Certainty of Israel's Restoration
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The restoration of Israel is a picture of God’s planned desire for man’s salvation. God does not give up easily. His love for everyone is the same from those of the past, for us who are in the present and for the coming generation. He will love anyone to the point of drawing them to believe in Him but that love will only be available till the last breath. Thus, until his or her last breath, anybody has the opportunity to be restored or another way of presenting it everybody and anybody has a chance to become a member of God’s family while on Earth. This was the point that Paul was saying in v.24 while addressing the Gentiles.
24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.
Paul concludes with the following verses guaranteeing God’s plan of Israel’s restoration and role of the Gentiles in carrying through. When he mentions them here, it is not a matter of prediction but a matter of being sure that they will happen. It’s like a guarantee. Let’s look at these guarantees.
Guarantee #1: God’s revelation about the Jews (vv.25-26).
Guarantee #1: God’s revelation about the Jews (vv.25-26).
Guarantee #2: As promise in Scripture that Jesus, as God’s deliverer for the world, will turn Israel and take away her sins (vv.26-27).
Guarantee #2: As promise in Scripture that Jesus, as God’s deliverer for the world, will turn Israel and take away her sins (vv.26-27).
Guarantee #3: God’s pleasure with Israel’s forefathers (vv.28-29).
Guarantee #3: God’s pleasure with Israel’s forefathers (vv.28-29).
Guarantee #4: God’s holiness and mercy (vv.30-36).
Guarantee #4: God’s holiness and mercy (vv.30-36).
God showing mercy to believing Gentiles and in turn using them to show mercy on the unbelieving nation of Israel.
Guarantee #5: God’s glorious plan for the world (vv.33-36).
Guarantee #5: God’s glorious plan for the world (vv.33-36).
Guarantee #1: God’s revelation about the Jews (vv.25-26)
Guarantee #1: God’s revelation about the Jews (vv.25-26)
25 For I do not want you, brethren, 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; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
Paul’s mention of God’s revelation about Israel is a form of guarantee, what he revealed will happen.
The Mystery (v.25)
The Mystery (v.25)
The Mystery (v.25)
The Mystery (v.25)
A Biblical mystery is more about …
• something that was unknown is now revealed
• something that was hidden is now made known
• something that was a secret is now told
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 214). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
The mystery probably has something to do with Israel’s temporary state of exclusion from God’s plan for them to carry the Gospel to the world, the inclusion of the Gentiles as part of God’s family, and future restoration of Israel’s role in God’s plan of salvation. Paul is warning the Gentile Christians not to become proud or boastful of their inclusion into the people of God.
What is the purpose of Israel’s revelation? (Paul not wanting them to be uninformed)
What is the purpose of Israel’s revelation? (Paul not wanting them to be uninformed)
So that the Gentiles will not be ignorant of Israel’s future.
So that they will not come up with their own ideas regarding the turn of events.
So that they will not be conceited about their inclusion and in turn look at Israel in a negative light. Avoiding to judgmental toward Jews.
God’s message through Paul will help them avoid looking down on Jews as being different and specially treating them negatively for rejecting Jesus Christ.
There is the danger of formulating their own conclusions, instead connecting the dots is God’s responsibility and revealing it to man.
The Partial Hardening of Hearts
The Partial Hardening of Hearts
In reference to temporary state of unbelief of Israel as a nation. (Unbelief - their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. There will come a day where they will believe in Jesus as the Messiah
Their unbelief caused them to be cut-off from the Olive Tree which is a symbol of God’s family. With God’s family are some specific calling for each members.
Don’t be mistaken, there were Jewish believers during that time and there have also been Jewish believers all throughout the centuries but because there were a vast majority who rejected Jesus, it is as though all Israel as nation was rejected.
When the fullness of the Gentiles come Israel’s (as a nation) spiritual blindness will be removed so that they will not believe in Jesus.
It is so with any unbeliever. There have been other biblical reference in the Bible:
To be spiritually blind can also be translated as being spiritually undiscerning, as explained in :
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
Implication of spiritual blindness: This means that to a spiritually blind individual, spiritual things are meaningless or to them it’s foolishness. Then also pridefully say this.
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." This means that to a spiritually blind individual, spiritual things are meaningless
In this context, this term probably refers to three difficult issues that Paul discusses in the passage: Israel’s partial hardening, the inclusion of the Gentiles as part of God’s people, and Israel’s future role in God’s plan of salvation. Paul hopes that the Gentile Christians will not become proud or boastful of their inclusion into the people of God.
The fullness of the Gentiles (v.25)
The fullness of the Gentiles (v.25)
Likely alludes to predictions that one day all nations aside from Israel will worship Yahweh (e.g., ; ; ).
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
As prophesied in:
2 Now it will come about that In the last days The mountain of the house of the Lord Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. 3 And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.
16 Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. 17 And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them.
Feast of Booths
Feast of Booths
:16-17
Also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or by its Hebrew name, Sukkot, this celebration was the last of the fall festivals and was held at the end of the agricultural year when the grapes and olives were harvested in Israel. This was a time to thank God for all of the preceding year’s provision and to pray for a good rainy season, which lasted from October through March. This was also a reminder about God’s goodness on how they were preserved in the wilderness.
Likely alludes to predictions that one day all nations will worship Yahweh (e.g., ; ; ). This also could refer to the completion of the mission to reach all people with the gospel. Paul viewed his ministry to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) as integral to the fulfillment of this plan (, ).
This also could refer to the completion of the mission to reach all people with the gospel. Paul viewed his ministry to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) as integral to the fulfillment of this plan (, ).
28 Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain.
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
24 whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while—
All of Israel (v.26)
All of Israel (v.26)
24 whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while—
This may refer to the nation of Israel proper—whether all of Abraham’s natural descendants, or only the elect individuals within ethnic Israel.
This may refer to the nation of Israel proper—whether all of Abraham’s natural descendants, or only the elect individuals within ethnic Israel. Alternatively, it could refer to Israel as symbolic of God’s elect—all who are now part of God’s people (both Jews and Gentiles).
Alternatively, it could refer to Israel as symbolic of God’s elect—all who are now part of God’s people (both Jews and Gentiles).
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
“Deliverer will come”
“Deliverer will come”
A quote from
20 “A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord.
Zion - possible reference to both Jerusalem on Earth in this lifetime or it could also refer to the heavenly Jerusalem from where Christ will return as a DELIVERER (deliver from the wrath of hell).
Guarantee #2: The Promised of Scripture (vv.26-27).
Guarantee #2: The Promised of Scripture (vv.26-27).
The second guarantee is the promised written in scripture.
26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” 27 “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
“Deliverer will come”
“Deliverer will come”
A quote from
20 “A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord.
Somehow Christ, the Deliverer, will have some other great manifestation that will removed their spiritual blindness thus causing them to received Christ as the Messiah.
The same happens not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles.
19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. 21 For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Acts
14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
2 Cor
Zion - possible reference to both Jerusalem on Earth in this lifetime or it could also refer to the heavenly Jerusalem from where Christ will return as a DELIVERER (deliver from the wrath of hell).
When Israel as a nation will turn to Jesus:
He will turn away ungodliness from them thus will have the desire to flee unrighteousness and run towards the righteousness of Christ. (A TRUE BELIEVER WILL RUN AWAY FROM SIN AND instead EMBRACE RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jesus will fulfill God’s covenant with Israel when He will take away her sins.
21 “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from now and forever.”
My words which I have put in your mouth will serve as a guide to lead them in a new way of living.
The Bible says that we know we are in Him in that we KEEP His commandments (1 John 2:3). Both the problem and the solution are found in the word keep. It is actually a mariner's word. In the apostles' day, sailors navigated by the stars. And a sailor setting his course by the stars was said to be "keeping the stars." It was his intention to sail using the stars as a guide. To keep God's commandments, then, means to use the Word of God as the Guide for our lives. It’s like having a new set of values and you live by them. It is the desire of every child of God to live by His Word. From time to time as we sail through the rough seas of life may be blown off course which is a picture of sinning and as a child confessing and repenting is an act of getting back to the course.
the Bible says that we know we are in Him in that we keep His commandments.
Both the problem and the solution are found in the word keep. It is actually a mariner's word. In the apostles' day, sailors navigated by the stars. And a sailor setting his course by the stars was said to be "keeping the stars." It was his intention to sail by the stars.
Guarantee #3: God’s pleasure with Israel’s forefathers (vv.28-29)
Guarantee #3: God’s pleasure with Israel’s forefathers (vv.28-29)
28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
To keep God's commandments, then, means to use the Word of God as the Guide for our lives. It is the desire of every child of God to live by His Word. While
In what sense are they enemies? They had refused the offer of God’s righteousness in Jesus Christ, and they had refused to be the missionary force for God’s Son. Therefore, God’s was not pleased with them. They hated God; consequently, God was displeased with them, thus the concept of ENEMY.
they had refused the offer of God’s righteousness in Jesus Christ, and they had refused to be the missionary force for God’s Son. Therefore, they had aroused God’s displeasure. They hated God; consequently, God was displeased with them.
Because of God’s displeasure, He did what He had to do, He turned to the Gentiles who gladly accepted the offer of salvation found only through Jesus. Somebody had to do it.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 217). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
When God turned to the Gentiles it was a lost opportunity for the nation of Israel as the chosen one. But take note that He used a remnant of Jews who believe in Christ and Paul is a great example. The Jews where originally suppose to carry the message of light into the dying world which is related to the what Paul said in where he said: “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Unfortunately there was quite a number from Israel who rejected Christ so God can say that Israel as a nation rejected Christ. At the same time because of the large number of Gentiles accepted Christ, God could also say that “the Gentile as a community accepted His offer of salvation in Christ. There still were some Gentiles who rejected Christ.
But despite Israel’s rejection, God will one day restore them back to its original call which is a testament of God’s love for Israel. God does not change His plans, He is constant, immutable and unchangeable.
6 “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Guarantee #4: God’s holiness and mercy (vv.30-36).
Guarantee #4: God’s holiness and mercy (vv.30-36).
30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
This is a picture of God showing mercy to believing Gentiles and in turn using them to show mercy on the unbelieving nation of Israel.
vv. 30-31 are speaking facts historically.
There was a time before Christ ever came, the Gentiles did not know and obey God, but the Jews did.
Later on the Jews rejected Christ and nailed Him to the cross which tantamount to rejecting God. If you reject the Son your reject the Father, Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
So God turned to the Gentiles.
God demonstrated His mercy by offering salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Having tasted the mercy and unconditional love from God, we want to share the same experience, the same mercy and forgiveness of sins to the whole world.
We should feel indebted to the Jews, the people through whom God gave us His Word, His Son, and His promises. Therefore, Scripture predicts that the evangelistic efforts to reach the Jews will someday bear fruit. The Jews will somebody be reached by the mercy of God; they shall believe and obey Jesus Christ as Lord. The Jews shall be restored into the favor of God.
we truly know the mercy of God through Jesus Christ our Lord; therefore, we want the world to experience the same mercy and forgiveness of sins. In particular, we feel indebted to the Jews, the people through whom God gave us His Word, His Son, and His promises. Therefore, Scripture predicts that the evangelistic efforts to reach the Jews will someday bear fruit. The Jews will be reached by the mercy of God; they shall believe and obey Jesus Christ as Lord. The Jews shall be restored into the favor of God.
32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.
This is an interesting choice of words. In the NASB it is shut up which means to lock up.
This act of God to lock them up to disobedience is a judicial judgment of God.
Judicial judgement comes to a person who deliberately chooses to be blind (rejection) to the gospel and to reject Christ is given over to a just punishment. Making him helpless on his own. This concept is demonstrated in , , .
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
Romas
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
Romans 1:
A person who deliberately chooses to be blind to the gospel and to reject Christ is given over to a just punishment. God offers His love and salvation of eternal life to a man, but a man has to choose to receive God’s offer.
Out of man’s inability to save himself, God, who is rich in mercy, offers His love and salvation of eternal life to a man through Christ, but man has to choose to personally/individually to receive God’s offer.
This is
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 204). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
So that the Gentiles will not be ignorant of Israel’s future.
The certainty of Israel restoration provides the same certainty of restoration available to all, for those who will believe. There is hope for everyone and that hope is found in Jesus.
In the great commission He commanded His follower to go into all nations, that’s why currently we have missionaries taking on this command as their calling. But make no mistake, with this national approach, salvation is still an individual decision. A follower of Christ cannot save you unless you also choose Him yourself personally.
So that they will not come up with their own ideas regarding the turn of events.
Every believer who knows and have experienced the mercy of God should share the mercy of God. God hates exclusiveness, prejudice, partiality. The world should have access to what we are enjoying now. The rest of the world desperately needs the gospel, the Jew as well as the Gentile, and the great commission is God commanding that His mercy be shared with the world.
So that they will not be conceited bout their inclusion and in turn look at Israel in a negative light. Avoiding to judgmental toward Jews.
God’s message through Paul will help them avoid looking down on Jews as being different and specially treating them negatively for rejecting Jesus Christ.
Every believer who knows the mercy of God should share the mercy of God. God hates exclusiveness, prejudice, partiality. The world desperately needs the gospel, the Jew as well as the Gentile, and God demands that His mercy be shared with the world.
There is the danger of formulating their own conclusions, instead connecting the dots is God’s responsibility and revealing it to man.
