What Should We Think About Israel? Pt. 3

What Should We Think About Israel? pt. 3

Romans 8:37 (NASB), “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

* Romans 9-11 answers the question, has Israel been separated from the love of God.

Romans 11:1 (NASB), I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? Far from it! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 

1. Israel’s Rejection is not Total (Romans 11:1-10).

“God has not rejected His people, has He? Far from it!” (11:1) 
•    Paul (1)
•    Elijah (2)
•    7,000 faithful in Elijah’s day (4)
•    Most were hardened (7) stumbled (9) stubborn (10) 
•    But, there is a remnant according to God’s gracious choice (5)

Romans 11:11 (NASB), I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? Far from it! But by their wrongdoing salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12 Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Therefore insofar as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 if somehow I may move my own people to jealousy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection proves to be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 

2. Israel’s Rejection is not Final (Romans 11:11-24).

“God has not rejected His people, has He? Far from it!” (11:11) 
•    Israel’s wrongdoing brought reconciliation to the world. (12)
•    More Gentile salvation will make more Jews jealous. (14)
•    Israel’s failure will end in their fulfilment. (12)
•    Israel will experience “life from the dead.” (15)

The Olive Tree Illustration (17-24)

Romans 11:22, “See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.”
Romans 11:25 (NASB), “For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written:
‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. 27 This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.’”

3. Israel’s Restoration Assured (Romans 11:25-32).

The mystery is this sequence of events:

1.    A partial hardening has happened to Israel (25)
2.    Until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (25)
3.    Then all Israel will be saved (26)

“For God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all.” (11:32)

CONCLUSION

1. God does not give up on stubborn people and neither should we. 

2. Christians should not be arrogant but pray for Israel’s salvation.

3. Christians must beware of unbelief and continue in God’s assurance, grace and mercy.