Paul explains why Israel is hard and continues to ask the Lord to open the eyes of the Jewish people. Let’s do the same.
Romans 10:
1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
The Message of Salvation to All
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)
7 or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."
19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry."
20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."
21 But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."
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…
Paul speaks about the Jews having a zeal that is not according to knowledge. When in Israel this zeal without knowledge is best expressed through the religious observance of the Sabbath. We know that Christ of course is the fulfilment of the Sabbath, not according to modern Jews. Venues would be closed, other non-Jewish staff were called upon to work and even the lifts have to be ‘Sabbath’ regulated – they went automatically, pressing a button to operate a lift on the Sabbath is considered work. Praise God all the necessary ‘work’ was done on the cross and confirmed at the resurrection.
What’s Paul’s point in Rom 10:5-21? Simply this, that belief in Christ and not in the law is the only thing that saves. Paul says that Isaiah and even Moses who wrote the law says that those who trusted in the law were not of faith, Rom 10:16-21. Moses called them disobedient and they still are today.
Paul asks an obvious question “Has God rejected His people”, Rom 11:1. Paul says no, Paul as a Jew is a good example that God still saves Jews. He also writes about Elijah and 7000 others who were saved. There will always be a remnant. Today there are many Messianic Jews who accept Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah. Paul says they are part of the elect, just like any Gentile. They are saved by grace and not through the law, Rom 11:5,6. Praise the Lord. But the Lord gave them over to not understand for a season, Rom 11:8-10 for two purposes. 1. To save the Gentiles and 2. To make Israel jealous, vss 11-14.
The branches! Rom 11:16-24. We are grafted in by faith in Christ. This was an act of grace. Don’t be a proud branch! Your faith is a gift, you have nothing to be proud about. Let your boast be in Christ alone!
Paul gets prophetic in Rom 11:25-36. One day many in Israel will be saved by grace through faith in Christ. The Deliverer will come and banish Jacob’s (Israel’s) present ungodliness. Israel today is secular and even the religious Jews are trying to bring in their messiah through the arm of flesh. Israel needs to protect its borders but protecting and keeping a pure blood line is nothing more than religious racism. The Lord has His purposes through their hardening, Rom 11:34,35, but let us not join hands in supporting their arm of flesh in setting up a system that ultimately ushers in the anti-Christ. Sadly one day they will succeed and be deceived by the anti-Christ himself. Pray for our Digital Harvest ministry we support in Jerusalem so the Jews may see their true Messiah – Jesus Christ.
Vision Point for Cell groups
CBC's Vision "To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission".
Cell group questions from Sunday morning’s sermon “We’re in trouble” Romans 3:1-19.
1. Have you ever been so far behind the 8 ball that you were never able to win from there. I remember years ago Qld beat NSW 52-6 in the State of Origin. Discuss.
2. Paul paints a fairly bleak picture of the condition of humanity in Rom 3:10-18. What do you think, is it really that bad? Discuss.
3. Paul uses 3 words – Righteous, Propitiation and Justified. Do you remember what each of these words means with respect to our standing in Christ?
4. We are on the winning team. We are more than conquerors in Christ. We are victors and overcomers. What does this mean for you when have have the occasional lose in life?
Prayer Points
1. CBC Carols and Christmas Day. Pray for advertising and that these events bring many visitors to celebrate the Saviour.
New folk coming to church, pray they are loved and looked after.
2. America still considering who will be their president. Pray for the supreme court challenges. Pray for truth, grace and peace.
3. Keep praying for Zac’s dad, Mark Torrington not out of the woods yet.
4. Sunday’s message. This week – “An object lesson” Rom 9, Graham.
7. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
8. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. Rod’s health and the worship team on Sunday. Great job folks.
2. All those serving in ministry at CBC.
3. All those who served on Sunday with Music, audio, words and streaming.
4. Angelo, Helen, Doug, Maddison, Yuki thankyou for your efforts every week.
5. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
6. Finances have been blessed. Thankyou.
Announcements
1. Carols Sun 20thDec 6pm. Start with a meal. Carols to start after the meal around 7pm.
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Christmas Day service – 9:00am, Friday 25th December. 1 hour service.
