This is the forty-fourth in a series of verse-by-verse expositions of the book of Romans. This message was delivered at Hillcrest Baptist Church on the morning of March 30, 2014. This message deals with the fact that God has a future plan for Israel, and will not abandon them. This post contains an audio recording of my message, along with my sermon notes and a study outline. Please note that the sermon notes are not a full transcript.
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Romans 11:1-10
v.1:
God has not cast away His people, nor will He.
One of the proofs that God has not cast away His people is Paul himself.
Paul’s conversion is recorded 3 times in the book of Acts (9, 22, 26).
Those examples are an illustration of the future conversion of the nation of Israel.
The accounts of Paul’s conversion tell very little that parallels our salvation experience today.
Certainly none of us has seen Christ in glory or actually heard Him speak from heaven.
We were neither blinded by the light of heaven nor thrown to the ground.
In what way, then, is Paul’s conversion “a pattern”?
It is a picture of how the nation of Israel will be saved when Jesus Christ returns to establish His kingdom on earth.
The details of Israel’s future restoration and salvation.
Zechariah 12:10 – 13:1
They will look on Christ and there will be a brokenness, but the end result will be their salvation.
Zechariah 14:1-3
Zechariah 14:8-9
vv.2-3:
Paul cites Elijah as an example that God has not cast away His people.
1 Kings 19:10
vv.4-5:
Whenever we feel abandoned by God, His response today is the same as it was to Elijah.
In the time of Elijah, God preserved a remnant.
In the time of Paul, God preserved an remnant.
Even now God preserves a remnant, because He is faithful.
v.6:
Scripture makes it very clear that this preservation (salvation) is by grace, not works.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Titus 3:5
In fact, when it comes to salvation, grace and works are mutually exclusive.
It is impossible to mix grace and works, for the one cancels the other.
Israel’s main concern had always been in trying to please God with good works.
Romans 9:30-32
The nation refused to submit to Christ’s righteousness, just as many self-righteous people in the church refuse to submit today.
vv.7-8:
Paul differentiates between the nation and the remnant. The entire nation has NOT been preserved.
The entire nation will not be saved.
Later Paul writes that “all Israel will be saved.” (V.26)
The short version , for clarification is this:
All Jews are not Israel, just as not everyone who sits in church is saved.
Therefore, those who will not accept Christ, will not be part of the true Israel.
“the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” Is also foretold by Zechariah.
Zechariah 13:9
What does Israel seek?
Righteousness, but they sought to obtain it by works. Ultimately, they were blinded.
This was the result of their resisting the truth, just as Pharaoh’s heart was hardened because he resisted the truth.
If people refuse to hear God’s Good News, they eventually will be unable to understand it.
The very thought of that happening ought to keep us asking God specifically for ears that really hear and eyes that really see— to be open and responsive to him.
Paul quoted Isaiah 29:10 to support his statement, and to show that Israel’s spiritual indifference is a pattern.
vv.9-10:
cited from Psalm 69:22–23.
This psalm is one of the most important of the messianic psalms and is referred to several times in the New Testament.
Their “table became a snare” means that their blessings turn into burdens and judgments.
This is what happened to Israel: their spiritual blessings should have led them to Christ, but instead they became a snare that kept them from Christ.
Their very religious practices and observances (which should have lead them to Christ) became substitutes for the real experience of salvation.
This same mistake is made today when people depend on religious rituals and practices instead of trusting in the Christ who is pictured in these activities.
Later, Paul makes it clear that the hardening of Israel is neither total nor final, and this is proof that God has a future for the nation. (V.25)
The existence of the believing Jewish remnant today, as in Elijah’s day, is evidence that God still has a plan for His people.
Paul did not imitate Elijah’s mistake and say, “I only am left!” He knew that there was a remnant of Israel in this world who trusted God.
We Christians are not alone, God has an army of faithful followers right now.
Are you part of the army, or have you decided on the reserves, or will you be a conscientious objector, and just sit it out completely?
In Defense: The Blog 
Posted on April 3, 2014
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