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April 21, 2002
Text: Romans 11:1-36 “Will
the world ever see the real love between God and His people?”
Introduction: After Romans Chapter 10 we are left with the
question: Has God permanently cast
aside His people, or is there a future for Israel? Paul says the answer is “Yes!”
and
presents several proofs. Don’t
forget that Paul’s letter is primarily to Gentile Christians.
So he is explaining that the Gentiles should not look down on the Jew
because it is because of God’s setting aside of the Jew that the Gentiles were
brought into relationship with God. I. The Personal Proof (11:1)“I am an Israelite!”
states Paul, and “my salvation is proof that God is not through with
Israel.” (I Timothy1: 16)… Paul’s conversion experience (Acts 9:) is a
picture of the way Israel’s people will be converted at the coming of Christ
in glory. Like Paul, they will be
in rebellion and unbelief. They
will see Him whom they have pierced (Zech. 12:10; Rev. 1:7) and will repent and
be saved. (This is different than
Gentile Salvation). A. (I Cor. 15:8) Paul says
that he was “born out of due time”.
That is as a Jew, he saw Christ and was saved long before his
people would have that same experience. II.
The Historical Proof
(11:2-10) Paul reached back into I Kings to show that
God has always had a faithful remnant even in the times of greatest unbelief.
(I Kings 19:10, 14,18) A, The remnant that God always used, He also blessed (Isa.1: 9).
The remnant can only come from among the saved.
We need to remind ourselves that during the church age, God is not
dealing with the nation of Israel as such. B. In the Church age no Jewish group can claim to be God’s elect
remnant (Romans 11:8-10). The testimony of history is that God has never
forsaken His people. Some are being
saved right now, in the Church age, while Israel is blind.
How many more will be saved in the future when God removes their
blindness? This blindness of Israel
was prophesied: (Isa.29:10)…
(Matt.13:14-15ff)… III. The
Dispensational Proof (11:11-24) In these verses Paul proves that God has a dispensational purpose behind
the fall of Israel; namely the salvation of the Gentiles. The parable of the olive tree must be examined carefully.
Paul is not talking about salvation of individual Christians, but the
position of Jews and Gentiles as peoples in the program of God.
Israel is the olive tree that failed to bear fruit for God.
The Gentile is the wild olive tree.
(v.24) The grafting of one to the other is “contrary to nature”. Wiersbe says, this act shows the goodness and severity of God: His goodness in saving the Gentiles, His severity in cutting off rebellious Israel. But the Gentiles dare not boast because they now have Israel’s place of spiritual privilege, for God can cut them off too! And He will do just that in the end of this age, when the Gentile nations join together in a world coalition that refuses the Word of God and the Son of God. Then He will call out the true Church, judge the Gentile nations, purge Israel, and set up His Kingdom for Israel. (W.W. Expository Outlines of N.T. p. 398). IV. The
Scriptural Proof (11:25-36) A. The Old Testament promised a coming Deliverer who would cleanse and restore Israel: (Isa.59: 20-21)
__________________________ (Isa.27: 9)
__________________________ (Ps.14: 7) __________________________ B.
The New Testament confirms: (Romans 11:26-27)
God’s covenant… (v.29) God will not change (Vv.30-32) God’s plan for
the Jew and the Gentile Application:
After reviewing God’s plan for
both Jews and Gentiles Paul calls us to praise! (33-36)
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