Romans 11:11-15
God’s plan for
Welcome!
Would you open your Bibles to...
Rom. 11:25 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.
Pray
Intro
√ Nice to
be home – great time of fellowship and instruction while at the pastors and
church leaders conference in
√ Romans 11
Don’t be ignorant of God’s plan for
Paul devotes chapter 11 to presenting proof that God was not
finished with
Paul – with his brilliant legal mind lays out a lock tight case to prove his point.
His proof – his witnesses
Himself! vs. 1
Biblical pattern – the remnant vs. 2-4
Present example – the remnant vs. 5
Continues his argument by presenting additional witnesses
The Gentiles! vs. 11-15
The Patriarchs vs. 16-24
God Himself! vs. 25-36
Ap. Very important to understand God’s plan for the Jewish people. To miss what the Bible declares will result in all sorts of wrong thinking – both of the Jews and of yourself!
The next question (vs. 11a)
Rom. 11:11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not!
√ The next question
Remember the central question which Paul presented in vs. 1 was…
“I say then, has God cast away His people?”
He addressed that question in vs. 1-10 – “no!” God hasn’t cast away His people – He isn’t through with Israel yet.
Paul now moves to the next question which he anticipates his readers asking…vs. 11
“…have they stumbled that they should fall?”
Or…
“Has Israel fallen beyond recovery?”
The point of the question is that while the reader might go along with Paul’s argument to this point…
That is – recognizing that God hasn’t cast away His people.
I understand that He preserves a remnant that will be saved.
But, hasn’t Israel gone too far in their rebellion to have any real hope of coming back to God and seeing the fulfillment of His promises to establish a literal kingdom on Earth – ruled by the Messiah?!
Ex. It’s one thing to point to Israel’s history as proof that God has been faithful even when there was only a small remnant of true believers.
But – this time they’ve rejected and crucified their own Messiah!
Wouldn’t that make all of God’s Kingdom Age promises to Israel null & void?
Note Paul’s answer – vs. 11…
“Certainly not!”
We’ve seen this response now 10 times – ya-ll know what it means! J
The point – that God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to make Israel the envy of the nations – the nation which will rule the world under the Messiah is a promise…
For a literal kingdom
In a literal future
Ap. One of the great tragedy’s in the Christian faith is to reduce God’s promises to nothing more than mystical ideas rather than literal truths.
Ex. You’ve heard people say…
“Heaven is just a state of mind”
No – it’s a real place that has always existed and is promised to those who trust Jesus as their savior.
√ So, what does Israel’s rejection of Jesus mean?
The product of Israel’s fall (vs. 11b-15)
Rom. 11:11b…But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
Rom. 11:12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
Rom. 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
Rom. 11:14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
Rom. 11:15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
√ Paul expresses the tragedy of Israel’s rejection of Jesus 3 different ways in this section…
They “fell” - vs. 11
They “failed” - vs. 12
They were “cast away” - vs. 15
To avoid any confusion – remember that we’ve already learned that God has not “cast away” the Jews forever (vs. 1-10).
So, we understand that none of these words suggest a final judgement upon the Jews.
Rather, Paul is simply pointing out the product (or result) of their temporary stumbling.
Notice that Israel’s stumbling served at least two divine purposes:
• Bring salvation to the Gentiles
• Bring the Jews back to God
How’s that?
Israel’s rejection of Jesus as their Messiah led them to ask for His death – providing the means of salvation to all people.
John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
John 12:33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
Secondly, The result of Israel’s rejection the Gospel message was that the apostles, especially Paul, took it to the Gentiles!
Ex. Paul in Antioch
Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:47 “For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
√ Israel’s failure was that they did not shine the light of God’s love to the Gentiles.
Ap. The love-less church – Ephesus – Rev. 2:1-7. Note that Jesus warns them that He will remove their lampstand if they do not return to their first love.
We’re called to be His witness to the world – a light of His love.
Ex. John 13; I Cor. 13 & Ist John
Which brings us to the 2nd purpose accomplished.
In turning to the Gentiles with the Gospel Paul hoped to make the Jews envious of the work of God in their lives.
In the hope that they would desire to have what the Gentile believers had received – God’s favor.
Ex. The religious leaders in Jerusalem were envious of the work that God was doing through the Church.
Ap. I wonder – if a Jewish person was to visit our church, or to work alone side of you or me everyday – would they be jealous of the relationship we have with God?
Would they want what you and I have!?
Lord – may my life be an exciting testimony of Your Grace and Love that will attract the lost!
√ The riches of Christ
Rom. 11:12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
Compare with vs. 15…
Rom. 11:15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Paul’s giving us a preview of what God has planned for the Jewish people in the future.
The Gentiles became heirs of the riches of God as a result of the Jews rejection of Jesus.
Because he believed that the Bible declared that the stumbling of the Jews was only temporary, he asks…
“what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”
Paul anticipates a day in which the Jews will acknowledge Jesus as their Messiah – and suggests that at that time the dead will be raised!
Ex. The 1st Resurrection – don’t think of it as an event – rather as a promise.
Jesus – the first fruit of the resurrection
Dead saints – at the Rapture (I Thess. 4:13-18)
Tribulation saints – at Christ’s return (Rev. 20:4-5)
Old Testament saints at Christ’s return – (Dan. 12:1-2)
All included in what the Bible calls the “1st Resurrection”.
Ap. Everyone will experience a resurrection (Dan. 12:1&2 and Rev. 20:4 & 15) – the question is – will it be to eternal life or eternal condemnation?
Close
√ Be the light God has called us to be by taking on His Nature in our lives – LOVE,
√ Do you believe you’ve fallen beyond recovery? No way!
√ God turned a “bad” thing – Israel’s rejection of their Messiah into good for all people.
Ap. He will do the same in your life!