God's Plan: Salvation for Jews and Gentiles

 

Summary

In Romans 11:11-12, Paul addresses the complex relationship between the Jews and Gentiles in God's plan of salvation. The rejection of Israel is neither total nor final. Instead, their stumbling has opened the door for Gentiles to receive salvation, which in turn is meant to provoke Israel to jealousy, or more accurately, to emulation. This divine strategy is not merely a historical accident but a part of God's inscrutable will and purpose. The Apostle Paul argues that if the fall and diminishing of Israel have brought riches to the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring even greater blessings.

Paul uses a rhetorical style, often arguing from the lesser to the greater, to emphasize the richness of God's grace. The Gentiles have been enriched by the gospel, moving from spiritual poverty to becoming fellow citizens with the saints. This enrichment is not just a matter of numbers but a profound spiritual transformation. The Apostle's style, though sometimes seen as lacking in literary finesse, is deeply inspired and serves to highlight the richness of the gospel message.

The concept of "fullness" is crucial. While some commentators argue against interpreting it in terms of numbers, the broader context suggests that it indeed involves a significant number of Jews coming to faith. This future restoration will bring even greater blessings to the Gentiles, not by replacing them but by adding to the richness of the church. The Apostle's argument is not contradictory; rather, it reflects the evolving relationship between Jews and Gentiles in God's redemptive plan.

Key Takeaways:

- The rejection of Israel is not final; it serves a divine purpose in bringing salvation to the Gentiles, which in turn is meant to provoke Israel to emulation. This highlights God's inscrutable wisdom and purpose in salvation history. [03:35]

- The riches of the gospel are profound, transforming Gentiles from spiritual poverty to becoming fellow citizens with the saints. This enrichment is a cause for deep rejoicing and reflection on the grace of God. [20:33]

- The Apostle Paul's rhetorical style, though sometimes seen as lacking in literary finesse, is deeply inspired and serves to highlight the richness of the gospel message. His arguments from the lesser to the greater emphasize the abundance of God's grace. [08:12]

- The concept of "fullness" involves a significant number of Jews coming to faith, which will bring even greater blessings to the Gentiles. This future restoration is not about replacing Gentiles but adding to the richness of the church. [29:53]

- The evolving relationship between Jews and Gentiles in God's redemptive plan reflects the depth of God's wisdom. The initial rejection by the Jews facilitated the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles, and their future acceptance will further enrich the church. [44:07]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to Romans 11:11-12
[01:04] - Division of Romans Chapter 11
[01:40] - The Stumbling of Israel
[03:17] - Purpose of Israel's Stumbling
[05:20] - The Riches of the Gentiles
[06:38] - Greater Blessings from Israel's Fullness
[08:12] - Paul's Rhetorical Style
[10:02] - The Argument of Lesser to Greater
[12:39] - Translation and Interpretation
[20:33] - The Enriching of the Gentiles
[27:01] - The Riches of God's Glory
[29:53] - Understanding "Fullness"
[38:07] - The Question of Numbers
[44:07] - No Contradiction in Paul's Argument
[46:57] - Lessons for Today

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 11:11-12
- Ephesians 2:11-13
- Ephesians 3:6

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Observation Questions:

1. In Romans 11:11-12, what does Paul suggest is the purpose of Israel's stumbling? How does this relate to the Gentiles? [03:35]

2. How does Paul describe the transformation of the Gentiles in Ephesians 2:11-13? What were they before, and what have they become?

3. According to the sermon, what rhetorical style does Paul use in Romans 11:11-12, and how does it serve his argument? [08:12]

4. What does the term "fullness" refer to in Romans 11:12, and how is it significant to both Jews and Gentiles? [29:53]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of Israel's rejection being neither total nor final reflect the depth of God's wisdom in His redemptive plan? [44:07]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Gentiles have been enriched by the gospel? How does this enrichment go beyond mere numbers? [20:33]

3. How does the sermon explain the future restoration of Israel and its impact on the Gentiles? What does this suggest about the evolving relationship between Jews and Gentiles? [29:53]

4. How does Paul's rhetorical style, as described in the sermon, help to emphasize the abundance of God's grace? [08:12]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually impoverished. How did the gospel enrich your life, and how can you share this enrichment with others? [20:33]

2. The sermon discusses the idea of provoking Israel to emulation. How can you live your life in a way that inspires others to seek a deeper relationship with God? [03:35]

3. Consider the concept of "fullness" in your own spiritual journey. What steps can you take to move towards a fuller faith, and how might this impact those around you? [29:53]

4. How can you embrace the richness of the gospel in your daily life, and what specific actions can you take to reflect this richness to others? [20:33]

5. The sermon highlights the evolving relationship between Jews and Gentiles. How can you apply this understanding to foster unity and reconciliation in your own community? [44:07]

6. Reflect on the rhetorical style of Paul as described in the sermon. How can you use a similar approach to communicate the gospel effectively in your conversations? [08:12]

7. The sermon suggests that the future restoration of Israel will bring greater blessings to the Gentiles. How can you prepare your heart and community to receive and share these blessings? [29:53]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Purpose in Israel's Rejection
The rejection of Israel is not a final act but a divine strategy to bring salvation to the Gentiles. This plan is meant to provoke Israel to emulate the faith of the Gentiles, highlighting the depth of God's wisdom in salvation history. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that Israel's stumbling is not a historical accident but part of God's inscrutable will and purpose. This divine orchestration showcases the richness of God's grace and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. [03:35]

Romans 11:25-26 (ESV): "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.'"

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt rejected or sidelined. How might God be using that experience to bring about a greater purpose in your life or the lives of others?


Day 2: The Transformative Riches of the Gospel
The gospel has transformed Gentiles from spiritual poverty to becoming fellow citizens with the saints. This profound enrichment is not just about numbers but a deep spiritual transformation that brings joy and reflection on God's grace. The Apostle Paul highlights the richness of the gospel message, which has moved Gentiles from a state of lacking to one of abundance in spiritual blessings. This transformation is a cause for deep rejoicing and gratitude. [20:33]

Ephesians 2:12-13 (ESV): "Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

Reflection: Reflect on a specific area of your life where you have experienced spiritual transformation. How can you share this testimony of God's grace with someone who may be in spiritual poverty?


Day 3: The Inspired Rhetoric of Paul
The Apostle Paul's rhetorical style, though sometimes seen as lacking in literary finesse, is deeply inspired and serves to highlight the richness of the gospel message. His arguments from the lesser to the greater emphasize the abundance of God's grace. This style is not merely a literary device but a profound way to communicate the depth and richness of God's redemptive plan. Paul's inspired rhetoric invites believers to delve deeper into the mysteries of God's grace. [08:12]

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (ESV): "And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

Reflection: Think about a time when you felt inadequate in sharing your faith. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to guide your words and make your message impactful?


Day 4: The Fullness of Israel's Restoration
The concept of "fullness" involves a significant number of Jews coming to faith, which will bring even greater blessings to the Gentiles. This future restoration is not about replacing Gentiles but adding to the richness of the church. The Apostle Paul argues that the fullness of Israel will bring about a greater enrichment for all believers, reflecting the evolving relationship between Jews and Gentiles in God's redemptive plan. [29:53]

Zechariah 8:22-23 (ESV): "Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"

Reflection: How can you actively participate in fostering unity and richness within the church, embracing both its current diversity and future growth?


Day 5: The Evolving Relationship in God's Plan
The evolving relationship between Jews and Gentiles in God's redemptive plan reflects the depth of God's wisdom. The initial rejection by the Jews facilitated the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles, and their future acceptance will further enrich the church. This dynamic relationship showcases the unfolding of God's inscrutable will and purpose, inviting believers to trust in His divine strategy and wisdom. [44:07]

Isaiah 49:6 (ESV): "He says: 'It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to the spread of the gospel, recognizing the role you play in God's larger redemptive plan?

Quotes


The rejection of Israel is not final and we then further subdivided up this division into a number of subsections indicating that the first subsection consisted of these two verses 11 and 12 now then we we've started our consideration of this subsection and in doing so I indicated that in verse 11 which is the most important verse the Apostle States the theme which he's going to consider in the remainder of the entire chapter. [00:01:17]

The Stumbling of the children of Israel the nation of Israel speaking generally at the gospel it doesn't mean that they have finally Fallen away and that that's the end of the story as far as they are concern as a nation they did stumble at the gospel he's already told us that he himself and many others of the nation of Israel believed and didn't stumble but looking at the nation as a whole they did stumble. [00:02:53]

The salvation of the Gentiles is to be used by God and is used by God to provoke the Jews to jealousy or as I pointed out it should be translated better should be provoked to emulation as it is put in verse 14 the two things are there it may start with a feeling of jealousy but that arouses a curiosity and an interest and eventually it becomes emulation. [00:04:14]

God is using not to say further that God has indeed even for ordained this stumbling of the nation of Israel as the means to bring in the Gentiles into the realm of Salvation and of the church and secondly he is I say going to use it also in order to stir up the Jews to this Spirit of emulation. [00:04:53]

If the condition of the Jews as they are has been a means of blessing to the Gentiles well how much greater will that blessing be when the Jews in great numbers and in profusion are believing the gospel and come into the Christian church now that's the statement and that is the third reason now it's not difficult to imagine why the Apostle says this. [00:06:55]

He likes to argue from the Lesser to the greater we've come across many instances of this as we been going through the epistle there's no greater one perhaps than the way he puts it in the 10th verse of the fifth chapter for he says for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son much more being reconciled having been reconciled shall we be saved in his life. [00:08:23]

The Apostle often does that he starts a sentence and never finishes it this ought to be a great comfort to every preacher in this congregation tonight but then now the Apostle does that sort of thing and it's interesting to notice that and this is an example and an illustration of this very thing it has no importance whatsoever and yet it does seem to me to teach us a great deal about the true meaning of inspiration. [00:12:10]

The fall of them has led to Salvation has led to the riches of the world and the diminishing of them to the riches of the Nations the world in general if you like including Jews and Israelites but in particular he's concerned about the condition of the Gentiles the Nations other than Israel and you notice what he says is this and this is the thing in which we should glor. [00:19:14]

Do we realize how enriching the gospel is do we realize what has come to us and what is true of us as the result of this very thing which the Apostle is here handling what does he mean by saying that their fall and their diminishing has led to our enriching well what he means is this what the Apostle himself is so fond of calling the exceeding Riches of his grace or the UN searchable Riches of Christ. [00:20:37]

The Apostle you see continues to celebrate this great riches that have come to us and he wants us to know about it and that's why I'm quoting all these scriptures to you Paul at the beginning of the epistle to the Ephesians prays for them like this he prays that the god of our Lord Jesus Christ the father of Glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and Revelation in the know of him the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. [00:25:34]

The fullness of the Gentiles May mean that which makes the Gentiles as as as the number full but he rejects that then he turns down various other expositions also and then he ends like this all that can be safely inferred from this language is that the Gentiles as a body the mass of the Gentile world will be converted before the restoration of the Jews as a nation. [00:32:43]

If we have been so greatly blessed as Gentiles with things as they are now as respects the nation of Israel how much greater will be our blessing when they come in in gratefulness that's his argument now I wonder whether any of you have been stumbled at this point in this way but before I deal with that question let me give you my way of explaining this word translated diminishing. [00:39:58]

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Transcript
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