Romans 11 pt 2

Context Summary

God has not rejected Isreal, He has a plan for them, even if its through a remnant

God gives this to them not through their works but by His grace

Even in their rejection God used to for good

We like Paul should desire the fulfillment through salvation of Isreal

This should also be an encouragement for us in our walk with God

Knowing that He is faithful to fulfill the promises He made to us, and that he will use us in ways we may not understand.

Note on opinions of Isreal

Before we get into this we need to address a point that i’ve heard that lays out how this passage should be read

Basically the assertion is this:

After the Assyrians attacked and destroyed the Kingdom of Isreal in around 700 BC

(Which included all of the tribes except for Judah and Benjamin which were a part of the Kingdom of Judah)

They deported the 10 tribes to Assyria and set up other people in the land

Meaning ever since then there has never been a nation of Isreal as it no longer exists

Therefore Paul must be talking about spiritual Isreal A.K.A. The church

Meaning we replace Isreal

Proponents of this view say that you must understand that in order to properly read this passage.

This is completely false as far as I am aware, and needs to be pushed back on which I want to take the time to do.

All of these passages are written well after the Assyrians attacked Isreal

Micah 2:12 ““I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. I will put them together like sheep in the fold; Like a flock in the midst of its pasture They will be noisy with men.” (theory based on archeology and scripture that suggests Jerusalem harbored refugees from Isreal after they were attacked)

James 1:1 “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.”

Luke 2:36 “And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,”

Ezra 1:5 “Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.”

Just something to not keep in mind as we read this

Questions to consider

V16

What is the dough

A. The first-fruits, the first piece of dough made from the grain that would be offered up to God. The faithful remnant that shows God is continuing to use Isreal even when a portion of the “lump” disobeys

what is the lump

A. Isreal simply as inheritors of the promise (including us) because through the faithful remnant over and over again, we have salvation by the glory of God working through them.

what is the root

A. The faithful remnant, in this case the forefathers (Abraham, ect) (other views include, Jesus, the promise itself) Which to a certain degree I believe all are true in the sense that the outcome and benefit of the branches is salvation.

what are the branches

A. The ones who get to partake in the promise (Jesus)

V17

what is the wild olive

A. Gentiles

What is grafting

We get to partake in the richness of the promise which was made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.

V18-21

Being grafted in can give us pride against the natural branches (Isreal) (Human nature)

What supports the branches?

Support: βαστάζω (Bastazo): To sustain a burden, carry, bear

A. We are supported by the faithful God used before us (The root, the carriers of the promise)

What causes the branches to be broken off?

A. Unbelief

Whether you are a natural branch or a wild one grafted in

If you do not have faith, you are not a part of the body

Paul uses this a a warning against being puffed up and prideful

We are all in the same boat

Sinners in need of grace

V22

What illustrates God’s kindness

A. Not only using Isreal or saving them

but also us as gentiles, He allows us to be grafted into the promise and receive everlasting life

What illustrates God’s severity

A. If we do not have faith we are cut off, and thrown into the outer darkness separated from God Forever.

V23

What is the condition in order to be “grafted in”

A. Belief

Even those that are cut off can be grafted back in

V24

What is the difference between the wild and the natural branches

If we are grafted in as Gentiles, how much more willing is God to do that with the natural branches.

V25

What is the mystery

A. Read on

This is to bring humility against human wisdom

Not all of Isreal is saved, I think we can see that there has been a partial hardening

When will this change?

When the fullness of the gentiles has come in

What is the “fullness of the Gentiles”

....

I’m not entirely sure, and I know there are many views

But the point is still the same

there will come a time when the “Partial Hardening” of Isreal will pass

He has a future plan for them

V26-27

How can all of Isreal be saved

A. Ultimately through faith in Jesus and the sins being taken away

V28-29

Why is Isreal being enemies of the Gospel good

A. V12

Why is Isreal beloved?

A. Because God chose them, even though they disobey Him, he always comes back to get them, because of the promises He made to them

And we know through Gods faithfulness to Isreal that we can trust in our salvation because that is the irrevocable gift God gave us

V30-32

This is really cool:

We were once separated and rebelling against God

Yet He gave Himself up to the disobedience of Isreal (They killed Him) for us so that we can obtain mercy

And through our restoration as Gentiles through the mercy shown to us

We provoke the Jews to jealousy so that they might receive mercy

God shut up our disobedience and used to all for His purposes and to show everyone mercy

V33-36 (Doxology)

Summary

God is not done with Isreal

God is not done with us

I am so grateful to be grafted in to the promises made to the forefathers

And to see how God used Isreal despite it’s weaknesses

Just as God uses all of us despite our weakness,