An Overview of God’s Plan for Israel

Transcript

GRM 939
7/3/2005
An Overview of God’s Plan for Israel
Romans 9-11
Gil Rugh


We’re going to be in the book of Romans and we’re going to do an overview of chapters 9-11, just to highlight some of what Paul reminds us of regarding God’s plans for Israel. Starting in Genesis chapter 12, remember, with the Abrahamic Covenant, we have God’s program with Israel beginning. Begins with just a couple, Abraham and Sarah, and all this couple has is a covenant from God, promises from God that He will give them descendants that will some day be like the sand of the sea in number. And you’re aware of the development of that story and how God eventually provided a son, Isaac, and then Isaac’s son, Jacob, then Jacob had 12 sons who become the 12 patriarchs, the head of the 12 tribes of Israel. And God’s plan for His work on this earth focuses on the nation Israel. And throughout the Old Testament and through the period we call the gospels, during the earthly life of Christ, the focus of God’s work in the world and in salvation centers in the nation Israel, and the truth He has revealed to them and through them.

We live in the church age where since Acts chapter 2, the church, comprised of all nationalities—Jews and non-Jews, but primarily non-Jews—are the focal point of what God is doing. But that ought not to confuse us in the overall plan of God. Nothing has changed in that sense. The Abrahamic Covenant, remember, made provision for salvation blessing for the Gentiles and we Gentiles are experiencing that today. With the death of the Jewish Messiah and the beginning of the church God focuses His salvation work among non-Jews. Now Jews are being saved, we’ll say something about that in a moment, but the church is primarily comprised of non-Jews. But that has not changed God’s plan. I am amazed at how many Christians are confused on this, and those called reform or covenant theologians teach that the church has replaced Israel. You hear the term replacement theology, which is simply saying the church has replaced Israel. So there is no future for Israel as a physical nation. But God’s plans for Israel are unchanged, that He intends to bring them to Himself as a nation and then bring them great glory with the coming of their Messiah to the earth to establish a kingdom, of which Jerusalem will be the capital. And the Jews will be the key nation on the earth. So in that sense nothing has changed, everything that God has promised Israel throughout Old Testament history, all that the prophets wrote about and spoke about, that’s unchanged.

So what is happening in the book of Romans, Paul is unfolding the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. He said in Romans 1:16 he was coming to Rome to preach the gospel, of which he was not ashamed, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. To the Jew first and also to the Greek, the non-Jew. Then with chapter 1 verse 18 he began to unfold the details of the gospel. You start with sin. So from chapter 1 verse 18 through chapter 3 Paul talks about the matter of sin and shows that all, Jew and Gentile alike, are under sin, under the condemnation of sin.

Then with chapter 3 verse 21, didn’t quite go through all of chapter 3, he began to talk about God’s righteousness. So from chapter 3 verse 21 through chapter 5 verse 21 he talks about the righteousness of God provided for Jew and Gentile alike. He used father Abraham as the example of God’s work of salvation in chapter 4. That preceded the Mosaic Law, that preceded circumcision, Abraham being declared righteous by God in Genesis 15:6 before he was circumcised in Genesis 17

Then he talked about the word of God in sanctification, how we who have been declared righteous by God through faith in Christ in His finished work now are to live as those who are pleasing to Him. When you come to chapter 9 there is something that has to be addressed in all of this. What about Israel? We’ve talked about the gospel, we’ve talked about the sin of Jews and non-Jews, we’ve talked about the righteousness of Christ provided in His death for all who believe, we’ve talked about the work of sanctification where we have been set free and made new in Christ to now live for Him. What about Israel in the plan of God? Are we just to view them as cast aside, God is done with them, they had their chance, they had their day of opportunity, the committed the unforgivable sin—they rejected their Messiah and had Him crucified. And for that God is done with Israel. That’s the way some people look at it.

However, Paul wants to set the record straight. You have to understand that God’s work in the gospel is consistent with His plan for the people He called to Himself, the earthly people, Israel. And this has been part of the plan from the beginning and we Gentiles ought to have a humble appreciation of the greatness of God’s grace that has used the rejection of the Messiah by Israel to bring to us the opportunity for our salvation today. Sadly, many Gentiles today use God’s grace as displayed to them as an occasion to consider Israel out of the picture. So that’s what’s happening in chapters 9-11. Paul is going to explain Israel’s condition as rejected by God for the time, culminating in God’s plan to bring them back to Himself. And when He does that, understand that the day of Gentile salvation will close and the focus will be on the Jews. That does not mean that Gentiles will not be saved, but the focal point will once again be the nation Israel and God's dealing in and through them.

Chapter 9. We’re just going to walk through some of the highlights of these chapters. I’m telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. Now here is the Apostle Paul who has just closed chapter 8 with a great declaration of triumph. Verse 35 of chapter 8, who will separate us from the love of Christ. Verse 37, in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. And I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers, heighth, depth, any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. And I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. Seems like a paradox here—the overwhelming joy and confidence that nothing will separate me from the love of Christ, but the deep grief and pain to know that Israel is lost. I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are the Israelites. Now he’s already said, I know that nothing, verse 39, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. But oh my love for Israel. If it were possible I would be willing to be separated from Christ and cursed to hell if it would mean Israel could be saved. Just shows the depth of his love and passion for Israel, shows the heart of God in Paul. Because the Israelites, verse 4, are those to whom belong the adoption of sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple services and promises. Whose are the fathers, from whom is the Christ according to the flesh who is over all. God blessed forever. I mean think about it. It all centers in Israel. The promises given to the fathers, Christ the Messiah is a descendant of Abraham through Isaac, through Jacob. Oh the wonderful things that God promised them, the covenants He entered into with them. What has happened?

Verse 6, but it is not as though the Word of God has failed. Crucial point, perhaps the key point. You want to mark a key verse in this chapter, chapter 9 verse 6, it is not as though the Word of God has failed. Understand exactly what God has promised to Israel will happen to Israel. Nothing can cancel those promises. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel. Now again there is no reason for confusion here. I just scratch my head when I read commentators who say that this refers to the church and somehow they are not all Israel who are from Israel. But we’re still talking about those who are descended from Israel, the other name for Jacob, remember, the last in the Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, before you divide into the 12 tribes. His name was changed to Israel. But not everyone who is a physical descendant of Jacob is included in the promises given to the descendants, not every physical Jew is one who will be the recipient of the promises given to the physical Jews. But you understand that doesn’t mean, therefore the promises we’re talking about no longer are focused on physical Jews. It’s narrowing down, we’re talking about all the Jews, then we’re talking about within the realm of the Jews, a select group.

Verse 7, nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendents. It’s not enough to be a physical descendent of Abraham, is the point. Example—through Isaac your descendents will be named. Remember Abraham had other children. He had Ishmael with Hagar and then he had a number of other children through his second wife after Sarah died, Keturah, in Genesis 25.

Verse 8, the point I want to make, Paul says, is that it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendents. Now that doesn’t mean that He is done with physical Israel. It is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of promise. That doesn’t meant He is nullifying the promises to physical Israel, because the Son of promise is a physical descendent of Abraham. That’s the whole point. The children of the promise are regarded as descendents, verse 9, for this is the word of promise. At this time I will come and Sarah will have a son. Not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins. So you see he’s talking about narrowing down the physical line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob to clarify any confusion here. What’s happened? God must be done with Israel. No, you understand the promises never did encompass all of the physical descendents of Abraham, Isaac or Jacob. And Abraham and Jacob become the particular examples here. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t the physical descendents. Could the promises come by a non-physical descendent of Abraham? Could the promises have come through anyone but Isaac? No, it had to be a physical descendent. But being a physical descendent in and of itself was not enough. It had to be a physical descendent in the line of that promise, it had to be Isaac. And then you jump to Jacob—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob—and you have 2 sons there and that becomes even clearer because you could find reasons to exclude Ishmael because he was not with Sarah. Or you could find reason to exclude the other sons of Abraham because they were with Keturah. But you don’t have any reason to exclude physical descendents Abraham, Isaac, Jacob because the distinguishing line between the physical descendents of Jacob was going to be between twins. Same father, same mother, in fact they’re twins. And in fact the line of promise will come through the younger, not the older.

What he is showing, even in the physical descendents God is sovereign in the choice of what physical descendent. So from among the physical descendents there will be an elect group, a chosen group. Remember we don’t want to get confused, Israel as a nation has been chosen as a nation by God. That does not mean every physical Jew will be saved. But the nation as a nation has been selected, and within the physical nation there have been people chosen to salvation. And that’s what he is drawing the line here. They will inherit all the promises.

Verse 11, for though the twins were not yet born. And the point made in verse 10 was there was Rebekah, she had conceived by one man, Isaac. So we’re going to be dealing with one mother and one father is the point. Conceived by one man, our father Isaac. And though the twins were not yet born, had not done anything good or bad so that God’s purpose according to His choice, God’s purpose according to election is choosing, would stand. Not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said the older would serve the younger. What he is demonstrating is God’s sovereignty in His work and program of salvation. And he’s applying the truth of the gospel to Israel and the promises given to them, those promises only were focused on the elect that God had chosen in the physical descendants. Keep in mind we’re dealing with mercy and grace here, we’re dealing with sinful people who have no claim on God. We’re talking about Jews here, but that would be true of anyone. People start to get nervous or confused, when we talk about election or sovereignty. We’re talking about God dealing with sinful human beings, we’re not talking about well that’s not fair, they don’t have a chance. God’s not obligated to give chances, although He does give humanity a choice, but they always exercise that choice to rebel against Him. So we’re dealing with fallen beings here.

The older will serve the younger, Jacob I have loved, Esau I have hated. What do we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be, such a thought is inconceivable. For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will mercy, I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So that it does not depend on the man who wills, the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

Verse 18, so then He has mercy on whom He desires, He hardens whom He desires. The question of verse 14, is there injustice with God in choosing one over the other, is not directly answered in one way, but in another sense it is. The point is, God does not have to show mercy. That’s the answer. Is there injustice with God? What do you mean, is there injustice with God? God doesn’t have to show mercy. Remember we always use the angels as an example. When the angels rebelled God chose not to show mercy in bringing them salvation. Some might say there is a sense there is mercy, they have not yet been consigned to hell finally, but there is no mercy in providing salvation and so on to them. So the point is, God says I have mercy on whom I will have mercy. And mercy by definition would be something undeserved. He cannot be required to give mercy because it wouldn’t be mercy. Similar to grace in that sense. So you understand God is sovereign, He’s giving His mercy to whom He chooses.

You will say then to me, why does He still find fault? Who resists His will? I mean I don’t understand this, it’s getting more confusing, not less. The more you write, Paul, the more confused I get. Because then why are people held responsible because it is just God’s will being done? Can’t wait for the answer to that, and you know the answer. Just who do you think you are to ask God that kind of question? I mean you can’t call God to question. He’s the potter, you are the clay, and the clay doesn’t speak up to the potter. And we’ve all seen in videos or television programs somebody sitting there and often they are using the old potter’s wheel, …… they’re pumping it with their foot and it’s going around and they’re molding and shaping. And the clay doesn’t say, boo. And one thing the potter makes a spittoon and the clay doesn’t say anything. The other he makes a nice vase to be put in an honored position, it doesn’t say anything. The clay gets no credit because the potter made the decision. So who are you, oh man, who answers back to God. The thing molded will not say to the molder, why did you make me like this, will it? Does not the potter have the right over the clay to make from one lump a vessel for one use, another………. The point to remember is the clay is sinful humanity we’re talking about here, not innocent people. Otherwise we wouldn’t have to talk about mercy, we wouldn’t have to talk about grace. We’re talking about God’s dealing with sinful people and God is free to deal with sinful people as He chooses, as long as it’s consistent with His character and His justice. And particularly with Israel, they’re in view here.

So within Israel God has chosen from among the nation that He chose for Himself, that rebelled against Him, that was a sinful nation and He said even their selection as a nation had nothing to do with their worthiness or desirability. It was the sovereign choice of God. Now within the nation He’s chosen some for His salvation, and apart from His choice none of them would have wanted it. That’s demonstrated in the actions of the nation over into……. Again that’s demonstrated. We see that as Gentiles because we look at the Jews and easily develop the idea well they don’t deserve God’s blessing anymore because of what they did. And you’re right, they don’t deserve it, they never did. And neither do we deserve His blessing.

So he goes on to explain a quote from Old Testament scriptures and so on, the work that He is doing. And if it were not for God’s mercy the nation would have been annihilated. You come down to verse 29, Isaiah wrote, unless the Lord of Sabaoth has left to us posterity we would have become like Sodom and would have resembled Gomorrah. I mean let’s put this in perspective. That anyone would be saved in Israel is the miracle, the amazing thing. For if it had not been for God’s mercy the nation would have ceased to exist like Sodom ceased to exist and Gomorrah ceased to exist. So the amazing thing is not that some of Israel stands condemned and will not inherit the promises, the amazing thing is that anyone in Israel would be left to inherit them. That’s God’s grace, God’s compassion, God’s mercy.

What shall we say then, verse 30, that Gentile who did not pursue righteousness attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith. But Israel pursuing a law of righteousness did not arrive at the law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. Just as it is written by Isaiah the prophet again, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense. He who believes in Him will not be disappointed. Israel stumbled over Christ, they became confident in their physical condition and their good works. And we keep the law, we are the chosen nation and we keep the law. And they believed by their works in keeping the law they would be saved. Gentiles who never did try to keep the Mosaic law are being saved, attaining righteousness, as he puts it in verse 30, because by faith in Christ they are being declared righteous, having the righteousness of Christ credited to their account. This doesn’t make sense. Jews striving to keep the law, being meticulous and breaking the law down into all its fine points so that they can even go beyond keeping the law. And they are lost. Isn’t it amazing? It would be like saying today, people going to church morning and evening and several times through the week and they’re going to hell. People who never darkened the door of a church, getting saved and receiving Christ’s righteousness, going to heaven. We say that‘s right, that’s true. That’s true in Israel. They couldn’t understand, we’re the chosen nation and we have the Mosaic law.

Well chapter 10, and note how he opens up on the same note. Brethren, my heart’s desire, my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. You understand now he’s talked about the sovereignty of God, he’s talked about that God selects out of the physical descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob a select remnant to experience His salvation. And then he starts chapter 10 by saying my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is for their salvation. Well Paul I thought it was just a matter of sovereignty and it doesn’t matter. Paul never loses perspective on what his role is and what God’s role is. And he realizes the salvation of any in Israel will be a result of God’s sovereign work, and my role is to beseech the throne of God for their salvation. I love them, I would love their salvation. It’s like Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem. No hardness in that sense, there is a passion for them. Paul has that passion, my heart’s desire, my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. I testify about them, they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge.

Not knowing about God’s righteousness, seeking to establish their own they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. Here’s the problem. They have a zeal for God, but it’s in ignorance and they’re ignorant of God’s righteousness which is found only in Christ. So they’re going about trying to establish their own righteousness by keeping the law.

Back up to chapter 3 of Romans. Verses 19-20 conclude the section on demonstrating man’s sin, all men, Jew and Gentile. Romans 3:19, now we know that whenever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be closed, all the world may become accountable to God. Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in His sight, justified, declared righteous. By the works of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight. And here goes Israel in their blind ignorance, thinking they’re going to become righteous by keeping the law. An impossibility.

So he goes on to talk about salvation by God’s grace through faith in the finished work of Christ. And that’s contained in the message we’re preaching, the end of verse 8, the word of faith which we are preaching. That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes, with the mouth he confesses. And the scripture says, whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed. Anyone who truly believes in Christ will truly be saved, there are no disappointments, no failures here.

So verse 14, how will they call on Him whom they have not believed, how will they believe in Him whom they have not heard, how will they hear without a preacher, how will they preach unless they are sent. Verse 17, so faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ. I mean here’s the problem with Israel. They have rejected the only truth that can save them, they’ve rejected the only truth that can save them. And yet they’re working hard. We can understand that with Israel. We had some dear neighbors many, many years ago, Roman Catholics. Elderly lady got up every morning and went down to the Catholic church to pray. She was trying to cover for her and her husband. Futility, it was a zeal for God in one sense, but it was in ignorance. I believe by God’s grace she finally got saved by hearing the message of Christ. You can go down there every day of your life until you’re and elderly person, go into that church, and you’re lost. That was Israel’s condition. It just amazed them, they’re dumbfounded, they couldn’t believe that could be. And they had more “going for them,” they were the chosen nation, we are the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And you’re lost. And we have the law that was given so dramatically to Moses for us as God’s people, and we are working our heads off to keep it. And you’re lost, because salvation has always been by grace through faith. No one was ever saved by keeping the law. Again he’s already demonstrated that when he talked about the righteousness of Christ in chapter 3 verse 21 through chapter 5 verse 21. Abraham being the example, declared righteous by God before there was a law and before he was circumcised, because salvation has always been by grace through faith. And they were to manifest their faith by their obedience to God. That involved their, then, obedience to the law given to them. It never was a way of salvation, Paul has already demonstrated there couldn’t be a law given to save because the penalty for sin is death.

We start out in a bottomless pit, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That’s why in chapter 3 he quotes all from the Old Testament, it says therefore, the law demonstrates you’re condemned. Now you start out condemned to death, how are you going to work your way out of that hole? You can’t, and so you not only have your everyday failures to keep the law, you have the backlog. So by the works of the law no flesh will be justified. But Israel is trying their best and working their hardest. Sadly it’s in all in ignorance. Good intentions never save anyone, it’s a work of God. Even we sometimes, by those that we’re close to and love, we like to think that well maybe this is an exception. There are no exceptions.

So you come to chapter 11. What does all this mean? Where does this leave Israel? All right, we saw the sovereign work of God in selecting out a group from within Israel. We see Israel’s stubborn unbelief in chapter 10. But that will still bring us to the place, sad as it is, Paul, as much as it grieves your heart, as intensely as you desire their salvation, the fact is they’re lost. God is done with them. Chapter 9 established God’s sovereignty in salvation, then we saw His provision by faith in chapter 10, consistent with what God said in the Old Testament. Chapter 11 begins, I say, then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be. How in the world can anybody who ever reads Romans 11:1 say that Israel has been rejected? And if you don’t understand who his people are from the preceding context, maybe you just started with chapter 11 verse 1. Well then read the rest of the verse, for I, too, am an Israelite. The people he is talking about who are not rejected are the Jews. May it never be. Maganoito King James translates it God forbid. I mean the idea is such a thought cannot even come into your mind, I mean that’s not even a remote, remote possibility that God has rejected Israel. I just am dumbfounded at the large number of people who claim to believe the Bible and talk about the salvation that the Bible talks about clearly, then come to Israel and somehow their mind goes goofy. It’s not a good theological word, but it’s true, they go goofy.

God has not rejected His people, has He. No matter how confused I might be, no matter how much I don’t understand, I know for sure God has not rejected Israel. Paul first uses himself as an example. I, too, am an Israelite, a descendent of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. He’s chosen the nation and He’s chosen specifically people within the nation. I’m an example, I’m a saved Jew. And you know what the scripture says regarding Elijah, the days of Elijah. Elijah thought he was the only left, the nation was about to go out of existence spiritually. There were a lot of Jews but he couldn’t see any other saved Jews around. That’s pretty difficult. It says at the end of verse 3 in the quote, I alone am left and there’s not much future for me because they’re seeking my life. And when they get me and kill me you know what? There won’t be a believing Jew left on the fact of the earth.

What is the divine response to him? I have 7000 men who have not bowed the knee. I divided that out this afternoon with a calculator. Seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee. I don’t know how many there were, we estimate 2, 3, 4 million people at the exodus. Let’s say there were 3 million now in Elijah’s time. That would come out to .002, if you’re going to do percentages. That is 1 in like ever 430 people if there were 3 million people and 7000 believers. They were scarce. So even though God says there are 7000, when you put that in among the millions that there would have been in Israel, that wasn’t very many believers. But there was a remnant, and it was in that remnant that the line of God’s promises continued.
Verse 5, in the same way, then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to the election of grace, literally. It says God’s gracious choice, literally, it’s the election of grace. Among the Jews, and that would continue right down until today, there are some believing Jews. They are the remnant God has provided by His grace in choosing them, an election of grace. If it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. What then? What Israel is seeking it has not obtained but those who were chosen obtained it and the rest were hardened. There are only two options—you were drawn by God’s grace or you were hardened by God’s grace. Those who are chosen are drawn by God’s grace, those who are not chosen are hardened by God’s grace. That’s God’s doing. I know that’s the way it works, doesn’t change my responsibility as Paul said starting in chapter 9 and starting in chapter 10. His passion for their salvation, but he realizes it’s in God’s hands, but it doesn’t change his passion, doesn’t change his prayers, doesn’t change his work. He becomes an instrument knowing that he’s carrying the message of Christ so that those who are chosen can hear and believe.

Now those that are chosen, like Paul, are members of the church in the church age, but they are still in the line of the promises to Abraham so as member of the church they are also a remnant in Israel of God’s electing grace. So saved Jews in the church age serve a dual purpose—they’re part of the church, but they also are a remnant in whom the promises of God to Israel continue and are an ongoing reminder that some day He will bring to fulfillment all of His promises.

So, talk about the stubbornness of Israel, God’s judgment on them as a nation, quotes Old Testament passages, particularly from the Psalms in verses 8-10 here. And then you come to verse 11, I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? You see these questions in 9-11, you have Paul’s discussion built around a series of pertinent questions. They did not stumble so as to fall…….a fall, a ruinous fall that brings them to an end. May it never be. There is no doubt Israel has stumbled. In one sense we say we live in the day of Israel’s stumble, but they haven’t stumbled to their complete ruin and end. May it never be. That’s the same basic question, God has not rejected His people, has He? Because if He rejected His people totally they would have stumbled so as to fall because He was done with them. The answer to both questions is may it never be, that’s not one of the options.

There is no reason to be confused in this area of our theology because whatever options you have you can eliminate these. God’s not done with Israel, they haven’t stumbled so as to fall. But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles to make the Jews jealous. So understand this is part of God’s plan that in the transgression of the Jews God would open the door for the salvation of Gentiles in mass, in large numbers. So even this transgression is part of the marvelous plan of God to bring His salvation to Gentiles. Now if their transgression is riches for the world, their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more for their fulfillment. If God can do such wonders with the transgression of Israel, think of what it will mean when Israel turns in faith to God.

Now think about it, you and I, most of us sitting here are Gentiles. We can thank God for His gracious plan to use the transgression of Israel as the occasion, if you will, to close the door on them. Not all the way, but down to just a remnant, so that He could open it wide for Gentiles. And now Gentiles can pour in along with a few Jews. I am speaking to you who are Gentiles inasmuch as I am an apostle to Gentiles I magnify my ministry. Paul has this passion for the Jews, but his real focus in ministry was Gentiles. He was the apostle to the Gentiles. You appreciate that, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a passionate love and desire for the salvation of the Jews. It just meant that God had directed him to pour his ministry out toward the Gentiles primarily.

And my desire is, I’d like to move the Jews to jealousy. In what sense? That somehow in their thinking they would realize Gentiles are being saved and coming to know God and know the Messiah who suffered and died and we Jews are outsiders. I’m jealous of those Gentiles, I want what they’re getting, it’s ours. So a unique twist. Paul said so I preach it harder to the Gentiles because I’m hoping that every Gentile that gets saved pricks the conscience of the Jews and makes them jealous and say, that’s our salvation. I mean these are promises given to our forefathers. We don’t mind that the Gentiles tag along and enjoy some of those blessings, but I don’t want them taking all the fullness and these blessings and here we are not enjoying them. So that jealousy would draw them.

If their rejection, verse 15, is reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead. He goes on to talk about the branches broken off, you being a wild olive were grafted in, became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree. Rich root of the olive tree, the blessings promised in Abraham. Now remember the Gentiles don’t have to replace Abraham because included in the Abrahamic Covenant is in you all nations will be blessed. It’s not like the Gentiles have to replace Jews in order for this salvation to be provided, but the Jews were the primary people and the primary focus of the blessings promised to Abraham. And they’re not enjoying them. And we have been grafted in, Gentiles, we’re not the normal recipients. It’s almost like an add-on, in you all nations of the earth will be blessed. But, you know, the fullness of the promises focus on the Jews, but we now are grafted in and partake with them of the rich root of the olive tree. So you understand, we are not the normal branches. Israel is the normal branches.

Do not be arrogant toward the branches, but if you are arrogant remember you are not the one who supports the root. The root supports you. In other words, don’t get too arrogant. You understand, we’re getting these blessings from a Jewish line, given to the first Jew, the promises, Abraham. And then carried on through Isaac, through Jacob and then brought to us in fullness by the death of a Jewish Messiah. I mean he’s writing to us Gentiles. Verse 13, I am speaking to you who are Gentiles, I’m an apostle to the Gentiles. He’s concerned about, perhaps, the arrogance on the part of the Gentiles who are now looking down on Jews and the Gentiles exalt themselves as though now they’re better than Jews. I mean you don’t understand. You realize you Gentiles who are saved, you’re experiencing Jewish blessings, promises given to the father of the Jewish nation, brought about by the death of the Jewish Messiah. You are the foreigners, you’re the wild branch grafted in. Don’t be arrogant.

You will say as well, those branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. Quite right. I mean weren’t the Gentiles brought in and thus we displaced the Jews in the center of God’s plan at this point. Quite right. They were broken off for their unbelief. You stand by our faith, don’t be conceited by fear. I mean you don’t stand there because you are better, you stand there by God’s grace. It’s by His grace through faith that you have the position of blessing and salvation today, not because of personal superiority, not because you are in any way more deserving than they are. You have it by faith. Now remember they lost their position for unbelief. For if God did not spare the natural branches He will not spare you either, verse 21.

Behold the kindness then and the severity of God, to those who fell, severity, but to you kindness, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you will be cut off. A warning to Gentiles as Gentiles. Soon you know what happens, you develop the arrogance. The church has displayed this openly, the church generally speaking now, Christendom, often being guilty of persecuting Jews. Some of the reformers were clearly anti-Semitic. They believed that God was done with the Jews and they were cursed and deserved to be persecuted. They hadn’t read Romans 11 very clearly.

And if they don’t continue in unbelief, verse 23, they’ll be grafted back in. And that shouldn’t be so amazing, because if God can take the wild olive branches and graft them in, how much easier is it for Him to place the natural branches back in. You understand the unnatural thing is the Gentiles are being saved en masse, the natural thing in light of all the promises that pervade the Old Testament, rooted in the Abrahamic Covenant is that the Jews would be saved en masse. Again, through Old Testament times there always was opportunity for Gentiles to be saved and some were, we have some of those outstanding examples like Ruth the Moabitess. But it’s basically Jewish salvation. Now in our day it’s reversed, it’s primarily Gentile salvation with a much smaller number of Jews.

Verse 25, I don’t want you, my brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery. A mystery is something that had not before been fully explained and developed. So you would not be wise in your own estimation, a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. You understand there will come a time when the fullness of the Gentiles has come to its completion, the time of Gentile salvation is what he’s talking about. And so all Israel will be saved, a deliverer will come from Zion. He will remove ungodliness form Jacob. This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins. From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake. No doubt today Israel is the enemy of the gospel, and that’s for our benefit as Gentiles. Because their enmity toward the gospel is being used in the sovereignty of God’s plan to provide a day of fullness for Gentile salvation. So from the standpoint of the gospel, no doubt they are enemies. But nothing has changed in the sovereign plan of God for Israel. From the standpoint of election, choice, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers, for the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. I don’t know how it could be any clearer.

Is there a future for Israel? Every single promise given, starting with Abraham in chapter 12 of Genesis and all through the rest of the Old Testament, God has chosen Israel, He has given them great promises, they are irrevocable. No doubt today from the standpoint of the gospel they are God’s enemies. But from the revealed plan of God and His electing grace, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. Nothing has changed in God’s program for Israel in the ultimate sense. They are under judgment now, they are God’s enemies now, there is but a small remnant of Jews who have believed in the Messiah as their Savior. But nothing has changed from the perspective of God’s sovereign election, because His gifts and promises are irrevocable.

So just as you were once disobedient to God but have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient that because of the mercy shown to you they may also now be shown mercy. God has shut up all in disobedience so that He might show mercy to all. Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways. Who has known the mind of the Lord or become His counselor? Who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

I mean the end result of all this is we are to be in awe, verse 33, of the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways. Because I can’t understand, it all shouldn’t surprise me, His ways are unfathomable. That doesn’t mean I am not to know what He has revealed here and there will come a time when, verse 26, all Israel will be saved. It will be the time in the context of the return of the Messiah. There will follow the removal of the church and God’s refocusing on completing the 70 weeks of Daniel, that final 7-year period to bring greater judgment on Israel than they have ever experienced, to bring them to complete hopelessness and despair so that they are prepared in their suffering and hopelessness to turn and say, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, calling for their Messiah. And you will have a national salvation. Doesn’t mean every Jew will be saved, because there will be a judgment of living Israel at the return of the Messiah. But there will be a national turning, a mass turning of Jews at the close of that 70th week of Daniel in preparation for the coming of the Messiah now to bring deliverance to these who have turned to Him. And that’s when all Israel will be saved and all the promises will be fulfilled.

We just take God at His Word and we’re saved. That’s why we talk about a literal interpretation of scripture, that means we just take it for what it says at face value. There’s no doubt how Israel understood the promises given through all the Old Testament. There’s no doubt how all the promises given and all the prophecies given have been fulfilled up to this point. There’s no doubt how they will be fulfilled. So there is no confusion. We just read it and take it as God stated it. And we are greatly privileged to be saved Gentiles today and we want to take advantage of this opportunity to share the gospel with everyone we can. This is a day of the fullness of the Gentiles. Doesn’t mean we also don’t share it with Israel and have a passion for their salvation. But we also understand that God’s work in saving grace is focused on Gentiles today. And we don’t look down our nose at the Jews in any way because we realize God in His sovereignty has used their rebellion in a remarkable way to provide opportunity to save Gentiles out of their rebellion in preparation for the time when He will turn again to Israel and bring about the fulfillment of His promises.

I’m glad that all God’s promises to Israel will be fulfilled, aren’t you’? I mean if He isn’t going to do what He promised to Israel, I’m a little shaky about my future, aren’t you? I mean I’m thankful that nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, aren’t you? I mean what hope would we have if it depended upon us? What does it depend upon? God’s sovereign work, God’s sovereign choice. And we are sure and secure in those promises. And Israel is too, even though at this time they are enemies. Praise God that they are beloved for the sake of His promises, and He will fulfill them.

Let’s pray together. Thank you, Lord, for your character, thank you for your faithfulness, thank you that you are true to your Word and true to your promises. And even the sin of man cannot frustrate your determined work. Much of this goes beyond what we can grasp. You are the potter, we are the clay. We search out these things that you have given to us in your Word. We are mindful that your ways are unfathomable, your wisdom goes beyond our understanding. So it’s with humility we search the scriptures, it’s with dependence upon your Spirit we study your Word. Lord, we claim the truth that you’ve given to us. We know there is no disappointment in our faith in your Son and the promises you’ve given, and we rejoice in that for the church and for Israel also. We praise you in Christ’s name. Amen.