Romans 11 _Israel's Rejection is not Total.

 

Romans 11 – Israel’s Rejection is not Total.

Today when we think of Israel and the off and on obedience to God over the years, we wonder if God has fully rejected Israel. Paul made it clear, and it is still clear today that God has saved a remnant of His people to be saved. Paul himself was an Israelite. Paul was different from the Jews that rejected Christ because he was Christ-like in that he had the righteousness of faith. He believed that Christ was the Messiah. He was not alone in his faith though. Throughout the Roman Empire God had set aside other believers to be saved. God spread out His grace among them to make them His own. Those who had a stubborn unbelief had brought God’s judgment upon themselves. The Jews let their law and their advantages become a snare and a trap and a stumbling block. God had rejected Israel but He saved a remnant. This does not mean that the stubborn unbelievers are not worthy or not able to be converted. God tells us to pray for Israel If He had totally rejected them He would not be telling us to pray for them. When the Jews rejected Christ, then God opened the door for the Gentiles. Therefore, He has overruled the Jewish unbelief and made it a means of glory to Himself and a blessing to the world. When God opened His word to the Gentiles He tried to provoke the Jews to jealousy. Sometimes jealousy leads to a hardening of the heart, but at other times it leads to repentance and a desire to obtain the salvation that is offered to others. To have the Jews repent and turn to God fulfills God’s redemptive purpose for all, regardless of race or nation. The Jews were the root of the tree. The branches are also holy. But being an Israelite was not enough to shield them from God’s wrath. Branches of the Holy tree may become useless and be cut off, and that is what happened to the larger part of the people of Israel. That is why the Gentiles were grafted in. The Gentiles were warned not to show pride over the Jews but to recognize they are the branches, and the remnant of Jews are still the root. God revealed to Paul that the hardening of the Jews is only temporary. Once all the Gentiles have been grafted in, then will come repentance of the Jews and all the Jews shall be saved. This is speaking of the spiritual Jews of faith. God’s purpose in the salvation of the Jews will be fulfilled. In the end there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile. God yearns to save all and offers His grace to all. God is a sovereign God. No one can fathom what is on God’s mind. No human can be His counselor. God is the source. He is the way; He is the goal. All things are of Him, through Him and for Him. He is His own interpreter, God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God of salvation. The God of all men. That is enough. Because of God’s purpose in history, we can have hope and certainty for our salvation.

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J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah.