Romans 11:16-27
God’s plan for
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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.
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Intro
√ Continue our study of God’s plan for Israel
His proof – his witnesses
Himself! vs. 1
Biblical pattern – the remnant vs. 2-4
Present example – the remnant vs. 5
The Gentiles! vs. 11-15
This morning we’ll look at the testimony of the…
The Patriarchs vs. 16-24
God Himself! vs. 25-27
…and the “mystery” of God’s plan for the Gentiles.
The Patriarchs (vs. 16-24)
Rom. 11:16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Rom. 11:17 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,
Rom. 11:18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Rom. 11:19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.”
Rom. 11:20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
Rom. 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
Rom. 11:22 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.
Rom. 11:23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
Rom. 11:24 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?
√ Paul’s next witness to prove that God has not cast away His people is Abraham – to whom God made the covenant promises.
He does so by using two illustrations from the Old Testament to help us understand how God is dealing with His people.
His point is to prove that Israel’s fall – or stumbling – is only temporary, rather than permanent.
First fruits – vs. 16
A reference to Numbers 15:20; the law or sacrifice of first fruits.
The command to bring the first fruit of the harvest to God – bake a cake and offer it to the Lord.
That which is offered to God then sanctifies (makes holy) the rest of the harvest.
Olive Tree – vs. 16
(roots)
Another symbol of Israel – Paul’s point - if the roots of the tree are good – then the tree is good.
Some branches may be bad – unfruitful, or diseased – but that doesn’t make the tree bad.
Ex. If you have a tree with a broken branch, or some disease, you don’t cut the tree down and burn the roots! You cut the bad branch off.
Ap. God has cut off and thrown away some bad branches – but He isn’t uprooting the tree!
The picture – symbols
The first fruits and the roots = Abraham
The lump and the branches = Israel
The principle is the same for both illustrations – if that which comes first (the first fruit & the roots) is holy (separated to God)…
…then the rest is holy too!
Even though some of the branches may be bad, and have to be cut away, the tree and the lump, are still good!
Thus, Paul’s point is that God isn’t through with Israel!
√ Note the blessings and the warning to us Gentiles in vs. 17-24
Natural branches = Israel
Unnatural branches = Gentiles
We’re told that God has grafted the “unnatural” branches into the good olive tree.
Ap. The Gentiles who trust in Jesus become partakers of the blessings given by God to Abraham!
“became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,” – vs. 17
“root” = Abraham
“fatness” = “fruit” blessings of God given to
Abraham
This is a picture to remind us that Jew and Gentile alike become heirs of the blessing of Abraham by the same means…
…faith!
Rom. 4:13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
And…
Rom. 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
√ Note also in vs. 24 that Paul tells us that the work God has done for us Gentiles is super-natural.
“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”
Ex. Farmers graft good branches onto wild olive trees to grow good fruit.
Olive trees take many years to grow to maturity – so if you can find an established wild olive tree that is strong – one can get good fruit quickly by grafting good branches into it.
The wild root and tree provide nourishment to the good branch.
But, a farmer would never do the opposite! That is, graft a wild branch into a good tree – because you’d would get wild fruit!
The rancher can’t change the genetic code of the wild branch to produce good fruit – it’s against natural law.
Ex. Trees in the Central valley
Ap. But – Paul tells us that God works a miracle in that He takes us – wild olive branches – and grafts us into the good tree.
He says it’s…
“ contrary to nature”.
The point – God is able to do in us what we cannot do naturally…
…He super-naturally changes us from wild branches that cannot produce good fruit into branches that can produce good fruit!
Ex. No matter how badly I want to be a physical descendant of Abraham – I can’t change my natural genetic make up…
I’m a mute! “Heinz 27”
But, by faith is Jesus Christ God changes me and supernaturally makes me an heir of the promises He gave to Abraham!
Ex. Ever wish that you were born a prince, or a princess? Heir to the privilege of royalty?
In Christ you are heir to royalty!
√ A warning against pride
Note also that Paul exhorts the Gentile believers not to be arrogant toward those Jews who have not believed.
The reason for the exhortation is that our salvation is not based upon our own merit…
…rather, the Grace of God which we receive by faith.
So, to take a haughty attitude toward the Jewish people because they don’t recognize Jesus as their Messiah is a dangerous position.
Remember the words of James…
Jam. 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Time of the Gentiles (vs. 25)
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.
√ A “mystery”
A truth previously hidden – unrevealed, therefore unknown to humans – but now revealed and publicly proclaimed.
The mystery that Paul reveals here is that the Jewish people (nationally – not individually) are blinded to the Gospel message.
Ex. They don’t understand the mission of Messiah – therefore, do not receive Jesus as their Savior.
Note however that there is a second part of the mystery – that the blindness of the Jews is not permanent…
…but temporary.
Note vs. 25…
“that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
Remember, that Paul has already told us that Israel’s failure to receive Jesus opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles.
But, that once the “fullness of the Gentiles has come in” is complete…
…then Israel will have their eyes opened again!
√ The “time of the Gentiles”
Defined as that period of time in which God is dealing primarily with the Gentile nations – and not with His chosen people the Jews.
When is that time?
Now!
Let’s look at Daniel 9:24-27
√ Note the context of the prophecy
Dan. 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.
“your people” – “your city” = Jews and Jerusalem
√ Note the purpose
Dan. 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.
To complete God’s plan for the human race…
Finish with sin
Bring in everlasting righteousness
Fulfill prophecy
Anoint the Messiah as King of Kings
√ Note the timing
Dan. 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.
“seventy weeks” = 70 groups of 7’s (heptads)
√ Note the date
Dan. 9:25 “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.
Dan. 9:26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
69 groups of seven (years)
483 years (Hebrew & Babylonian at 360 days)
173,880 days
So, if we knew when the command was given to rebuild Jerusalem we could count forward to the coming of Messiah!
We do!
King Artexeres – March 14, 445 BC – move forward 173,880 days and you come to April 6, 32 AD.
The very day a carpenter from Nazareth rode into Jerusalem!
√ Note the final week
We’ve only accounted for 69 of the 70 weeks. At the end of the 69 weeks the Messiah is…
“cut off” – vs. 26
Literally, “suffer the death penalty”…
“but not for Himself” – vs. 26
Ap. Jesus was rejected by Daniel’s people – the Jews. He was handed over to the Romans and crucified – but not for His own sins – for Mankind’s.
This followed by the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Brings us to the final week…
Dan. 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
The final week of human history in which God brings all things to a close and resumes His work with the Jewish people on a national level.
√ So where are we now?
The gap between the 69th and 70th weeks is that unknown length of time in which God has turned His attention to the Gentiles.
We call it…
The Church age
The age of Grace
The time of the Gentiles
It’s the time in which the Holy Spirit is searching out a Bride for Jesus Christ.
At an unknown time when the “fullness of the Gentiles has come in” that time gap is over and the world enters that final “week” prophesied by Daniel.
√ That time is quickly approaching!
How do we know?
Because the Jews are living in their Promised Land again!
Ap. All the pieces of the prophetic puzzle are in place – we’re just waiting for that last Gentile – then we’re out of here!
The Rapture of the Church (the Bride of Christ) precedes the 70th week of Daniel. It is during this final 7 year period of time that God places His attention once again on Israel…
That time is called…
The time of Jacobs trouble
Daniel’s 70th week
The Tribulation
…but out that time the Jews will come to recognize Jesus as their Messiah.
Rom. 11:26 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;
Rom. 11:27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
Close
√ All for Jesus (read lyrics)
√ Check your heart – does talk of Jesus’ soon return make you uncomfortable?
Things you still want to do
Things you still want to have
Be careful – they’re trying to crowd Jesus from the throne of your heart.