Overview of Romans 11
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday June 14, 2009
Romans: Overview of Romans 11
Lesson # 351
Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 11:1.
This morning we will present an overview of Romans chapter 11.
Romans chapter eleven completes the fifth major section in the book of Romans, which began with chapter nine.
This section is a defense of God’s righteousness in His dealings with the nation of Israel since the question arises that if God is for the elect and that nothing can separate them from God’s love as Paul says in chapter 8, then why has He set aside His chosen people, the Jews, the nation of Israel.
In this section, Paul attempts to explain God’s dealings with the Jews as a vindication of His righteousness.
Paul does it by demonstrating through the Old Testament Scriptures that Israel’s rejection is related to the spiritual pride of the Jews (9,10), that Israel’s rejection is not complete because some are being saved (11), and that Israel’s rejection is not final because it will be reversed before the coming of the Lord (the end of chapter 11).
In Romans nine Paul addresses primarily God’s dealings with Israel with regards to her past election, which was based upon God’s sovereign grace.
On the other hand, Romans ten addresses Israel’s present rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior and then in Romans eleven, he teaches of the future restoration of the nation.
In Romans 11, the apostle Paul teaches concerning the future salvation of the nation.
The chapter begins with Paul emphatically stating that Israel has not been rejected forever by God, which is the theme of the chapter.
Romans 11:1, “I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”
The rhetorical question in Romans 11:1 is used to introduce the next stage of Paul’s argument.
He poses this question because of what he said in Romans 10:21 that Israel is unbelieving and obstinate.
In Romans 11:2-6, Paul teaches that God has set aside a remnant based upon His sovereign grace and not works, which picks up the “remnant” motif that appears in Romans 9:6, 27-29 and 10:16.
Romans 11:2, “God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?”
Romans 11:3, “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”
Romans 11:4, “But what is the divine response to him? ‘I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.’”
Romans 11:5, “In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice.”
Romans 11:6, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.”
Romans 11:7-10 teaches that Israel’s failure fulfilled God’s sovereign will.
Romans 11:7-8, “What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written, ‘GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.’”
Romans 11:9-10, “And David says, ‘LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.’”
In Romans 11:11-12, the apostle Paul teaches that Gentiles are blessed with salvation because of Israel’s failure.
Romans 11:11, “I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.”
Romans 11:12, “Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!”
Paul continues his discussion of the Gentiles in Romans 11:13-16 by explaining his ministry to the Gentiles in relation to Israel.
Romans 11:13-14, “But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.”
Romans 11:15, “For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”
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.”
Then, in Romans 11:17-24, Paul issues a warning to the Gentiles to learn from Israel’s failure since they too can be rejected by God like Israel by failing to exercise faith in Christ as Savior.
Romans 11:17-18, “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.”
Romans 11:19, “You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’”
Romans 11:20-21, “Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.”
Romans 11:22, “Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.”
Romans 11:23, “And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.”
Romans 11:24, “For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?”
Paul in Romans 11:25 teaches his readers regarding a mystery, namely that a partial hardening of Israel has taken place until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Romans 11:25, “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery -- so that you will not be wise in your own estimation -- that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
In Romans 11:26-27, Paul teaches that all Israel will be saved.
Romans 11:26-27, “And so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, ‘THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.’”
Paul in Romans 11:28-32 teaches that Israel’s future restoration is based upon God’s mercy.
Romans 11:28-29, “From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Romans 11:30-31, “For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.”
Romans 11:32, “For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.”
Romans 11:33-36 concludes the chapter by offering praise to God for His infinite wisdom and knowledge and unsearchable judgments and ways.
Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”
Romans 11:34-35, “For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?’”
Romans 11:36, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”