There are many questions concerning literal Israel. Some say God is finished with the Jews by saying the church is Israel. God also has a bigger plan for literal Israel, as Paul describes for us in our reading.
Romans 11: The Remnant of Israel
1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?
3 "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life."
4 But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,
8 as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day."
9 And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever."
Gentiles Grafted In
11 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.
12 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!
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 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,
18 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.
19 Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."
20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
22 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.
23 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.
24 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.
The Mystery of Israel's Salvation
25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob";
27 "and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,
31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.
32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?"
35 "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Things to think about…
1. Paul recalls Elijah’s lament that he alone was left in all Israel as a faithful follower of YHWH, Rom 11:1-10. This of course was not true, God had reserved 7000 for Himself. Paul makes the point – there are still a remnant of blood IE (literal) Jews that will receive Christ as Saviour. Why? Because God has some OT promises that He is keeping just for Jacob (Israel). The Lord does not go back on His word. Israel will be blind for a season. We are called to pray for Israel. Are you praying for this nation? God prophetically returned them to their land in 1948. This was one of the blessings for them that came out of the horrors of WW2. The dry bones live. God through their suffering has given them hope, as we know, suffering has a purpose.
2. Here’s the good news for us, Rom 11:11-24. God, due to the hardening that has happened to literal Israel, has allowed other nations to hear and receive the gospel. We are the beneficiaries of Israel’s hardness for a season. God of course is still saving Jews even at this time – that is Paul’s point, he is a Jew, and he is saved! We are not the natural branches, I.E. not literal Jews. We are wild branches – we have been grafted in. We are now part of the tree. But that should not give us cause to be arrogant, the natural branches were cut off for us. Don’t think that if you reject Him after following Christ’s righteousness that you too won’t be cut out as they were. Take heed how you stand, lest you fall. Our salvation is secure. But we must honour this fact with a life of obedience and praise.
3. Paul speaks of the mystery of salvation that is still to come upon literal Israel. Look at Rom 11:26. All Israel in this context is not blood Israel and the church. It only refers to blood Israel, I.E. the Jews. ‘All’ in this context means great numbers, a multitude. Not every last one. When it says Paul took the gospel into ‘all’ the world was that true? No, he didn’t come here to Australia or the Americas. It just means a large portion. Revival will come upon Israel and it will be as though all Israel is saved. What an exciting period in history that we be. Paul’s reasoning here is that God is fulfilling His promises to them, Rom 11:28, the forefathers and will banish ungodliness from Jacob, vs 26. Pray for their salvation!
4. Paul says ‘look at the depth, wisdom and knowledge of God’, Rom 11:33. Sometimes we want to argue with God don’t we. In our arrogance we think we actually know something. What absolute folly we go on with! Our God knows what’s best for Israel and He knows what’s best for us. Paul’s concluding point in his reasoning…”To Him be the glory forever” Rom 11:36. That’s it.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups off over the school holidays.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for Angie as she lost her mum. Praise the Lord for the gift of faith and the example she has been to many. Continue to lift Angie and family in your prayers. Celebration of life at Victoria Point Baptist Church on Wednesday.
2. Pray for the new year that 2024 may be when the Lord visits his people. May He begin with me.
3. Pray for the families that have lost loved ones in the storms over the new year period. Pray for Christ’s peace.
4. Pray for the new arrivals at Christmas to CBC, may they find a home with us.
5. Please continue to pray for Glenys Zawada. Back for rehab as a day patient.
6. The conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Praise for the peace of Jesus to reign.
7. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
8. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
9. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise god for Sunday’s message and ministry – Thanks Graham, Ben, Zac, Suzy, Ashley, Ric, Bec, Doug.
2. Praise God for the new year. Pray He gets the glory as we make our plans that He guides our steps.
3. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
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Catechism questions for January...
Q. 16. Who were our first parents? A. Adam and Eve.
