Romans

1. Romans 11:10-24 March 18, 2012

2. Rom 11:11-24 • Continued discussion in light of Rom 9-10 (9:6a “it is not as though the word of God has failed.”). • Like v.1, this section begins with question. • Paul beings to directly address Gentiles – Rom 11:13, which is carried throughout chp 11 (“you” = Gentiles; “they” = Jews). • This address reveals the specific purpose . . . to stifle the tendency among Gentile Christians to ‘boast over” Jews and Jewish Christians. . . The problem was an understandable outgrowth of the shift of salvation history that had taken place. The Gentiles’ rejoicing at being included with Jews in God’s people would all too easily lead to boasting that they had replaced the Jews as the people of God. . . Paul therefore warns . . . don’t assume that Gentile preponderance (superiority in numbers) in the church means that God has abandoned his people Israel. Moo

3. 11:11a “they did not stumble so as to fall, did they?” • “Stumble” resumes the thought from v.9, and now adds the additional verb “fall.” The term here implies an irretrievable ruin, see NIV “fall beyond recovery.” • As with v.1, the question is constructed to be answered in the negative; and is reinforced by “may it never be.” • 11:11b “But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.” • “Israel’s sin is the starting point of a process that will lead back to blessing for Israel. The middle stage of this process involves the Gentiles.” Moo • Paul refers to Deut 32:21 (cited in Rom 10:19)

4. Deut 32 overview – “The Song of Moses” • Deut 31:28-30 poetic prophecy regarding “the latter days” • Deut 32 • God’s deliverance & birth of nation Israel (v.9-10) • Israel’s unfaithfulness & rebellion (v.15-16) • God’s judgment on Israel (v. 23) • God’s final redemption of Israel (v.36, 43) • Deut 32:21 is in the context of future (Moses’ timeframe) judgment as consequent to Israel’s infidelity, and as a means to the final redemption.

5. Deut 32:21 – details • “They have made me jealous with what is no god; • they have provoked me to anger with their idols. • So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; • I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.” ESV • Note: • 1. “chastisement according to the right of complete retaliation” K&D • 2. Hebrew poetry & parallelism. As Israel will do two things (A&B), thus God will do two things (A&B). • A. make jealous with what is not • B. provoke to anger with further definition of what is not

6. Deut 32:21 – details • “They have made me jealous with what is no god; • they have provoked me to anger with their idols. • So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; • I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.” ESV • Note: • 3. Line A is further defined by line B (in parallel) • “what is no god” further defined “idols” • “no people” further defined “foolish nation” • K&D comments:

7. “God would therefore excite them to jealousy and ill-will by a no-people, a foolish nation, i.e. by preferring a no-people to the Israelites, transferring His favor to them, and giving the blessing which Israel had despised to a foolish nation.” K&D • See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' (Deut 4:5-6) • “No-people is explained by a ‘foolish nation.’ A ‘foolish nation’ is the opposite of a wise and understanding people, as Israel is called in Deut 4:6, because it possessed righteous statutes and rights in the law of the Lord. The foolish nation therefore is . . . a people whose laws and rights are not founded upon divine revelation.” K&D

8. Isaiah 65:1 "I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I,' To a nation which did not call on My name. • Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; • It may not seem entirely clear to us now how the salvation of Gentiles will make Israel “jealous.” Obviously this turning of the Jews back to the Lord their God through Christ has not occurred yet, but Scripture is clear that they will once the “times” and “fullness” of the Gentiles are complete (Luke 21:24; Rom 11:25).

9. Rom 11:13-14 (we will come back to v.12 in a moment) There is close parallel between v.11 and 13-14. So we’ll address it in conjunction with v.11. Paul’s calling and apostleship was “to the Gentiles” (cf. Acts 9:15; Gal 2:7-9), yet he hoped that Gentile conversions would move some of his own people to faith.

10. Rom 11:12, 15. These two verses are parallel thoughts. Both verses are an argument from the lesser to the greater: if Israel’s transgression, failure, and rejection resulted in riches and reconciliation for the Gentile world, then Israel’s fullness and acceptance will bring even greater blessing than that. V.12 “fullness” – “the context and the parallel with v.25 suggest that this ‘fullness’ is attained through a numerical process.” Moo “Romans 11:25 indicates that the meaning ‘full number’ is intended, for there it refers to the ‘full number’ of Gentiles that enter into the church.” Schreiner

11. “Verse 12 is vague on the nature of the blessing, however we must consult verse 15 – to which it is parallel – for greater precision in our understanding.” Note first of all that the word ‘acceptance’ is the antonym to ‘rejection.’ Since ‘rejection’ refers to God’s rejection of the Jews, ‘acceptance’ refers to God’s acceptance, His inclusion again of the Jews into His saving favor. Thus ‘fullness’ stresses the large number of Jews that will be saved; and ‘acceptance’ stresses God’s initiative in granting salvation to the Jews. Schreiner

12. Rom 11:15 “life from the dead” “The logic of the verse shows that it must refer to a blessing even greater or more climactic than the extension of reconciliation to the Gentiles. For Paul argues from the lesser to the greater.” Some considerations indicate “life from the dead” be understood as physical resurrection (Moo, Schreiner) 1. while the phrase “life from the dead” does not occur elsewhere, the shorter “from the dead” occurs 47 times in the NT. All but one refer to physical resurrection, and that one is worded “as those alive from the dead” (Rom 6:13) indicating a non-literal meaning.

13. Rom 11:15 “life from the dead” 2. “life from the dead” is distinct from Israel’s ‘acceptance’ – that is, Israel spiritual reconciliation and salvation. 3. Other texts indicate that the end of the age occurs after Israel come to faith, e.g. Acts 3:19-21.

14. “Most scholars rightly understand the phrase ‘life from the dead’ to refer to the physical resurrection of the dead. The salvation of ‘all Israel’ (11:26) will be the climax of this age, and will be followed by the resurrection.” Schreiner • A big picture overview of end times based on Rom 11:11-15: • 1. Currently Gentiles are being richly blessed with salvation while Israel is not (except for the remnant) • 2. At some point in the future God will saved large numbers of Jews – “fullness” and “acceptance.” • 3. Subsequent to the Jewish fullness and acceptance, the resurrection will take place “life from the dead”

15. Rom 11:16-24 This is an analogy taken from the practice of grafting tree branches. The main point to be understood is that the root and tree is Jewish, and the Jews are the “natural” branches. Gentiles are grafted in, and are thus not to be arrogant (v.18b). Furthermore, natural branches which were removed could just as easily be grafted back on to it’s own tree (speaks of the future fullness & acceptance). Please note: the threat of being cut off (vv.20-22) applies to Gentiles as a people class, just as the Jews as a people class could be grafted back in. The threat does not speak of individuals loosing their salvation

16. Applications. • 1. Do you know your calling? To what extent are you fulling it? • Romans 11:13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, • 2. As a branch does your life reflect the character traits of the root? • Romans 11:16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. • 3. What is your attitude towards unbelievers? • Romans 11:20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;

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18. “Romans’ Road” • A simplified method of presenting the Gospel based entirely on verses from the book of Romans has been called Romans’ Road. • This approach follows how Paul presented the Gospel in Romans: • 1. Man’s Sin. • 2. God’s Provision. • 3. Man’ Response. • Personalize each verse. As you use these verses, ask your friend to replace “all,” “whoever,” “us,” etc. with their own name.

19. “Romans’ Road” • 1. Man’s Sin • Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, • Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death,but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. • Use “but the free gift . . .” as a transition to 2. God’s provision.

20. “Romans’ Road” • 2. God’s Provision. • Rom 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. • Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. • Transition: What do you need to do?

21. “Romans’ Road” • 3. Man’s Response. • Rom 10:9 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; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. • Rom 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." • Offer to lead in prayer.