Sermon Tone Analysis

*Grafted into the Vine*

*Romans 11:1-36*

* *

*I.

Not all Jews had rejected the Gospel (11:1-10).*

A.        *1*I ask then: Did God reject his people?

By no means!

1.

I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

*2*God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.

2.         Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: *3*"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"? {[3] 1 Kings 19:10,14}

3.         *4*And what was God's answer to him?

"I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." {[4] 1 Kings 19:18}

4.         *5*So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

*6*And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

B.

*7*What then?

What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did.

The others were hardened,

1.         *8*as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day."

{[8] Deut.

29:4; Isaiah 29:10}

2.         *9*And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

*10*May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."

{[10] Psalm 69:22,23}

 

*II.

As the failure of the Jews meant opportunity for the Gentiles, so the Gentiles’ acceptance might mean a new opportunity for the Jews (11:11-24)*

A.        *11*Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?

1.

Not at all!

2.         Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.

*12*But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

B.         *13*I am talking to you Gentiles.

Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,

1.

I make much of my ministry *14*in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.

2.         *15*For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

3.         *16*If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

C.         *17*If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, *18*do not boast over those branches.

If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

1.         *19*You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."

2.         *20*Granted.

But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.

3.         Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

*21*For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

D.        *22*Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God:

1.         sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness.

Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

2.         *23*And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

3.         *24*After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

 

*III.

God’s strategy is beyond human analysis (11:25-36).*

A.        *25*I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited:

1.         Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

2.         *26*And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

a.         "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

b.         *27*And this is {[27] Or <will be>} my covenant with them when I take away their sins."

{[27] Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jer.

31:33,34}

3.         *28*As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,

B.         *29*for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.

1.         *30*Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, *31*so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now {[31] Some manuscripts do not have <now.>}

receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.

2.         *32*For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

C.         *33*Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and {[33] Or <riches and the wisdom and the>} knowledge of God!

1.         How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

2.         34"Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?"

{[34] Isaiah 40:13}

3.         *35*"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"

{[35] Job 41:11}

4.         *36*For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever!

Amen.