811 Rom.11.25-36 God's Rescue Plan for All

Accusations that are false accusations are hard to refute unless you have hard evidence, but if there is no evidence, should those accusations stick? Fortunately, we have lived in times where the law upheld the “presumption of innocence” & protected people from false accusations. The onus was on the accuser to prove the alleged offender was in the wrong. But we are heading, as a western society, down the road of “guilty by accusation alone”. Recently, this was seen in the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh as a federal court judge in the US. A lady came forward at the end of his hearing, just before the congressional vote to appoint him & accused him of raping her at a party 35 yrs ago at an occasion she cannot remember, a place she cannot remember & at a time she cannot remember, but she remembers it was Brett Kavanaugh. The witnesses gave contrary evidence that went to the favour of Brett Kavanaugh. He himself vigorously denied it & even his well kept diary showed no such event. Yet, the media & the Democrats, who opposed this conservative judge, who they think is out to get rid of abortion laws, all said that they believed her over him. It was of course, political, but “guilt by accusation” without evidence is becoming a troubling trend in the western world

28-10-18 811 Echuca

- In this passage today, the apostle winds up his message to the Gentile Christians that God has not excluded Israel in His rescue plan for the world

- He is meticulous in providing evidence to show that, in spite of their accusations against Israel, God has not rejected or excluded Jews from the possibility of receiving His grace

- Even though, from appearances, it seems that the Jews have certainly rejected Jesus, but from God's plans & purposes, this can & will change

1. The Mystery of Hardening

Q. Why have the Jews rejected Jesus?

- Surely, they knew God well enough to see that His plans & purposes would come to fruition in a Christ/Messiah

- But faith/belief has to do with the heart & we live in a fallen world where the liberty to make your own good choices are limited

- The world is in bondage to sin & the fear of death - & that shapes how everyone thinks

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- Let us understand, firstly, that Paul is addressing Gentile Christians in the church

- I hope by this stage, you will realise that Gentile is simply a name that means “not a Jew” - so it includes the whole world, except Jews

-- 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles.

Romans 11:13 NASB95

13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

- If you can recall from the last couple of messages, we saw how the Gentile Christians in the church in Rome are rather hostile towards the Jews

- The Jews have not only rejected Jesus & had Him crucified, they are actively encouraging the persecution of the church

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- We get a hint of this in this passage

Romans 11:28a NASB95

28 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;

—28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake

- Paul talks a lot about the arrogance or pride of the Gentile Christians towards the Jews

- He speaks about them being conceited. However, there is something they don't understand

a) God's Great Plan

Romans 11:33 NASB95

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

—33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

- God's plans are amazing in how He levels the playing field

- Mankind leans towards being arrogant – leans towards thinking he knows better than God

- God has undercut human pride & brings every man & woman to their knees before Him

- He has done this by His grace in & through the cross of Christ

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- No one can stand before God & stake their claim, as v.35 says - “who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again”

- God alone is the master architect & designer of His great saving plan for mankind

- The problem was mankind's rebellion – he wanted to be God & was not content to be His “child” - he wanted to be God's equal

- Something that THE Son of God would not even claim for Himself

—6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Philippians 2:6 NASB95

6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

- Man's problem is that it was a thing to be grasped & he sinned in the process

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- God's great wisdom in bringing man back to Himself was not to enforce submission, but to win him over by voluntary submission

- God's solution is found in a crucified Saviour

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- Perhaps, if God left us to organise salvation, we would have deployed interrogation tactics to bring about submission – bamboo under the fingernails or waterboarding

- But God, in His wisdom, won the day by weakness; by submission to suffering

—21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

1 Corinthians 1:21–23 NASB95

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

- The cross is the love of God in action as He demonstrates that love through the suffering of Jesus (this is God's great plan)

b) Paul Reveals God's Plan – the Revelation of this Mystery

- Whenever the apostle talks about a mystery, he is revealing what was an unknown

- We have seen that the mystery Paul reveals in Ephesians is the oneness of Jew & Gentile in Christ

Ephesians 3:3–6 NASB95

3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

-- 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

- Now in our passage today, he says that there is another mystery he will reveal – that there is a partial hardening that has happened to Israel – he hinted at this previously...

Romans 11:7 NASB95

7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened

- So he says to the Gentiles, “what you have & do witness about the behaviour of the Jews is God's plan in action”

- He has hardened them so that they would oppose the Christ & have Him crucified & oppose the church to have it grow full of Gentiles

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- You might ask: why do that? Paul says in vs.12

—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!

Romans 11:12 NASB95

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!

- Israel's rejection of Christ has meant riches for the world for through His crucifixion, the price of sin was paid as we read on many occasions in the NT – here's one...

1 Corinthians 15:3 NASB95

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

—3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

- Here is the riches for the world & had the Jews not opposed Jesus & encouraged the Romans to crucify Him, then there would be no forgiveness of sins for the world

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Q. Does that mean that those who rejected Christ according to God's grand plan are innocent? No way Jose

- Judas was a Jew who betrayed Christ to the chief priests of Israel

- Judas served God's purposes as we see in the words of Peter

Acts 2:23 NASB95

23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

—23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

- Likewise, the words of Jesus

—24 “The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

Matthew 26:24 NASB95

24 “The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

- Judas was filled with remorse over his actions, but instead of repenting, he decided to end his life by suicide

- So sad that he could not turn to Jesus, for Jesus would have forgiven him

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- So too the Jews in rejecting Jesus served a greater purpose, but nevertheless were guilty of rejecting Christ & the individuals will be judged for their actions

- They rejected God's purposes, but it does not follow that God has rejected His purposes for them

- Opportunity is still available for them to be grafted back into the “Olive Tree” - now, however, on an equal par with the Gentiles

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- For we know that both the wild Olive branches and the natural Olive branches share equally in the nourishment from the root

- The branches, either Jewish or Gentilic, are not the root

- The root is the word of promise through Abraham

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- Before we deal with v.26 it is important to understand the apostle's take on the true Israel

Romans 9:6–8 NASB95

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

—6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

- We dealt with this in the sermon, I entitled, “Will the true Israel please stand up”

- We also saw how the hinge on WHO is the children of God is the word of faith in Jesus Christ – “WHOEVER calls on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved”

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- Verse 26 is a highly disputed verse

- It can be taken two ways – let me give you two alternate readings to help you pick up on this

v.26 “and so all ethnic Israel will be saved”

v.26 “and so all true Israel (the church) will be saved”

- In the first case, it is saying that a day is coming when the entire nation of Israel will be saved – every commentator who agrees with that would say that this does not mean every single Jew

- They would say it refers to a general acceptance of Jesus rather than a rejection of Him

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- However, the second view, would regard what Paul says here as a fitting conclusion to all that has been said from chap. 9 through 11

- All true Israel refers to the full number of both Jewish acceptance of Jesus & Gentile acceptance of Jesus

- There are arguments for & against from both sides

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- One argument is that the apostle doesn't refer to the church as Israel

- Perhaps, except, that he does everything but call the church, Israel – for example, “not all Israel are Israel etc.” & then he includes Gentiles who have faith in Christ as being in the true line of Abraham

—8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

Romans 9:8 NASB95

8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

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- Also, in . there is a good case for him literally calling the church, “the Israel of God”

Galatians 6:14–16 NIV

14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

- In other words, peace & mercy to this true Israel of God who walk by the rule that you do not need to become a Jew in order to be saved, but to rely on Jesus Christ who was crucified for us & the Spirit who made us a new creation in Christ

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- It is also interesting that when the apostle uses his repeated emphasis, in the book of Romans, on the word “all” or “every”, you find that he is referring, on the most part, to both Jews & Gentiles

- All have sinned & fallen short of the glory of God;

- For I'm not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God to all who believe

- Christ is the end of the law to all who believe

- For all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved

-- 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

Romans 4:16 NASB95

16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

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- His conclusion is that when the fullness of the Gentiles has come, then the partial hardening of Israel will be removed & the full number of branches on the Olive tree will be complete – both the wild branches & the native branches

- This is how the great reformer, John Calvin, took it to mean

Many understand this of the Jewish people, as though Paul had said, that religion would again be restored among them as before: but I extend the word Israel to all the people of God, according to this meaning, — “When the Gentiles shall come in, the Jews also shall return from their defection to the obedience of faith; and thus shall be completed the salvation of the whole Israel of God, which must be gathered from both — John Calvin

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- If you wish to take it the other way – that it refers to ethnic Israel, then I think there is plenty of scope for peaceful disagreement here

- It is a hard choice to make & as I said, it is a highly disputed passage, but the main message is clear – the fullness of Israel will match the fullness of the Gentiles

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- Certainly, the wonderful wisdom of God in the salvation of the world is the main take from today - “God's Rescue Plan for All”

- This is not disputed whatever reading you wish to take from the term “All Israel”

- “God's Rescue Plan for All”, is also made clear in our next point today

2. God's Mercy to All in Christ

- If you are here today without faith & obedience to Jesus Christ, then you should be concerned, for this grace & mercy of God does not fail to gain traction

- Yes, people struggle, but that struggle can be the grace of God working in them

- But there is a difference between a true seeking of Christ & one who is hanging around for other reasons

- Perhaps, it is the social exposure that attracts you

- Perhaps, it is this safe place of acceptance that attracts you

- There are many & various reasons some people have for going to church

- But those reasons can be wrong reasons if, in your heart of hearts, you don't have faith in Jesus

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- This is the depth of riches of the wisdom & knowledge of God

- In His wisdom, He has designed a wonderful plan to bring about the opportunity for every person, being made in the image of God, to be in relationship with Him

- That relationship starts & finishes with Jesus Christ

—17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Romans 1:17 NASB95

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

- Thoroughly by faith – first to last – in Jesus

- Confessing with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” & “believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead”

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- See here God's plan of nullifying human pride in every person

- Take note of v.35

—35 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?

Romans 11:35 NASB95

35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?

- What God has done is priceless & it's cost can never be afforded by anyone, nor outmatched

- Paul writes that the Gentiles were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy because Israel became God's tool in the process of bringing about the crucifixion of Christ & salvation through Him

- God opened the door to Gentiles, but didn't close the door on Israel, in spite of what they had done

- “The gifts & call of God are irrevocable” – not in the sense of every Israelite, but in the sense that every Israelite will have every opportunity to know Christ

- In spite of what unrepentant Israel has done to the Christ, it is by God's hardening of them that salvation has come to the Gentiles

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- Now that salvation has come to the Gentiles – that is, mercy shown toward the disobedience of the Gentiles – that mercy will now be shown to the disobedient Jews

- Bringing it all together, God has undermined the pride of both Jew & Gentile – here it is summed up...

—32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Romans 11:32 NASB95

32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

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- Tom Wright makes a good point...

“If ethnic Israel had embraced the gospel from the very start, it would have been fatally easy for them to assume that they had always been entitled to it, and that if any Gentiles came in they would rank below them. This would mean, in the language of , that grace would no longer be grace”. — Tom Wright

- So true. So God, in His magisterial plan, provides perfectly & completely for all the children of God from every nation of the earth

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- There is also debate about when the hardening of Israel will be released from them

- Some say at the 2nd coming of Christ & some say that it is present now

- I'm not convinced that it refers to the 2nd coming of Christ for 2 reasons:

1. The quote Paul gives: “The deliver will come from Zion” is one of many quotes that Paul cites from the OT throughout the book of Romans & this would be the only one that refers to the future & not the present

- All the rest that he quotes, make the point about what has now happened in Christ – for example from ...

Romans 9:33 ESV

33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

- It's a message about the future, but it is fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus which means it was already presently true in Paul's day

2. The sentence, “This is My Covenant with them when I take away their sins” is an allusion to Isaiah's prophesy & also to Jeremiah's prophecy concerning a time when God makes a new Covenant with the house of Israel where He puts His law in them & writes it on their heart & that He will forgive their iniquity & remember their sin no more

- That seems to me to be associated with the first coming of Christ & to the work of the Spirit

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- But I'm not going to be contentious about what this means if you disagree

- What I would disagree with is placing ethnic Israel above the church

- That is not only a violation of the clear teaching of the entire thrust of the book of Romans, it does violence to the Gospel of Christ itself

- There is no salvation outside of Christ, even for the Jews

3. For the Glory of God

- There is no better way to conclude 11 chapters of Romans with all it's rich truths about who God is & what God has done for us in Christ, than to restate the last verse

—36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:36 NASB95

36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

- When we think of the amount of things happening in each of our lives, it is very helpful for us to remember that we are totally dependant upon our creator

- My husband or wife is not the centre of my life, nor my children, nor my possessions, nor my wealth

- God is the centre. We were created for Him & we are reminded so thoroughly in the book of Romans of His brilliance in restoring a broken world through sin back to Himself

- God has provided the remedy & the remedy is faith in Jesus Christ

- It is this apparent foolishness of the cross that has destroyed the arrogance of man & brought him to his knees in willing submission to the Lordship of Christ