20220403 Romans Review Pt 5
Salvation Is Come Unto The Gentiles
“Hath God cast Away His People?”
Romans 11:11
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
The focus of the sermon this morning is based on Romans 11:11 to which I believe can be employed as a summary of no less than three chapters in the book of Romans, to which I will endeavor to demonstrate this morning.
Chapters 9, 10, and 11 have as their point of reference, the topic of conversation being that of the Jews. Paul has his focus on Israel, his burden for them, and their salvation. But in this reference, he also deals with incredible detail, that salvation has come to the gentiles, through their fall! And he gives the purpose of this being to provoke them to jealousy.
My hope is that as we continue through this sermon this morning you will have an understanding and a trust that God has not concluded his work among the Jews but through their fall the Salvation is Come To The Gentiles.
We have long spoken of the church being a parenthesis in biblical history, it simply does not appear in the Old Testament, and so there will shortly come a time where the church will not appear again on earth, and God again begins, or rather, continues his work among the Jews.
It’s difficult to go through this summary of these three chapters without reading all three chapters in their entirety but to do so will bring us back to the verse by verse Bible study that we already dealt with in the past. So I will pick up on some selective passages within the text that will demonstrate what I believe to be a proof of the summary to which this sermon is titled.
FOUR TOPICS
There is within these chapters four main topics to deal with, the head topic is The Gospel, which appears in each of the topics.
Israel
The Sovereignty of God
Free Will
Now, there are two issues I have respecting these topics and the three chapters I desire to summarize this morning, the first is that I have no possible way of dealing with all three in one sermon if we are to gain a reasonable appreciation for what is presented by Paul.
The second is that each topic must be given its due respect, and fundamentally because of the historical errors that have endured for many years within the Church, first in Roman Catholicism, and then under the reformation Churches.
As mentioned already, The Gospel is front and center in each topic, so it will be considered in each. The challenge is to not go into too much detail and yet provide enough for us to learn and to at least question if not completely correct the errors that remain popular today.
So, I need to address all three additional topics presented in all three chapters, over three sermons.
The Burden of An Israelite For Israel
Romans 9:1–5
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Paul reveals his heart in the opening passage of these three chapters. Though he will enter into those two other topics, that is, the Sovereignty of God and the free will of man, he continues to return to the overriding focus, which is Israel!
V1-5 Demonstrates with clarity not only the burden Paul has for Israel, but also his clear acknowledgment of their present tense position as those; Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Paul firstly betrays his burden and love for them in the first three verses, and states the factual present position of where they stand in the eyes of God.
But it is the middle verse in this paragraph that takes many people by surprise as to how great his burden is;
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Explain
Though Paul acknowledges his burden for Israel, he also sees the distinction between those who have believed the promise and are therefore children of the promise, from those who are not of the promise. Paul utilised the scripture related to the promise to Abraham and specifically Isaac distinguishing the distinction between the children of the flesh and those of the promise.
That is, Paul uses the historical reality of the nation to also demonstrate that ONLY those who believe the promise of God are “counted for the seed”.
Romans 9:6–9
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
But then we have the incredible parenthesis of verse 11;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Suddenly we find ourselves launched into one of the most contested and complicated doctrines of the Bible, that concerning the sovereignty of God.
Paul goes on to speak to the soundness of the doctrine in the next few verses, he answers the questions related to the “Elephant in the room” in verse 14 and then again in verse 19.
You will need to wait until the next sermon before we do a deep dive into this topic, but I did not want to overlook the fact that It is for God to do as he pleases, Paul does not diminish the doctrine concerning the sovereignty of God but affirms it with clarity.
Paul continues in his argument respecting the sovereignty of God in a goes on in verse 27 speaking about a remnant that will be saved. Further speaking of the inherent nature of the Israelites in verse 29 Paul alludes to the nature of the Israelites, stating that unless God had left them a seed they would have been destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Paul is an Israelite with a burden for Israel, so much so that he is willing even to lose his own salvation for them, “if it were possible”.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
His desire is that they all may be saved and, if the scriptures are our final authority, we can see with confidence that he did all he could to preach to them the Gospel.
What is your burden for the loss of the Gentiles?
What is your burden for the lost among your acquaintances?
Among your friends?
Among your family?
Is the Gospel true….or is it true just for you?
Why do you treat the Gospel as real and absolute in Church or even privately, but you treat it as a subjective preference in your social life?
Why is not the Gospel of Christ and your burden for the Lost represented in every social media post?
The Desire To Preach for The Salvation of Israel
Chapter 10
Romans 10:1
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
In beginning again in chapter 10 Paul again turns to his desire for Israel that they might be saved he speaks to them having his zeal of God in verse 2 but not according to knowledge and are ignorant of God’s righteousness and go about to establish their own.
Paul breaks into the simplicity of the gospel in verse 9 that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved
In verse 11 Paul makes clear that whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. This is, quite frankly, an astounding consolation considering the sovereignty of God so clearly written of in the chapter before and will appear again in Chapter 11, “Whosoever” seems quite a contrast to election.
Paul repeats the doctrine again in verse 13;
Romans 10:13
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Now, this is not speaking ONLY of the Jew, it is not “whosoever” of Israel, but “Whosoever” of all people. The verse sandwiched between the ‘whosoever’ of verse 11 and the ‘whosoever’ of verse 13, says;
Romans 10:12
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Again, it is not the place of this sermon to bring out the doctrine of Free will that is so clearly testified in this passage, and its evident Paradox related to the Sovereignty of God, this we will deal with in the last sermon on the matter, but it is worth noting its clarity and hope for all people.
There is such a wonderful simplicity to this gospel it hasn’t been limited to just a select few people, but that it is available to all the “whosoever’s” that are found within that text.
That’s you he is talking about!
That’s you in that text!
You are there…ok perhaps not by name, but certainly by implication;
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Salvation has come to the gentiles!
11… whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed
What a wonderful opportunity, what a wonderful blessing to you that you can know that “Whosoever” wants to be saved, CAN BE SAVED!
But beloved, you know this because you have been told it. You know this is true because you have heard the gospel of Your salvation by the mouth of a preacher of salvation. It is the feet of him who preach glad tidings that you heard of this wonderful opportunity …
But how is anyone going to learn of this hope if you are unwilling to share it?
14, how then shall I call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Ahh, there you are again.
No your name is not in the text, but you are there again by implication.
You are personally spoken of right there.
You who have believed the Gospel of Christ, you who have heard of the hope of your salvation, you who are the “whosoever” that called on the name of the Lord and are saved, it is YOU who are now sent to preach the glad tidings that others may be saved.
Salvation indeed comes to the gentiles, and it will come to them personally but only if YOU are willing to tell them.
And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
O, and How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things! (v15b)
This is your call, this is your commandment, this is your opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those that are around you, an ETERNAL DIFFERENCE.
Your value in this effort is measured in eternity, your worth to the lives of those that are around you is therefore INFINITE!
PAUL HAD A DESIRE TO PREACH FOR THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL, what of your desire now that SALVATION IS COME TO THE GENTILES?
But, returning to the object of Paul’s preaching, he makes it clear in verse 16,
Romans 10:16
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
You can’t help but smile as your read of free will is again spoken of in the text and wonder why it is that so many miss it. But this too explains that those of the promise in Israel, those that are accounted for the “seed” of the promise of God, are those who believe the Gospel.
Paul is not speaking of the Church in regard to the so-called “spiritual Israel”, he is speaking of the Israel who have come to believe the promises of God.
Paul gives the summary in this 17. So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Then he goes forward in verse 18 and quotes a beautiful passage from Psalm 19. But I say, have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Turn to Psalm 19 with me as we conclude this point;
PSALM 19
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
For all that we have concerning the reality of God that is so evident in all creation, for all we have in the truthfulness of the Bible that is so evident in a world that has rejected it, as it plays out so perfectly in relation to the last days, you should only be surprised people are not knocking down your doors to ask of you the hope that is in you.
In fact, the only reason that does not happen may be related to many keeping Christ a secret, keeping the eternal hope in Christ from a world in desperate need for hope.
Let that not ever be of the number in this Church, but let us be walking billboards for Christ,
O, and How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things! (v15b)
So Israel have hope in the Gospel, God has a place for all who will believe it, but they also are a peculiar people, his people.
God Hath Not Cast Away His People
Chapter 11
Now we come to that perfect portion of God where the answer relating to Israel is both asked and answered and it still astounds me today of how many people deny its simplicity.
Romans 11:1
1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Paul does not deny his heritage, on the contrary, he affirms it. For if it be true that God had cast away his people, then what are we to say of Paul, “an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin…. to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” Yes, I linked the beginning of Chapter 11 to the beginning of Chapter 9, and did so to show that Paul is of the seed of the promise as one who has believed the Gospel of salvation. Not as a Gentile but as a Jew.
How can it be said that God would cast away HIS PEOPLE in the light of all he has said of them concerning their future hope? We ourselves might have a great problem if God had broken the promise he made to Israel…what of the promise he has made to the Gentiles who believed?
What of Romans chapter 8?
Turn to
(Jer 31:35-37)
35 Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: 36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. 37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
We look up at the clouds when the rain fronts the Sun, who casts the shadow of the rain as a beautifully colored bow upon the backdrop of clouds, and we take rest in the promise of God that he will no more destroy the earth with a flood.
We look at the same sun and moon that Jeremiah looked upon, and can see with certainty that the Lord has not “cast off all the seed of Isreal for all that they have done”.
That truly should be all we need to affirm the truth of the doctrine concerning Israel….but now more to the purpose of their fall!
See Audio for the balance of Sermon.
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