Introduction
A Metronome is an instrument that keeps time for a musician to ensure they remain with he intended beat and tempo that was intended by the music writer. It swings backwards and forwards, but always with the purpose of keeping the music moving forward at the appropriate time and pace.
Paul closes with -
33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
This last section of Chapter 11 made me think of the metronome. One thing happens to effect another thing to effect back to the first thing but always moving forward and developing the music’s purpose as it were. Inexorably God’s perfect plan is moving forward.
A. DON’T BE BOASTFUL (v11-16) Metronome Deliverance
11 So I ask, did they (Israel) stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, (WHY?) 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[b] mean!
Israel answered the question again whether man could attain righteousness on his own. The answer is again “NO”. They had the history and miracles with God’s presence coming out of Egypt. They had the Judges and the Prophets. They had God’s righteous law and finally they had His Word – Jesus Christ.
Is the stumble a fall – fallen beyond any repair – NO says Paul. WHAT FALL?? How glorious is God’s grace to Overrule the foolishness of men and to bring Grace to bear to fulfil His will and to bring out of human calamity a blessed –
a. Israels fall has brought salvation to the Gentiles (Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles – initiated late in the program – who would have thought it??)
b. This salvation of the Gentiles will make Israel jealous and lead to her “fullness” taking place. c. Israel’s restoration and fullness will bring even greater blessings to the Gentiles.
The fall is not “total” as seen earlier on, nor it is final. “How much more will their full inclusion mean”. Paul anticipates tremendous blessings when Israel’s full inclusion is fulfilled.
Because of Israels’ stumble, the Gentiles come to the front of God’s plan - through the Apostle Paul’s testimony and teaching.
IT IS NOTHING TO BOAST ABOUT AS YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING. YOUR RICHES ARE FROM GOD ALONE
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 first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
• “Apostle to the Gentiles” Paul’s designation - indicates that Paul’s ministry was to different grouping from Israel. He tried several times (recorded in Acts) to reach out to Israel with the Gospel, but they rejected. They hardened their hearts to the joy of the Gospel.
• This was a time of transition where the Gospel was going out with a SPECIAL FOCUS to reach those other than the Jews. It was no longer through the Jews only. A few of the Jews, a remnant, believed and were grafted into the root(v17-24).
• The attempt to make Jews jealous is an attempt to bring even greater blessing by bringing to bear the swing back (Metronome) to Israel of God’s plan. Which Paul appears to expect.
• Reminds me of the heart for the ONE LOST SHEEP.
• “their acceptance mean life from the dead?” – when Israel has come in, in its fulness then Christ coming will initiate the Resurrection from the dead as the final fruits. The culmination at the end of time.
• If a part that belongs to the whole is set aside/holy – then so will the rest be holy. If Christ as the first fruits is holy, so will all others who are in him/abide in him/connected to his vine – also be holy.
• GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION OFFERED OUT TO THE WHOLE WORLD THAT HE LOVES IS MOVING FORWARD. IT MAY FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING BACKWARDS AT TIMES, BUT IT IS ADVANCING HIS WILL AND PURPOSES.
• The ticking backwards and forwards of the Metronome keeps the rhythm and forward movement of the music. God’s metronome shows his loving patience and longsuffering - moves his plan forward : Favoured Israel rejects Christ – Wild Olive branch Gentiles accept Christ – Rebellious Gentiles reject Christ – Jealous Israel accepts Christ – Final battle with evil – Kingdom of God culminates
• ARE WE TRYING (LIKE PAUL) TO WIN THOSE AROUND YOU FOR CHRIST – MAKING THEM JEALOUS - IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE WORLD FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS FOR US AS BELIEVERS?
B. DON’T BE ARROGANT IN SELF IMPORTANCE) v17 – 24 (Hardening of the heart separates you from God)
Whether it was Israel or the Gentiles, there is a thread of arrogance - like it’s their efforts that have brought them to a favoured standing before God.
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[c] 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
(1) broken off because of their unbelief,
(2) but you stand fast through faith.
(3) So do not become proud, (Paul’s only boast was in Christ – that should be ours also)
(4) but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
• “Wild Olive shoot” – interesting analogy as mostly one grafts in the fruitful shoot into the Wild root to effect fruit bearing and resilient growth. In this case the “wild olive tree” – grafted in to regenerate the old “complacent” tree/roots that is not bearing fruit which then initiates new growth in the old tree and it the bears fruit once again. (In Portugal Pai allowed wild shoots at bottom of “dying olive trees” for a short while before cutting them off).
• There is a warning here, that should the Gentiles arrogantly harden their hearts, (don’t stand in your faith) they too will be “cut off”. This is not a statement on individual’s loss of salvation. He is speaking in the plural to “Gentiles”. If the situation arises when generally as a collective, they harden their heart in unbelief, then they too can be “cut off”.
• When speaking to a collective, even the Church, there are believers and unbelievers in the group and from the outside the difference is not apparent. The heart response in faith will be the decider. So, are we Humble in accepting by faith our undeserving salvation OR in arrogance - in validating oneself as being worthy in what you have done or not done – (Saul).
• This is a prophetic statement as in the end times the Nations (Gentiles) will harden their hearts and turn against God – God’s wrath comes upon all the earth in the Tribulation where the Gentiles are “cut off”. God is sovereign and in control. He fulfill his purposes.
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.
• John 15v4-5 – you cannot bear fruit if you do not remain in the vine. YOU MUST REMAIN IN THE VINE.
• A second prophetic statement since Israel will see the Gentiles and remnant (ie the church) and be jealous. God’s discipline comes upon them in full righteousness in the Tribulation (Jacobs trouble – Jer 30v7) - they turn from their unbelief to Christ.
C. DON’T BE CONCEITED v25-32 (Israel’s Salvation - A Mystery) WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?!
25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this MYSTERY, brothers:[d] “a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
1. “Brothers” – speaking to Jew and Gentile believer who potentially see themselves above Israelites not believing – they are grace-remnants or “New Gentile heirs-of-the-Promise “. o DON’T BE CONCEITED - lording it over Israel – Do you ever feel you are better because others have stumbled and you think you have not??
2. A partial hardening has come upon Israel – the fact is that in this current period or dispensation, only a portion (remnant) of Israel does not harden their hearts and is saved. This Paul had stated earlier in the chapter, so that was not a mystery to bring out now.
3. This indeed was a mystery. In like manner that Jesus first and second coming was not envisaged by anyone (including the Prophets) until it was revealed by God in His time. Likewise a partial hardening and recovery was not expected.
1. This hardening of Israel is partial/temporal – it is only until the fullness of Gentiles has come in. “Partial” as some are being saved – a remnant of which Paul is one – in the same way as God ordains, Israel will also have its fullness come in.
2. It is conditional “until” – so it’s a current temporal situation – “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” – it’s a matter of time - now this is something new – that the fulfilment of the promises made to Israel will come to fruition contingent on the “Fullness of Gentiles” being complete – which will be effected as promised in Isaiah (portions quoted by Paul).
26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from (to) Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; (Isa 59:20,21)
27 “and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.” (Isa 27:9)
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies 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.
1. The flow into the OT quotations is very apparent – they speak of Israels salvation. 2. Israel are grafted back in by accepting God’s free gift in Christ – God’s program moving to its climax until all (substantial. nationally) of Israel is saved.
3. The Deliverer is no one other than the Promised Messiah, ie our Lord Jesus Christ. One who comes “to” (Isaiah) and “from” (Romans) Zion.
4. Isaiah 27 remembers the victory of Israel being taken out from Egypt (Ezek 29v3). It looks forward when Jacob (Israel) takes root and fills the whole earth with fruit but not before they are “gleaned” before the great Trumpet and gathering of Israel on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
• Their opposition of the Gospel has made them enemies of God (that benefitted the Gentiles as it allowed them into the “mainstream of the free gift of the Gospel) • Notwithstanding this they are loved on the basis of the promises to their forefathers. They cannot refuse God’s calling and so all Israel will be saved.
• GOD SOVEREIGNLY FULFILS HIS OWN PURPOSES – ITS HIS GIFTS AND CALLING.
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[e]receive mercy.
• God’s metronome ticks on…
32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
• Just in case you were getting cocky about how good you are - FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD – Its all about God - God’s mercy is to all and all need His grace as all are disobedient and have fallen short of the glory of God.
D. In all things “Glory to God”
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
• It is He who is sovereign over all individual and all peoples. He alone is unsearchable and beyond scrutiny. May we desire to continue to grow in his knowledge and wisdom as only he can give.
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?”
• In our sinfulness pray that we would have open hearts to His word as we read and hear it but that in dependence on the Spirit we would guard our hearts against the wiles of the Satan.
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
E. Conclusion
➢ To him be glory forever –
o God is sovereign.
▪ We perceive dimly God’s working with peoples and groupings but “who has known the mind of the Lord”.
➢ Do not be arrogant toward those who don’t believe
o We have received a free gift. Nothing is of own works or doing. It is not because we are somehow better than anyone else. It is all God’s work.
o Be humble and seek to imitate Paul even as he sought to imitate Christ, that in all that he was and had, he was prepared to sacrifice that one other might come to faith in Christ.
o May our lives so reflect Christ that we might make others jealous that they too would seek Christ.
➢ Don’t be wise in your own sight
o We read of mysteries that are revealed to us, but we cannot know what other mysteries we will only get to know when we are with the Lord.
o Let us stand firm on our faith with humility knowing that our hearts are deceitful and that sin crouches at the door seeking to devour us.
➢ Let us Persevere
o May our focus be that when it is all said and done, it’s mostly “said” and very little done.
o May we magnify our ministry that through it others may become jealous and turn to Christ.