Romans 11

Intro

Series - Studies On The Book Of Romans

This Part - Romans 11

Review

Israel’s zeal was not enough to bring salvation, because it was not coupled with the knowledge of God

Israel was knowledgeable in the law and the tradition of their fathers but not in the righteousness of God

Israel heard the gospel but did not believe

Israel knew the gospel but did not believe

In This Part

“Rejection” was reciprocal

Israel rejected God and His plan through the gospel

Romans 10 focused on Israel’s rejection of God

therefore, God rejected Israel

Romans 11 deals with God’s rejection of Israel

Hosea prophesied of this

Hosea 4:6 NKJV

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

the leaders of Israell rejected the gospel

Luke 7:40 NKJV

40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

Jesus announced this reciprocal rejection

Luke 9:21–22 NKJV

21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Luke 17:25 NKJV

25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Matthew 21:42–43 NKJV

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.

Despite their unbelief...

Israel’s rejection was not total

Israel’s rejectional was not final

Israel’s Rejection was not Total

Romans 11:1 NKJV

1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Because there is a “remnant”

Romans 11:2–3 NKJV

2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?

The “remnant” exists in every generation

Romans 11:4–6 NKJV

4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

The “remnant” are the elect -

Romans 11:7 NKJV

7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

they are the ones who obtained God’s promise by faith

The “rest of Israel” were blinded

Romans 11:8–10 NKJV

8 Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.” 9 And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.”

Israel’s blindness was God’s judgment for their unbelief

they heard and they knew but still did not believe

spirit of “stupor” - a condition in which a person’s ability to sense his surrounding is suspended or greatly diminished

ex - drunken stupor

the quotation from Isaiah reflects this judgment

Isaiah 29:9–13 NKJV

9 Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; They stagger, but not with intoxicating drink. 10 For the Lord has poured out on you The spirit of deep sleep, And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers. 11 The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I am not literate.” 13 Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

the quotation from Psalm 69.22-23 “22 Let their table become a snare before them, And their well-being a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually.”

spoken in response to what they will have done to the Messiah

Psalm 69.21 “21 They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

Israel’s Rejection was not Final

Because Israel’s rejection broughtr salvation to the Gentiles

Romans 11:11 NKJV

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

Israel’s “fall” was meant for total destruction, but a way for God to do a greater work!

Paul looks forward to a bright future for Israel

from “fall” and “failure” to “fullness”

Romans 11:12–14 NKJV

12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.

from “cast away” to “acceptance”

Romans 11:15–16 NKJV

15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

firstfruit/root - refers to the believing forefathers of Israel

lump/branches - refer to the future believers in Israel

Paul warns Gentiles to cherish what they have received out of Israel’s mess

the Gentiles were grafted into the “tree”

Romans 11:17–18 NKJV

17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Gentiles are like “wild branches” - when God began to execute His plan through Abraham, we were not part of the initial/original plant/plantation

the Gentiles are no more special than the Israel before God, just because they have been rejected

Romans 11:19–23 NKJV

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

Paul unveils his revelation of the mystery of God among the Gentiles

Romans 11:24–25 NKJV

24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Paul was given an understanding of a mystery that was not understood in previous times

that God has included the Gentiles in the plan of salvation

but that the calling of the Gentiles is NOT the end for Israel!

Israel’s Redeemer will Return to Her

Paul declares his revelation of the mystery of God -

God has determined that the gospel will be proclaimed to the Gentiles

there is nothing that the Jews can do that will change the course of time

Paul saw this great move of God in his lifetime

God has alotted a specific time for the Gentiles

how long? Paul did not know how long

unlike Jeremiah - God has alotted 70 years for the dispersion of Israel

but Paul understood there will a “fulness of the Gentiles”

Salvation returns to Israel when the Gentiles reaches her “fullness”

Romans 11:26–27 NKJV

26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

God has not changed with regards toi His covenant with Israel

Romans 11:28–29 NKJV

28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

God will use the Gentiles to return the favor to Israel

Romans 11:30–32 NKJV

30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

Conclusion

Paul concludes this part of his epistle with a “doxology”

doxology - a form of words containing an ascription of praise to God

Romans 11:33–36 NKJV

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

In the great drama that unfolded before Paul in this revelation of God’s mystery, He saw the greatness of God

God’s wisdom and knowledge is both rich and deep/unfathomable!

His judgments cannot be measured and captured by human min!

All these things that are happening are

of God - He initiated them

through God - He made them possible

to God - He will gain the glory forever!

Song

How Great Thous Art