Romans 9 spoke of God’s sovereign election of Israel as His chosen. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. (Romans 9:4-5)  In chapter 10 we saw how in the obsessive pursuit of a righteousness of their own, they rejected the righteousness that comes from God.  In the world’s eyes they became the rejected ones, and the Lord Himself said that the Kingdom would be taken away from them and given to a people who would produce its fruit. (Matt 21:43)  Later He said that they wouldn’t see Him again until they say, “Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord.” (Matt. 23:39)

But in both cases the rejection was clearly temporary, its duration dependent upon their response.  In the first Matthew passage Jesus went on to say that prostitutes and tax collectors would come into the Kingdom before the leaders of Israel.  Not instead of but before.  And in the second the operative word is until, implying that someday they would call Him blessed, and when they do they’ll see Him again.

Of course, God had foreseen all of this.  Nearly 800 years earlier He had Hosea preview this very time. “Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt.  And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me.” (Hosea 5:15)  The Lord would go back to the place from whence He had come and wait until they admitted their guilt in rejecting Him and petitioned His return.  And petition Him they will.  Joel 3:16-21 gives us the Lord’s response to their petition, culminating in the most incredible show of His mercy ever. Their bloodguilt, which I have not pardoned, I will pardon.”  (Joel 3:21).  He’s speaking of their devastating declaration in demanding the Lord’s crucifixion in the face of Pilate’s attempt at mercy.  All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” (Matt. 27:25)  Let’s see how it all comes to pass.

Romans 11
The Remnant of Israel
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. 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:

“Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? [1 Kings 19:10,14]  And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” [1 Kings 19:18]

So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:1-6)

Through out history God has preserved a remnant of His chosen ones.  Not substitutes from the Church as the replacement theology advocates would contend, not those who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan (Rev. 3:9) but legitimate children of Israel, proof that God has not abandoned His people now, any more than He did in the days of Elijah.

What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 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.” [Deut. 29:4, Isaiah 29:10]

And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” [Psalm 69:22.23] (Romans 11:7-10)

Because the majority did not recognize time day of God’s coming to them though the prophets had foretold of it for centuries, he has hidden it from their eyes. (Luke 19:41-44)

Ingrafted Branches
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. 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! (Romans 11:11-12)

Over and over again, the Old Testament hints that God would open the door of salvation to the Gentiles, but now we’re told the reason.  It’s to make Israel regret rejecting the Messiah.  But if their disobedience has brought such blessing upon the world, how much more will come because of their obedience?  The answer to that question lies in two words: The Kingdom.

I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 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. (Romans 11:13-16)

We all know that Jesus had to die for the sins of the world.  But Paul’s point here is based on Israel’s complicity in causing it to happen. Because they rejected the Messiah, the whole world can be reconciled to God through His shed blood. (Col. 1:19)  And soon, because of their acceptance of Him, the whole world can experience the resurrection through His blood as well.  Declaring the sample of a batch Holy renders the entire batch holy.  Israel is the sample, the firstfruits of mankind.

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, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. (Romans 11:17-21)

Not all of Israel rebelled, only parts. For 20 years after the cross, the Church was mostly composed of Jewish believers.  But those parts that rebelled opened up a place for the Gentile believers who became like wild shoots grafted in to a cultivated root.  They’re not the root, nor do they replace it, but in fact are nourished by it.  As Gentile believers we are fed by the Bread of Life and nurtured by His Word.  Both came to us through Israel, the root of Christianity.

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. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 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! (Romans 11:22-24)

This is an adaptation of the Lord’s admonition to His disciples in John 15:1-8. There He called Himself the vine, saying that we are the branches.  The word translated continue here is from the same root as the one translated abide (or remain) there.  Our faith in Him has to come from our heart; it’s not just a state of mind, subject to the influences of external factors, it’s a state of being, it’s who we are.  And if we, who don’t have our origin in the things of God can flourish in Him, how much more so will the Jews, who do?

All Israel Will Be Saved
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.  And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” [Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jer.31:33,34]  (Romans 11:25-27)

Their eyes blinded and their hearts hardened, Israel waits in the wings until the Lord has finished building His Church.  When that happens, the Church will be whisked off to Heaven and Israel will once again be the focus of God’s attention.

The Greek word translated “full number” is a nautical term and refers to the number of crewmen necessary for a ship to set sail.  And the phrase “come in” means to arrive at a destination.  Once the required complement of soldiers and sailors was aboard, the ship could leave the harbor and set sail for its destination.  So it is with the Church.  Once the number required to make up its membership is reached the Church will depart for its destination in Heaven, and God will open the eyes and soften the hearts of His people Israel.  This is in agreement with Acts 15 where James prophesied that Israel was being set aside while the Lord took from among the Gentiles a people for His name’s sake.  After that He would return and rebuild David’s fallen tabernacle. (Acts 15:13-18)

Ezekiel and Daniel agree as well.  The Battle of Ezekiel 38 is the vehicle whereby God opens Israel’s eyes (Ezek. 39:22) and shortly thereafter Daniel’s 70th week begins with a treaty that includes provisions for building a Temple (Daniel 9:27).

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 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.  For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. (Romans 11:28-32)

God’s call is irrevocable.  He can’t abandon Israel, nor can He abandon us.  Once He has us, we cannot escape.  Israel became disobedient so God could show mercy to the disobedient Gentiles.  Because He showed mercy to us in our disobedience, He now has to show mercy to them in theirs.  It would be unjust to do otherwise.

Doxology
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?” [Isaiah 40:13]”Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” [Job 41:11] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Soon Israel will have come full circle: elected, rejected, accepted.  By sovereign election Israel became God’s people.  He could have chosen anyone but He chose them to be His holy nation.  When the promised Messiah came to Israel, they rejected Him, opening the door of salvation to the Gentiles.  Through the Messiah, Gentiles can become the spiritual children of God as well.  When the Lord has completed His work among the Gentiles, He’ll again turn to Israel and this time they’ll recognize their Messiah. (Zech. 12:10)  Their rejection will be forgiven, they’ll be accepted, and God’s promise to Abraham will have been fulfilled.  “All the peoples of the Earth will be blessed through you.”  Selah

Our last study began with God’s election of Israel as His chosen people.  In Chapter 10 we’ll see how they came to be rejected.

Romans 10
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Romans 10:1-4)

With all his heart Paul wanted the Jews to receive the gospel message. Remember, last time he said he would give up his own place in eternity if he could get them to accept theirs. (Romans 9:3) But like many legalists in the Church today, the Jews of Old Testament times overlooked God’s message of Grace, searching instead for a set of requirements they could fulfill to earn a righteousness of their own.

Don’t misunderstand.  Our Lord didn’t abolish the Law. (Matt. 5:17)  He brought it to completion by obeying both the letter and the spirit of its requirements, and by fulfilling its prophecies.  Having been released from the Law’s condemnation by His obedience, everyone who believes is now free to accept God’s righteousness, a righteousness imputed to us by faith.

Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” [Lev.18:5]  But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?'” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” [Deut. 30:13-14] that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” [Isaiah 28:16] For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” [Joel 2:32] (Romans 10:5-13)

When Moses offered Israel the choice of life or death in Deut. 30, he said it was neither too difficult for them to comprehend nor beyond their reach. They didn’t have to ascend into heaven or descend into the depths of the sea to get it.  The words were in their hearts and on their tongues.  (It has always fascinated me that the Hebrew name for the Book of Deuteronomy is “haddebarim.” It means, “The Words.”  Maybe that’s why Jesus quoted from it more than any other book of the Bible.)

And it’s even more so with us.  Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.  Agree that He’s God become man, our Creator incarnate.  Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. Remember, Paul was writing to people who were already saved, and now he explained what their beliefs meant.

Here’s why believing in the resurrection is necessary.  When Jesus went to the cross, all of our sins were placed upon Him (Colossians 2:14).  When that happened, God had to abandon Him (Matt. 27:46), His eyes being too pure to look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13).  But when Jesus came out of the tomb He was seated at the right hand of God (Ephes. 1:20) Put it all together and you’ll see that if even one of our sins placed upon Him remained unpaid, He’d still be in the tomb.  He could not exist in the Presence of God.  Put another way, if all of our sins were placed on Him and if He’s now in the Presence of God, then all our sins must have been paid for on the cross. Every one of them.  So His resurrection is proof of ours.  If you don’t believe in His then you can’t believe in yours.

From the wellspring of belief in our hearts the words of our salvation come flowing out of our mouths. Jew or Gentile, it’s all the same.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” [Isaiah 52:7] (Romans 10:14-15)

When reversed, this series of questions lists the steps toward salvation.   Messengers are sent from God proclaiming the Gospel.  The people hear and believe, call upon the name of the Lord, and are saved.

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says,

“Lord, who has believed our message?” [Isaiah 53:1]

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” [Psalm 19:4]

Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” [Deut 32:21]

And Isaiah boldly says,
“I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” [Isaiah 65:1]

But concerning Israel he says,
“All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”[Isaiah 65:2] (Romans 10:16-21)

In using a quote from Psalm 19 Paul was claiming that in addition to all the messengers God sent them, the heavens themselves brought the Gospel story to Israel.  Indeed our knowledge of the Hebrew Mazzaroth, corrupted by Babylon into the Signs of the Zodiac, shows that God wrote the Gospel in the stars as a means for his ancient people to teach their children.

And if the Gentiles, considered to be spiritually ignorant, could understand it, surely Israel had no excuse.  God didn’t form the Gentile nations and live among them like He did the Jews, but they found Him nonetheless, while Israel, with God in their midst, lost Him.

They had no one to blame but themselves.  Having worked to the point of obsession to establish their own righteousness, they overlooked the most important ingredient, faith. Having rejected Him, they became the rejected.

But as we’ll see next time, it won’t be forever.  As He had Jeremiah tell them, He will never forget His chosen people.

This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD Almighty is his name:

“Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the LORD, “will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.”

This is what the LORD says:

“Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,”
declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 31:35-37)

Then, just to be sure there’d be no misunderstanding, He had Ezekiel say it this way.

“I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant.  I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever.  My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever. ” (Ezekiel 37:26-28)

In our next study we’ll see how these prophecies will be fulfilled when Israel is brought back to God.  And we’ll also see that even during the centuries of rejection God has used His chosen people to bless all of humanity, fulfilling His promise to Abraham.  Selah