Sunday, September 2, 2018

Introduction To Romans 9-11

Temple Baptist Church - 9-2-2018
Romans 9-11

Introduction:

A.  Tonight, we will begin our journey through three chapters that are much mis-understood and, therefore, mis-interpreted.  These chapters have been used as a “cracked foundation” by those who lean toward or are Calvinistic in theology.

B. My desire as a pastor to rightly divide the Word of Truth to produce sound doctrine.  In doing so, false doctrine will be refuted by the Word of God as sound doctrine always exposes false doctrine.

C.  In chapter 8, we found the Righteousness of God in Salvation.  In relation to Israel, we find the Righteousness of God in Selection.  GOD CHOSE THE NATION OF ISRAEL.  This is not individual election to salvation which is found in faith in Christ alone.

D.  Years ago, I did a study on Calvinism or Tulip Theology in these three chapters.  These chapters are called a Parenthetical.  They are given to the believer for good reason: to explain the beginning, present, and future of the Nation of Israel.  This is important because of our relationship as believers to God’s elect nation, Israel.

1.  Chapter 9 – The National Election of the Nation of Israel – Selection

Isaiah 45:4  For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

2.  Chapter 10 – The National Rejection by the Nation of Israel – Separation

John 1:10-11  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  (11)  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

3.  Chapter 11 – The National Restoration of the Nation of Israel – Salvation

Zechariah 12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Zechariah 13:6  And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

E.  In chapters 9-11, we find:

1.  Israel’s Past in Selection.  No choice involved in selection.

2.  Israel’s Present in Separation.  Choice involved in separation.

3.  Israel’s Future in Salvation.  Choice involved in salvation.

F.  In Romans, chapter 8, we find God’s everlasting love for His Church. 

Romans 8:38-39 declares that nothing can separate God’s people from His love.  This leads into chapters 9-11 and the Nation of Israel.  As God is not yet finished with you and I, He is not finished with the Nation of Israel. 

G.  In Romans, chapters 9-11, we find God’s everlasting love for His Elect Nation of Israel.

Jeremiah 31:1-17  At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.  (2)  Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.  (3)  The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.  (4)  Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thoushalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.  (5)  Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.  (6)  For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.  (7)  For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.  (8)  Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.  (9)  They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.  (10)  Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.  (11)  For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.  (12)  Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.  (13)  Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.  (14)  And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.  (15)  Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.  (16)  Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.  (17)  And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

H.  In the opening chapter 9:1-3, we find Paul’s sorrow for the Nation of Israel’s Failure.  In the closing chapter 11:26-36, we find Paul’s joy for theNation of Israel’s Future.

I.  In each of these three chapters, Paul begins and ends with the Nation of Israel.  Therefore, the context demands interpretation to be to the Nation of Israel.

Chapter 9:

Romans 9:3-4  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:  (4)  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

Romans 9:31-33  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.  (32)  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;  (33)  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Chapter 10:

Romans 10:1  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Romans 10:21  But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Chapter 11:

Romans 11:1-2  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  (2)  God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

Romans 11:25-27  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.  (26)  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:  (27)  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

J.  Why the Parenthetical concerning the Nation of Israel?  These chapters do several things for the believer:

1.  God opens our eyes to the Importance of the Nation of Israel.  Israel is the most hated nation on earth.  Why, because of people’s hatred of the God of Israel.  The Bible says that the world will hate us because it hated Him first.  Throughout the history of Israel, they have fought just for the right to exist.  The nations that hate Israel would love to see Israel driven out of the land and annihilated.    God honors those who honor Him and His!

2.  God burdens our hearts for the Salvation of Individual Israelites.  In our further study, we will see that blindness IN PART has happened to Israel because of their rejection of the Messiah but individuals can and are being saved through faith in Christ.

3.  God exhorts us to continue in our prayers for the Return of Nation of Israel.  In chapter 11, we will see the grafting in of the “natural branch” and the blessing that Israel, in a revived condition, will be to the world.

4.  God will bless us who continue to bless the Nation of Israel.  In Genesis 12:2-3, God said: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  (3)  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

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