Romans 11 – God’s Future Plans

Romans 11:1-10 – The Remnant

Paul tells us that God had wonderful plans for the Jews.  He sent their Messiah, Jesus and offers them grace, salvation, and righteousness.  But the Jews reacted with unbelief and refused to accept Jesus.  It many have seemed that God’s plans failed.  Paul shows that His plans had not failed.  Paul was a Jew, a descendant of Abraham.  He had acted against God, but God forgave him and now he was a Christian.  He reminds the Jews about God’s answer to Elijah when he thought he was the only Jews still loyal to God.  God told him there were still 7,000 Jews loyal to God, because they had not worshipped the false god Baal.  By God’s grace He chose them.

Paul talks about the group of people who do not believe the gospel.  They are unable to hear or understand it.  He quotes Deut 29:4, Isaiah 29:10, and Psalm 69:22-23.  Their attitudes will cause them great trouble.

Principle:  God has always reserved for Himself a remnant of faithful believers.

When have you felt rejected and how did God encourage you and show you mercy?

Romans 11:11-24 – Gentile Salvation

God was not finished with Israel.  They would suffer because of their unbelief, but He still had a plan for them.  They would again be God’s chosen people, but until then God offers salvation to all who would believe - the Gentiles.  He did this so the Jews would become envious and jealous and they would turn to God.

Paul was talking to the Gentiles and is an apostle to them.  He wanted them to become righteous is by means of faith in Christ.  He hoped this would cause the Jews to want the same faith.  He uses the example of a gardener who uses grafting of branches.   A strong tree doesn’t always bear quality fruit and a weaker tree may not bear much fruit.  By cutting of some of the branches from the strong tree and replacing branches from the weaker tree, they would then have a much better tree.  It would bear much quality fruit.  The Gentiles were like the new branches. 

The holy root is the Old Testament patriarchs.  The natural branches are the Jews.  The broken off branches are many Jews and Gentiles who have not believed in Jesus.  Unbelief cuts them off from the spiritual blessings that belonged to Abraham’s descendants.  Believing Gentiles have entered into those blessings by their faith in Jesus.

 

Principle:  God brought salvation to the Gentiles so as to make Israel envious.

God joined the Gentiles to His people the Jews, but warns the Gentiles that they must not be too proud that they are now a part of God’s family.  He wanted them to have the right attitude.  God didn’t spare the unbelieving Jews (the natural branches) and if the Gentiles don’t continue in faith, God will not spare them either.  If God had removed the Jewish branches, He could also remove them, too.  This doesn’t mean Gentiles can lose our salvation.   God will protect them.  “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.” – Jude 24.  We must remain loyal to God.  None of us deserve salvation.  He has given us salvation because of His kindness.

How do you show humility about your salvation?

Romans 11:25-32 – Israel's Future Salvation

Paul doesn’t want them to be ignorant of this mystery so that they may not be conceited.  Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of Gentiles has come in.  Then Paul tells us that all Israel will be saved.  This means once the whole world has heard the gospel and all those that will come to faith in Jesus, then believing Jews will be saved.  That doesn’t mean all dead and living Jews will be saved.  They still have to believe in Jesus.  It just means God will open their eyes and lift the hardening from their hearts so they can believe.  Then God will take away their sins.  There will be many believing Jews - a remnant.

This mystery has been hidden in the past, but now God is revealing it.  The mystery is the plan of God to save the Gentiles and Jews through Israel’s partial hardening.  His gracious plan has always included Jews and Gentiles.

Paul shows us that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles.  They have all sinned and need to receive God’s salvation.  Paul says all are like prisoners, because they are unable to obey God.  Until they receive God’s salvation, sin controls their lives.  There is only one way to get out of prison and that is through God’s mercy for everyone who trusts Him.  Neither Jews nor Gentiles deserve mercy, but God pours out mercy on both.

Principle:  Believing Jews will be saved because of God’s promises and great mercy.

How is sin controlling your life?

Are you believing and trusting in God?

Romans 11:33-36 – Words of Praise

Paul expresses words of praise because of God’s mercy.  Because of Israel’s disobedience, we (Gentiles) now have received God’s mercy of salvation if we just believe.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!  Who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been his counselor?  Who has every given to God, that God should repay him?  For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him to be glory forever!  Amen.” – Rom. 11:33-36

We can’t imagine the riches of God.  Just look at the oceans and the beaches.   As you go farther out into the water it gets deeper and deeper, but the water only comes so far up on land.  Who could have thought of a plan like God did?  He provided a redeemer, even His own Son.  He knows all things.  He knows each time a sparrow falls.  He knew about 911 and knows all that goes on in the Middle East.  He has a plan so don’t worry about anything.  It’s under control.  He searches our hearts.  He knows about our envy, our fears, and our every thought.  He knows all.  Take time to worship Him. We own Him everything.  Praise Him for it and for the salvation He brings. 

Principle:  Salvation is from God, through God, and for His glory.

How can you truly worship Him? – Praise Him and His character.  Acknowledge His mercy and creation.  Take time to actually worship not just pray.  Meet Him daily at the same time and the same place.  Take your Bible and a note book and expect to hear from Him.  Watch for words that describe God.  Stop and say them back to Him.  Focus on Him and not on yourself.  Confess to Him and thank Him for all He has done.

What thing has God done for you that would cause you to praise Him? 

God knows everything that has happened or will happen in the future.  He’s knows everything about every person and every living thing and every circumstance.  He knows every attitude and secret thought of a person.  He knows who does evil and who does good.  He knows every excuse and every motive.  He knows each need we have the desires of every living thing. 

Principle:  God is far greater than you can ever comprehend and only God is worthy of our praise.

Next time we will study Romans 12.  Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here again.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Romans 10 – Refusing God’s Righteousness

Romans 10:1-13 – True Righteousness

Paul’s desire and prayer for the Israel was that they be saved.  They were zealous for God, but their zeal was not based on knowledge.  They tried to establish their own righteousness instead of righteousness that comes from God.  They didn’t submit to God’s righteousness.  Christ is the end of the law so there may be righteousness for all who believe. (Rom. 10:1-4).

Paul was a Jew and was very concerned for his people.  They were religious people, but missed salvation.  They wanted to please God but didn’t know how.  They thought they had to obey all their laws and were fanatics about it.  They even came up with many extra laws to live by.  Their rules had rules.  They were all about good works and thought works would make them righteous.  They were wrong. 

Who has God called you to pray for?

No one can earn a right relationship with God by their works.  The only way to have that right relationship is to believe in Jesus.  The purpose of the law is to show people their sin and that they need faith in Him.  Jesus’ death was the perfect sacrifice for sin.  Through belief and His blood we are made righteous before God.

Paul goes on to explain that Moses described the way to righteousness was not by the law.  It is by faith.  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  It is with your heart that you believe and are justified and with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.  There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.  It is the same Lord who blesses all who call on Him and will be saved. (Rom 10:5-13).

No one can obey the law perfectly, but we can have a relationship with God.  We don’t achieve this by our own efforts, but need to believe His message in our hearts.  We need to recognize that we cannot save ourselves.  To be saved we are to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord.  To be saved by faith, we must truly believe in Jesus as the risen Savior and Lord. 

Principle:  True faith confesses openly that Jesus is the risen Lord and Savior.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because you are a good person, you are saved.  If that were so, why would Jesus have to die that horrible death?

Romans 10:14-21 – Excuses

Paul describes the steps to believing in Jesus.  Preachers are sent out, they preach, people hear, people believe and then they call on the Lord.  This is good news, but not all Israelites accepted this good news.  Isaiah says faith comes from hearing the message that is through the Word of Christ.  Paul asked if they didn’t hear or understand.  Isaiah boldly says, yes they did. (Rom. 10:14-21).

Hearing is listening or giving attention to something, but taking no action.  Understanding is knowing or comprehending something, but taking no action.  Believing is being persuaded of the truth with full confidence and then taking action.  It’s like telling a child to pick up his toys.  He hears and understands you, but takes no action by do it.

Faith comes from the message heard from the Word of Christ.  We need to stay in God’s Word daily and let Him teach and guide us.  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” – 2 Tim. 3:16.  How else can we hear?  Just carrying our Bible to church without opening it and reading it just won’t work.  To know what God says you have to actually read His Word.

Principle:  Faith comes from hearing and believing God’s Word.

How often do you read you Bible?

Where and to whom is God calling you to share the gospel?

Some people don’t respond to the good news when they hear it.  They may not believe it because it’s too simple.  Maybe they are too independent or self-righteous and think they don’t need God in their life.  Some may think they are just too busy right now and they will have plenty of time later in life.  They may not believe because they don’t really understand.  It was like this in Isaiah’s day as it is today.

Some people believe in the myth of evolution, but not Jesus.  I think intelligent people latch onto this belief because it gives them an escape from the uncomfortable truth that God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1).  There is no debate of this truth and you had better get reconciled with your Creator before you meet Him at judgment.

If you don’t believe, what is your excuse?

Are you ready to meet your Creator?

God sends out messengers and is ready to forgive any sinner who will receive His grace.  Jesus paid the price and provided us a pardon.  He chose you to believe in Him way before you your born.  It’s up to you to choose to believe in Him or not.  You cannot blame God for not choosing you.  If you have not repented of your sins and believed in Jesus as your Savior, your sinful unbelief is totally your own fault.  Unbelief is from a disobedient, hardened heart that loves sin more that it loves God. 

Christians are called to share the gospel.  We are His messengers.  We are to share the truth about God and Jesus.  We are to share the truth about sin.  We are also to share that a response is required.  It may be scary to share the gospel and we may not always say the right thing, but what is not right is not sharing.  What is right is to be obedient to God’s call to share.

Principle:  Those who reject the gospel cannot blame God, but are responsible for their own actions at the judgment.

What is your response to the greatest news in the World?

Next time we will study Romans 11.  Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here again.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Romans 9 - God's Sovereign Choice

Paul has just told us in chapter 8 that nothing can separate us from the love of God.  Now in chapter 9 he wants us to know that he is sincere.  He thought that some may have the impression that because of the law God has rejected the people of Israel and His promises.  Now Paul explains that God chose Israel and that He has not rejected his people. 

Romans 9:1-5 – Paul Loves

Paul says he is speaking the truth because Christ is in him.  He says he is not lying.  He trusts the Holy Spirit that is in him.  He is very sad when he thinks about his fellow Jews who haven’t accepted Jesus as their Messiah.  He wishes he himself could suffer God’s punishment for them. – Rom. 9:1-3.

The Jews were God’s chosen people and God promised to bless them and all nations through them, but most of them were rejecting Jesus.  Paul shows that he is deeply concerned for those Jews who don’t accept Christ as Savior.  He loved them more than himself.  He is willing to give up his own salvation if it meant they would be saved.  He knew that would not be possible, because he just told us in Romans 8:29 that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.  I think he is trying to show just how much he cares for the lost. 

Are you burdened for the salvation of the lost?

Principle:  We should be burdened for the salvation of the lost.

Paul lists the spiritual privileges God gave the Jews.  They were the people of Israel. They were adopted as sons.  They had the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises of God.  They could trace their ancestry to Christ. – Rom. 9:4-5.

The Israelites were descendants of Jacob.  Jacob’s name was changed to Israel.  They were adopted as sons of God.  They had the glory and saw it many times in their history.  They had the covenants that God made with Abraham, Moses, and David.  They had the Law which told them how to live and please God.  They received God’s pattern of the temple service with the various feasts and sacrifices to observe.  They received God’s promises and blessings.  They have the fully human Messiah Jesus who is fully God.

Many people are separated from God because of their sins and failure to accept Jesus.  If you are a Christian, you have many privileges.  You have God, Jesus, the Bible and His promises.  You have many freedoms in this life.  You have freedom to worship and believe as we please without fear.

What are some of your blessings?

Do you thank God daily for them?

Romans 9:6-29 – God Chooses

Paul quickly states that God’s promises had not failed.  He reminds them that true Israel is not simply the physical descendants of Israel.  It is not the natural children who are His children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.  It depends on what God has chosen according to His purpose.  He illustrates this through the contrast of Isaac and Ishmael and then through Jacob and Esau. - Rom. 9:6-13.

Paul asks if God is unjust and then answers, “not at all”.  He quotes Ex. 33:19 - “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  It doesn’t depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.  He quotes what God said to Pharaoh in Ex. 9:16, “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” – Rom. 9:14-21.

God chose Jacob and rejected Esau.  God knew Jacob would decide to trust God and Esau would reject God.  God is sovereign over His creation and has a perfect right to choose whom He wills.  His character if holy, impartial, just, and His goodness and love guarantees His choices will always be for His glory and our good.

Paul quotes Exodus where God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.  God did that for the greater purpose of displaying God’s glory in power and judgment.  He did to so His fame would spread throughout the world.  God didn’t cause Pharaoh to sin, but withdrew His restraint allowing Pharaoh to be responsible for his own sin.  God uses sinners for His purposes today by withdrawing His restraint and leaves them to their own sin.

Election shows salvation is by God’s power and grace alone.  When we think of election, we think of the negative.  We think God doesn’t elect all people.  The Bible focuses on the positive - the grace of God.  If God wanted people to go to hell, He would have no need for the Bible or the death of His Son.  He wants everyone to accept Him.  He wants us to repent and believe in Jesus.

Paul imagines a person complaining about God and asks the questions, “Then why does God still blame us?” and “Why did you make me like this”. (Rom 9:19-20).  We might say, “it’s just not fair”.  It’s not true that God made us to be sinners.  The human race became sinners when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden.  Their actions affected the entire race.  When arguing with God we don’t have a leg to stand on.  Paul is not teaching we are just robots, but that we all have free will.  God foreknew who would trust in Him and He hardened all those whom He foreknew would reject Him. 

God has the right to show His anger and His power.  He has been patient with those who oppose Him and has delayed the time for judgment.  He wants to give them more opportunity to repent and turn to Him.

Remember Rom. 8:28 – “…..all things work together for good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  He does this by including the sinful actions of all human beings.  He predestined the cross to save the most sinful actions of people throughout the history of the world.

Predestination or election is a comfort to believers because it assures us that what God purposed to do for us, He will complete in spite of our sins.  No one can stop God’s plan or His purposes. 

How do you know if you are one of His elect?

How do you know if God prepared you beforehand for glory?

Principle:  God is sovereign and has the right to do what He wants.

Romans 9:30-33 – Israel Stumbles

Paul contrasts the Jews and the Gentiles.  The Gentiles were not looking for a relationship with God, but when they discovered the gospel they accepted it by faith.  The Jews thought they could earn their way to heaven so they tried to obey the law and God would accept them for their good deeds.  They tried to obtain righteousness by their good works.  No one can earn salvation.  The only way to obtain righteous is by faith in Jesus.  The gospel is for everyone, both Jews and Gentiles. 

The Jews didn’t accept God’s offer of forgiveness although Christ died for them.  Paul says Jesus was like a “stumbling stone”.  They were trying to save themselves by their works so they stumbled over the simple fact that Jesus died for them and all they had to do is believe and accept Him as their Messiah.  God’s plan was to use the salvation of the Gentiles to make Israel jealous so they would eventually turn to Christ.

Principle:  Approaching God through our works is built on faith in ourselves and will cause us to stumble over Christ and be lost.

Christ is either one or the other to you right now.  He is a rock in which you believe and build your life on or He is a stumbling stone of offense to your sinful pride.  Don’t stumble over Christ by trusting in your good works to save you.  Trust in Christ alone and you will not be ashamed at the judgment.  He will never disappoint.

Is Christ your Rock or your stumbling stone?

Next time we will study Romans 10.  Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here again.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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