Romans Chapter 11
The analogies Paul uses in this chapter can seem a bit confusing. What we need to remember is the big picture that God is going to accomplish His plan even when it seems to humans that all is lost. Paul addresses the Gentiles who were grafted into the vine of gospel salvation, a vine that first began with Israel and is rooted with Israel. He wanted the Gentiles to see that it was the very rejection of the Messiah that allowed them to be grafted in. But it did not mean that God was done with Israel. He is far from being done with Israel. There will come a day when the Israelites eyes will be opened, and they will receive Jesus as their Messiah. I can’t help but think that the day is fast approaching with the current events of our world.
Let's Reflect
1. Paul begins the chapter with one of his rhetorical questions. What was that question?
2. In the answer to the rhetorical question, Paul uses himself as an example – he was a Jew that believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and he placed his faith in Jesus. As well there were other Jews, mentioned in verse 5, who were saved by God’s grace. Paul reminds the New Testament church that God can do great things with just a few people. Just like He did in the Old Testament account with what named prophet?
“It was not the number as much as the permanence of God’s plan for Israel that mattered in the time of Elijah… He put his trust in God’s grace, not in numbers.” [Morris]
3. In verses 7-11 Paul describes the hardness of the hearts of the Israelites. He used Old Testament language to describe their hardness. What are Israelites guilty of as seen in verse 8?
4. While it is true that they possess a hard heart and do not see the truth; that does not mean that God will take them out of the picture. The opposite is true, they will one day “wake up from their stupor” and they will see the truth. Verse 11 describes what God is doing currently – while the Israelites are in their time of stupor, God is at work spreading the gospel to Gentiles. What affect will this have on the Israelites?
“[Morris] calls a spirit of stupor ‘an attitude of deadness towards spiritual things.’ The Jews of Paul’s day were so secure in their idea of being the chosen people that the very idea became the thing that ruined them.” [Barclay]
5. I love what Paul says in verse 13. He says, “wouldn’t it be wonderful if some of my fellow brethren (Israelites) became jealous of the goodness of God that the believer gets to enjoy, and it caused them to be saved?” Wouldn’t that be true for you and me as well? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if those around us who are lost could see the peace and joy that we enjoy in Christ Jesus, and it caused them to seek Jesus?
6. Verses 17-24 is simply a reminder to the Gentiles not to become prideful that they have been grafted into the olive tree (the tree of God’s salvation). In this example the branches that are cut away are first Jews who did not accept the Messiah, but it could also be Gentiles who walk away from the truth of the gospel. Paul reminds the Gentiles that God has the power to graft back in those that are considered the “natural branches.” What people are the natural branches?
7. When will the eyes of Israel be opened and they will be saved? See verse 26.
8. This promise of redemption for the Israelite people goes clear back to the covenant made with what Old Testament man?
9. God allowed the disobedience of Israelites to make way for the mercy and the gospel to be extended to the Gentiles. In the same way, the disobedience will make way for God to extend to the Israelites what? See verse 32.
10. When we look at verses 25 and 26, we see the great plan of God unfolding. When a great number of Gentiles has been reached (that God foreknew), the fullness of the Gentiles, then we will see God doing what?
11. It is no longer a mystery – the gospel has been mercifully shared with the Gentiles, and at a later date the eyes of Israel will be opened! How does Paul describe the joy in the knowledge of this fact? See verse 33.
12. How should we respond to this truth? See verse 36.
Devotionals
