An Overview of Chapter Eleven Romans 11:1-36

Text:  “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.  Wherefore?  Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.  For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.”                                                                                                                                     Romans 9:31-32.

           “The Stone (Christ Jesus) which the builders (the Jewish Nation) refused is become the Head Stone of the corner.”

                                                                                                                 Psalm 118:22.

Good morning, Bible-taught Christian!  Not for you the modernist myths, nor the liberalist lies - your faith is based on the infallible Word of God.  Therefore, you shall never be moved away from the truth.  Hallelujah!

Serious Bible study is a must for all who would be certain of the hope God has given us of His Salvation in Christ Jesus the Lamb of God.  Men’s opinions might sound wonderful and easy to listen to at times, but only the Word of God Himself can dispel all dread and doubt. 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”                           (2 Timothy 2:15)

Chapter eleven of the book of Romans is an overview of God’s dealings with the Jewish Nation - the Nation through which God chose to reveal Himself to all mankind.  Let us look, briefly, at this overview.

In this great historical chapter of Paul’s epistle to the Romans, Paul, at all times under the full inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, takes us time and time again back into the past; quoting a number of Old Testament Scriptures to support his points.
(2 Peter 1:21) (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

His main theme in this chapter is God’s dealing with the Jewish Nation, and he is here assuring us that God has not rejected His people forever, but will in fact, in the fullness of time, resume His Sovereign work among them.  “...’Hath God cast away His people?  God forbid...” (V.1)

If one was looking for a perfect example to illustrate what the Lord God is revealing here in Paul’s letter reference the Jewish Nation, one would only have to look briefly at Christ’s dealing with the fig tree in Matthew 21:18-20.

Here we see Christ coming to a fig tree which bore all the ‘leaves’ of outer form or profession, yet, when He sought for some ‘fruit’ He could find none.  So, being God incarnate, the Creator Lord God, Christ cursed the fig tree with the terrible words: “Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth forever.” 

What a terrible rejection from the son of God upon the fruitless fig tree!  What a terrible lesson for the Jewish Nation!  What a terrible lesson for you and for me!  

“Ye are cursed with a curse; for ye have robbed Me, even this whole Nation.”  (Malachi 3:7-9) (Matthew 21:19)

Can we not hear God’s Word echoing in our hearts in relation to this story?  “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew His not.  He came unto His own (the Jewish Nation), and His own received Him not.”  (John 1:10-11)

What a sad and deadly rejection!  The Jewish Nation rejected their long awaited Messiah, and as a consequence, were rejected by Him - for a terrible season.  But, praise God, that is not the end of the story.

Romans chapter eleven teaches us that there is still hope for the Jewish Nation and that a ‘...remnant according to the election of grace...’ shall be saved - after God has finished calling in His chosen Gentiles. (Romans 11:5)

“For I would not, brethren (the Jewish Nation), that ye should be ignorant of this mystery (new revealed truth), lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness (to the Gospel of Christ) in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” (Romans 11:25)

In chapter eleven of Romans, we are taught that the Jewish Nation rejected their Messiah Jesus, and in return He rejected them - for a season. We also learn why this happened.  It happened in order to offer Salvation to the Gentile Nations for a God-ordained season, and this to make the rejectionist Jews jealous, that they too might seek their Saviour in the end times.

We Gentiles are clearly seen as ‘...the wild olive tree...’ grafted into God’s Eternal Plan of Salvation.  However, Israel alone are the ‘...good olive tree...’, and thus, we are called to pray for National Salvation for the Jewish Nation.  (Romans 11:13-24) (Romans 10:13)

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee...for my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, ‘Peace be within thee.’”  (Psalm 122:6-8) 

Our God is a Lord God of infinite grace.  Praise His great Name!  And because He is, He will deal graciously with all those whom He will choose to redeem today, and in the latter days ahead.  Hear again His gracious Voice:  “And so all Israel (all whom God elects to be saved) shall be saved; as it is written, ‘There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.  For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.’”  (Romans 11:26-27)

Even from this brief overview of chapter eleven of Paul’s epistle to the Romans we can see the goodness of God down through the ages; we can have even more confidence (faith) in His ever-kept promises to His people; and we can gain much encouragement to worship and serve Him, and Him alone.  What a Friend we have in Jesus - the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.  (Hebrews 13:8)

Thought:  Jesus loves and accepts the vilest rejects.  Sinners just like me!