Romans 11 1_36 The Plan

Biblical:

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. 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? 3 "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE." 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." 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 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." 9 And David says, "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. 10 "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER." 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. 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! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 17 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, 18 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. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 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. 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. 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? 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; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." 27 "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." 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; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Secular:

In counselling a spoke with a couple
You have probably at some encountered they same story…
Married…

Yet he cheats
Neither his time, his emotions or even sexual life are committed to his wife

Yet she takes him back… again and again and again
We scratch our heads… seems counter-intuitive…
He may not understand the value of the covenant
But she does…
Interesting our relationship is often compared to a marriage…
Hebrew Idolatry ad Adultery… same root… same concept
Powerful when Malachi declares… God Hates Divorce
To a sleeping around kind of people…
Failure to live up to the covenant s a failure on our part... not God’s
He wants our time… he wants our emotions… he wants our affections… HE WANTS US… totally and completely sold out to him… no faith mistresses!

Bridge:

God is faithful
- even when we are not
His promises do not depend on us….
Those whom he chooses will follow….
Ezekiel 36:27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
The test of Faith isn’t a Yes vote for idea of God
The test of faith is a life in Relationship with Christ
The offer resides in God… Come to me…
God is faithful

Offer stands
Offer expands
Offer is realized

Body:

God is Faithful – The Offer Stands

Romans 11:1 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be!
The base understanding on which we stand… does he get choked and blow us off…
Psalm 94:14 For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
It would be against his nature and his promise..

Some folks we do not trust…
Shady deal… broken promises….
But God is faithful… the offer stands

1 Samuel 12:22 "For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.
Why…

Remember we are called for his glory and his name’s sake
It is because he is worthy…. That he is faithful

1 Kings 19:1-8…

Elijah had a little dispute with the prophets of Baal…. They capture them and slay them…
Jezebel threatens to do the same to Elijah…
Elijah flees…
Plea… v. 3 "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE."
Things seem dark and desperate
Response… v. "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL."
We get all apocalyptic… God uses the great contrast of those moments…

Elijah / Baal
Hardness of Israel… Receptiveness of Gentiles
Hardness of North America… Responsiveness of China

It is in God…
He is Still sovereign

Nation tried…. Nation Failed
But the elect shall still come

Hardened (rarely used LXX… secular Greek) like a kidney stone… bone repair…
God never rescinded his offer
God is always faithful
The promise to Israel still exists - - theirs is the message and the messiah…
God is faithful and the offer stands…

God is Faithful – The Offer Expands

Same offer – Salvation by Grace through Faith new focus…
We have specific purpose in this regard…

Make Israel jealous

Live it…
Experience it
Find peace, worship, trust, revel
If Israel was watching… hmmmm

Be the messengers…

Hey get it wrong… new courier
Loose the package… new delivery system

Further the message… focus and scope
Wider…. That was Israel’s purpose

Testimony to Yahweh
Blessing to the Nations
Blessing to the World
Stewards of God’s Promises

What Paul started we carry on…

Preach to the world
Be a contrast (to world and Jewish people)

Testimony to God
Blessing to the Nations
Blessing to the World
Stewards of God’s Promises

We are engrafted… no arrogance

Abraham and Patriarchs are our roots

We share a common faith heritage

Unbelieving branches pruned…

No one deserves… no one can claim the right to God’s favour…
I deserve….
No Jew or No Christian
Grace is undeserved… unmerited r it ceases to be grace
Remember God choose the

Captive
Stiff necked
Foolish
weak

We have been engrafted

We are not the root
But we are the benefactors

Some old branches will be engrafted…

Not every branch burned
Pray many will see the light

Imagine when she comes back!

Wayward child
Father’s delight
Luke 15:21 "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.
Our lives…

Life from death…. More blessing

The change
The fulfillment
The testimony

Holiness… not salvation (NT)… Set-apart O/T God’s purpose….
God’s Offer expanded…. But we are key…

The Offer Realized

· All Israel Saved

o True Israel

o Through Jesus

o Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

o This is not a mighty two-tiered plan

o Salvation by Grace through Faith

· All Israel Saved – New Covenant

o The New covenant was given to Israel….

o Jeremiah 31:31 "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.

o Imagine God saying… even though I was faithful they messed up!

· All Israel Saved

o God’s Promises are sure

§ They will all come to complete fulfillment

o God’s Promises are Irrevocable

§ Hebrews 6:18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.

The Doxology

· 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 35 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

· How Great the Wisdom of God

· How Great the Knowledge of God

· How Perfect, complete, complex, beyond us….

o Are his judgements

o Are his actions

· How infinite is his Mind…

o Who could add a single thought or idea

· Who has anything to give him that isn’t his…