Hello and welcome back. I want to apologize for the lack of content that I’ve been providing lately.
My focus has been on other things and that’s not always good. I can see that there’s a direct correlation between my lack of content and a lack of viewership. My analytics have dropped significantly. That being said, I need to redirect my focus where it needs to be and continue to publish this podcast with a renewed vigor. So if you’re still listening to this podcast, thank you. But, even if I only have one listener I will continue to publish this podcast. So let’s continue with our study of Romans chapter 11. Last week we left off with the gentiles being grafted into the tree of God’s favor. They were grafted in because of the Jewish branches that were removed due to their unbelief in Christ. Israel’s loss was the gentiles’ gain. So let’s pick up with verse 25.
Romans 11:25 Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Paul is setting the gentiles straight.
They didn’t obtain God’s grace because of anything they did. It is only because God partially hardened the hearts of the Jewish people and made salvation freely available to everyone. This hardening is only temporary and will end when those gentiles who are willing to receive salvation have made that commitment. Then the hearts and minds of the Jews will be changed.
Romans 11:26 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;
Let’s get this straight for the beginning, not all of Israel will be saved.
The all in this verse refers to all who believe in Christ. This is what Isaiah was referring to in,
Isaiah 59:20 And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, declares the LORD.
The unbelieving portion will be destroyed at the second coming. Zechariah spoke of it in chapter 13.
Zechariah 13:8-9 In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. 9 And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, They are my people; and they will say, The LORD is my God.
So again not all of Israel is going to be saved. In the end times only a third will find salvation and accept Christ as Lord and Savior.
Romans 11:27 and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.
In this verse Paul is saying that God’s covenant with them will be fulfilled when they come to Christ.
Romans 11:28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
The Jews have been alienated from God because they refuse to accept the gospel and in so doing it has presented an opportunity for the gospel to go forth to the gentiles.
But these are God’s elect, his chosen people and they will always have a special place in His heart. God can’t go back on his word as we’ll read in the next verse.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Irrevocable means there are no take backs, no I changed my mind. The promises of God are true and unwavering, unchangeable and the one constant we can always depend on.
Romans 11:30 Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,
Paul continues to speak to the gentiles and reminds them that they were disobedient and God’s mercy was made available to them when Israel in her stubbornness refused that mercy.
Romans 11:31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.
Just as the gentiles were in a season of disobedience, so also the Jews have entered into that season.
But God is rich in Mercy and that Mercy was extended to the gentiles and it will be extended to Israel.
Romans 11:32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
Yet for that season God has turned over his people to their lusts and desires. Just like the prodigal child Israel will once again come home to the Father.
Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
Romans 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
The following four versus are a doxology of praise to God and a summation of all that Paul has expounded on in this epistle.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Oh The riches of God!
Our God is rich in Mercy, full of grace, He shows us unconditional love, and He is ever faithful toward us. His power and might know no bounds. His judgments are beyond our comprehension.
Romans 11:34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?
No one can truly know the mind of God unless He reveals it to them.
For our knowledge of Him is not complete. Yet when we see Him face to face all will be revealed.
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Can anyone counsel God and would God seek out our counsel? What would it profit the almighty God to listen to the fallen man?
Romans 11:35 Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?
What could we possibly give God? All that we see was created by His hand. We can’t give anything to Him that he hasn’t already given to us.
Job 41:11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.
Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
All that is seen and unseen were made by Him that he should be glorified. The heavens declare his glory.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
If we are going to Glory, let us glory in the Lord.
This brings us to the end of chapter 11.
Next week we will be starting chapter 12. In chapters 12 through 16 Paul starts to lay out how we should live our lives for Christ. He will start to expound on our duties toward other believers, our community, the government, and toward our enemies. I look forward to seeing what God will reveal to us in those final chapters.
Until then I’d like to thank you for listening and may you have a week full of opportunities to share this good news with those that need to hear it.