ROMANS:ROAD TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
Making Jews Jealous
Romans 11:13-36
Jerry A Collins
SCC
Can we expect a future for
How will God restore
What does
I was once told by a friend of
mine, There is a method to my madness. Unable to
figure out what he was up to, he assured me that he knew exactly what it was he
was doing even though I was confused by his actions. When the outcome was
clear, it was then obvious how all of his actions and decisions made sense. We
often find ourselves struggling to understand what it is God is up to as well.
We have to frequently wait until the outcome is clearer before we can
understand what it is God is up to. In Romans 11 God is filling us in on His
plan for the nation of
1. GOD IS ABLE TO RESTORE
THOSE WHO REJECT HIM
13-24
In this case it is His own people that He will restore.
A. Israel will have a reversal of fortunes 13-15
13-14 There is hope for the Jews. By evangelizing Gentiles, Jews were becoming jealous of God’s favor on Gentiles. Not that jealousy is an end in itself. But that if they are jealous of Gentiles, they may be willing to listen to gospel, turn back to God, accept His mercy freely independent of the Law.
15 When they return to God the results for mankind are comparable to life from the dead. God’s favor on humanity will pale in comparison with what the world will experience then—the Millennium.
B. We share common roots with
16 First piece of dough is believing remnant. The lump is the whole nation. God has consecrated (Holy) both of these to Himself. The root & branches refer to Abe’s covt both holy as well. Instead of believing Jews are cast-offs, we must see how our connection to them can enrich our own experience with Jesus. We have a common bond with them. We both in the church.
17 In 17-24 this is pictured by
an olive tree—a common symbol for the nation of
18 Apparently it is possible, as
some were, to feel superior toward these broken branches, God’s program of
redeeming a remnant from Israel, God had broken off. We of this church age were
grafted into this tree in place of this remnant but we must keep in mind that
we have been grafted into something God was already doing thru them. This
program supports us not the other way around. We benefit spiritually from the
promises given to
19-20 While it is true that we have opportunity because of Jewish unbelief, the only reason we do is because we believed God for it. There is nothing we have done to deserve it or earn God’s favor this way.
21 Here is a warning about
arrogance in this matter: If God set aside
22 The church can be cut off from
the goodness of God and suffer His sternness just as easily as
24 Natural branches are easy to regraft. If god can do the difficult thing, namely grafting wild olive branches onto cultivated stock, it is not hard to believe he will do the easier thing of restoring pruned branches of cultivated tree to former position in the future.
2. GOD WILL RESTORE THOSE WHO
REJECT HIM 25-36
A. Prophecy of salvation of all
25
26-27 When
this happens God will bring about a complete restoration of His promise to this
nation. The timetable is the coming of their deliverer, the Second Coming of
Christ to establish a future kingdom for
28-29
So for us today in this age God’s rejection of
30-31
For us, our former disobedience is turned into the
present objects of God’s mercy because of Jews disobedience.
32
So all need mercy because all are disobedient. God has declared all guilty (Rom
B. God has a wise plan 33-36 Compare to doxology of Romans 8:31-36
33
It’s Complex:
God’s wisdom is ability to arrange His plan so it results in our good
and His glory. He constructs His plan logically extending beyond human
comprehension. His procedures so complex we cannot discover them without divine
revelation.
34-35
It’s Exclusive: Isaiah said noone
can know mind of God fully. So wise he needs no counselors. Job observed God
never needed to depend on human help putting him in our debt. Fact that God
includes us in executing His will does not mean He cannot get along without us.
36
It’s Eternal: God is source from which all things come—means by which all
things happen—goal toward which all things are moving—originator, sustainer of
all things ultimately and He deserves our praise and worship forever!
(1)
Remain faithful & fearful. We are part of God’s people purely by God’s
grace. Nothing to do with how good, nice we are.
(2)
Realize privilege we have been given.
(3)
Rejoice in & thru God’s plan for you.