Romans 11:11-24

                                                                     Romans 11:11-24

So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root[ of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

God is at work in the history of the world.  He is bringing people to Himself from amongst both the Jews and the Gentiles.  The responses of one has an effect on the other.  What is of utmost importance is that everyone recognizes the fact that it is all by God’s grace and for His glory.  Pride has no place in the family of God because entrance into God’s family is only by God’s grace and is never by the merits of man.

 

REJECTION OF ISRAEL LEADS TO RICHES FOR GENTILES: As a result of the rejection of the Jews, the Gentile nations have been blessed with the Gospel and responded.  Paul was called as an apostle to the Gentiles and the results he was seeing in many cities where he traveled were fantastic.  Paul’s point is that God is using the nation of Israel even through their rejection.  They are a people God has chosen through whom to bless the nations.  Christ is the primary means through which that has happened.  However, Paul is pointing out that in God’s sovereignty, even their disobedience is being used to bless the nations.  His point is that He will bless in an even greater way in their future through obedience.

 

RECEPTION OF GENTILES LEADS TO JEALOUSY IN ISRAEL: Paul admits that his emphasis on the blessings of the Gentiles is to provoke His own nation of Israel to jealousy.  It is not that Paul considers jealousy to be some sort of virtue.  His hope is for the Gospel to penetrate the hearts of His nations.  He wants them to see the way God is blessing these nations and for them to desire that for themselves.  The Gospel is a precious gift for any person and any nation.  Paul wants this gift to be experience in the lives of all people everywhere.  However, like all people, he has a special place in his heart for his own nation.  If we truly love our country, we will do all within our power to help it come to faith in Christ Jesus.  

 

RECONCILIATION OF ISRAEL IS MORE NATURAL THAN GENTILES: Paul turns to the Gentile nations and warns them that they should not become proud in their benefits from the Gospel.  Paul states that if God was willing to break off some of the nation of Israel from the blessings of God due to their unbelief, he would certainly not hesitate to break off some of the Gentile peoples.  Paul turns to his olive branch illustration to demonstrate that it would be far easier to graft in the natural descendants of Abraham than it had been to graft in the Gentile nations.  Exposure to and the gift of the Gospel is a blessing that no person or nation can take for granted.

 

APPLICATION: Worship our sovereign Lord for His wisdom as demonstrated by His ability to use, even the sins of men for His own glory.  Do all we can to demonstrate the greatness of God to others and convince them to trust and obey the Lord.  Be thankful for the blessing of the Gospel and never take it for granted.

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