Book of Romans: May 2013

This lesson ends the third in a series about God’s relationship with the Jewish nation:

Chapter 9 focused upon Israel “past”. Paul asserted the sovereignty and freedom of God, in a covenant relationship.
Chapter 10 focused upon Israel “present”. Paul asserted that the Jews were free to accept or reject God's promises and covenants. Since they proved to be unfaithful and rejected God's promises and covenant, they were, in one sense, rejected by God.
Chapter 11 focuses upon Israel “future” which takes place around the time of the Jesus Second Coming. Here, Paul will affirm God's faithfulness, even in the face of Israel's unfaithfulness.

The Nation of Israel has survived despite all sorts of odds against it. It didn’t exist as a country from 70AD until 1948. We are living in a historical unique time where for the first time in almost 2,000 years, the Nation of Israel is a nation again. They have not been a sovereign nation (i.e., not part of anybody’s empire) since the Babylonian captivity, which was about 2,500 years ago. In the history of civilization, there has never been a nation that was conquered, scattered and became a nation again. Except for Israel, who has done it twice. The Bible predicts that God “gathers his people a second time” (Isaiah 11:1). That prediction is the modern state of Israel. In the history of civilization, no dead language has ever come back to life. Except for the Jewish language of Hebrew. The fact that the nation of Israel has accomplished what has never happened in human history (twice come back to life after being conquered and scattered) is proof enough that God keeps His promises! The Jews are living proof that we all can rely on the promises made by God in the Bible.

Romans 9:1-6: In the presence of Christ, I speak with utter truthfulness -- I do not lie -- and my conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm that what I am saying is true. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed -- cut off from Christ! -- if that would save them. They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God's special children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave his law to them. They have the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. Their ancestors were great people of God, and Christ himself was a Jew as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to the Jews? No, for not everyone born into a Jewish family is truly a Jew!

Romans 10:18-21: But what about the Jews? Have they actually heard the message? Yes, they have: "The message of God's creation has gone out to everyone, and its words to all the world." But did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God had said, "I will rouse your jealousy by blessing other nations. I will make you angry by blessing the foolish Gentiles." And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God: "I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me." But regarding Israel, God said, "All day long I opened my arms to them, but they kept disobeying me and arguing with me."

(1) I ask, *THEN, has God rejected his people, the Jews? Of course not! Remember that ** I myself am a Jew, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

This question is not really a question; it’s a statement of fact
*THEN: With the opening of chapter 11, Paul begins to draw his conclusions to chapters 9-11:

God has not rejected His people: Proof - I am also a Jew and saved.

God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew: Proof - In Israel's darkest days, God had reserved unto Himself a faithful company, unknown even to Elijah himself.
There is now also at the present time, a few Jews whom God has chosen by His grace to believe.
- "Now there are an estimated 150 Jewish [messianic] congregations around Israel meeting in different languages. The number of believers is estimated to be around 20,000, growing exponentially from 1948 when 12 Jews who believed in Jesus could be counted, to 1987 when there were 3,000 and 1997 where there were 5,000." Baptist Press, May 26, 2011.
- The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA) represents the interests of approximately 100,000 Messianic Jews in the United States.

** I myself am a Jew: Paul means that he is but a picture of what God will yet do for Israel as a nation.
- Philippians 3:5: For I was circumcised when I was eight days old, having been born into a pure-blooded Jewish family that is a branch of the tribe of Benjamin. So I am a real Jew if there ever was one! What's more, I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.

(2) No, God has NOT *REJECTED his own people, whom he **chose from the very beginning. Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said,

*REJECTED: The word translated "reject" basically means "to refuse" or "to cast off." It is used in:
- God did not reject Israel! Israel rejected God by her continued disobedience, idolatry, and now self-righteous legalism.
- This verse alone should show that "replacement theology" is false, sponsored by Satan who has tried repeatedly to eliminate the Jews down through the ages as in the holocaust, and even today.
- Psalm 94:14: The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his own special possession.
- 1 Samuel 12:22: The LORD will not abandon his chosen people, for that would dishonor his great name. He made you a special nation for himself.
- 1 Kings 6:13: I will live among the people of Israel and never forsake my people."
- Lamentations 3:31-32: For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion according to the greatness of his unfailing love.
In the 9th chapter Paul points out that Israel failed to respond to the love of GOD; but this did not constitute the failure of GOD's promise to Abraham.
**chose from the very beginning: Back to foreknown,chosen, predestined. It’s not a matter of God rejecting Israel; rather, Israel as a whole has turned her back on God.
Paul is not the lone exception; even in Elijah’s day God had a remnant. Paul’s point that a remnant exists demonstrates that God has not abandoned His plan for the nation. This leads to an important principle: God does His best work through a remnant, a faithful minority.

(3) "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."

(4) And do you remember God's reply? He said, "You are not the only one left. I have seven thousand others who have never bowed down to Baal!"

1 Kings 19:9-18: There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the LORD said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." "Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied again, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." Then the LORD told him, "Go back the way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! Yet I will preserve seven thousand others in Israel who have never bowed to Baal or kissed him!"
Elijah had experienced one of the greatest victories in his career as he had challenged the prophets of Baal there on Mount Carmel, building the altars, "Let's pray unto their gods," the four hundred priests of Baal. "You can pray to them and I will pray to the living God, and the god that answers by fire let him be the God." And, of course, the priests of Baal prayed and nothing happened, and Elijah prayed and God sent down fire and consumed the offering and the altar and all. Elijah took the priests of Baal and at that moment of victory down to the brook Kishon and slayed them. Killed four hundred of them, the prophets and priests of Baal. And the next day when Jezebel, the wife of the wicked king, found out what Elijah had done, she said, "God do so to me also if I don't have the head of that man." So Elijah fled from Jezebel. It is so typical how that the times of greatest trial often follow the times of greatest victory. Thus with Elijah, tremendous victory, but now he is running from this queen--not afraid to face up to the four hundred prophets and priests of Baal, but one angry woman and he ran clear on down to the area of Mount Sinai, and there he hid in a cave. And as he was standing in the entrance of the cave, the Lord said, "Elijah what are you doing here?" He said, "I have been zealous for God, and they have all turned from You, and I am the only one You have left, and they are seeking my life. God, You are just about out of business; I am Your last one and they have got a contract out on me." God responded to Elijah, "I have 7,000 who have not bowed their knee to Baal." There was the remnant, the faithful remnant that were there, and God knew who they were, and God had them numbered. As Paul is going to point out, God has always had His faithful remnant--those believers among the Jewish people, those special persons, super special persons among the Jewish people who have recognized the true work of God and are walking with God in fellowship with Him. With God there have always been a special number, a remnant, the faithful remnant. So in the time of Elijah, Paul said, "Don't you remember that God said, 'There are 7,000 that I have reserved unto Me'?" The true remnant that worshipped God, that served God, that had not turned after Baal.

(5) It is the same today, for not all the Jews have turned away from God. A FEW are being saved as a result of God's kindness in choosing them.

Never was all of Israel faithful to GOD. This is a matter of Old Testament history; the Book of Judges, for example, is such a record.
Three thousand identified themselves as part of that "few" or remnant on Pentecost of Acts 2.

(6) And if they are saved by God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's wonderful kindness would not be what it really is -- free and undeserved.

King James Version: And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
In other words, grace and works are mutually exclusive. They are mutually exclusive, and yet, we are so often trying to make a combination out of the two. Saved by grace, but oh, you know, let me do my works. But if it is of grace, then it cannot be of works.
That same concept of salvation by grace + works has crept over into church - "God will accept me if I am faithful to the ordinances of the church and the sacraments of the church, and if I am doing this and this." They are looking for acceptance on the basis of their good works.

(7) So this is the situation: MOST of the Jews have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A FEW have -- the ones God has CHOSEN -- but the rest were made unresponsive.

Many Jews were seeking to be right with God and they pursued this in the performance of religious ritual, racial privilege, and self-effort. They missed their goal!
Now it is interesting that Paul makes reference here that they were seeking it by works. That continues to the present day, a Jew today is seeking to be accepted today on the basis of his good works. Yom Kippur is not a day of sacrifice, the priest entering in with the offering before the Lord in the Holy of Holies, but Yom Kippur is a day of reflection as you sat and you reflect upon your good works and upon your evil works and balancing the good works against the evil, so it is a seeking acceptance by God on the basis of works.

(8) As the Scriptures say, "God has put them into a deep sleep. To this very day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear."

Isaiah 29:10: For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has closed the eyes of your prophets and visionaries.
How can Israel fail to see what is so obvious? Simple; God has judicially blinded them, just as Isaiah described of his own day. The same was true in Paul’s time, and, for that matter, in ours as well. The Israelites had always been a stiff-necked and rebellious people.
Acts 7:51: "You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? But your ancestors did, and so do you!

(9) David spoke of this same thing when he said, "Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble.

Psalm 69:22-23: Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare, and let their security become a trap. Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their bodies grow weaker and weaker.
“The idea is that men are sitting feasting comfortably at their banquet; and their very sense of safety has become their ruin. They are so secure in the fancied safety that the enemy can come upon them unaware.” (Barclay) The Jews were so secure in their idea of being the chosen people that the very idea had become the thing that ruined them.

(10) Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs grow weaker and weaker."

(11) Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! His purpose was to make his salvation available to the Gentiles, and then the Jews would be jealous and want it for themselves.

“It is a matter for profound regret that just as Israel refused to accept this salvation when it was offered to them, so the Gentiles have all too often refused to make Israel envious. Instead of showing to God’s ancient people the attractiveness of the Christian way, Christians have characteristically treated the Jews with hatred, prejudice, persecution, malice, and all uncharitableness. Christians should not take this passage calmly.” (Morris)

(12) Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the Jews turned down God's offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when the Jews finally accept it.

(13) I am saying all of this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES. I lay great stress on this,

Acts 9:15: But the Lord said, "Go and do what I say. For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.
Acts 22:21: "But the Lord said to me, 'Leave Jerusalem, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!'"
Acts 26:17: And I will protect you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am going to send you to the Gentiles,
Romans 1:5: Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.
Romans 15:16: a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News and offer you up as a fragrant sacrifice to God so that you might be pure and pleasing to him by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 1:16: Then he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else;
Galatians 2:7: They saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the Good News to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews.
Galatians 2:9: In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews.
1 Timothy 2:7: And I have been chosen -- this is the absolute truth -- as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles about faith and truth.
2 Timothy 4:17: But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength, that I might preach the Good News in all its fullness for all the Gentiles to hear. And he saved me from certain death.

(14) for I want to find a way to make the Jews want what you Gentiles have, and in that way I might save some of them.

In many instances the gospel only went out to the Gentiles after the Jewish people rejected it (Acts 13:46; 18:5-6; 28:25-28). In this sense, the rejection of the gospel by the Jews was riches for the Gentiles.

(15) For since the Jews' rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, how much more wonderful their acceptance will be. It will be life for those who were dead!

(16) And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their children will also be holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

The stock of the tree is Israel; not faithless unbelieving Jews, but the patriarchs to whom God had made His promises, men who had trusted in God. These holy men assured the future of Israel as a holy nation (verse 16). So the tree is not itself unfruitful. The unfruitful branches, which represent unbelieving Jews, have been pruned away. Those branches which are grafted into the stock represent the Gentiles. But rather than being highly desirable and highly productive branches they are the branches of a wild olive tree (verse 24).
In this tree illustration, the “root” of the tree is Jesus Christ. Notice the root is singular in the original.
God is saying in effect, “All people who believe in Jesus are holy. Since Jesus is holy, so are those who believe in Him.”

(17) But some of these branches from Abraham's tree, some of the Jews, have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, were grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in God's rich nourishment of his special *olive tree.

Jeremiah 11:16: "I, the LORD, once called them a thriving olive tree, beautiful to see and full of good fruit. But now I have sent the fury of their enemies to burn them with fire, leaving them charred and broken.
John 15:5-6: "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
In Antioch: Acts 13:46-52: Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, "It was necessary that this Good News from God be given first to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life -- well, we will offer it to Gentiles. For this is as the Lord commanded us when he said, 'I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.' " 4When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were appointed to eternal life became believers. So the Lord's message spread throughout that region. Then the Jewish leaders stirred up both the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them and went to the city of Iconium. And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
In Corinth: Acts 18:6: But when the Jews opposed him and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his robe and said, "Your blood be upon your own heads -- I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
In Rome: Acts 28:20-29 (KJV): For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest : for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
*olive tree is a symbol of national Israel. A more appropriate symbol for the flag of modern day Israel would be this instead of a five-pointed star, called the Star or Shield of David.
Matthew 21:33-46: "Now listen to this story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. At the time of the grape harvest he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same. "Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.' "But when the farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' So they grabbed him, took him out of the vineyard, and murdered him. "When the owner of the vineyard returns," Jesus asked, "what do you think he will do to those farmers?" The religious leaders replied, "He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest." Then Jesus asked them, "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? 'The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous to see.' What I mean is that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls. " When the leading priests and Pharisees heard Jesus, they realized he was pointing at them -- that they were the farmers in his story. They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid to try because the crowds considered Jesus to be a prophet.
All Israel (not every individual, but the nation someday when it turns to Christ) is going to be saved, he says in verse 26. But for now, there are broken-off branches. That is, individual Jewish people are not believing in Christ and not connected to the covenant in a saving way. As Romans 9:6 said, “...not everyone born into a Jewish family is truly a Jew!” Or as Romans 9:8 says, “Abraham's physical descendants are not necessarily children of God.”
They are Jewish ethnically, but not truly Jewish spiritually:
- Romans 2:28 -29: “For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the Jewish ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. Whoever has that kind of change seeks praise from God, not from people.”
- Romans 9:6: Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to the Jews? No, for not everyone born into a Jewish family is truly a Jew!
- Romans 9:8: This means that Abraham's physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. It is the children of the promise who are considered to be Abraham's children.
Paul did not say that the Gentiles became part of Israel, only that they partake with Israel of the blessings of the root. The olive tree is not the church.

(18) But you must be careful not to brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. Remember, you are just a branch, not the root.

Paul explains why the Jews were rejected. It was because of their unbelief, not because the Gentiles were loved more! The Gentiles were only included because of God's love and their faith! They also could cause the Jews to return to God because of jealousy.
The problem, traditionally, with religious Jews at the time of Jesus was a holier-than-thou view toward non-Jewish people. Because they were the Chosen People, they believed they were automatically saved because they were Jewish. We as “Gentiles” can develop the same sort of smugness.

(19) "Well," you may say, "those branches were broken off to make room for me."

(20) Yes, but remember -- those branches, the Jews, were broken off because they didn't believe God, and you are there because you do believe. Don't think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.

(21) For if God did not spare the branches he put there in the first place, he won't spare you either.

We are what we are by the grace of God and we are brothers with all who also trust Christ!

(22) Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe to those who disobeyed, but kind to you as you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.

This is not talking about individuals; it is about the Jews versus the Gentiles.
God's election does not negate mankind's responsibility. The election of national Israel did not guarantee each individual's salvation.
Exodus 34:6-7: He passed in front of Moses and said, "I am the LORD, I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness. I show this unfailing love to many thousands by forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. Even so I do not leave sin unpunished, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations."

(23) And if the Jews turn from their unbelief, God will graft them back into the tree again. He has the power to do it.

(24) For if God was willing to take you who were, by nature, branches from a wild olive tree and graft you into his own good tree -- a very unusual thing to do -- he will be far more eager to graft the Jews back into the tree where they belong.

This refers to the coming full restoration of Israel.
During the Acts period, the position of the Gentile believers was that they were "grafted in" to the Olive tree (Israel). But now, there is no difference and the "middle wall of partition" (Ephesians 2:14 KJV) has been broken down.

(25) I want you to understand this *mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud and start bragging. Some of the Jews have hard hearts, but this will last only **until the complete number of Gentiles comes to Christ.

*mystery (secret): But you see that is not the whole story…in 11:25 he says, ‘I am going to let you into the secret. I have received a revelation. I am speaking as a prophet. I am not arguing any longer.’ He had been arguing in terms of the Old Testament. He says this is no argument, I give you a revelation. The mystery which he is revealing is, as we have seen, that Israel as a whole is going to be brought in.
**until speaks of a time limit to this Gentile period:
- Luke 21:24: They will be brutally killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be conquered and trampled down by the Gentiles until the age of the Gentiles comes to an end.
- God has a precise number of Gentiles that He is going to save. We don’t know when the last Gentile will be saved. But what is exciting is: The final Gentile conversion could occur at any moment. The moment this person believes in Christ, the rapture could occur and Jesus could take the Church to be with Him always.

(26) And so ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED. Do you remember what the prophets said about this? "A Deliverer will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel from all ungodliness.

Zechariah 12:10: "Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.
When Paul writes in verse 26 that “all Israel will be saved,” he does not mean that every individual Israelite will be saved, but that the nation in general will turn to God in faith and obedience. Israel’s national future is not conditioned by their faithfulness to God but is based upon God’s faithfulness to His covenants made with their forefathers.
God has sent His Spirit into the world, into the highways and byways, to compel men to come to the supper. As Jesus gave the parable, you know, the king prepared a great supper and they said, "Go out to the invited guests and invite them to come in and to eat." And the servants came back and they said, "Well, they said that they couldn't come," and the various excuses. So the king said, "Then go out to the highways and the byways and compel men to come in that my house may be full." The invited guest rejected the invitation, and so it has come to us, the Gentiles, and blindness has happened in part to Israel, not to all of Israel, again there is that remnant, but in part to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
This simple passage refutes those who insist that God is forever done with Israel as Israel, and that the Church is the New Israel and inherits every promise ever made to national and ethnic Israel of the Old Testament.
This is a time when Israel as a whole will be a saved people, and when the nation as a whole (especially its leadership) embraces Jesus Christ as Messiah.

(27) And then I will keep my covenant with them and take away their sins."

Isaiah 59:20-21: "The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem, " says the LORD, "to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins. And this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children's children forever. I, the LORD, have spoken!
Jeremiah 31:31: "The day will come," says the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.
Hebrews 9:15: That is why he is the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, so that all who are invited can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

(28) Many of the Jews are now enemies of the Good News. But this has been to your benefit, for God has given his gifts to you Gentiles. Yet THE JEWS ARE STILL HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE because of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

(29) For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

Jeremiah 31:3,36-37: Long ago the LORD said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an EVERASTING love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself ..."I am as likely to reject my people Israel as I am to do away with the laws of nature! Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundation of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away forever for their sins. I, the LORD, have spoken!
Charles Hodge: Having chosen the Jews as his people, the purpose which he had in view in that choice can never be altered; and as it was his purpose that they should ever remain his people, their future restoration to his favor and kingdom will be fully accomplished.
Here is the key to Israel’s future as a nation; it is God’s faithfulness to His Word, “for God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn” (Romans 11:29).

(30) Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the Jews refused his mercy, God was merciful to you instead.

(31) *And now, in the same way, the Jews are the rebels, and God's mercy has come to you. But someday they, too, will share in God's mercy.

*And now: This strongly implies the spiritual conversion of national Israel by faith in Jesus. As the Gentiles' "unbelief" has been overcome by the mercy of God, so will Jewish "unbelief."
Zechariah 12:10: "Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.
Revelation 7:4-8; 14:1: And I heard how many were marked with the seal of God. There were 144,000 who were sealed from all the tribes of Israel: from Judah - 12,000 from Reuben - 12,000 from Gad - 12,000, from Asher - 12,000 from Naphtali - 12,000 from Manasseh - 12000, from Simeon - 12,000 from Levi - 12,000 from Issachar - 12,000 from Zebulun - 12,000 from Joseph - 12,000 from Benjamin - 12,000 ... Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
- What was written on the high priest's crown on his forehead? Exodus 28:36: "Next make a medallion of pure gold. Using the techniques of an engraver, inscribe it with these words: SET APART AS HOLY TO THE LORD.
These verses explain why so many people are “hell-bent” on Israel’s destruction. The only logical explain of anti-Semitism is demonic. Satan knows his bible. He knows that Jesus Second Coming brings his destruction. The longer Satan can delay that time frame, the better. Part of Satan’s delay strategy is to delay or deny the Jewish people from being a nation again in the Promised Land. Stop and think of all the efforts over the centuries to destroy the Jewish people. It is demonic in its origins and it is part of Satan’s plan to either delay or deny Jesus Second Coming and for God to fulfill His unconditional promises.

(32) For God has imprisoned all people in their own disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

(33) Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are his riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his methods!

Why is the emphasis here on God who is impossible to understand? Part of it is to assure us that God is bigger than our problems. We may give up on a person, but God doesn’t. We may give up on ourselves, but God doesn’t. We may think our problems are beyond help, but God doesn’t.

(34) For who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who knows enough to be his counselor?

Isaiah 40:13-14: Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to be his teacher or counselor? Has the LORD ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good or what is best?
1 Corinthians 2:16: How could they? For, "Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel?" But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

(35) And who could ever give him so much that he would have to pay it back?

Job's observation that God has never needed to depend on human assistance that puts Him in man's debt (Job 35:7; 41:11) is also true. The fact that God makes people His partners in executing His will in the world does not mean that He cannot get along without us. He can.

(36) For everything comes from him; everything exists by his power and is intended for his glory. To him be glory evermore. Amen.

Colossians 1:16-17: Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see -- kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him. He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.
Is your God too small to meet your needs?

Romans 12:1-2 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice -- the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is

NOTES:

Unless otherwise noted, the scripture version used is the New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois.
Disclaimer: Source material for this study has been gleaned from many different sources. I have attempted to acknowledge these sources at romansoverview.blogspot.com/2012/12/romans-references.html
Index to all our studies are at http://oakview-bible-fellowship.blogspot.com/

Book of Romans

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Romans 11

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