Did Israel Fall beyond Recovery? Romans II Series [10] Romans 11:11-24

TWO QUESTIONS CONCERNING ISRAEL’S FUTURE v.1: “Has God rejected his people?” By no means!  God has kept a remnant of true believers among Israel.  The rest were hardened [a partial hardening]. v.11: “Did Israel stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?” By no means!  God’s plan through Israel’s stumbling is to provide a chain of blessing. [It is Paul’s perspective of history through God’s purposes.]  The analogy of the olive tree depicts God’s kindness and severity in this chain of blessing.

GOD’S PLAN: A CHAIN OF BLESSING THROUGH ISRAEL’S STUMBLING Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! 13Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. (vs.11b-16)

GOD’S PLAN: A CHAIN OF BLESSING THROUGH ISRAEL’S STUMBLING Stage #1: Through Israel’s stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles.  Israel’s trespass has opened up the gate of salvation to the Gentiles.  Paul has personally experienced this first hand—the Jews’ rejection of the gospel had him turn to the Gentiles. Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. Acts 13:46

GOD’S PLAN: A CHAIN OF BLESSING THROUGH ISRAEL’S STUMBLING Stage #2: Through Gentiles’ salvation, Israel will become jealous which leads to their restoration.  Gentiles’ salvation was to make Israel jealous.  Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, in part, was to provoke his fellow Jews’ envy so that some of them would be saved.

GOD’S PLAN: A CHAIN OF BLESSING THROUGH ISRAEL’S STUMBLING Stage #3: Through Israel’s full inclusion, much greater riches will be brought to the world.  If Israel’s rejection brought a blessing of the reconciliation, their acceptance will bring much greater blessing to the world.  “Life from the dead” (v.15): two interpretations for this are [1] resurrection from the dead or [2] a figurative worldwide spiritual revival of Israel and the world [Ezekiel 37].

GOD’S PLAN: A CHAIN OF BLESSING THROUGH ISRAEL’S STUMBLING Two Illustrations: [1] the dough & the lump and [2] the root & the branches  Both illustrations imply the future restoration of Israel—i.e., the first “part” [patriarchs] is holy, the “whole” is also holy.  Furthermore, this implication sets up the context of a shared blessing of Gentiles grafted in to the chosen people of God.

GENTILES & ISRAEL: GRAFTED IN TO THE OLIVE TREE The ANALOGY of grafting: God’s plan of salvation for Gentiles and Israel But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree. (v.17)  Some of the natural branches [unbelieving Israelites] were broken off.  In their place, the wild branches [believing Gentiles] were grafted in to share the nourishing root of the olive tree [the blessings of salvation in the Abrahamic covenant as God’s people].  In the same way, Israel will be grafted back into their own olive tree someday.

GENTILES & ISRAEL: GRAFTED IN TO THE OLIVE TREE The WARNING to the Gentile believers: There is no room for pride or complacency! 18do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. (vs.18-22)

GENTILES & ISRAEL: GRAFTED IN TO THE OLIVE TREE The WARNING to the Gentile believers: There is no room for pride or complacency!  Do NOT be arrogant toward the Jews. Why? You need their covenantal blessing from God not the other way around.  Do NOT be proud in yourself—but fear! Why? God will not spare you either if you become proud like the unbelieving Jews.  Do NOT be complacent in your faith. Why? Unless you attentively continue in God’s kindness, you will drift away. Otherwise, you too will be cut off by God’s severity.

No Room for Pride or Complacency! Another facet of the egotism of the Gentile Christians is their sense of pride in having attained a place in the people of God. This attitude Paul seeks to deflate by reminding them that it is faith that makes the difference. It is because of their lack of faith that so many Jews have been “cut off”; and it is through faith that the Gentile Christians has attained a standing within the people of God... It is faith, and faith alone—characterized by humility and receptivity—that is the only way to establish or to maintain a relationship with God (Romans 3:27-4:5). Recognizing that every spiritual benefit comes as a sheer gift from our gracious God, the Gentile Christian must stop thinking highly of his or her accomplishments and take up an attitude of fear. This basic biblical concept combines reverential respect for the God of majesty and glory with a healthy concern to continue to live out of the grace of God in our lives. - Douglas Moo

GENTILES & ISRAEL: GRAFTED IN TO THE OLIVE TREE The PROMISE for the Jewish unbelievers: There is no room for despair! 23And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (vs.23-24)

GENTILES & ISRAEL: GRAFTED IN TO THE OLIVE TREE The PROMISE for the Jewish unbelievers: There is no room for despair!  Unbelieving Jews have hope because God has the power to graft them in again.  Israel will be grafted back into their own olive tree in the same way that the believing Gentiles experienced God’s kindness.  Therefore, there is much hope for Israel’s future and no room for despair for anyone who desires God’s kindness.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.See that the Living God is GOD OF HISTORY.  Develop a perspective of history through God’s redemptive purposes.  History will vindicate the faithfulness of God.  History will vindicate the mercy of God. 2.Pray and seek for THE RESTORATION OF THE JEWS.  Stand against any form of anti-Semitism.  Share Jesus’ love with your Jewish friends and neighbors.  Live out your vital relationship with God to cause a holy envy in them.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 3.Take this WARNING seriously: THERE IS NO ROOM FOR PRIDE OR COMPLACENCY!  Evaluate your life whether you made room for pride no matter how subtle it may be [= Stay THIRSTY!].  Evaluate your life whether you made room for complacency no matter how little you may be drifting away [= Stay FERVENT!].  Fear God by being attentive to the kindness of severity of God [= Stay VIGILANT!].

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you— unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5