Prayer: Our God and only true Savior, we thank You today and every day that You loved us enough to extend the offer of salvation to both the Jew and the Gentile. We praise Your name continually for an all-inclusive gospel message. Amen.
Main Scripture: Romans 11:1-36
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (vss. 5-6). For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (vss. 32-36).
Associated Scriptures:
…now that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So, we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified (Galatians 2:16).
We have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing (Galatians 2:20-21)!
So, the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law (Galatians 3:24-25).
Correlative Quotes:
Even in one of the worst times of Israel's history, when Elijah thought all was hopeless, many Israelites had remained faithful (11:2-4). A few Jews had found salvation (11:7; see exposition on 1 Peter 1:1-2). Unfortunately, however, most remained blinded by legalism (11:8-10; see Psalms 69:22-23; Isaiah 29:10,13; compare 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 4:18).[1] – Harold Wilmington
The parable of the olive tree must be examined carefully. Paul is not talking about salvation of individual Christians, but the position of Jews and Gentiles as peoples in the program of God. Israel is the olive tree that failed to bear fruit for God. God then broke off some of the branches and grafted into the tree the Gentiles, "a wild olive tree." This was done "contrary to nature" (v. 24), for it is the practice to graft the good branch into the poorer stock; but God grafted the weak Gentiles into the good stock of Israel's religious privileges![2] – Warren Wiersbe
God then has, if one may so say, taken advantage of the Jews’ unbelief to open wide the door of grace to all men everywhere; and so, the Gentiles are really indebted to the unbelieving Jews for their present wonderful opportunity.[3] – Harry A. Ironside
Study:
On the subject of their salvation, Paul has described Israel as being abstinent and disobedient (Romans 9). In spite of their misinterpretation of the plan of God for salvation, God has not completely disowned His people (Romans 10). God has provided a remnant (Romans 9:27) as a type of Israel. They have never accepted the lie of no Messiah. They continue to trust in God through faith. Finally, they would provide a refuge of faith for future generations.
Salvation is by grace, through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is faith and not works that initiate the redemptive power of reconciliation. Galatians 2:15-16 supports this statement and associates the word Law with works. Our justification does not come by the works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ. Here Paul separates the gentiles from the Jews. As he pointed out in Romans 9:30-32, the Jews were searching for righteousness though works. Justification through the Law did not suffice. However, the gentiles, who were not looking for the righteousness of God, found it through faith.
How incredible that through the rejection of God’s love for Israel, He has opened the door to salvation to the gentiles. No man is great enough to observe all of God's actions and to follow them through. The OT quotations (Isaiah 40:13; Job 41:11) show God's independence from man. 36. Finally, in one mighty surge of devotion, Paul attributes glory to God forever, the God who is the Source, Sustainer, and Goal of all things.[4]
When the rich young ruler approached Christ and asked Him how he could attain eternal life (Matthew 19:16-22), Jesus gave him six of the Ten Commandments all related to the works of man. The young man responded that he had kept these things since he was a young man and he wanted to know what he was still lacking. Christ told him to go and sell all that the young man had and follow Christ.
He went away grieved since he had great riches. Christ knew that the young man would not give up the riches of this life to receive the reward of eternal life. The young man was looking for an easy way to reach eternal life. Christ knew that in his heart the young ruler had no love for God but instead loved his wealth. We cannot work our way into Heaven; we will always be found lacking.
Summary Statement:
God has not forgotten the Jews. He has now included all mankind in unbelief (Romans 11:32) so that all may receive salvation under the same terms. Due to the universality of grace and redemption, both the Jew and the Gentile have an equal opportunity to receive eternal life.
Pride is the greatest of all sins. Unregenerate mankind seeks justification by their own hands; their own works (Titus 3:5-7). How sad!
Lessons within the Lesson:
How does Paul explain the “remnant” in Romans 11:5?
What is the mystery of the “wild olive shoot” in Romans 11:7-21?
Explain the “mystery” we see in Romans 11:25?
Where do wisdom and knowledge come from? Read Proverbs 9:10.
[1] Wilmington’s Bible Handbook by Harold Wilmington Copyright © 1997 by Harold L. Wilmington. Produced with permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
[2] Warren Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Copyright © 1992 by Chariot Victor Publishing, an imprint of Cook Communication Ministries. All rights reserved.
[3] Harry A. Ironside, Lectures on the Epistle of Romans, © Studylight.org., All Rights Reserved, studylight.org/commentaries/isn/view.cgi?bk=44&ch=6.
[4] The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1962 by Moody Press. All rights reserved.
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