A relentless love (2)
Powerful faith in a fallen kingdom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:20:22
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Romans 11:25-36
Romans 11:25-36
Summary & Background
Last week we began looking at one of the most debated chapters in the Bible. It’s controversial because it deals with Israel. If you missed it, Israel comes from Jacob—the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham—to whom God gave a promise in Genesis 12:1-2
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
Later, Abraham’s grandson Jacob receives the name Israel, meaning “one who struggles with God.” That name proves fitting, because the Israelites spend centuries struggling—sometimes walking in obedience, sometimes falling into rebellion. Their disobedience eventually leads to deep compromise, followed by 400 years of silence. No Scripture written, no prophecy recorded—until the arrival of the Messiah. When Jesus comes, He comes not only for Israel but for the world John 1:29
On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
In Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he raises an important question: if God is not redeeming the nation of Israel, has He failed to keep His promise? Has He replaced His chosen people with another? Paul begins to answer these questions directly. This is vital for Christians to understand, especially given our country’s long-standing relationship with the modern nation of Israel. This chapter has influenced world policies and presidential decisions—from Truman’s recognition of Israel in 1948 to statements by Bush, Reagan, and Clinton. It has also stirred controversy within the church, challenging some to reconsider—or even compromise—core doctrines.
Recap
God still has a redemptive plan for ethnic Israelites.
Redemption remains available to Israel—and to anyone—no matter how distant they’ve become.
God is using the salvation of the gentile world to make the Israelite nation Jealous. Our salvation can provoke a good jealousy for the lost.
As gentile Christians, we should always have a heart open to share the gospel and be gracious with ethnic Israel
Our salvation as gentiles should not be reason or cause to brag because God is the author of salvation.
Exposition
I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: 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 will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.
Explanation
Paul tells the gentiles that God still has a plan for Israel, warning them not to become prideful or arrogant. He assures them that God will eventually bring the nation back to Himself. Paul calls this a mystery—not something mysterious or confusing, but a truth previously unknown that God is now revealing. Paul uses this word often in Ephesians
He says in Ephesians 3:5
God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
In chapter one, Paul explains that believers have gained an inheritance of salvation and redemption—not only gentiles, but all humanity. This inheritance recalls the promise to Abraham that his descendants would be blessed and become a blessing to the whole world.
Just like in Romans, the Ephesian church was a mix of Jews and Gentiles. The Gentiles heard they were receiving an inheritance and were like Woohoo; The Jews wondered how the descendants of Abraham could share that inheritance with outsiders. Paul says this is the mystery.
In Ephesians 3:6
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
What was known in the Old Testament is that God would bless Abraham’s descendants and, through them, bless the world. What had not been revealed is that God would unite Jew and gentile into one redeemed family.
So in Romans, we must ask: What was previously only partially understood, but is now fully revealed? What is this mystery Paul speaks of? Romans 11:25b
Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved.
Paul reveals to the church in Rome that God’s rejection and hardening of the Israelites is temporary and that God will save all of Israel.
This statement is widely debated and has led to many extreme theological claims. What we must remember is this: we cannot separate Paul’s words from the rest of the New Testament. If we take this verse in isolation, we can make it say anything. To reach a faithful conclusion, we must answer three questions.
Who is Israel?
“All of Israel” cannot mean every ethnic Israelite throughout history, because Jesus, John the Baptist, and the apostles condemn unbelieving Jews. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, a Jewish man suffers in hell and calls out to Abraham, our father. This shows that all who die in unbelief, regardless of ethnic lineage, are separated from God for eternity. (Lk 16:19-31)
“All Israel” can reasonably mean one of two things:
1. Ethnic Israel: that God will save, in the future, the whole or a large portion of national Israel—those living in the land and those with Abrahamic lineage worldwide.
2. Spiritual Israel: the collective of God’s elect, both Jew and Gentile.
When will they be Saved?
a. If “all Israel” refers to ethnic Israel, then many believe a great turning of Jewish people to Christ will occur in the last days.
b. If “all Israel” refers to God’s elect from both Jews and Gentiles, then this salvation may be unfolding throughout history (NOT AS DRAMATIC)—or God may be saving Jewish people now and will bring in a final, large number at the end of redemptive history after the full number of Gentiles is gathered.
How will they be saved?
a. This part is clear. No one is saved apart from belief and confession of the gospel on earth. There is no purgatory, no prayer after death, no spiritual transaction that can redeem a soul if a person has not repented while alive.
Romans 10:9 just stated
because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
that it is confession of Jesus as Lord that all humanity will be saved.
Paul quotes Isaiah 45:22-23, in Philippians 2:11
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.
Lastly Hebrews 9:27
And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,
Salvation must come by faith alone in the person and work of Christ alone before a person takes their last breath.
My Conclusion - I DON’T KNOW!! If you are theologically consistent and honest with Scripture, both views are plausible. One of my favorite Bible scholars, the Messianic Jew Michael Heiser, said this about Romans 9–11:
“You can make a coherent case in any regard… Again, there’s no way we can know for sure. So everyone gets to be humble.” He goes on to say—these are his words, not mine—“I find myself praying and hoping that person’s faith isn’t really built on the latest lame prophecy novel or TV prophecy preacher.”
I believe Paul uses the term “Israel” interchangeably—sometimes referring to ethnic Israel and sometimes to spiritual Israel (Jews and Gentiles). He does this chapter Romans 9:6 in the same sentence.
Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people!
The key to understanding Paul’s statement is realizing that all of Romans is in view, and Paul is not switching subjects back and forth. He is presenting a unified position on salvation for both Gentiles and Jews.
To simplify this as much as possible, we stay with the tree analogy. The olive tree represents God’s chosen people—Israel—but this can include all who show loyalty to God and His promise, regardless of blood ties to Abraham. We see examples like Ruth the Moabite and Rahab the Canaanite, who are considered part of Israel because of loyalty to Yahweh, not blood ties.
This message of hope and salvation is primarily given to a people, but because disobedience and unbelief some them are pruned from the tree.
The message of salvation was given first to a people, but because of disobedience and unbelief, some were pruned from the tree. Yet from the beginning, God intended this tree to include the whole world, not just one nation. Their being cut off opened the door to a fuller understanding of the promise given to Abraham, to Adam, and to Noah—that God would redeem the world through the seed of Abraham, the seed of woman in Genesis, and the seed of Noah.
Over thousands of years, the message reaches the nations, and Gentiles are grafted into the tree. Does that make the tree something completely different? Some say yes—I say not really. Throughout history, God has always had His called-out people. Some rejected His love and kindness and were pruned, yet in His mercy, He continued offering salvation to the world.
Though God does make a distinction with his people. His ecclesia is his ecclesia, his called-out ones is his beloved. His church.
Israel is not replaced by the church; Israel is expanded through the fuller revelation of the Gospel. God’s plan of redemption for Israel does not differ from His plan for the whole world. He will save and have mercy on whomever He chooses.
It may not feel dramatic or mysterious, but I believe God will continue—just as He did with Paul—to draw ethnic Israelites to salvation. And in the end, He will continue drawing a remnant, which may be a large number of Israelites, as the window of redemption closes.
One of my favorite verses in the new testament is John 6:37-39
However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.
What’s clear is this:
God views His people as those who have faith in the promise, regardless of ethnicity.
God keeps His promises and will save all those He has chosen before the foundation of the world.
God’s standard for salvation and holiness is the same for all humanity.
Application
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion;
he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them,
when I take away their sins.”
In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.
We all need a Savior, and we all need mercy. Mercy is not God ignoring our sin or giving us a free pass. Mercy comes from a word meaning “to cover over sin,” as ancient Israel understood it. For God to apply mercy did not mean we were guiltless, but that the judgment we deserved was placed on another.
Paul brings this back to all human history: all are guilty and deserve justice. Before we close, you should have a card and marker near your table. This is for Life on Life. I want you to write one thing God has saved you from—something that, regardless of fault, deserved judgment but you received mercy.
3. Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Explanation:
This is called a doxology—a short expression of praise, often in song form. Paul ends his teaching on salvation for Jews and Gentiles with an expression of praise. In this brief moment, we learn something beautiful about God’s truth. I’ll give credit to Tim Keller for making this explicitly plain.
Worship can’t happen without truth. Paul quotes Scripture in his worship to show that God’s truth is the center of our praise.
Truth should always lead to worship. We never learn truths about God merely to compile facts. Many unbelievers are Bible scholars, yet truth does not lead them to worship.
Truth that exalts God leads to joy. Paul looks at these truths and finds no praise in humanity or our accomplishments. He directs praise to the only One worthy.
Truth that leads to praise doesn’t require full comprehension. I’ve been spending my devotional time in Proverbs.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.
When it says untraceable are his ways, it means incapable of being traced by footprints. We will never fully exhaust or understand His wisdom, yet we still praise
When we consider God’s mercy and His plan of salvation for a people who don’t deserve it, the only biblical response is praise—a dance, a song, a hymn of gratefulness.
