Coachlight Bible Study – Romans Chapter 11
God’s Righteousness Demonstrated By Israel’s Future
The Book of Romans declares God’s Righteousness all the way through. Chapters nine, ten and eleven demonstrate God’s righteousness in the way God handles His stiff-necked and rebellious people.
Chapter nine demonstrated God’s righteousness through God calling out the Nation of Israel. Chapter ten, squarely placed the blame for Israel’s rejection on the Nation itself, because of unbelief. Chapter eleven demonstrates God’s Righteousness and His Foreknowledge by revealing the mystery of God’s Righteous Plan, not just for Israel, but the entire world.
It is because God is Who He is that the Nation of Israel will be spared, and the rest of the world has the ability to come to the knowledge of the Truth. God’s plan definitely demonstrates God’s righteousness. We can be assured and give all the glory to God, that through the magnificent work of Christ on the cross, that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
I. Israel’s Rejection Is Not Total – There Is Always A Remnant
Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Romans 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, {of Elias: Gr. in Elias?}
Romans 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Romans 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
A. Has God cast away His people? – God Forbid. – 3 exhibits presented
1. God’s Exhibit A – Paul proves this by his personal story
a. Paul is a Jew, from the line of Abraham, tribe of Benjamin
b. Paul is not cast away – He is the Apostle to the Gentiles – Verse 11
2. God’s Exhibit B – God’s foreknowledge
a. God called out the nation of Israel
b. God gave Abraham an unconditional Covenant – Forever
c. God’s Word is eternal – Demonstrates His Righteousness
3. God’s Exhibit C – God always has His remnant
a. There has always been a remnant in history
1. There was a remnant in Elijah’s day – Verses 2-4
I Kings 19:10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
I Kings 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
2. There was a remnant in Isaiah’s day
Isaiah 1:9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
3. There was a remnant at the time of Christ’s birth - Anna
Luke 2:38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. {Jerusalem: or, Israel}
4. There will be a remnant in the Great Tribulation
Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Revelation 7:5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
Revelation 7:6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
Revelation 7:7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
Revelation 7:8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
B. Conclusion – The question is ridiculous - A remnant exists now – Paul is part
Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
1. This Israeli remnant is not saved by their line of descent
2. This Israeli remnant is not saved by their own self-righteousness
3. This Israeli remnant has no special merit
4. This Israeli remnant has no special favor with God
5. This Israeli remnant is only saved by God’s grace through faith
C. Didn’t Israel Get what it was seeking For? – Righteousness
Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded {blinded: or, hardened}
1. Chapter 10 told us that Israel sought to establish their own self-righteousness
a. They didn’t recognize God’s imputation of His righteousness
b. They sought righteousness by works instead of faith
2. God’s remnant does and will attain what they are looking for
3. The rest are blinded
Romans 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. {slumber: or, remorse}
a. A quote from Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 29:3 The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:
Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Deuteronomy 29:5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.
b. In conjunction with Isaiah
Isaiah 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. {rulers: Heb. heads}
Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
c. And then a quote from Psalms
Romans 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Romans 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
Psalm 69:22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
Psalm 69:23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
II. The Purpose Israel’s Rejection – Revelation Of A Mystery
Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Romans 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? {diminishing: or, decay, or, loss}
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Romans 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
Romans 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; {among them: or, for them}
Romans 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Romans 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Romans 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Romans 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Romans 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Romans 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. {blindness: or, hardness}
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God’s Plan For The World |
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Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. |
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Romans 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: {believed: or, obeyed} Romans 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. {believed: or, obeyed} |
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Contrast Of The Natural And Wild Olive Branches |
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Israel |
Gentiles |
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God Reconciling The World |
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Natural Olive Branches Abiding In The Root |
Wild Olive Branches Grafted In Contrary To Nature |
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Cast Away - Through Unbelief Broken Off |
Reconciling The World - Those Who Stand By Faith Grafted In |
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If You Stay In Unbelief – You Will Remain Cut Off |
If You Stay In God’s Goodness – You Partake Of The Fatness Of The Tree |
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God Bringing About Life From The Dead |
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If You Stop Your Unbelief – Will Be Grafted In Again |
If You Get High-minded – You will Also Be Cut Off |
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God’s Remnant Will Be Saved At The End Of The Age – God’s Covenant To Abraham And The Extensions |
Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. |
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Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. {blindness: or, hardness} |
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Romans 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: {believed: or, obeyed} Romans 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. {believed: or, obeyed} |
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Romans 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? |
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III. The Promise Israel’s Restoration – God’s Covenant
Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Romans 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Romans 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: {believed: or, obeyed}
Romans 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. {believed: or, obeyed}
Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. {concluded…: or, shut them all up together}
IV. Glory To God – It’s All About His Righteousness
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Romans 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Romans 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. {whom: Gr. him}