1. Romans 11:25-36
Mark 4:11 – Jesus told the apostles that "The secret of the kingdom of God [mystery] has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables.”

2. Gospel Questions How do Gentile believers and Jews relate?
What is the mystery of the Gospel?
When Paul saw Jesus, did he become a Christian and leave behind Judaism? Did he change religions?

3. Elements of a Jewish Gospel
Gospel – proclamation of the Messiah and freedom (Is. 40:9-10)
Covenant - Israel
Kingdom – Earthly reign of God in Zion
Messiah - The one who would bring about this kingdom
Temple - Central point of worship
Torah (Law) – source of blessing
Implementation – Hillel and Shammai

4. Paul’s Conversion – What changed?
Stephen (Acts 7:58)
Damascus Event (Acts 9)
Confronted with a Messiah who ….
Was crucified
Testified of a spiritual kingdom
Did not liberate Israel from Rome
Came and went with very little impact
What changed was the content in his Jewish Gospel – Mystery
Mystery entrusted to Paul & Apostles (1 Corinthians 4:1)

5. New Content of this Jewish Gospel
Messiah – Jesus
Covenant – extended to all nations
New Covenant
Jeremiah 31:33-34 "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. (Israel)
2 Corinthians 3:3-6 …the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. … 6 [God] has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant (Corinthian believers)

6. New Content of this Jewish Gospel
Covenant – extended to all nations
Integration
Romans 4:16—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Ephesians 3:6 -- This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:7, 14, Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. … 14 He [Christ] redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit…. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

7. New Content of this Jewish Gospel
Kingdom - Spiritual
Citizens of a spiritual kingdom of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
Co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17)
Temple - not a building
1 Corinthians 3:16 - Do you not know that you [believers] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
Torah – Law of Spirit and Grace
Romans 7:6 - But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

8. Applying this new content (Rom. 11:25-27)
Revelation – lead to humility (11.25)
Hardening – temporary for the sake of Gentiles (11.25)
Until Gentiles has come in - to covenant relationship (11.25)
“And so” (therefore) all Israel will be saved (11.26)

9. How did Paul know that this hardening was temporary? (Romans 11:28-32)
God’s covenant ( )
Romans 5:10 - For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
God’s mercy (11:30-32)

10. Doxology (Romans 11:33-36) Unsearchable judgments (11.33)
Owes us nothing (11.35)
Yet, provides us everything (11.36)
To Him be the glory forever (11.36)

11. Maybe God is trying to …. … shake our foundations these days
… reveal Himself in fresh ways
… eradicate hatred towards others (which is hatred towards Him)
… set you on a new path – a new way.
…. encourage you that even the hardest heart may be hardened only for a temporary time.
… remind you that Gospel is the proclamation of His coming into and setting free of bondage
… remind you that you don’t know all that He is doing and how he is using even your suffering and pain and what he is doing in history – how fathomless are his ways (11.33)
… remind you that He owes you nothing, yet He is willing to give everything (11.35)
… remind you that Gospel is about worshipping a God who is the creator of all, sustainer of all, and who deserves glory forever (11.36)
… remind you that He is faithful to His call and merciful towards you.

12. Gospel Ramifications Theology Contemporary Renewed interest in …
New heavens and earth localized
Ramifications on ecology and earth stewardship
Contemporary Renewed interest in …
Messianic Jewish services
Festivals and Feasts (Feast of Weeks/Pentecost, Seder)
Hebraic day & pace - Sabbath
Betrothal and courting
Home churches and organic church movements
Re-evaluation of the use of alcohol as believers
Renewed interest in dance as celebration and worship
Priesthood of the believer with father functioning as priest in home and family
Increase in Islamic unrest as Christianity identifies more with Jewish heritage