Question of the Day: What are you most thankful for this morning?
This morning we are starting chapter 11. What a wonderful experience this book of Romans has been. It just keeps getting better. I hope you enjoy. Thank you Robert for teaching.
Starting chapter 11 you can tell it is just a continuation of chapter 10 and really begs for a review. We won't take time for a thorough review but it is important to remember that in the last couple chapters Paul is lamenting the fact that Israel, His people have not understood the good news and that they have completely missed Jesus. He ends chapter 10 by writing, "Then he (God) capped it with a damning indictment: Day after day after day, I beckoned Israel with open arms, And got nothing for my trouble but cold shoulders and icy stares."
Read: Romans 11:1-10
The Remnant of Israel
11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”[a]?4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[b] 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that could not see
and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.”[c]
eyes that could not see
and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.”[c]
9 And David says:
“May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.”[d]
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.”[d]
It sure does sound like God wants his people to fail. Is that what this is saying?
Let's read verse 7-10 in the message.
7-10 And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn’t succeed. The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue his interest in them, and as a result received his stamp of legitimacy. The “self-interest Israel” became thick-skinned toward God. Moses and Isaiah both commented on this:
Fed up with their quarrelsome, self-centered ways,
God blurred their eyes and dulled their ears,
Shut them in on themselves in a hall of mirrors,
and they’re there to this day.
God blurred their eyes and dulled their ears,
Shut them in on themselves in a hall of mirrors,
and they’re there to this day.
David was upset about the same thing:
I hope they get sick eating self-serving meals,
break a leg walking their self-serving ways.
I hope they go blind staring in their mirrors,
get ulcers from playing at god.
break a leg walking their self-serving ways.
I hope they go blind staring in their mirrors,
get ulcers from playing at god.
God isn't trying to get us to fail,H e is just trying to get us to understand that He is the one who does the saving! We must stop playing at god!
Have you ever needed to stop trying to be god?
Is there any way in your life where you are not letting Him in to do the transforming?
Maybe it is a habit you have that you are tired of, or a private sin?
Do you keep trying to work it out yourself?
If you are a Seventh-day Adventist who is trying to make sure you are doing it all right, you may be at greatest risk. Why? This chapter is not a warning for those who have fallen far from God and understand their need, or for those who have never known God and see their need! The greatest danger here is for those of us who don't have glaring sins in our lives. This chapter is warning us! Warning us that if at anytime we stop understanding our need for His mercy then we have a problem. It is perhaps in our "goodness" our "rightness" that we sin the most!
I NEED JESUS!
Go back up to verse 5: So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
Sometimes we don't know how to give it to God, sometimes we don't want to, but we always must!
READ: Verses 11-24
Ingrafted Branches
11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
What is the good news in this passage about the tree branch?
What branch are you?
What part of this passage is challenging?
What makes me a branch that is going to get pruned or cut off?
They were broken off because of what? (Verse 20)
Are you the newly grafted branch?
What is your warning?
Look it is all the same, WE MUST BELIEVE! We must understand that our life, only comes from the roots of the tree, and if at any point we decide we that we are good and strong and great enough that we don't need the roots of the tree anymore, well what will happen to us?
Back to the good news.....
Is it too late for you?
Is there anything so great that He can't pick you back up, you dead piece of dried up stick and graft you back onto the tree?
No in fact you should take the time to read this in the message bible.
God can pick up a dried up stick and graft it back and let life reign. If he can take a wild branch that doesn't belong on the tree and graft it into the tree and bring it back to life He can do the same for you!
Is there anything in your life that you think is too big?
Is there something in your life that is keeping you coming and asking for Mercy?
Do you try to do it all right on your own?
Do you just find yourself going about your day and you realize you weren't relying on God?
Have you gone all week without spending time with Him?
If a branch doesn't take the life giving strength from the roots what happens?
Dead wood is trimmed.
What cuts us off?
READ: verse 25-32
All Israel Will Be Saved
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way[e] all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[h] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
This last verse is challenging here in the NIV, but let's read it in the message. He helps it become clear and frankly so beautiful. "In one way or another, God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that he can personally open the door and welcome us back in."
Have you ever had anything in your life that highlighted your need for His mercy?
I have to admit as a young girl I would hear testimonies of people who had lived crazy lives and wished that I had a testimony like that. I wondered if their experience with God was greater than mine? Well let me just tell you, the more I know my Savior the more I see and understand how great my need is.
It doesn't matter how good you are at the lists, you NEED HIS mercy!!!
It doesn't matter how long you have been part of the "chosen" remnant church, you NEED HIS mercy!!!!
READ: verse 33-36 This is the wrap up and the close of this class. Verse 36 is powerful, and should be our constant proclamation! This thanksgiving weekend, will you proclaim it! Let's read this passage all together and out loud!
Doxology
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and[i] knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”[j]
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”[k]
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”[j]
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”[k]
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
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