1 Romans Rom 11:28-36 March 31, 2012

2 Rom Paul summarizes the preceding section in chp. 11, and brings to closure the question regarding ethnic Israel which was started in Rom 9:6. By way of review: 1. The Question: has God’s promise to ethnic Israel failed? 2. The Answer: No! Supporting arguments highlighted: 1) “they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;” 9:6b 2) “it is not the children of flesh who are children of God, but the children of promise are regarded as descendants” 9:8 3) “so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls” 9:11 4) “it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” 9:16 5) “he has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” 9:18

3 2. The Answer: No! Supporting arguments: 6) “Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,... ‘It is the remnant that will be saved’ ” 9:27 7) “Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. 9: ) “They stumbled over the stumbling stone” 9:32 9) “they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God” 10:3 10) “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ... surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have” 10: ) “Moses says ‘I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation’” 10:19

4 2. The Answer: No! Supporting arguments: 12) “God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be!.. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew” 11:1-2 13) “there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.” 11:5 14) “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.” 11:11 15) “how much more will their fulfillment be... What will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” 11:12, 15 16) “I am speaking to you who are Gentiles... Do not be arrogant” 11:13, 18 17) “God is able to graft them back in again” 11:223 18) “this mystery... that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of Gentiles has come in” 11:25

5 By way of review: 1. The Question: has God’s promise to ethnic Israel failed? 2. The Answer: No! A. No, because God is in fact presently saving some Jews (known as the ‘remnant’, 9:27; 11:5). B. No, because God will save Jews in mass (known as the ‘fulfillment’, 11:12, or ‘all Israel’ 11:26) after the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Which brings us up to Rom 11:28ff

6 Rom 11:28 “enemies” and yet “chosen” V.28 continues to unpack the ‘mystery’ – Israel is regarded as both enemies and as chosen. Q. “enemies” with whom, of whom? Note that the counter part to “enemy” is what? “beloved” is the counter part. Clearly, “beloved” has God as the subject (the One who loves Israel), not the reverse. What does this suggest regarding the enmity? See Rom 9:13, 18. Most likely Rom 11:28 has God in mind, who regards hardened Israel as “enemies.” From perspective of God’s sovereign dealings. Note some take this as Israel’s active enmity against God, (cf. Rom 5:10) e.g. ESV supplies “of God” (not in Greek text).

7 Rom 11:28 “enemies” and “chosen” “Chosen,” then, also refers to God’s sovereign dealings. By the context, this choice refers to God’s choice of ethnic Israel as a nation through whom the Messiah would come. By the context, this choice will issue forth in salvation for the “fullness” of ethnic Israel. “It is better to understand the election Paul speaks of here to be the same corporate election of the people of Israel as a whole that he referred to in vv This election is that choosing of Israel as a nation which the OT frequently emphasizes, a choice that does not mean salvation for every single member of the nation, but blessings for the nation as a whole. All Jews, therefore, are “beloved of God”; but as Paul has made clear, this status will eventuate in salvation only for those whom God individually chooses for salvation in this age (the remnant) and in the last days (all Israel).” Moo

8 Rom 11:29 “gifts” and “calling” Paul explains v. 28 in v.29 “For...” The “gifts and calling of God,” in context, refers to God’s choice of ethnic Israel. This gets back to the heart of the question raised in Rom 9:6. The “gifts” most likely refers to those things which God gave to Israel, listed in Rom 9:4-5: “to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,” The “calling,” refers specifically to ethnic Israel as “God’s people” Isa 43:1 But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!

9 Rom 11:28 “gifts” and “calling” Q. Does the principle apply elsewhere? Yes. Regarding Salvation. Phil 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Regarding Spiritual Gifts? While the context of Rom 11 does not deal with it, it seems that spiritual gifts permanent. Consider: 1 Tim 4:14 ; 2 Tim 1:6. A gift could be neglected, yet rekindled. 1 Cor 12 gives the impression that God places particular persons with particular gifts so as to make us interdependent – which would seems pointless if we could be “re-gifted” to fit the need.

10 Rom 11: Paul summarizes the whole preceding section (11:17-24) regarding the present salvation of Gentiles, the olive tree illustration.

11 Rom 11:32 This is a summary of the principle found throughout Rom The use of “all” here refers to people classes (Jews vs. Gentiles). “All” does not teach universal salvation – again, it refers to all people classes.

12 Rom 11:33-36 – Doxology ! dox·ol·o·gy “An expression of praise to God, especially a short hymn” Paul concludes this section (and the entire first half of the book) by breaking forth in praise to God. “The theme... may be stated as the incomprehensibility of God’s counsel... It is a mistake, however, to think that God’s incomprehensibility applies only to his secret, unrevealed counsel... The most significant aspect of incomprehensibility is that it applies to what God has revealed... The apostle is overwhelmed with the unfathomable depth of the scheme of salvation which has been the subject of discourse in the preceding context.” Murray “Paul appropriately concludes one of his most profound and difficult theological discussion with a hymn in praise to God for his purposes and plans.” Moo

13 - end - NO Sunday School on Easter

14 “Romans’ Road” A simplified method of presenting the Gospel based entirely on verses from the book of Romans has been called Romans’ Road. This approach follows how Paul presented the Gospel in Romans: 1. Man’s Sin. 2. God’s Provision. 3. Man’ Response. Personalize each verse. As you use these verses, ask your friend to replace “all,” “whoever,” “us,” etc. with their own name.

15 “Romans’ Road” 1. Man’s Sin Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Use “but the free gift...” as a transition to 2. God’s provision.

16 “Romans’ Road” 2. God’s Provision. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Transition: What do you need to do?

17 “Romans’ Road” 3. Man’s Response. Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Rom 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." Offer to lead in prayer.