Romans 11
Romans 11
[00:00:00] Hey everyone, welcome to God's plan your part year two where this year We're reading through and studying the entire new testament one chapter at a time Thanks again for joining us in discovering god's plan and your part in it Romans chapter 11 is where we are headed today And as we are getting through this book, this chapter is definitely one where I would say a little bit more study would be helpful Um, so we're just going to give a little plug for our partner Logos Bible software would be an excellent way to kind of dig into some of these verses that are a little bit more challenging, maybe a little bit more, um, difficult to understand for face value.
So if you are interested in, um, maybe taking a look at some of these verses on your own, Ryan, you want to give a little bit of information on that? You know, there's, there's two links in our description. One, we'll get you like base packages, um, that can be a little bit more pricey, but have a lot more resources for you to do research and stuff.
Uh, the other link will give you like a, like a. Uh, basic package that is [00:01:00] 50 bucks and it comes with five free resources, one of which being a commentary specifically on Romans. So it could be a great tool to dig into this a little bit further and see what some other people have to say about the passage.
So click the link in our description and go check that out. Little note too, like the basic package is like pretty good on its own, but then you also get to add those five free books. So anyway, back to Romans chapter 11. So this is a continuation of the conversations we've been having literally for the last two chapters, 9 and 10.
We've been talking a lot about election. We've been talking about Israel. We've been talking about Gentiles and how they all kind of need to be coming onto the same page. And so what's interesting about today is there's this really excellent. It's a really excellent, like visual at the end of the chapter that I would like to talk about more.
Um, that kind of gives us an idea of what it looks like for the Jews, what it looks like for the Gentiles to be like the book or like this chapter says to be grafted in, um, to the family of God. [00:02:00] And so it's really, I, I would love to talk about that more, but I think there was some stuff that resonated with you at the beginning.
It's interesting at the beginning, Paul is making this case for a remnant that God has kept for himself. And what he does is he appeals all the way back to Elijah. Uh, there's a story where Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. And God essentially like sends down fire from heaven and burns up Elijah's sacrifice, but Baal, Which is just an idol, a pretend God, uh, does not respond to the prophets of Baal.
And so Elijah has victory on Mount Carmel. And then Elijah is part of putting all of these prophets of Baal to death. And then, um, Ahab and Jezebel seek to kill Elijah. So Elijah like retreats into the desert. Elijah, yes. He has this moment of just incredible depression where he says like, I'm the only one left that cares about following you.
And God's like. No, like I've kept 7, 000 for myself. And it's interesting. We've been talking about election. [00:03:00] Uh, actually, I mean, Paul has been talking about election throughout these chapters. That is a case for election that God's response to Elijah is, Hey, listen, there are 7, 000 people that I have kept for myself.
You know, You are not on your own. And so what Paul's doing here is he's, I think, speaking to the Gentile audience, probably first saying like, Hey, I know you think that you're like really special, but don't forget that God can keep whoever he wants for himself. And then what Paul's going to do is make this case that God actually does have.
A special relationship with the Jewish people throughout history. And even though it looks like they are completely hardened and completely against him, uh, against God, he will keep for himself some that will, uh, be proven faithful. And that is a big piece of this chapter. And, and of course he does talk about this grafted in language, which we'll get to in just a second.
Um, So it's, it's kind of this two part thing. Like he's addressing the, the Jews who are hardened [00:04:00] toward God. He's addressing the Gentiles who are softened towards God. And then he's kind of, um, uh, making some cases for how that's going to play out. Um, we talked a couple of days ago about. Israel's like today, like Israel today, the nation state, the people, we talked about what their relationship with God is like, and if they are God's chosen people, or if that's now the church, um, you have to look at this chapter as well to understand that, that argument and that idea.
I guess my reasoning for this, the beginning of the chapter, the beginning of the episode saying that I would need to dig a little bit deeper for some of these topics is because at the beginning of the chapter, it really did kind of feel like a slam towards Israel. Yes, yes. But then at the end, it like totally turns around.
To be like, well, actually there's going to be a lot of grace for them in the very end. And that was just like, wait, I'm really confused. Not that I would wish that there's no grace, but it doesn't, it just seems like they're conflicting ideas that Paul is like throwing around because [00:05:00] he's backing himself up with tons of scripture from the Old Testament at the beginning.
But then at the end, he's also using. Other scripture too, that just, I don't know, I doesn't totally. There's a lot of different takes on this passage and it's one of those things where there's a lot of really well informed takes on this passage and they don't say the same thing. So I would say probably what's going on here is Paul is talking present tense and, and I would say even today we could see a lot of this as present tense, but then there's other times where Paul is talking future tense.
And so you have to pay attention to what he's saying and how he's saying it. Because then you can, it'll help you catch the present tense and future tense because the whole story of Paul, I mean, even like the gospels that we've read for the last six months leading up to the book of Acts that we read last month, uh, they all show that while Paul is writing these letters for the most part, the Jewish people, the people of Israel in Paul's day were very antagonistic toward Christ and towards [00:06:00] the followers of Christ.
And So I think he's talking about those folks that have been hardened. He uses actually, that's the language he uses. But then there's a point in the chapter, I would say, starting in verse 25, where Paul starts to talk future tense about, Hey, God is going to continue to keep a group of people for himself.
Actually, the, I mean, I guess we'll just go there since we're already talking about, um, He says all Israel will be saved. That's a pretty significant thing for him to say. That's where I kind of was like, wait, what? And that's in verse 26. Um, so Paul seems to be saying that in, at some future point in time, there will be significant revival in Israel.
I think probably, um, Um, talking about the actual location, the nation, the whole thing, but even more so like the actual people, the Jewish people, there apparently will be a time when many of them come to Christ and they become believers. But we know from today, that is [00:07:00] not the case in large part. Well, it's interesting too because it's, it's almost like, The finality of the promise then like it started at the very beginning.
It's not like God just forgot the promise, but it's like closing time That's so weird Okay Closing all time to that because you're saying that verse 28 as regards as regards the gospel They are enemies for your sake being the Gentiles. So he's talking future tense. They're like, hey, yeah You know that they are enemies to the gospel right now Um, so But as regards to election, but as regards to election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
That's covenant language. He's saying like, God made a promise to Abraham. God made a promise through Moses. God made promises to David. God spoke promises through Jeremiah. Exactly. And he's faithful to those promises. So this is one of those deals where you need to look at what the passage says. You need to look at what the book says.
You need to look at what the bigger picture of scripture says. Um, God doesn't seem to save. Save anyone just because of who their parents are. [00:08:00] There, there's always this level of personal responsibility. And so you, you were a little bit confused earlier, Jenny, do you want to speak to that at all? Like you were kind of, like, if you continue with that, like that next verse for just as you were at one time disobedient to God, but now you have received mercy because of their disobedience.
So they too. Now have been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you, they may also now receive mercy. So it's like, it's almost like this full circle picture. Like you have to understand like grace was given to you and like at a certain point, it might not make any sense now, but like God will be extended to them.
Yeah. So the thing that you were confused by earlier was, wait a minute. Is this saying that. Israel will be saved just because they're Israel? Past, present, future Jews that are not included in this time. Like, does that? So you were, you were kind of picking up like, wait, does this guarantee that anybody who's ever been Jewish will be saved by God?
That's kind of what you were saying. Yeah. Cause it just was like, wait a minute. It says all that was why to me, it was like, this is kind of odd now. So the thing to catch, if [00:09:00] you're, a lot of times people write in and they say they, they actually really track with Jenny's questions. So I was like, okay, Jenny's got a good question here.
Uh, if you were noticing that or thinking that. It is important to remember that the, the vast majority of scripture speaks to personal responsibility when it comes to your faith in Christ. Uh, even the book of Romans speaks to personal responsibility in your faith with Christ. God does not save anyone because of their genealogy or heritage or background.
God saves people because of their own, um, calling out to him. I mean, literally yesterday, was it yesterday? That we talked about, you must confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and you'll be, and you'll be saved. And so, you know, always there's personal responsibility. So it seems safe to assume here, Paul's talking about some future time when there will be some significant, um, revival in the Jewish community.
A lot of people read these passages and say, you know, at the end, At the end times, at the end of things, when Christ [00:10:00] returns, there will be some level of massive revival where Jewish people turn to Christ. So if we can backtrack just a little bit, I think we just need to emphasize the one part about the Gentiles.
So there's like the beginning part that's talking about that remnant of Israel, then we move into like a section about the Gentiles and how they are grafted in. And then we get to that, that real confusing future tense Jewish promise. Yeah. Okay. So what stuck with me as I was reading is that second, Section where the Gentiles are grafted in and it, like I mentioned at the beginning of the episode, I really appreciated like the word picture of the branches.
Um, so it's essentially saying, um, if initially talking about this, this tree, yeah, an olive tree and it says if some of the branches were broken off, these are the ones that like rejected faith in Christ and you, although a wild olive shoot referring to the Gentiles. grafted in among the others. And now share in the nourishing [00:11:00] root being representative of God.
Mm-Hmm. , um, of the olive tree. Do not be arrogant toward the branches. Mm-Hmm. . So he is like, kind of laying that foundation like. You've been grafted in by grace. Don't just assume that you're better than the branches that are supporting you, that are supported by the, you know what I mean? Like, it's, it's this whole idea that works together.
There's nothing better than the other. So essentially, it's just basically saying, like, all of these pieces are working together. The, uh, the original branches that were cut off, like, there is no like new place for you to, to join in and just be like, well, I'm better than they were because essentially it does say in here too, that like, if God was willing to cut off those branches from the beginning, there's nothing going to stop him from cutting yours off as well.
So all of those things rely on the root for sustainability. And like, it just, it's really cool how like all of that leveling language. Really seems to play out here. Like it's a grace gift that you're even a part of this. And also at the same time, like God can chop [00:12:00] off any of those branches at any time.
And, and he, he gets rid of those branches and prunes those branches based on their faithfulness. And that is very similar to what Jesus taught. He's not teaching some new crazy thing. Like. This is very consistent with what Jesus was teaching. It's very consistent with what some of the Old Testament prophets were teaching, that you need to persevere in your faith and continue to honor God with your life.
And so that, that is interesting because Paul's teaching election that God has chosen certain people for himself, but he's also teaching that we must persevere. Persevere in our faithfulness. So it's not like this deal where you get to be frozen chosen. We talked about that yesterday. Uh, you have to continue in your faith and continue to honor Christ in your faith, because if you, you know, if you reject Christ, if your life is evidence of rejecting Christ, uh, you will be.
Cut off. And he's, yeah, he's, he's totally teaching like the two audience. We've talked about that a lot, that there was Jewish people in the audience. There were Gentile [00:13:00] people in the audience. He's telling them like, Hey, we're all nourished by the same root and none of us should be arrogant or prideful one over the other because it's God who's doing this work and it's God who's producing this fruit.
So we look to him to continue his work. So going off of all this root branches imagery, I think we can probably pull a year apart from those verses that we were just talking about. I would actually say that your part comes from probably verse 17 and 18, which we've been talking about a little bit back and forth.
It says, but if some of the branches were broken off and you, although a wild olive shoot, We're grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree. 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.
It's like the root here is Christ and it's very easy to go throughout your day or throughout your week or throughout your month or whatever and think that you're able to accomplish more things than you actually are [00:14:00] able to accomplish. Watch and think. That your actions and your beliefs and your abilities are supporting the work of Christ when in reality, it is the work of Christ that is supporting you.
So it's a very humbling thing to remember. And I know for me, like I, I definitely lose sight of that. Often. Same. And it is very helpful to remember, no, it's not what I'm doing that's supporting Christ. It's what Christ has already done that is supporting me. So take that with you today. Um, see how that applies in your own life.
Just remember that Christ is supporting you and not the other way around. I will be back again tomorrow with Romans chapter 12. We'll see you then. Thanks for joining today's episode of God's Plan, Your Part. As always, please consider partnering with us as we are a listener supported podcast that we hope to continue to grow with support from listeners just like you.
We've made it super easy to partner with us and you can support us by following the link in our show notes or our description. You can support us with as little as [00:15:00] three dollars a month. Every little bit of this helps so much and we're so thankful for your support. With that in mind, here's today's reading.
Romans, Chapter 11 I ask then, has God rejected his people? By no means. For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know that the scripture says of Elijah how he appeals to God against Israel? Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left and they seek my life.
But what was God's reply to him? I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal. So too at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it is seeking.
The elect obtained it, but the rest [00:16:00] were hardened. 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. And David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.
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. Now, if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles. Now I am speaking to you Gentiles, inasmuch then, as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean, but life from the dead? If the [00:17:00] dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 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 of the olive tree, 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. Then you will say, Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief. But you stand fast through faith. So, do not become proud, but fear, for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.
Note then the kindness and severity of God. Severity towards those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness, otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their [00:18:00] unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.
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? Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers.
A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 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, and this will be my covenant with them, when I take away their sins. As regards to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake.
But as regards to election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because [00:19:00] of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.
For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrucible His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?
For from Him and through Him and to Him,
Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of God's Plan, Your Part. Don't forget, you can find us on just about every social media platform and YouTube. Let us know what you thought of today's episode, and if you have any questions, go ahead and post them there. You can also reach out to us directly at GodsPlanYourPart at gmail.
com. As always, God bless. If you don't have a Bible, [00:20:00] or if you'd like to use the one that we use, uh, reach out to us via email and we'll be happy to send one to you. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you again tomorrow.