The Fulfillment of God's Promise and Purpose for Israel

The Fulfillment of God's Promise and Purpose for Israel

Romans 11

March 31, 1996

Scripture: Luke 19:27-44

Prayer:

Introduction:

I. There is a Present Election of Israel: Remnant Preserved.

(Israel's alienation is not final)

A. God's election of Israel is validated through the believing remnant.

1. Paul himself is a present personal example of one whom God has not rejected.

1* I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

2. Scriptural testimony is an historic example that there are others, like Paul, whom God has not rejected.

2* God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah-- how he appealed to God against Israel:

3* "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"?

4* And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

3. Whether past, present, or future, there is the continuing reality of a remnant of believing Jews whom God has chosen by grace alone.

5* So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

6* And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

B. God's election of Israel is validated through the unbelieving remnant.

1. Those who have refused God's revelation have been allowed by God to continue in their self-inflicted ignorance.

7* What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,

8* as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day."

2. This self-inflicted ignorance is self-compounding to the extent that only the miraculous intervention of God can save the unbelieving remnant.

9* And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

10* May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."

II. There will be a Future Reception of Israel: Remainder Restored.

(Israel's alienation has future prospect as well as present purpose)

A. God has a purpose for the unbelieving remnant in carrying out his salvation program.

1. Since God's salvation program will not fail, salvation is presently offered to the Gentiles in the face of Israel's unbelief.

2. The blessings of salvation for the Gentiles will cause Israel to envy the Gentile's gain at their expense.

11* Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.

3. Israel's envy points to a future turning in which their own salvation will further enrich the blessings of salvation to the Gentiles and to the world in general.

12* But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

B. God's purpose for Paul's ministry to the Gentiles also includes the unbelieving remnant.

1. The more Gentiles Paul brings to salvation, the more his people are liable to envy and to come into salvation.

13* I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry

14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.

2. The return of Israel to her holy calling will be a miraculous cause for unprecedented joy incomparable even to the reconciliation of the world.

15* For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

16* If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

C. God has a purpose for the unbelieving remnant to stand as a witness in promoting humility among Gentile Christians.

1. The Gentiles have shared in the blessings of sonship belonging to the Jew.

17* If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

2. This indebtedness should foster reverent respect for the Jew by not gloating over their misfortune.

18* do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

3. This unnatural position of favor is by the grace and mercy of God.

19* You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."

20* Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.

4. This substitution of favor should produce holy fear of God and not arrogance.

Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

21* For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

D. God has a purpose for the unbelieving remnant to stand as a witness in promoting obedience among Gentile Christians.

1. If God would cut off the Jew for the disobedience of unbelief, given the Jew's favored status, how much more would he cut off the Gentile who did not continue in his kindness?

22* Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

2. God has sovereign power to cut out or graft in as he wills.

23* And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

24* After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

III. There will be a Final Salvation of Israel: Nation Converted.

(Israel's alienation will be eliminated)

A. The purposeful mystery of God's unfolding plan of salvation for both Jew and Gentile keeps us dependent upon him for understanding.

25* I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited:

1. The salvation of the Gentile will be completed in God's time and purpose.

Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

2. The salvation of Israel will be completed in God's time and purpose.

26* And so all Israel will be saved,

a. Christ will return to save the nation of Israel.

as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

b. This salvation will be on the same basis as salvation for the Gentile - Israel will believe in the Messiah for the forgiveness of sins.

c. This salvation will be the fulfillment of God's covenant promise to them.

27* And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."

B. Our present, limited understanding of God's plan and purpose must revolve around his mercy.

1. God's mercy will prevail for the Jew.

a. Their rejection of the gospel made them enemies of the gospel (to the benefit of the Gentile).

28* As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account;

b. But their election by God (established from the time of the patriarchs) leaves the way open for the miraculous display of God's mercy to them through the gospel.

but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,

c. This is certain to take place in God's time.

29* for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.

2. God's mercy has been given to the Gentiles in order that it may prevail for the Jew.

a. Israel's disobedience opened the way for God's mercy to the Gentile.

30* Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

b. God's mercy to the Gentile will result in God's mercy to the Jew.

31* so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.

3. God's mercy has consistent divine purpose.

a. Both Jew and Gentile were disobedient before God's mercy saved them.

32* For God has bound all men over to disobedience

b. God has ordered all things so that all people, Jew and Gentile alike, being disobedient, show themselves to be sinners who have no escape other than through God's mercy.

so that he may have mercy on them all.

IV. Praise to God for the Riches of His Mercy.

A. God is praised here not for what we do know about him but for what we are not able to know about him.

1. Even what we do know about God we cannot fully understand.

a. Who can understand the riches of God's wisdom that directs all things to his mercy?

b. Who can understand the riches of God's knowledge that knows the end result of his mercy?

33* Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

2. Even if we did understand, should it be that a man could advise God?

34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

B. God is praised because he is the fulfillment of all perfection.

35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"

1. His perfection resides solely within himself as Triune God.

a. His perfection is seen in that all things come from him (God the Father as Originator).

b. His perfection is seen in that all things live by him (God the Son as Sustainer).

c. His perfection is seen in that all things end in him (God the Spirit directs all things to God as the goal of all creation).

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.

2. All glory to God for the mystery of his mercy!

To him be the glory forever! Amen.