiles” and stirring Israel to jealousy over God’s saving goodness. Paul uses his own ministry as an example.
Then Paul adds that if Israel’s rejection brought blessing to the world, the blessing would be even greater if the entire nation repented and followed God.
Two key phrases appear here: full number in verse 12 and life from the dead in verse 15. “Full number,” also seen in verse 25 and in passages like Ezekiel 4:35 and Revelation 6:11, refers to the complete number God has elected to be saved.
“Life from the dead” is less clear but most likely points to new life from death. Paul’s point is that if Israel’s failure brought good, the salvation of all God’s elect Israelites would be phenomenal—something world-shaking, like the dead being raised.
ii. Application: So for us this has two implications. One general and one specific
General : Our relationship with God, can be attractive or repulsive to a unbelieving world. 2 Corinthians 2:15-16
Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
Our salvation with Christ can be something that unbelievers look at and say I want more, or to those in complete rejection it can be a rotten smell of decay. Or as the Grinch would say, “Stink, Stank, Stunk”. The point is that our salvation should cause a reaction to others either way.
2. Specific application: As believers as Gentile Christians. Your a gentile if you cannot for certain trace your lineage back to one of the twelve tribe of of Jacob. I’m most certain we’re all gentiles in the room. If you’ve given your life to Christ, your a gentile Christian. We as gentile christians should always have heart open to share the gospel and be gracious with ethnic Jewish people. For a few reasons.
They are created in the image of God. Gen 1:27
God’s word instructs us to. Matthew 28:19-20
There is only one way to Salvation. John 14:6 Romans 10:9-10
Their rejection brings good and their acceptance brings greater good. Romans 11:15
The last set of verses we’ll cover today and next week we’ll finish and get into God’s plan for the Israel future.
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
c. The Gentile have no reason to brag because God is the author of salvation.
i. Explanation: So this one is a little long to explain, but I do it in the least amount of time as possible.
Trees are often symbols for Israel in the Bible—most notably the vine, the fig tree, and the olive tree. Paul uses the image of an olive tree to explain how Israel’s salvation relates to gentile salvation.
Picture a healthy olive tree with strong roots and fruitful branches. That healthy tree represents Israel, God’s original people. Then there is a wild olive tree—alive but overgrown, unpruned, looking like something sitting in my yard. That wild olive tree represents the gentiles.
Paul explains that although the cultivated tree was healthy, some branches were not. Like any good gardener, God pruned them. Some in Israel were cut off from salvation. Then the gardener did something remarkable: He took branches from the wild olive tree—the gentiles—and grafted them into the places left by the removed branches. This is a real horticultural practice. The cultivated tree’s sap nourishes the wild branches, and their vigor strengthens the whole tree.
Paul continues the analogy: if these wild branches are now part of a healthy tree, they shouldn’t think, “I’m here because I’m special.” No—they are not the root. They are here because of the Gardener. Or as Kendrick Lamar would put it: “Be humble.”
Then Paul issues a warning. Gentiles must remain mindful of God’s character. The Gardener is kind and strict. He has the power to cut off gentile branches, and He also has the power—and the plan—to graft the original branches of Israel back into the tree. I’ll explain that more next week when we look at God’s final destiny for Israel. here’s the application:
ii. Application : Be humble because God is the author of salvation no matter your ethnic heritage.
As gentiles believers our salvation should never make us arrogant or confindent but it should posture us a grateful and gracious.
4. Conclusion
I am a guy who love simplicity and many of you here today want something simple. But as person who obsesses on how to make something simple. Simple takes someone willing to go through all the complex to arrive at the right simple truth. I love this quote from Thomas Reinier, “Jesus is the original simple revolutionary,” “He took 613+ Jewish laws, a entire religious system, commands and sacrfices and simpliefied them to two commands. Love God, Love People Matt 22:34
Here is more simple from complexity. Our faith as Christian is very Jewish and it’s based on an ancient promise that is come true through the person and work of Christ. God will do anything to see that promise come through fully to Israelites and gentiles who believe.
If your unsure if you understand the simplicity of the gospel I ask you to stop now. Jesus says, in Matthew 11:28-30
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Our sin, our transgressions, our hate, division, addiction, self-righteousness, lack of accountability are all burdens that need relief. Simply acknowledge our sins, turn to Jesus our God accept his sacrifice on your behalf. Simple.
ii. If you are sure and have accepted the simple truth’s of the gospel. Open your word and understand the depth of God’s riches for you.
Live life that draws or repels the world.
Live life that shares truth & shows love toward all. Jew & Gentile alike.
Lastly share that promise and hope with all around you. and if dont feel like sharing with others. Share the gospel with yourself every day.
