“The Gentiles and God’s Elective Choice”

“The Gentiles and God’s Elective Choice”

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Romans 11:11-24

 

As we continue in chapter 11, we now concentrate our efforts on the Gentile (non-Jew). There has already been discussion of a “remnant” from National Israel that will be saved in each generation. There has also been discussion of a “hardening” that God has invoked on National Israel as well. Now we move on to continue the discussion about “the rest” of National Israel from Verse 7 that has not believed on Christ for salvation. What about them? And what about the Gentiles and their attitudes toward them? Let’s see what the passage before us has to say regarding these topics.

 

I.                   National Israel and the Gentiles    Romans 11:11-16

a.       Paul again anticipates and answers a question that he believes his readers would be asking as he continues to make his case for the Gospel in the book of Romans. National Israel has been and continues to be disobedient and obstinate towards God and His plan for salvation in the finished work of Christ. They still are holding on to their heritage and their obedience to ritual as their “ticket to acceptance and favor with God”.

b.      With the truths of a “remnant” from each generation, but a “general hardening” over the rest of National Israel, Paul now asks a question in Verse 11 that was very tough on the reader. That question is “Did National Israel go too far?” Are they that are not part of this remnant because of their unbelief without hope?” In other words, are they off God’s radar and out of His eternal plan because of their disobedience? This question is the question that has tied chapters 9, 10 and 11 together.

c.       Paul wastes no time in giving his answer. For the 10^th time in this letter (3:4, 6, 31; 6:2, 15; 7:7, 13; 9:14; 11:1) he says, “May it never be!” Paul will go on to make a case that this “stumbling” is only a miss-step and temporary. This will be discussed further in the rest of the chapter, so a final “fall” can’t be true to God’s plans for National Israel in the future.

d.      In fact, the verse goes on to say that their unbelief has provided an avenue for the Gospel to make its way to the Gentiles. When this verse is considered along with John 4:22, the Bible says that not only will salvation come through a Jew, Jesus Christ, but it will also come as a result of the transgression of His people. This is also a reminder of Acts 28:23-31 as it related to Paul’s ministry.

e.       So, the unbelief of the non-remnant National Israelites has made a way for the salvation of the Gentiles. This whole situation has a couple of divine purposes:

                                                              i.      The offer of salvation to the Gentiles, displaying the great grace of God.

                                                            ii.      The provoking of National Israel to jealousy and envy, hopefully prompting them to turn to God.

f.       Paul continues his thought in Verse 12 by saying that if the sin of unbelief has provided the Gospel to the Gentile world, how much more will their restoration (fulfillment, restoration) provide in the way of joy as God’s plan further unfolds in the future? This statement in itself proves the thought that Paul considered this “stumbling” as a temporary thing.

g.      He continues by noting who he is talking specifically to and his role in ministry to them. Verse 13 does not say that Paul is to only speak to the Gentiles regarding salvation, but he has a focus on them as the “apostle to the Gentiles”.  Remember, part of Paul’s motivation in “glorifying or magnifying” his ministry to the Gentile is discussed in Verse 14. His hope is that through his ministry to the Gentile some of his own flesh, National Israel, would be provoked to trust in the message of the Gospel for their salvation.

h.      The current rejection of Christ has made possible the reconciliation of the world. Verse 15 says that this is absolutely true. But Paul goes on to say that when the blindness of the eyes and hearts of National Israel is lifted in the future, their salvation will be nothing less than “life from the dead”. Their salvation will provide a testimony to all that witness it and the world’s heart will be affected by this incredible future event.

i.        The term “firstfruits” is in focus in Verse 16. The first portion of the verse comes from Numbers 15:18-22. The discussion is that of Israel offering a “first” portion of their harvest to the Lord in the form of a cake specially prepared as an offering. So, like the “remnant” that has come to the Lord in salvation, there will be a future harvest from National Israel. In a similar way, if the root (the patriarchs) were set apart to the promises of God, then the future will provide branches that depend on the promises as well.

 

II.                National Israel and the Gentile’s Attitudes    Romans 11:17-24

a.       Jeremiah 11:16 is in focus as we move on to Verse 17. There is a beautiful olive tree (Spiritual Israel) and a wild olive tree (Gentile Christians) in the picture and explanation before us. There are some “broken branches”, that is, individual Jews that have not yet embraced the message of hope in Christ as opposed to their message of obedience and lineage as a means to gain God’s approval. The verse goes on to say that there have been wild olive branches that have been grafted into the cultivated and natural olive tree. That is, Gentiles are being grafted into Spiritual Israel, even though they are not “naturally” a part. Verse 24 tells us that this direction (wild into cultivated) is not the natural way of grafting. The natural way is for a cultivated shoot to be grafted into a wild tree. But here we see the elective and merciful choice of God as He reverses the “natural” way for His way.

b.      The discussion goes on in Verse 18 to say that those that have been grafted (Gentile Christians) are not to be arrogant as a result of this elective choice by God. As the verse says, those that have been grafted in should remember that their salvation opportunity came as a result of the Jews and is accomplished by a Jew (Jesus Christ).

c.       The Gentiles might say that the unbelieving Jew was broken off so that the Gentile might be grafted in. Verses 19-21 affirm that statement, but also remind the Gentile that the unbelieving Jew was cut off because of unbelief so there should not be an arrogance or conceit in the Gentile heart, only a fear of God who will do right because of His character.

d.      The next statement, in Verse 22, is odd in its content to our ears. The words “kindness” and “severity” are not words that we naturally think of as travelling together. But when the conversation is about the character of God, both of these descriptions are necessary or you will miss an important attribute of His.

e.       But again, we are reminded of Paul’s thought that this “stumbling” is a miss-step that will eventually be righted as Verses 23-24 tell us that the unbelieving Jew is not doomed and without hope. He or she can believe and be grafted into Spiritual Israel as well. If those that are “wild” can be grafted in, then it will be even more natural to graft in the Jew.

 

III.             An Application For All Of Us

a.       God does have a plan for National Israel in the future. But the hero of the story will not be Israel; He will be the God of Israel!