What About Israel? Romans 11

Review

We have spent all kinds of time talking about us. What the human condition is, who God is in relation to us, predestination, new life in Christ, God’s Sovereign Choice, man’s responsibility. But the people group we’ve been talking about is us, the Gentiles. All the not-Jews who God chose to save, that’s who the middle part of Romans is in reference to, all the stuff we’ve been talking about. We’re gonna bite off another big, theologically dense passage tonight, because we’re talking about Israel, God’s chosen people. We haven’t talked much about them as of late, but they’re still around. Turn to Romans 11.

Israel’s Unbelief

What do we know about Israel? What did they believe in regards to the law as means of salvation?

They thought that it was the way to be saved, at least until the Messiah came. But we know Jesus IS the Messiah, right? Look at the end of Romans 9

Romans 9:30–33 ESV

30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

The Gentiles, that’s us, have attained righteousness, that is, right standing with the law and relationship with God, by faith in Jesus. The Israelites, they went after righteousness based on works and obedience to the law, and they failed to get to righteousness. They literally tripped on their way to it. Tripped over Jesus, not realizing that he is the only way to righteousness.

We know the Israelites rejected Jesus, but they’re still God’s chosen people. So, what does that mean? Has God, because they have rejected Jesus, still rejected them?

The Remnant of Israel

Romans 11:1–10 ESV

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” 9 And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; 10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.”

Paul asks the same question. Has God given up on the Jews? He wants to know, he is one!

God has not rejected the Jews, the people he chose a long time ago. He then gives an Old Testament example of a time when the Jews rejected part of God’s plan. Things were so bad with the Jews, they were killing their own prophets, destroying altars, and all kinds of badness. Elijah, one of the best prophets God ever gave the Jews, had just about enough. He was sick of these wretched people, he was done.

God, in his response to Elijah, was merciful. He said that he was going to preserve a remnant, a smaller part of the whole, a group of people he would give grace and understanding to. And just as he responded in grace then, look at verse 5 and 6. He does the same thing, and says that it’s based entirely on his selective, gracious choice, and not a bit related to works.

God chooses to save part of the nation of Israel, the part that are elected to receive Jesus as savior. Some are chosen for grace, others, like Pharoah from chapter 9, are hardened, but it’s for a reason. God always has a reason.

Gentiles, We’re In

Just like in Romans 9, when we’re all asking why God chose to harden some, to withhold grace from some, we ask the same thing here. Whats the point?

Romans 11:11–24 ESV

11 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. 12 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! 13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

The whole point of God hardening the Jews was for us to receive salvation! How amazing is that? God’s plan is so incredible. Our salvation is meant to make the Jews jealous, for them to shake off their confusion and slumber, and to see Jesus as the savior. God is using their rejection as a whole as the ultimate means to save his elected remnant. So there’s that. But there’s some stuff in here about us too!

Who knows what “grafting” is? It’s when an established tree has part of another tree added into it. A small cut is made in the established tree, and a sprig of the other tree is inserted into the cut. Grafting happens for several reasons, usually to produce a more beautiful, healthy tree. It also happens because the second species of tree can’t live by itself and it needs the support system of the first tree.

So now, let’s read verses 17-24. We, the Gentiles, are described as a “wild olive shoot,” We’re part of God’s people now! There is a danger that Paul warns against, to not become proud against the Jews because of our grafted in nature. But it’s important to realize that God has dispensed the same grace on us, which is saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, as he has and plans to dispense on the elect remnant of Israel.

God has a plan for the nation of Israel. But when does the plan become complete?

The Salvation of Israel

Romans 11:25–36 ESV

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; 27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” 28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

So here’s the deal. God has partially hardened the nation of Israel. But this hardening will not last! The hardening will take place until all the Gentiles that are meant to be saved get saved.

Remember our time in Revelation last summer? Here’s the connection. God is working through the Church at this time. We, the Church, which is everyone who believes in Jesus, as we know from Colossians 3:11 “11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” God works through all Jesus followers until all the people he wants to save are saved. Then, the Rapture happens, and the Tribulation starts. During the Tribulation, God gathers all the Jews that are left.

So God is not done with the Jews, not at all. He will redeem his remnant. Now, we are grafted in, we are recipients of grace.