September 7, 2018
God's Great Plan of Salvation for Jews and Gentiles
Romans 11
Bart Roberson
Central Truth
God has a great plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles. When we don’t understand the “how” of the plan, we can trust the “Who” of the plan—a God who is rich in wisdom and knowledge.
Romans 11
The Remnant of Israel
1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, 1 11:1 Or one of the offspring of Abraham a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
9 And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10
let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and bend their backs forever.”
Gentiles Grafted In
11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion 2 11:12 Greek their fullness mean!
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root 3 11:17 Greek root of richness; some manuscripts richness of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
The Mystery of Israel's Salvation
25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: 4 11:25 Or brothers and sisters a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
27
“and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now 5 11:31 Some manuscripts omit now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Dive Deeper | Romans 11
Welcome to Romans 11 (again!), the section of Romans that covers Israel’s future. Paul begins Romans 11 by setting the record straight—God has not rejected Israel. After all, Paul himself is a Jew. Just as in 1 Kings 19:9-18, when God told Elijah that He was keeping a remnant (a small portion of a large group) of 7,000 men, God is keeping a remnant at the present time. The rest of Israel was “hardened” (Romans 11:7), having eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear (Romans 11:8). But what does that have to do with you and me? Everything, as far as our salvation is concerned. To paraphrase theologian Irving Jensen, if you don’t know about the nation of Israel, you don’t know about salvation.
Beginning in Romans 11:11, Paul explains that through Israel’s unbelief, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Israel’s trespass means riches and reconciliation for the world and Gentiles (Romans 11:11-15). That is great news! Because of Israel’s unbelief, the gospel message of Jesus Christ—who lived a perfect life and died so that sinful man may live—has come to Gentiles like me. It is God’s kindness, not anything that I’ve done, that allows me to believe (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Paul goes on to say that "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26). How can that be the plan when so many in the nation of Israel, save for the remnant, do not believe? Paul doesn’t explain how this will happen, but he does give us some attributes of God that we can rest in:
- God is merciful (Romans 11:30-32).
- The depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge are cause for praise (Romans 11:33).
- His judgments are unsearchable (Romans 11:33).
- His ways are inscrutable (Romans 11:33).
- No one fully knows God’s mind or is wise enough to counsel Him (Romans 11:34).
- God has never needed any help from humans, which would put Him in man's debt (Constable's Notes on Romans 11:35).
After covering God’s great plan of salvation for Gentiles and Jews, Paul concludes Romans 11 in a fitting way—praising the One who saved you and me.
This month's memory verse
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
– Romans 8:38–39
Discussion Questions
1. Romans 11:12 mentions the riches that have come to the Gentiles. Do you regularly meditate on the riches associated with knowing Christ? What blessings from Christ are you thankful for today?
2. In Romans 11:25 we see that the partial hardening that has come upon Israel will last only until the full number of Gentiles that will be saved. Are there people in your life who need to hear the gospel message? Pray for those persons and ask your community group to hold you accountable in faithfully sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with them.
3. When you don’t understand God’s plan, what passages of Scripture do you turn to that speak about the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God? Do you trust that His judgments are unsearchable and His ways are inscrutable? If you need help, take a look at Job 5:9, Psalm 36:6, Isaiah 55:8, and Colossians 3:2.