The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is now in a detailed study of Paul's epistle to the church in Rome. These are the notes for Session 14.
Paul’s primary purpose in writing Romans was to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. Unlike with some of Paul’s other epistles, his purpose for writing Romans was not to correct detestable theology or rebuke ungodly living. The Roman church was doctrinally sound, but, like all churches, it was in need of the rich doctrinal and practical instruction this letter provides.
Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles. So he explains how God’s plan for the Jews agreed with his plan for the Gentiles too. Specifically Paul wanted to address the question of whether, in light of Christ’s offer of salvation to all Gentiles, the Jews had been forsaken by God as a people. Did they still have a unique place or purpose in God’s plan of redemption?
Click below to read my notes.
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This Jewish apostle to the Gentiles, however, wanted to clarify some truths regarding Israel and her people as well as contradict some prevailing false-hoods over which many Christians (especially Jewish believers) were stumbling. Specifically Paul wanted to address the question of whether, in light of Christ’s offer of salvation to all Gentiles, the Jews had been forsaken by God as a people. Did they still have a unique place or purpose in God’s plan of redemption
Israel’s Rejection Not Total
Romans 11:1-12 NKJV I 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. God 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, “ Lord , they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And 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. What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just 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.” And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.” I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
Verse 1 God had wonderful plans for the Jews. He sent their messiah, who is Jesus. He offers them grace, salvation and righteousness. But the reaction of most Jews was unbelief. They refused to accept God’s generous gifts. It might seem that God’s plans for the Jews had failed. But Paul shows in this chapter that God’s plans had not failed. In fact, God has an even more wonderful plan for the future of the Jews.
Verses 2-4 Paul reminds the Jews about the answer that God gave to the*prophet Elijah. The queen made plans to kill Elijah. He knew that the people no longer worshipped God. They had destroyed God’s altars. Prophets had died because of their faith. Elijah thought that he was the only person in Israel who was still loyal to God. God told him that this was not true. There were still 7000 people who were loyal to God. They had not worshipped the false god, Baal.
Romans 11:5-6 NKJV Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And 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.
Verses 5-6 Even as in the time of Elijah, there were still Jews who were loyal to God. God had chosen them because he loved them. They did not deserve his love. They could not receive salvation because of their own deeds. God showed his kindness when he saved them. But if they deserved salvation, God would not be showing any kindness. So God gives gifts to people that they do not deserve. That’s grace.
Romans 11:7-8 NKJV What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just 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.”
Verses 7-8 In Paul’s time, there were two groups of Jews. This is still true today. One group showed faith. They were the people whom God chose. He saved them because of his kindness. But the second group showed unbelief. They were unwilling to obey God.
Paul combines two passages of scripture to show what happens to people in that second group. They do not believe the gospel. And they even become unable to hear or to understand it. First Paul uses Isaiah 29:10:
Isaiah 29:10 NKJV For the Lord has poured out on you The spirit of deep sleep, And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers.
In other words, The Lord has made you sleep. He has closed your eyes.’ In reality, it is the inhabitants of Jerusalem themselves who are responsible for their troubles. They themselves are responsible for the result of their own actions. They have chosen not to obey God’s laws. The direct result is that they suffer. That was inevitable (it must follow), because God’s laws do not change. It only seems that God himself has unusually decided to interrupt the normal course of events.
Then Paul uses Deuteronomy 29:4:
Deuteronomy 29:4 NKJV Yet the Lord has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day.
Or, ‘Even today the Lord has still not given you a mind that understands. It is as if your eyes cannot see. It is as if your ears cannot hear.’ The Israelites knew what the LORD had done. However, they did not understand what it all meant. The LORD had not yet shown it to them.
Romans 11:9-10 NKJV And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.”
Verses 9-10 Paul also uses words from Psalm 69:22-23.
Psalms 69:22-23 NKJV Let their table become a snare before them, And their well-being a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually.
The writer of that Psalm asks God to act against his enemies. His enemies are like people who sit at a feast. They feel happy and safe. But enemies could attack them before they realise it. Paul associates that passage with the Jews who refused to believe God’s good news. Paul suggests that they feel happy and safe. But their selfish satisfaction is like a trap that will cause terrible pain. The day will come when they cannot see (know) the truth at all. Then, they will suffer. They will be like blind people. Or, they will be like a person who bends over with a great load on his back. Their wrong attitudes will cause them great trouble.
Romans 11:11-12 NKJV I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
A scripture that I read this morning.
Jeremiah 31:3 CEV Some time ago, the Lord appeared to me and told me to say: Israel, I will always love you; that's why I've been so patient and kind.
Verses 11-12 Many Jews refused to believe the gospel. Paul has explained about the terrible punishments that those people will suffer because of their unbelief. But that is not the end of God’s relationship with the Jews. God still has a plan for them. Paul emphasises that the Jewish people will recover from their troubles.
But in the meantime, God offers salvation to everyone who will accept it.
Because Israel has sinned, salvation has come to the *Gentiles. In the Book of Acts, Luke records 4 occasions when Paul began to preach to Gentiles. But those Jews refused his message of salvation. So Paul offered it to the Gentiles
Acts 13:44-46 NKJV On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 18:5-6 NKJV When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Acts 19:8-9 NKJV And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
Acts 28:17-20, 28-29 NKJV And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
would see how God had brought blessings to the Gentiles. So the Jews would be jealous and they would turn to God themselves. Their sin had brought blessings. So there will be an even greater blessing for everyone in the end. The Jews will return to God. The number of Jewish believers will be complete. And Jews and Gentiles will be glad together because of what God has done.
Paul warns the Gentiles 11:13-24
Romans 11:13-24 NKJV For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Verses 13-15 Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles. So he speaks to them about his work. Paul was teaching the Gentiles to become righteous by means of faith. He knew that the Jews were also eager to become righteous. But they were trying to do this by their own efforts. And such a method could not succeed. But the Jews would see that God accepted the Gentiles. And the Jews would be jealous. Then they too would want to have faith in Christ.
Paul was sad that so many Jews had refused God’s way of salvation. But now the rest of the world had the opportunity to have a relationship with God. In the end, when the Jews believe the gospel, the result will be as wonderful as life from death.
In Verse 16 Paul uses two word pictures to show that God would not turn away from the Jews permanently.
Romans 11:16 NKJV For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
1. The firstfruit could be translated as a piece of dough or the first piece of break from a loaf, it was a gift, a sacrifice to God.
Numbers 15:17-21 NKJV Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land to which I bring you, then it will be, when you eat of the bread of the land, that you shall offer up a heave offering to the Lord . You shall offer up a cake of the first of your ground meal as a heave offering; as a heave offering of the threshing floor, so shall you offer it up. Of the first of your ground meal you shall give to the Lord a heave offering throughout your generations.
The rest of the dough became holy too. ‘The first piece’ means the first people who believed the gospel. They are the Jewish Christians. When they believed, the rest of the Jews could become believers.
2. The root of a tree affects the whole tree. ‘The root’ probably meant Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who were the ancestors of the Jewish nation. Their descendants were the branches in Paul’s time. God had made a covenant with Abraham which would last always. He would be the God of Abraham’s descendants. As Abraham’s descendants, the Jews would benefit from the promises of God’s covenant.
Genesis 12:3 NKJV I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Romans 11:17-24 NKJV And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
In Verses 17-24 Paul continues to think about a tree. There were very many olive trees in the country. So an olive tree became a description of the Jewish nation.
Jeremiah 11:16-17 NKJV The Lord called your name, Green Olive Tree, Lovely and of Good Fruit. With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, And its branches are broken. “For the Lord of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced doom against you for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke Me to anger in offering incense to Baal.”
Paul describes a technique called grafting. Farmers and gardeners world-wide still use grafting today. The problem is that a strong tree does not always yield good quality fruit. A weaker tree might yield better quality fruit. But because that tree is weak, it cannot yield much fruit. If both trees are of the same kind, the gardener can try grafting. He removes the branches from the strong tree. Then he binds a small branch of the weaker tree to the stem of the strong tree. This is a difficult task. Only a skilled gardener has a good possibility of success. But if the gardener succeeds, he will have a much better tree. It will be a strong tree that yields good fruit. And the fruit will be plentiful.
Many Jews refused to believe God. Those people lost their opportunity to have a right relationship with God. They were like the branches that the gardener removes from the tree.
But many Gentiles believed God. And they were able to have a real relationship with God. They would be like the new branches, which would receive strength from the root. Jesus used a similar description in John chapter 15.
John 15:1-8 NKJV “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
God had joined the Gentiles to his people, the Jews. Paul warns the Gentiles. They must not be too proud that they are now part of God’s people. Paul may have worried about the way that many Gentiles thought about the Jews.
Paul did not want the Gentiles in Rome to have the wrong attitude towards the Jews. The Christian faith came from the root of the Jewish faith. Paul imagines that a Gentile speaks proudly. He says, ‘The Jews are like the branches that the gardener removed. And I have now taken their place.’ Paul warned that Gentile. If God had removed some branches, he could remove another branch. He could remove the branch that he had joined to the tree. Gentiles can stay in God’s kingdom only if they remain firm in their faith.
Hebrews 3:14-15 NKJV For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.
But this is not a reason for Gentile Christians to worry that they will lose their salvation.
There is much in this world that would lead us away from God. There are many things that speak lies into our hearts and could make us forget that we belong to God.
However God is able to protect them.
Jude 1:24-25 NKJV Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
They now belong to God’s people. God has chosen them to be his special people. They are his royal priests. They belong to his kingdom . God has changed their lives completely.
I Peter 2:9-10 NKJV But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
God had been firm with the Jews who refused to obey him. He had been kind to the Gentiles. So the Gentiles must remain loyal to God. They did not deserve salvation. They only received salvation because of God’s kindness.
But long ago, God chose the Jews to be his own special people. He made his covenant with them. And his promises still stand today. Paul eagerly expected a time when his own people, the Jews, would believe the gospel.
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