REBC Adult Bible Study - Romans 11
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Good evening church
Please turn your Bibles to ...
We had to divide the chapter into two partsAnd , which is considered one of the most controversial chapterRomans 10 actually contains my personal favorite verse and what is considered that one verse that perfectly sums up the requirements for salvation
As we continue our study of the Book of Romans
This chapter will focus of God’s promises being fulfilled...
A clarification that God did not throw Isreal to the side...
In fact, Israel's rejection is a part of God’s greater plan...
A plan for good
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we dive into the text...Please join me one more time in prayer before we start
Reading:
Reading:
Verse 1: I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He?
So based on the previous chapters...
Paul anticipates that some may be thinking...
God rejected Isreal forever
Paul’s response to this supposed claim is bold and clear...
Verse 1: May it never be!
Never!
Verse 1: For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Paul reminds the reader...
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.
He is an Israelite himself...
In fact, he considers himself a Hebrew of Hebrews ()...
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;
And loves his fellow Israelites so much...
He would give his own life to see them all saved ()
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
Verse 2: God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.
Israel's disobedience does not in any way...
Nullify God’s choice in Isreal as His people
Paul is making it clear as he said in the first verse...
God has not rejected Isreal
Verse 2: Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?
Paul here show us the importance of knowing your Bible
This is in reference to
1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”
Elijah actually prays that Isreal goes through a drought
Why?
To show them, the false gods that Isreal turned to, Baal...
Was not a true god at all...
You see, Baal was the god of rain and fertility...
The 3 and half year drought, proved Baal has no power
Elijah proved that there is only one true God
So, Paul is saying...
Sometimes you need to experience drought...
In order to find God
Isreal was punished and continues to be punished...
But it is for a greater good.
We must remember the Words of God to Isreal...
As they there about to be punished with exile in Babylon...
says...
11 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
Verse 3: “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”
Paul is a quoting from
10 He said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
This is the a description of the time in Israel's history when they completely abandoned God
They could not tolerate sound doctrine...
Or God’s revealed warnings
They even torn down places of worship, God’s alters...
And they wanted to kill Elijah too
These are the crying out going up to God
And God responds...
Verse 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.”
Here, Paul is again quoting 1 Kings ()
18 “Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
Despite Israel's rebellion...
God has keep for Himself...
7,000 believers, who are also know as the remanat
Notice God’s language...
God “Kept for Himself”...
It is by God’s power...
God’s mercy...
God’s goodness...
That any believer, stays a believer
We preserve to the end...
Because He keeps us...
And preserves us to the end
Verse 5: In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.
According to “God’s gracious choice”
Not man’s choice...
Not man’s will...
But by God’s choice...
This election or choosing of God is “gracious”
This is an act of love and mercy
This is why it is amazing grace
We are unable to please God on our own
We do not seek Him...
Again we can’t forget what Paul said...
At the start of this letter in
10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;
11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God;
12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,
17 And the path of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
So, in Paul’s day there is also a remnant...
Like there was in Elijah’s day
Again, we need to remember what Paul already said about the remnant in
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved;
28 for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.”
29 And just as Isaiah foretold, “Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left to us a posterity, We would have become like Sodom, and would have resembled Gomorrah.”
So the purpose of God leaving a remnant...
Is so that this world does not become like Sodom and Gomorrah
Verse 6: But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
Paul, makes it clear...
As he successfully made his argument on...
Unconditional election in Chapters 8 and 9...
Likewise, the remnant are chosen by God...
By His divine grace, otherwise it is work based
If God doesn’t choose us first...
Then we can boast about it...
But eliminates any possibility...
That we can choose God without God choosing us first...
Due to our total depravity
Questions or Comments?
Reading:
Reading:
Verse 7: What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained,
Isreal was seeking God by the law
Isreal was seeking God by works...
And they did not find Him
Verse 7: But those who were chosen obtained it,
However, those whom God graciously had chosen...
In turn sought and found His righteousness
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
If you have ever found God...
It was only because He first choose you
Verse 7: And the rest were hardened;
What about those not chosen...
God hardens their already hard hearts
This is not unfair...
In fact, this is a judicial act of God...
This is a judicial act of God...
In response to stubbornness and rebellion
Verse 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.”
“GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR,
EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT,
This should not be a surprise to those familiar with the words in Scripture
The first line was quoted from ...
DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.”
10 For the Lord has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep, He has shut your eyes, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, the seers.
And the last line is adapted from
4 “Yet to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 11:8.x
Being in rebellion to God...
Like Pharaoh for example...
Will lead to God blinding you, and making you deaf...
And that is not a physical threat...
That is He will make you spiritually blind....
He will make you spiritually deaf
We have a sovereign God and He will do as He pleases...
You see, we have a sovereign God and He will do as He pleases...
What may seem unfair to us...
Is justice and love in reality
Verses 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.”
“LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP,
This is taken from
AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.
22 May their table before them become a snare; And when they are in peace, may it become a trap.
23 May their eyes grow dim so that they cannot see, And make their loins shake continually.
Paul again is using the Old Testament to teach us this hard truth
David, a man after God’s heart understood God’s justice
Verse 10: “LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.”
R. C. Sproul once said...
“A God who is all love, all grace, all mercy...
AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.”
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But no sovereignty, no justice, no holiness, and no wrath...
Is an Idol!”
Questions or Comments?
Reading:
Reading:
Verse 11: I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they?
Paul is pointing out that despite God allowing Isreal to stumble...
It is not with the intention that they fall away completely
His purpose if good
Verse 11: May it never be!
Again, Paul uses the strongest objection in the Greek to show how much...
He disagrees with the thought that God has rejected His people
Verse 11: But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.
God’s purpose is revealed...
By Israel's transgression...
We, the Gentiles, have an opportunity for salvation
This too, has a great and good purpose...
To make Isreal jealous
We must understand we are benefiting from God’s great purpose
Being used by God is nothing like being used by anybody else
We have such a negative perception of being used
But being used by God has led to our salvation
Being a slave to God is not oppression...
It is true freedom
Verse 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 makes a great point through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit...
If by Israel's rebellion...
Gentiles recieved salvation...
How much more will the world benefit...
When Isreal returns to faithfulness to God
Verses 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.
Speaking to the church in Rome...
We as Gentiles can relate to his message...
And Paul is completely transparent...
Verse 14: If somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.
As the apostle of the Gentiles...
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He both wants to reach Gentiles...
And he wants to make his Jewish brother and sisters jealous
Jeolous
Verse 15: For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Again, Paul points out...
If Israel's rejection led to reconciliation of the world
Then their acceptance of God’s grace will lead to life
Please also not the words “reconciliation of the world”
When Scripture uses the word “world”...
It does not always mean every single individual person
If it did then it can easily lead to heresies like Universalism
An interpretation that that everyone in the world is reconciled with God...
Goes against the very words of Christ as in
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Verse 16: If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.
Two illustrations are used that teach the same truth...
The firstfruits and the root refer to the Old Testament patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...
And the saving promises given to them
If the firstfruits and root are consecrated to God...
So too are the whole lump of dough and the branches...
Who are the Jewish people as a whole
So, It does not follow from this that every Jewish person will be saved...
But it does indicate that God will be faithful to his promises...
And that in the future many more Jews will be saved
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2176.
Questions or Comments?
Reading:
Reading:
Verses 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.
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Verse 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.
We are being warned yet again to not be arrogant...
Because it is God’s saving promise that is the root that we stand on
Verses 19-20: You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
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Verse 20: Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
Paul anticipates that many will be shocked by this truth...
Tat we, the Gentiles, are grafted onto the tree...
That we are grafted because certain branch broke off
We may not like this truth...
Because it really eliminates all boasting...
But we need to remember our salvation is a gift from God
We need to not be conceited but to have the fear of God in us
Verse 21: For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
Fear of God is a very good this to have...
In fact, the fear of God is the beginning of understating and wisdom (, )
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
So, understanding the fear of God means we understand that is God did not spare Israel...
Then don’t think He will spare you either
Questions or Comments?
Reading:
Reading:
Verse 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.
We need to understand the true God of the Bible...
God is not a genie that grants your every wish
God is not dependent on you
God is not just love...
God is also holy and just
So, Paul point out God’s amazing kindness for those in a relationship with Him
However we can’t ignore God’s severity or His wrath for those who rebel against Him
They will be cut off
You see, God is the best of allies you can have...
And He is also the worst of enemies you can have
Verses 23-24: And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 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 is making it clear that God...
Can graft Israel back on the tree if they believe
Noting is impossible for God
Verse 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?
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Questions or Comments?
Reading:
Reading:
Verse 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;
Paul is sharing this mystery for reason...
The doctrine of Election and the remnant can’t be ignored...
If you attempt to explain away these doctrines as unimportant...
That is proof you missed the whole point
Understanding this mystery
Verses 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.”
“THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
“All Israel” does not necessarily refer to every single Jewish person...
HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
But to a very large number, at least the majority of Jews
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2177.
This is in reference to
20 “A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord.
21 “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from now and forever.”
Verse 27: “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”
This is in reference to the return of Christ from the heavenly Zion at the end of the age..
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WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”
So, this is suggesting that the Jews will be saved near or at the second coming
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2177.
R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2001.
R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2001.
Verse 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;
So from our point of view...
It is easy to see Israel as an enemy...
However, from God’s standpoint...
They are still His people who He loves for the past faithfulness of their fathers: Abraham, Issac and Jacob
Verse 29: For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
So, Israel will be saved because God never revokes his saving promises
Additionally, the presence of a believing remnant in Paul’s day (including Paul himself)...
And the promise of God’s ingathering of many more Jews to faith in Jesus the Messiah...
Show that God has not revoked His calling and gifts to His ancient covenant people
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2177.
So, God’s sovereign election of Israel...
Like that of individual believers...
Is unconditional and unchangeable...
Because it is rooted in His immutable nature...
And expressed in the unilateral, eternal Abrahamic Covenant
R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2002.
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
Questions or Comments?
Reading:
Reading:
Verse 30: For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience,
Paul reminds us...
We where once disobedient to God...
Yet, God was merciful with us due to their disobedience
Verse 31: So these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.
So, when God shows us mercy while in disobedience...
Isreal will take take note of this mercy and realize it can be shown on them too
Verse 32: For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
In essence, God showed us all...
Gentile and Jew...
To be in disobedience...
So that He may be the one to show mercy to all believers
Verse 33: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
This is part of the great wisdom and knowledge of how God operates...
If properly understood...
You will see just how amazing God’s ways are
This defies all human understanding and logic
Verse 33:How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
His ways and His judgement are both unfathomable and unsearchable
Church, this is not something that can be made up...
This is the way of God and it is perfect in every way
Verse 34: For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?
Quoting ...
13 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has informed Him?
Paul is saying very clearly...
Don’t use a logical argument to make up theology...
Don’t fall under the pride that you actually know God’s mind...
You can’t counsel God..,
So, our understanding of God can’t be on human logic and reason...
The Word of God needs to be our only source for building our theology
The Scriptures are our source of who God really is
Verse 35: Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?
Paul is making reference to
11 “Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.
You have nothing to offer God...
God is the one who gives to you...
This is why a works based road to salvation is detestable to God
God will actually put stumbling stones in place if you try to reach Him by works
You see, a pay check is earned...
You are owed a pay check
So if God owes nobody anything...
Then grace must be a gift
Verse 36: For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .
This is a song of praise by Paul...
That God is the source, the sustainer, and the rightful end of everything that exists
“Through Him” is that God
God’s dealings with Jew and Gentile display a cross-section of His majesty...
John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .
In which His sovereign will (“from him”)...
His sovereign activity (“through him”)...
And His sovereign glory (“to him”)...
Are richly displayed
R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2002.
Questions or Comments?
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer