God's Faithfulness: Israel's Future and Our Hope

Devotional

Day 1: God's Unbroken Covenant with Israel

Despite historical and contemporary challenges, God's promises to Israel remain intact. Paul reassures that God has not rejected His people, evidenced by a remnant of believing Jews, including himself. This remnant is a testament to God's enduring faithfulness and grace. Paul draws parallels to the time of Elijah, when a faithful remnant was preserved despite widespread apostasy. This assurance of God's unbroken covenant should encourage us to trust in His promises, knowing that His faithfulness extends to all His people.

Paul's message is clear: God's covenant with Israel is unbroken, and His promises are reliable. This is a powerful reminder that God's faithfulness is not dependent on human actions but on His unchanging nature. As we reflect on this truth, we can find comfort and assurance in knowing that God's promises to us are just as steadfast. [05:28]

Romans 11:5-6 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Think of a promise from God that you are holding onto. How does knowing that God's covenant with Israel remains unbroken strengthen your faith in His promises to you?

Day 2: Role Reversal and Spiritual Envy

Paul highlights a significant role reversal where Gentiles, who have embraced the gospel, are now to live in a way that provokes spiritual envy among Jews. This calls for Christians to exhibit the joy, peace, and love that come from a relationship with Christ, making others desire what they have. This role reversal is not about superiority but about living out the transformative power of the gospel in such a way that it draws others to Christ.

As Christians, we are called to be a light in the world, reflecting the love and grace of Jesus in our daily lives. By living in a way that provokes spiritual envy, we can inspire others to seek the same relationship with Christ that brings us joy and peace. This is a powerful testimony to the transformative power of the gospel. [12:56]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV): "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: How can you live in a way today that reflects the joy, peace, and love of Christ, making others desire what you have in your relationship with Him?

Day 3: The Pattern of Apostasy and Renewal

Throughout Israel's history, there has been a recurring pattern of apostasy, punishment, repentance, and renewed faithfulness. Paul predicts that this pattern will continue, culminating in a future awakening among the Jewish people, turning back to God through Jesus, the Messiah. This pattern is a reminder of God's patience and mercy, always ready to welcome His people back when they repent and turn to Him.

This recurring pattern is not unique to Israel; it is a reflection of the human condition. We all have moments of wandering away from God, but His mercy and grace are always available to us when we repent and return to Him. This assurance of renewal should encourage us to seek God's forgiveness and embrace His grace. [10:03]

Hosea 14:4 (ESV): "I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced a cycle of wandering away from God and then returning to Him. How did you experience His mercy and grace during that time?

Day 4: The Danger of Anti-Semitism

Paul warns against anti-Semitism, attributing it to Satan's efforts to thwart God's plan. True believers in Jesus Christ are called to show the fruit of the true Messiah, so others will desire the joy, peace, and love that we have. This warning is a reminder that prejudice and hatred have no place in the body of Christ and that we are called to love and respect all people, including the Jewish community.

Anti-Semitism is a tool of the enemy to create division and hinder God's plan. As followers of Christ, we must stand against all forms of hatred and prejudice, showing the love of Jesus to everyone. This includes being aware of our own attitudes and actions and ensuring that they reflect the love and grace of Christ. [14:17]

Ephesians 2:14 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility."

Reflection: Examine your heart for any prejudices or biases you may hold. How can you actively work to show the love and respect of Christ to all people, including those from the Jewish community?

Day 5: God's Faithfulness to His Promises

Paul concludes by affirming that God’s promises are reliable. If God keeps His promises to Israel, He will surely keep His promises to us. This assurance should lead us to praise and glorify God, trusting in His wisdom and knowledge. Knowing that God's promises are steadfast gives us confidence and hope, even in uncertain times.

God's faithfulness is a cornerstone of our faith. When we see His promises fulfilled in the lives of others, it strengthens our trust in His promises to us. This should lead us to a deeper sense of worship and gratitude, knowing that we serve a God who is always faithful and true. [22:56]

2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV): "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory."

Reflection: Reflect on a promise of God that you have seen fulfilled in your life or the life of someone you know. How does this fulfillment strengthen your trust in God's promises for your future?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In Romans chapter 11, Paul addresses a pressing concern: the future of Israel in God's plan. Despite the scars of World War II and the Holocaust, God's promises to Israel remain steadfast. Paul, writing to a mixed audience of Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome, reassures them that God's covenant with Israel is unbroken. He uses the story of Dr. Giovanni Baromeo, who saved Jews during WWII by fabricating a disease, to illustrate the lengths to which one might go to protect God's chosen people. Paul emphasizes that while the gospel is now spreading primarily among Gentiles, this does not mean that God has abandoned Israel. Instead, God is forming a new people united by faith, transcending ethnic divisions.

Paul reassures his readers that God has not rejected Israel. He cites his own Jewish heritage and faith as evidence of a believing remnant within Israel. This remnant, chosen by grace, is a sign that God’s promises are still in effect. Paul draws parallels to the time of Elijah, when a faithful remnant was preserved despite widespread apostasy. He predicts a future awakening among the Jewish people, a time when they will turn back to God through Jesus, the Messiah.

Paul also highlights a role reversal: Gentiles, who have embraced the gospel, are now to live in such a way that provokes spiritual envy among Jews. This is a call for Christians to exhibit the joy, peace, and love that come from a relationship with Christ, making others desire what they have. Paul warns against anti-Semitism, attributing it to Satan's efforts to thwart God's plan. He concludes by affirming that God’s promises are reliable. If God keeps His promises to Israel, He will surely keep His promises to us. This assurance should lead us to praise and glorify God, trusting in His wisdom and knowledge.

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Key Takeaways

1. Semitism**: Paul warns against anti-Semitism, attributing it to Satan's efforts to thwart God's plan. True believers in Jesus Christ are called to show the fruit of the true Messiah, so others will desire the joy, peace, and love that we have. [14:17]
5. God's Faithfulness to His Promises: Paul concludes by affirming that God’s promises are reliable. If God keeps His promises to Israel, He will surely keep His promises to us. This assurance should lead us to praise and glorify God, trusting in His wisdom and knowledge.

### [14:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:03] - Syndrome K: A Story of Courage
[02:14] - Paul's Concern for Israel
[03:25] - The Unity of Chapters 9, 10, and 11
[04:24] - God's New People: Jew and Gentile United
[05:28] - The Remnant of Israel
[06:23] - Israel's Mission and Failure
[07:09] - The Role of the Messiah
[08:28] - Paul's Personal Testimony
[10:03] - The Pattern of Apostasy and Renewal
[12:56] - Role Reversal and Spiritual Envy
[14:17] - The Danger of Anti-Semitism
[15:26] - The Mystery of Israel's Hardening
[16:34] - The Future of Ethnic Israel
[18:36] - The Four Stages of Israel's History
[20:36] - The 144,000 in Revelation
[22:17] - Israel's Repentance and Salvation
[22:56] - The Importance of God's Promises
[23:26] - Parallels in Individual Lives
[24:35] - The Depths of God's Wisdom
[25:45] - Turning Knowledge into Praise
[26:21] - Closing Prayer
[27:02] - Prayer Counselors Available

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Romans 11:1-5, what evidence does Paul provide to show that God has not rejected His people, Israel?
In Romans 11:11-12, what does Paul say is the purpose of Israel's transgression and how does it benefit the Gentiles?
What does Paul mean when he says in Romans 11:25-26 that "all Israel will be saved"? How does he support this statement with Old Testament references?

Interpretation Questions

How does Paul’s own Jewish heritage and faith serve as evidence of a believing remnant within Israel? Why is this significant? [05:28]
What is the role reversal that Paul describes in Romans 11:11-12, and how are Gentile Christians supposed to provoke spiritual envy among Jews? [12:56]
How does Paul’s warning against anti-Semitism in the sermon relate to the broader theme of God’s unbroken covenant with Israel? [14:17]

Application Questions

Paul emphasizes that God’s promises to Israel are reliable and unbroken. How does this assurance affect your trust in God’s promises to you personally? [22:56]
Reflect on the role reversal mentioned by Paul. In what ways can you exhibit the joy, peace, and love that come from a relationship with Christ to provoke spiritual envy in others, including those from different backgrounds? [12:56]
Paul warns against anti-Semitism and attributes it to Satan’s efforts to thwart God’s plan. How can you actively combat anti-Semitism and other forms of prejudice in your community? [14:17]
The sermon mentions a recurring pattern of apostasy and renewal in Israel’s history. Can you identify similar patterns in your own spiritual journey? How can you break the cycle of wandering away and return to renewed faithfulness? [10:03]
Paul concludes by affirming that God’s promises are reliable. How can this assurance lead you to praise and glorify God in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate your trust in His wisdom and knowledge? [22:56]
The sermon highlights the importance of living a life that makes others desire what we have in Christ. What specific changes can you make in your lifestyle to better reflect the joy, peace, and love of Christ to those around you? [12:56]
Considering the future awakening among the Jewish people that Paul predicts, how can you participate in and support the gospel work happening among both Jews and Gentiles today? [15:26]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Do we show a life filled with the joy of the Lord? Do we show righteous devotion to His Word, purity of lifestyle and love for one another in such a fashion that that's going to be noticed by a spiritually sensitive Jew or anybody else for that matter and desire, they desire what we have. Are there people who watch us and the way we live and the way Christ has changed our lives and long for what we have? The point here is there ought to be." [12:56] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Anti-Semitism is the work of the devil in every age but true believers in Jesus Christ are to show the fruit that comes with the true Messiah so that others will desire the joy and the peace and the love that we have." [14:17] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Our praise should flow from the realization of how far above us and beyond us our God is. Our hope for the future should flow from the infinite riches of the wisdom and the knowledge possessed, not by us, but by God, who is working in all things." [25:12] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "It has been said that knowledge is the accumulation of information. But wisdom is knowing what to do with that information. And after all we learn about God and all we learn about his work, the Apostle Paul says, this is what wisdom looks like. Step back and turn it all to praise." [25:45] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Paul's point here is, however, even though they are rejecting Jesus, God has not categorically rejected them. The Jews have not been replaced by the church. They can and they will recover. And none of this is a surprise to God, because at the time of the writing of these words, when Paul is pending this letter, there is a believing remnant inside of the Jewish people." [08:28] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "There are consequences that come with a hardened heart. And there is called for a need for continual obedience if we will be the people of God. Ray Stedman used to say, we do not break God's laws, we only illustrate God's laws. Over and over again, we see God's laws. Over and over, the pattern of disobedience, they pay the price. But one day, they will be the example of God's grace, God's promises in action." [23:26] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So all of this, chapters 9, 10, and 11, is a unit of thought for the Apostle Paul around the nation of Israel. Paul has spent time analyzing the work of God through history. He's spent time agonizing about his people's rejection. Now he is spending some time anticipating the future work of God among his people. And at the end of it all, he is so confident that God has shown him that a great work will take place among his people that all he does is step back and he ends the closing verses of chapter 11, he ends with praise." [23:58] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Because if God does not keep His promises to the Jews, how can we know that He will keep His promises to us? God keeps His promises, especially as we have just come through the first few chapters of the book of Romans, and in chapter 8, filled with promises, finally that one grand super promise, nothing can separate us from the love of God. If God's not going to keep His promises to the Jews, how do I know? He'll keep that promise, and I need that promise. But God is true to His promise." [22:56] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Paul is saying, God is going to do it again. When we look forward in history, we will see a great awakening of the nation Israel towards the Messiah, Jesus. And it will happen in the events of the end times yet to come." [11:21] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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