Romans 9-11

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A couple of announcements we want to make sure you all know about

Fall Bash

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Congregational Meeting NEXT SUNDAY

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Anyone wanting to know a bit more about our church and whats going on

Life Group Meeting Sunday, September 22nd

Dave Bisenius coming on to elders

Ray’s passing left us a spot we need to fill

Dave has been walking alongside the elders for some time

We are wanting to put Dave into the eldership to finish out this years term

Introduction: Paul’s Anguish Over Israel’s Rejection of the Gospel

This is a bit of a different kind of sermon

It’s a lot of text to try to preach through, but we are doing this because Paul is making one unified point from the opening of chapter 9 to the close of chapter 11

So today, we are going to cover a lot, but in a more brief overview sort of way

We will take the next three weeks to cover Paul’s argument more in depth

For today, we will cruise at a higher altitude and make some observations and applications as we go

Romans 9:1–5 ESV

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Paul is upset for two reasons

Paul is upset for two reasons

He is a Jew who has turned to Jesus in faith, and he cares deeply for his ethnic people

He is concerned about the theological implications of the Jews rejecting Jesus

Paul ends chapter 8 with a grand pronouncement of God’s love and the fact that nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord -

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For the Jewish Christian reading Paul’s letter, he would not be able to help wondering, “but Paul, what about our people?”

The Jewish people have rejected Jesus and have seemingly failed to participate in salvation

Has God abandoned his people Israel in favor of a new plan; i.e. the church?

For the Gentile Christian reading Paul’s letter, this is still important

If God inexplicably abandoned his people from the OT, what’s to say he won’t abandon us?

If God’s plan the first time around failed, what’s to say that this plan will succeed?

This is why I love the OT - it is not a separate story that God had to change gears from, it is a unified story that leads straight to Jesus

Ultimately, can God be trusted to fulfill his promises or not?

Application: When life does not go as I think it should, do I then assume that God either a) doesn’t exist or b) has failed?

A lot of people reason this way. EXAMPLE:

If God is all powerful and good, why does evil exist?

If Got is all powerful but doesn’t prevent evil, he is not good

If God is good but doesn’t prevent evil, he is weak

If God is all powerful and good, why does evil exist?

Paul is wrestling with this kind of question: Has God failed in his promises to his covenant people in the OT? If he has failed, then we cannot trust him with anything.

To answer this, Paul has to establish the following:

God has not failed in his promises to Israel

God’s plan of salvation has always been to justify people by faith

There is actually still hope for God’s covenant people Israel

I. God’s Word has not failed

Romans 9:6-

Romans 9:6–8 ESV

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

God does not save people based on ethnicity

Not all of ethnic Israel is “true” Israel

God has never been about human pedigree - people are not righteous or saved because they were born into the right family or ethnic group

True children of God are children of promise, not children of ethnic purity

God does not save people based on human merit or works

God has always had a habit of choosing people who were not the ones that human wisdom would say should be chosen

Jacob and Esau

Romans 9:10–13 ESV

10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

Ancient near eastern culture highly favored the firstborn male of a family

Therefore, of the two sons of Isaac, (Jacob and Esau) who should be chosen to carry God’s redemptive plan forward? Esau! But God didn’t choose Esau; he chose Jacob.

Therefore, God cannot be said to have failed Israel

Therefore, Paul says it is a faulty assumption that all of ethnic Israel should be automatically saved because they were born as physical descendents of Abraham

In other words, God has not failed his people because he has never been about simply creating an ethnic people group

God has always been about saving all people, and he has always done this not on human merit or work but by his own grace and love

Application: Just because you were born in a Christian family and have grown up all your life going to church doesn’t mean you are saved

And you should not have an arrogance and pride because of your family pedigree

And you should not have an arrogance and pride because of your family pedigree

You should have a humility because you know that it is only by your faith in Christ that you stand, and God has not treated you according to your merit, but according to his grace

Likewise, Just because you were not born in a Christian family and have spent your whole life far from God doesn’t mean you cannot be saved

And you should not think you are too far from God to come to him

God desires to treat you not according to your merit, but according to his grace

Transition: Potential Complaint: this is unjust on God’s part - he doesn’t operate on merit? He doesn’t judge people by their works? He doesn’t act with people according to what they have done? That’s not fair!

Romans 9:14 ESV

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!

II. God is sovereign and has the right to do as he wills

God is the creator and has the right to do whatever he wills with what he has made

Image of the potter and the clay

Romans 9:19–21 ESV

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

Romans 9:21 ESV

21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

So far, Paul is not arguing a specific action that God takes in his sovereignty - he is arguing that God has the right to operate his world however he wants, without any input from any creature and without being bound by anyone or anything other than himself

God does not answer to anyone or anything else

It is his universe and he can do with it as he pleases

If you have a universe, then you can give God advice on how to run his; otherwise, it’s best to keep quiet

Application:

He does not answer to me, and he does not answer to you

He does not run the universe according to your definition of justice, your ideas of right and wrong, your opinions about how things should go

He does not run his church according to your opinions of how things should go

Paul narrows down his point by saying that part of God’s right is respond to human beings as he sees fit, specifically in either making them his people or not making them his people

Since all people are sinners, it would not be unjust for God to simply let everyone die

Quoting from Hosea, Paul says God reserves the right to make those who were not his people his people -

Quoting from Hosea, Paul says God reserves the right to make those who were not his people his people -

In this case, Paul is pointing to the surprising turn of events by which God has made gentiles his people

Hosea

Romans 9:25–26 ESV

25 As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ ” 26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ ”

Quoting from Isaiah, Paul says God reserves to right to make those who were his people not his people -

In other words, Paul is pointing to the surprising turn of events by which God has judged ethnic Israel

Romans 9:27–28 ESV

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.”

Transition: This of course begs the question: What does God do with his sovereignty? On what basis does God either make people his people or not make them his people?

III. God’s plan has always been to save people through faith

Romans 9:30–10:4 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.” 1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Romans 9:30-

Romans 9:30–32a 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,

Romans 9:

Gentiles attained righteousness though they weren’t pursuing it

Jews have failed to attain righteousness though they pursued a law that would lead to righteousness

Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works

Once again justification by faith comes up in Paul’s letter - this is THE major theme of the letter!

God is sovereign and he can justify whoever he wants, he can judge how he wants - but how will he judge?

By human response to the gospel in faith

They were ignorant of the righteousness of God

So somehow, there is room in Paul’s theology for both the sovereignty of God and human responsibility based on real choice

They sought to establish their own righteousness

APPThere is real danger in pursuing a righteousness by our own works. Paul is saying ultimately what separated Israel from God was not simply their sin, but their insistence on earning their way to God.

Application: There is real danger in the human preoccupation with earning

It is actually offensive to the human mind for God to save people by grace alone through faith

It is difficult for people to accept the good news of Jesus because it first says that they have absolutely nothing to offer God that is worthy of salvation, and they are in need of something they can only receive on the grace of God

We much prefer to work hard and earn our way

But catch what Paul is saying here; ultimately it wasn’t the sin of the people of Israel that separated them from God - it was their insistence on earning righteousness by works of the law

This is why in some ways legalism in a church is more dangerous than sinful behavior - earning your righteousness before God is mutually exclusive to relying upon his grace - you cannot have both

This really isn’t new: God’s plan has always been justification through faith

Not the end of the law, period.

The end of the law for righteousness.

Romans 10:9–13 ESV

9 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. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:9-

In other words, as we said a few weeks ago, the law is good because it reveals the type of life that is pleasing to God.

So we follow the principles of the law not because they have anything to do with earning righteousness - Christ is the end of that rat race for us

We follow the principles of the law

Because we have been saved

Because we trust Jesus

Because as we are being transformed by the Holy Spirit to look more like Jesus, we desire to live lives that are pleasing to God

Simple statement taken at face value: “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”

God treats everyone according to faith - there is no distinction between Jew and Greek

Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame

Isaiah 28:16 ESV

16 therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

Haste = חושׁ, yahish

To be in a hurry, panic, shamed

The same Lord is Lord of all

: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved

Joel 2:32 ESV

32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Israel has not responded to Jesus in faith; they have rejected God and their messiah

Joel 2:32 ESV

32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Romans 10:18–21 ESV

18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Transition: God has always been about saving people through faith, but Israel has not had faith. Does this mean they are lost and forever doomed?

Romans 11:1 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.

IV. There is hope for Israel despite their current lack of faith

Clearly God has not rejected his people, since Paul himself, an Israelite by birth, has come to faith in Jesus

He is now talking about ethnic Israel

Yes, not all ethnic Israel is true Israel, and yes, God justifies people by grace through faith, but still, what about the nation of Israel, God’s covenant people?

Has the nation of Israel stumbled so far as to be unrecoverable?

Israel has stumbled in order for salvation to come to the Gentiles

Romans 11:11–12 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!

Paul elaborates by the use of an analogy: an olive tree

Romans 11:17–24 ESV

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.

Gentile Christians should be arrogant toward Jewish unbelievers

They were cut off in order that Gentiles could be grafted in

Gentiles are grafted in by faith, and we only stand by faith

If God did not spare the natural branches their lack of faith, neither will he spare us

God is able to regraft in Jews

If they do not continue in their unbelief

Once again, human free will is displayed in some way that fits with God’s sovereignty

If God is able to graft wild olive branches into a cultivated olive tree, he is definitely able to graft natural branches back into their own tree

Again, what is the basis of this cutting off or grafting in? FAITH!

Romans 3:23–25 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Romans 3:23–24 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Romans 11:32 ESV

32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Romans 11:32 ESV

32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

If you have been grafted into this tree, it is by faith. Do not be arrogant!

If you have never placed your faith in Christ, God is able to graft you into this tree by faith

Our right response to this today is simply to worship God

He is the one who is working out his plan of redemption in ways that are so much higher and better than anything we could come up with

We should have humility toward God, not people who question him or accuse him, but grateful people who recognize that we could never do the job that God is doing

Which is why Paul ends this whole argument, having wrestled mightily with difficult theological issues, with an outburst of worship

Romans 11:33–36 ESV

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.