Israel s Future Restoration Romans 11:1-10. Paul s Personal Story (v.1)

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1 Introduction In chapters 9-11 Paul speaks of the people and nation of Israel; their spiritual past (chapter 9); present condition (chapter 10) and future restoration (chapter 11). In chapter 10:1 Paul shared his prayer and heart s desire for Israel s salvation. Paul wrote about the reasons for Israel s rejection (10:1-13); and that God has used this rejection in part to bring mercy and grace and salvation to the Gentiles (11:11-25). Now in chapter 11 Paul asks the question has God permanently set aside his people or does God have unfinished business with Israel? Paul s happy answer is the Jewish rejection of the Messiah is neither total (vv.1-25) or final (vv.26-27). The Lord in his mercy has placed the people of Israel into two different categories; one the minority; the other majority. The minority group is that small remnant according to election and grace who have trusted Christ (v.5). The proof Paul offers is his own conversion (v.1) and he offers the experience of Elijah; that God retains a remnant of Jewish believers in every generation. And tragically the majority are blinded (v.7). The blindness in part comes from the universal sin of Adam (Ephesians 4:8); and the blindness caused by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4) and a judicial blindness allowed by God (Romans 11:8). This blindness was predicted by Moses, Isaiah (Isaiah 29:10); and David (Psalm 69:21). We might think of these proofs as personal (v.1); historical (vv.2-10) and dispensational (vv.11-24). What do I mean by dispensational? In verses Paul s focus is not so much on the personal or individual saints and sinners; but rather on the fall of Israel as a whole and the redemption of the Gentile nations as a whole. Paul will argue the fall of the Jews has in part given the Gentiles opportunity for salvation and blessing to the world; and that blessing will multiply to an even greater blessing when Israel is restored Paul s Personal Story (v.1) Romans 11:1 (NKJV)1I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Paul asks the question; has God cast away His people? The Greek verb translated cast away is apotheo and sometimes translated thrust away (Acts 7:27) or put away (1 Tim. 1:19). It may be translated push aside ; Williams says disowned ; the RSV translates this rejects. We might read this; God did not reject His people, did He? or Is God through with the Jew? Paul s response (me genoito)...certainly not...unthinkable...impossible...may it never be...shame on that thought In the last chapter Paul left us with an image of our Heavenly Father; His arms opened wide (10:21). Paul wants the reader to know that God has not forgotten about His people the Jews; and after the full number of Gentiles have come to Christ and are incorporated into the Church; that Jewish people in large numbers will come to Christ. Twice in Romans Paul has said that Israel s unbelief was unable to cancel God s promises (see chapter 3:3; and chapter 9:6). You would think His people would not be a point of controversy. But there are many groups that claim the title His people. 1

2 Yet the Bible makes it clear that it will be a national Israel that makes it way out of dispersion and into restoration. This blessing will come from a national Israel. Roy Laurin wrote a devotional commentary on the book of Romans in 1948; whether it was printed before or after May 14th I do not know; but he writes; God has a program and He is working to that program. For that reason, He will not cast away His people. World interest will center on them yet and world attention will focus on Palestine. This land which has been lying in obscurity and barrenness for these many centuries is destined to play a dominant part in the world s future. It is the strategic pivot of the earth. It is not merely sacred soil for contending sects who are blinded by bigotry. It is strategic to the world s destiny. It is strategic geographically, politically, and prophetically, even as it has been strategic spiritually (see p. 398). Paul offers his personal testimony to prove that God has not rejected all the Israelites. Paul was a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin. In 1 Timothy 1:12-16; And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. The book of Acts tells us that Paul was born Saul in Tarsus (Acts 21:39). He was taught by Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). By his own admission he was an uninformed blasphemer (1 Tim.1:13); a zeal for keeping the Law (Phil.3:6) and attempted to destroy the Church (Phil.3:6). In his war against the Church he was an accomplice in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:27-58); threw Christians in prison and hounded them to their death (Acts 24:4). Saul compelled believers through torture to blaspheme (Acts 26:11) and persecuted the church beyond measure and wasted it (Gal.1:13). In route to Damascus while persecuting Christians Saul was knocked down and blinded by a heavenly light; he heard and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; was led blind into Damascus where he remained for three days. A Jewish believer by the name of Ananias prayed for Saul; he received his sight and preached Christ in the Synagogues. He apparently found refugee in the deserts of Arabia for several years and returned to Damascus with a greater knowledge and understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:16-17; Acts 9:26-29). He was sent to his home town of Tarsus to avoid an attempt on his life by zealous Jews and was eventually brought to Antioch by Barnabas. We know Paul visited Jerusalem several times and brought a love offering for the needy in Jerusalem. He returned to Antioch to preach and teach the word. Saul started life as a religious observant Jew and was transformed by God and pressed into a love relationship with the Gentiles through the Lord Jesus Christ For Paul this was proof positive that no Israelite was irretrievably cast away Blessing and abundant grace and mercy was available to every Jew by the Jewish Lord; Yeshua Ha Mashiach. 2

3 God s Revelation In History (vv.2-4) 2God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, Paul believes that Israel has been set aside for her sin; but that Israel as a people and as a nation are to be restored. God has promises that He has made which He must keep. Israel s failure is not a complete failure or permanent failure. The whole course of Israel s history was both seen and known by God. At no point did God ever say I will cease to be Your God and You will cease to be My people. God reserves the right to be a faithful covenant keeping God. The fact that they are His and the fact that he foreknew can be interpreted to mean that Israel s rebellion and disobedience and refusal to embrace Jesus as Messiah was anticipated. 3 Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life? Paul reminds the Romans of the story of Elijah After Elijah s confrontation with the prophets of Baal and the subsequent threats of Queen Jezebel to find Elijah and kill Elijah he felt all alone (left alone) Elijah felt certain that his was a lost cause. Elijah for a moment believed he was the last man standing, the final prophet, the only believer I draw your attention to the phrase in verse 2; how he pleads with God against Israel. Elijah found himself in the unhappy position of praying against Israel. Elijah complains there is no remnant. The whole nation is blind and apostate Elijah entertains the notion that God cast Israel away for their stubborn rebellion and apostasy In his prayer Elijah s attitude comes through loud and clear They have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. Elijah emphasizes he is all alone Paul uses a very specific word for altars that means altars of sacrifice (thysiasteria). 4But what does the divine response say to him? I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal. The divine response or the answer of God (chrematismos; only here) originally meant a business transaction or political negotiation and then was used as a decree or ordinance and came to mean divine injunction or warning. How does God answer Elijah s prayer? The Lord God s immediate response is; I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal. This is the only mention of the pagan god Baal in the New Testament (appears some 62 times in the OT; see David Hocking p. 341; The Gospel of Jesus Christ; Studies in Romans). In the ancient world of Elijah Baal was the chief rival of Jehovah. Jehu destroyed the worshippers of Baal in 2 Kings 10. At first the word was used as a synonym for LORD and used in words like Jerubbaal (Judges 6:32); Eshbaal (1 Chron. 9:39) and Meribbaal (I Chron. 3

4 9:40). But the word came to be associated with the worship of the Phoenician god Baal and its use in Israel was forbidden (Hosea 2:16-17). There was a kind of campaign to strike the word from the Hebrew vocabulary and would substitute the word Baal for Bosheth (abomination or shame). The Lord is quick to remind Elijah that God has a remnant. The Lord is quick to discourage Elijah s complaint against Israel Elijah lived in a time of profound apostasy and deep spiritual decay And even then God had a remnant With that small remnant God would fulfill prophecy and make sure the promised Messiah make His way to the nation of Israel and the world. Paul looked into Israel s past and discovered that no matter how dark or desperate or diabolical; God had a remnant. God s Spiritual Remnant (vv.5-10) Remnant (leimma or limma from leipo) leave so it means what is left. 5Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. The purpose of God found in Israel s past continues in Israel s present and reaches into Israel s future. The remnant are those pockets of righteousness; those minorities of faithfulness in every generation who live and serve and exist to further the plan and program of God. These are the men and women who keep the program of God alive and the machinery of redemption intact. Roy Laurin: They are isolated islands of the faithful through which truth remains pure and uncorrupted. They are the seemingly insignificant communities of the godly who are despised by their contemporaries but jealously guarded by God. They are the salt of the earth and its sole saving element. Without them civilization would have long since ceased to exist and man would have been swallowed up in his sinful folly (see Life Begins; p.401). The Lord has always had a remnant and the Lord always will. Noah was God s remnant in the godless days of the pre-flood world. Lot was God s remnant in Sodom. But the remnant Paul speaks of is Jewish and incorporates a plan. A national restoration. The preservation of the Jew and their reservation for the future is all a part of God s plan. The remnant is according to grace. We cannot exaggerate or overstate the significance of Paul s statement. The whole book of Romans is built on the repeated themes of grace and faith. We might think of this as grace through faith. Grace is the place that has its origins in God and moves in love towards man. Faith begins in the human heart having been informed by grace enriched by grace and bathed in grace. Grace for an individual. But grace for a specific nation. The election of grace has almost always a singular personal attachment. But here I think Paul means and believes it has a national application; a national restoration; a germ of hope for all humanity in God s plan for the Jew and their future. 4

5 6And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. The New Testament s repeated testimony is that salvation is by grace. Grace and works are mutually exclusive. We cannot earn salvation or merit salvation. Grace comes from the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:17). We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8). We are justified by grace (Romans 3:24). Our salvation is a gift of God s grace (Romans 5:15). Grace is greater than our sin (Romans 5:20). All believers are under grace, not law (Romans 6:14). God is the God of all grace (I Peter 5:10). Grace is sufficient and capable of sustaining us under trials and infirmities (see David Hocking p. 342). David Hocking (pp adapted and summarized) writes about four dangerous responses to the grace of God. Rejection of the once for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ is described as an insult to the Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29) Resisting God s standards of sexual purity is called turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (Jude 4) Returning to the law in order to be be declared righteousness is called frustrating the grace of God (Galatians 2:21) and is also called fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4). 7What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Refusing to repent is described as coming short of the grace of God (Hebrews 12:15-17) Paul contrast the majority and the minority Israel has not obtained what it seeks....but the elect have obtained it,...and the rest were blinded (or hardened). One group was blocked from achieving their desire (salvation) and the other obtained it (the elect). Paul has already addressed this issue in chapter 9:31; But Israel following after the law of righteousness did not attain to the law of righteousness Romans 10:3; For they being ignorant of God s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. One group: blinded. One group: blessed. Why was one group blessed and the other blinded? Because one group embraced the Lord Jesus Christ. One group understood that Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every 5

6 one who believes (Romans 10:4). One group understood and embraced the fact that there is a righteousness apart from the works of the Law. Three OT writers predicted that God would harden the hearts of unbelieving Israel. Moses: (Deuteronomy 29:4; vv.7-8a). David (Psalm 69:22-23; vv.9-10). Isaiah (Isaiah 29:10; v.8b). 8Just as it is written: God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day. Isaiah 29:10;In the Hebrew it has spirit of a deep sleep ; Paul elects to use the Greek word katanyxis (only here in the Greek NT) which comes from a word to strike violently or stun The idea is a blow or a wound much like a concussion hence stupor. The condition renders its victim unwilling or unable to respond to the divine promptings. The fact that God has given them a spirit of stupor in no way exonerates the hard hearted rebels. This is a judicial act. God declares them such because they are such It was their own doing. We live in a moral world where moral choices are made. When we resist, reject, disobey or are indifferent to God and His commands; we become hardened, stupefied we are sent into a moral coma The Bible does not even hint that a person with a broken or contrite heart will be ignored or neglected by God s mercies. The Bible doesn t teach that the sinner is a helpless victim of his own adverse condition; unwilling and unable to lay hold of God s grace or mercy or love 9And David says: Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. Why else would the Scriptures say; How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? Psalm 69:22-23; Paul cites from all three parts of the Hebrew canon: the Torah in verse 8 (Deut. 29:3); from the Prophets in verse 8 (Isaiah 29:10); and the phrase spirit of slumber or stupor from the writings (Psalms vv.9-10). Paul is careful to offer Scriptural support for his case of God s judicial hardening of the heart. The chosen nation blinded and hardened lacked spiritual discernment (v.8); and had become weighted down through ritual and ceremony and burdened by the law and all its demands (v.9). It did not take long for the Jewish people to wholly abandon God s idea and ideals for a works based righteousness (v.10). What the many were unable to secure through works based righteousness the few were able to obtain by grace through faith Paul simply reminds the Roman reader that the blindness and the hardness of unbelieving Israel was consistent with their own Scriptures. People cannot continue in rebellion and unbelief and believe there are no boundaries or borders or restraints. 6

7 The judicial hardening of the heart; both maddening and mysterious still has some element of God s will. W. H. Griffith Thomas uses the illustration that if we put our hand in the fire we can with a certain element of truth declare the fire burned us We could also say we did it or that God did it since God allows fire to exist or free will to exist 10Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always. Blindness, darkness, spiritual indifference would bring untold misery on the nation. In the moral world we can make choices that send us in the direction of blindness or blessing. The Psalm Paul quotes (69) is David s Messianic Psalm; where David begs God to rescue him from his enemies who constantly insult him; and to severely punish his enemies and so vindicate himself. David sings and cites four sources for his suffering; his foes (vv.1-4; 10-12; 19-21); his flesh (vv.5-6); his family (v.8) and surprisingly his faith (vv.7,9). David cries out to God and asks God to take their security away from them (v.22) and to blind them and make them weak (v. 23). Paul cites David s song and applies its prophetic statements to David s Son and Messiah s enemies Conclusion What God did for Saul who becomes Paul God is willing to do for you and me. What of the hard case? What of the person who grew up in a religious circumstance who comes face to face with the resurrected Lord Jesus? What God did for Israel is a picture of God s faithfulness to his plan. Was Israel unfaithful and disobedient? The answer is yes. In spite of that unfaithfulness and disobedience God blends hope, mercy, recovery, forgiveness Even in blindness God offers salve for our eyes He blends mercy with judgment and will not cast aside His people God retains a remnant In the most corrupt and apostate churches does God allow Himself true followers, true believers, true sons and daughters? Do all people have equal opportunity by God s Holy Spirit to know Christ and love Christ and trust Christ? Elijah was hard pressed to even imagine that God might have a remnant And the vast majority of Jewish people in Paul s day never imagined that their might be a faithful few to whom the promises of God were entrusted and the future of Israel must be preserved. There are places and people where God has His followers; the ones who love Him, and serve Him; through Jesus Christ our Lord. God is never without a witness. 7

8 And we must not be discouraged by the rebellious majority or the apostate community. Their fate should be a warning We must not neglect the Lord or our great salvation in Jesus Christ. Do we live in a world where church members and church leaders can become Gospel hardened? That familiarity with the truth or even proclamation of the truth serves as a substitute for the truth? With knowledge comes accountability. How will God deal with our neglect of the Gospel or our contempt for the Savior and Salvation? 8