Romans 11:11-16.

Thesis Statement: Provoked to holy jealousy, we are invited to recognize and return to the inheritance that is offered to us in Jesus Christ.

Prayer

In Jesus name, amen.

Welcome

Main Passage:

Luke 15:31–32 NASB 2020

And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”

Title:

Holy Provocation

Introduction

Provoked to Holy Jealously to be restored back.

Context

Bible

Romans 11:11–16 ESV

So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Transitional Sentence

Three stages Israel will go through with regards to the Gospel of Jesus and how each stage moves God’s purposes further.

Stage 1: Israel’s rejection leads to salvation for the Gentiles (v.11-12)

Romans 11:11–12 NASB 2020

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? Far from it! But by their wrongdoing salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!

Explanation:

Illustration:

Acts 13:44–48 ESV

The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 18:5–6 ESV

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Application:

Stage 2: Gentile salvation provokes Israel to jealousy (v.13-14)

Romans 11:13–14 NASB 2020

But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Therefore insofar as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry if somehow I may move my own people to jealousy and save some of them.

Explanation:

Illustration:

Quote John Stott

"Not all envy is tainted with selfishness, because it is not always either a grudging discontent or a sinful covetousness. At base, envy is the desire to have for oneself something possessed by another, and whether envy is good or evil depends on the nature of the something desired and on whether one has any right to its possession. If that something is in itself evil, or if it belongs to somebody else and we have no right to it, then the envy is sin-ful. But if the something desired is in itself good, a blessing from God, which he means all his people to enjoy, then to 'covet' it and to 'envy' those who have it is not at all unworthy. This kind of desire is right in itself, and to arouse it can be a realistic motive in ministry."

Acts 6:1–7 ESV

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Application:

Stage 3: Israel full restoration (v.15-16)

Romans 11:15–16 NASB 2020

For if their rejection proves to be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well.

Explanation:

Possibility 1: The inauguration of Lords coming/or final day of resurrection when the fullness of “Israel” come to believe in Christ.

“When their final return to God comes, it will bring unspeakable rejoicing to all who know God throughout the world, for it will bring about the final day of resurrection.” - Cornerstone bible commentary.

Possibility 2: A mass conversion of gentiles when all Israel come to believe

Romans 11:16 NASB 2020

If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well.

Speaks of the patriarchs: Abraham is holy and therefore his decedents are holy — by faith in the promise.

Illustration:

Romans 11:25–26 NASB 2020

For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”

Application:

So what

Now what

Prayer

In Jesus name, amen!

NOTES

Replacement theology, “The belief that Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. Furthermore, the christian church is now “Israel of God,” and all the promises to Israel now apply to the church.” Also referred to as fulfillment theology or Supercessionism