Romans
Chapter 11
I.
The Rejection of Israel (Chapter 9).
II.
The Availability of Salvation To Israel (Chapter 10).
III.
Israel's Restoration (Chapter 11).
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| 1.
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an
Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2.
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the
scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel,
saying,
3.
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and
I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4.
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven
thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
5.
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to
the election of grace. |
V.
1-6 |
– |
Israel
has not been cast away.
a)
(v. 1) An Argument from Paul’s Conversion = Paul uses his conversion (as
an Israelite) to show that God has not “cast away [all] his people”.
b)
(v. 2-4) An Argument from the Old Testament = In spite of the great national
apostasy under wicked King Ahab, God was faithful to preserve a remnant.
c)
(v. 5) An Argument from the Remnant who Presently Believe = “election
of grace” = These “Elect” or “Chosen Ones” have been made right with
God by grace which they received through faith. Paul uses the existence
of saved Jews as an evidence of God’s continued faithfulness to the Jewish
people.
It
is important to understand that the presence of a “remnant” of Jewish believers
in the Church does not make the Church “spiritual Israel”. The Church
and Israel are two distinct entities.
The
Church as Distinct from Israel
Romans
11:25 clearly distinguishes Israel from the Church.
The
Church was still future in Matthew 16:18.
The
Church is likened to a chaste virgin (II Corinthians 11:4). Israel
is likened to an adulterous wife (Jeremiah 3:20).
When
an individual believes in this present dispensation he is permanently indwelt
with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). In contrast, in the O.T.
the Holy Spirit temporarily “rested” on believers (as seen with Saul 1
Samuel 11:6; as seen by David’s prayer in Psalm 51:11).
Since
Acts chapter 2 the Holy Spirit has had the ministry of baptizing believers
into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). This unique ministry
was not present prior to the beginning of the Church.
Christ
is the head of the Church and the Church is said to be the body of Christ
(Ephesians 1:22,23). If the Church existed in the O.T. it would have
been a body without a head.
|
| 6.
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is
no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise
work is no more work. |
V.
6 |
- |
“if
by grace, then is it no more of works” = Here grace is shown to be
the antithesis of works. Faith is also presented as the antithesis
of works in Romans 4:5. |
| 7.
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but
the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded |
V.
7 |
- |
“Israel
hath not obtained that which he seeketh for” = Israel sought for righteousness
(to be right with God). Why did they not obtain a right standing
with God? Because they sought to “establish their own righteousness”
– a righteousness based on works (Romans 10:3). |
| |
|
– |
“the
election hath obtained it” = Those who were “elect” placed their faith
in Christ and “obtained righteousness”. |
| 8.
(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber,
eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto
this day. |
V.
7,8 |
– |
“the
rest were blinded” = National insensitivity to spiritual things.
Here Paul quotes from Isaiah 29:10 & from Psalms 69:22,23 in verse
8. Israel’s rejection of truth brought this judgment upon them.
From the Psalm 69 passage we see particular mention of Israel’s rejection
of the Messiah (Psalms 69:21) as cause for this judgment. |
| 9.
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a
stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
10.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back
always.
|
V.
9 |
– |
“their
table be made a snare…trap…stumblingblock” = The “table” was a place
of feasting. But for Israel their rejection of truth stole away from
them the prosperity which they could have enjoyed.
|
| 11.
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid:
but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles,
for to provoke them to jealousy. |
V.
11 |
– |
“Have
they stumbled that they should fall” = Here Paul asks, “Has Israel’s
backsliding caused them to be permanently forsaken by God?”
The answer given is, “Absolutely not!” |
|
|
– |
“salvation
is come unto the Gentiles” = Here the word “Gentiles” is used to denote
the Church. At this present time Christ is building His Church (Matthew
16:18). Understanding that the Church and Israel are two separate entities
why could they not exist together in this present age? |
|
|
– |
“to
provoke them to jealousy” = (As also in verse 14) It was Paul’s hope
that the Jewish people would see the presence of God in the lives of Gentile
believers compelling them to personal salvation. Could someone be
compelled to salvation by observing your life? |
| 12.
Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing
of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
13.
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles,
I magnify mine office:
14.
If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and
might save some of them. |
V.
12 |
– |
“how
much more their fulness” = If Israel’s setting aside began God’s great
blessing in this present age how much more will there be great blessing
when Israel is restored. |
| 15.
For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall
the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? |
V.
15 |
– |
“life
from the dead” = Israel will receive spiritual life just prior to the
beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. |
| 16.
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and
if the root be holy, so are the branches. |
V.
16 |
– |
In
the context the “firstfruit” represents the O.T. patriarchs from which
Israel (the lump) descended. The patriarchs were the direct recipients
of the promises. Paul’s argument is, “If the fathers where holy (set
apart and blessed by God) so are their descendants.” |
| 17.
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild
olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest
of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18.
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the
root, but the root thee.
19.
Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed
in.
20.
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.
Be not highminded, but fear:
21.
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare
not thee. |
V.16b-24 |
– |
Illustration
from the Olive Tree = “The “tree” that is represented here is an olive
tree…a definite symbol of the favored position of Israel as a nation spiritually
(Jeremiah 11:16). The “root” is emblematic of Christ (Isaiah
11:10). The trunk represents the place of spiritual favor and privilege;
the natural branches depict Israel, and the wild olive branches are emblematic
of the Church” (Dr. David Doherty).
Here
Paul makes two arguments:
To
show that Israel (the natural branches) will be restored (grafted in),
see verse 24.
To
warn the Gentiles that if they turn away from God, as Israel did, they
too will loose their spiritual privilege.
Paul
is not teaching that a saved Gentile may be cut off from this tree and
lose their salvation any more than he was saying that a saved Jewish person
could lose their salvation. What is being pictured here is the lose
of spiritual privilege. The warning to the Gentiles is that God did
not spare the nation of Israel when they apostatized, he will likewise
not spare an apostate church. |
| 22.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell,
severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness:
otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23.
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in:
for God is able to graff them in again.
24.
For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and
wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall
these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? |
V.
22 |
– |
“if
thou continue in his goodness” = Individuals are not being address
here. As a nation Israel lost spiritual privilege. But individual
Israelites where still being saved (as in the case of Paul). To the
Gentiles Paul warns that as a group they too will be rejected if they turn
away from God. But even this would not bring into question those
Gentiles who have placed their trust in Christ and have been born again
(John 3:16).
Can
a person lose faith after being born again? The security of the believer
is firmly established in Scripture (John 5:24; 1 Corinthians 1:8; Hebrews
10:14). But in brief we respond to this question by saying, “The
Scriptures say we must be born again! It does not say we must be
born again…and again…and again.” |
| 25.
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is
happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. |
V.
25 |
– |
“mystery”
= A previously unknown truth which could only be revealed through revelation.
The “mystery” here is that God will again restore Israel after the completion
of the Church. |
|
|
– |
“until
the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” = When Christ’s statement in
Matthew 16:18 will be brought to completion, Israel will be restored. |
| 26.
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written , There shall
come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27.
For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. |
V.
26 |
– |
“all
Israel shall be saved” = “…does not refer to all the Jews who have
ever lived, but to all those alive at the end of the Great Tribulation”
(Philips). Support for this position is found in the later part of
verse 26 where Paul quotes from Isaiah 59:20,21 thus identifying the time
of this event as taking place at the Second Coming of Christ. |
| 28.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as
touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. |
V.
28 |
– |
“enemies
for your sakes” = "for your advantage" (LKGNT). "Israel as a
nation became an enemy of the Gospel message, resulting in blessing to
the Gentiles" (Dr. David Doherty, Th.D.). Those who advocate a message
of salvation different from the Gospel of the Bible are also called "accursed"
(see Galatians 1:8). |
|
|
– |
“as
touching the election, they are beloved” = Their present rejection
of the Gospel did not negate their national election which will eventually
lead to their restitution as a nation. |
| 29.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. |
V.
29 |
– |
God’s
promises to Israel will never be rescinded. |
| 30.
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained
mercy through their unbelief:
31.
Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they
also may obtain mercy. |
V.
30 |
– |
"obtained
mercy through their unbelief" = The Gentiles are now enjoying the mercy
(spiritual privilege) which Israel has temporarily lost. |
| 32.
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy
upon all. |
V.
32 |
– |
"that
he might have mercy upon all" = Neither the Jews nor the Gentiles can
say they were without spiritual privilege. We should not think here
that God's "concluding them in unbelief" was causative. Similar language
is used in Galatians 3:22 were we read,
"But
the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of
Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."
|
| 33.
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how
unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out !
34.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor?
35.
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
36.
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory
for ever. Amen. |
V.
33-36 |
– |
In
conclusion to both this chapter and this section of the book of Romans
the Apostle Paul erupts into great praise and jubilation praising God for
His immeasurable greatness. This certainly implies these truths
will generate the same feelings in those who correctly understand them. |
