HoHum:
There are approximately 150,000 Jewish Believers in Jesus Christ today. In 1948, when Israel was reestablished as an independent nation, there were fewer than 100 Messianic Jews living in Israel. Today, there are approximately 15,000 Messianic Jewish people in Israel. However, there are 13.4 million Jews in the world.
WBTU:
Last year around this time we were talking about grace mainly from Romans 1-8. Did not talk about the next section of Romans. Romans 9-11 deals with questions that might come up from chapters 1-8. One of those questions is how do we understand the fact that most of the nation of Israel did not accept Jesus as the Messiah; they rejected the gospel of grace.
Paul was concerned about this greatly. Look at Romans 9:1-4a and 10:1-3.
Toward the end of chapter 9 Paul quotes some passages from Hosea and Isaiah. The passage from Hosea should be familiar with us, dealt with it this morning.
Thesis: Let’s talk about God’s plan to include the Gentiles and then talk about how anyone, both Jew and Gentile, can obtain righteousness.
For instances:
I. God’s plan to include the Gentiles (Romans 9:25-29)
Here we have a series of quotations from Hosea and Isaiah, cited to give prophetic confirmation of God’s purpose for Israel as it involves the birth of the NT church. These verses show that the present state of Israel’s unbelief was no surprise to God, and that his original purpose has not failed. The nation of Israel was always intended to be a means to an end; the end itself is spiritual Israel, which is made up of both a believing remnant from old Israel and all believers from among the Gentiles. This end, and therefore God’s purpose for Israel, have been accomplished, in fulfillment of these prophecies.
A. The Jewish connection (Romans 9:25-26)
Hosea 1:6, 8-10; 2:23
For whom were these verses intended? Audience would have to be the 10 northern tribes of Israel. These Jews had become “not loved” and “not my people” through the judgment of the exile. For God to punish Israelites by stripping them of their status as “my people” was a severe blow; being the people of God was their greatest treasure. This promise that God would one day bestow this title upon them again would have special meaning for Jews.
B. The Gentile connection (Romans 9:25-26)
Hosea 1:6, 8-10; 2:23
Beyond the context in the OT, these verses apply to the evangelization of the Gentiles in the NT. The Gentiles were “not loved” and “not my people” by nature. Think about this, for thousands of years, the Lord was mainly concerned with the Jews. They were God’s people and the Gentiles were not. Does this mean that the Lord did not care about the Gentiles? No, God’s plan was to reach out to them so that they would be loved as well. In the NT age, when the church goes into all the world, the gospel message reaches Jew and Gentile alike, and the words of Hosea take on a new and expanded meaning. Gentiles who have never had this status as being the people of God may not realize what a great promise this is. To be “God’s people” means to come into a special family relationship with him.
Because of gospel, whole world is loved and each individual can be a member of God’s people.
Now we are loved, the Lord has compassion on us (take off the Lo in Hosea’s children’s names) [don’t confuse Lo Ammi with Bon Ami- Bon Ami is a brand of household cleaner products], and we are no longer orphans, but a part of the family of God.
Ephesians 2:12-13: remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
1 Peter 2:10: Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
C. God’s exclusive plan for the Jew (Romans 9:27-29)
Isaiah 10:22, 23
Paul takes this quote and specifically applies it to Israel. Isaiah is assuring Israel that even though they must suffer conquest and captivity, at least a remnant will survive and return to the Lord. But at the same time, the fact that only a remnant will be saved means that the rest will be destroyed. Paul sees Isaiah’s prophecy as being fulfilled through the preaching of the gospel and the entry of some Jews into spiritual Israel, the church, through their conversion to Christ.
The prophet Isaiah declares that only a remnant would thus be saved is proof of Paul’s main point and anguish. The main purpose for the nation of Israel was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. But this prophecy shows that this great nation was chosen only for service not for salvation; and the fact that only a small portion were saved was in no way contrary to God’s promises.
This remnant teaching is both a promise and a judgment. As a promise, it is an assurance that at least a remnant of Israel will be saved. There will always be an Israel, at least a spiritual Israel. But as a judgment, it is a solemn recognition that only a remnant will be saved.
This marks the end of God’s dealing with Israel as His chosen people, because the church is now His chosen people. God’s purpose for ethnic and racial Israel is now completed, they are no longer his special people unless they became a part of the church.
Isaiah 1:9
This quotation talks about Sodom and Gomorrah. In Scripture this is a type of final and decisive judgment. Without the promised remnant, Israel would have become like these two cities: extinct. By preserving a remnant, God brought a judgment just short of extinction upon Israel.
The word “descendants” here can be translated as “seed.” The purpose for leaving behind a few survivors is to reseed and replant for the future. The “new growth” that springs from this seed is the new spiritual Israel, the church.
II. How can we obtain righteousness? (Romans 9:30-33)
Vs. 30- What then shall we say? What shall we say about the lostness of most Jews, especially in view of the fact that a lot more Gentiles than Jews are being saved?
A. The Pursuit of righteousness by law (Romans 9:31)
The Jews thought that since they had the Law of Moses (given by God), and since they were trying to obey it as best they could (which they could not), then they had salvation.
The Jews hoped by their efforts of keeping the Law that they would have a right standing with God. Galatians 3:10-11: All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
Paul says that salvation is not attained by keeping the Law. He says it plainly in vs. 32. The law system cannot save sinners. Romans 3:20: Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
What is the biggest obstacle in people coming to Christ? Self righteousness. Same problem that the Jews had is the same one today.
B. The Gentiles pursued righteousness by faith (Romans 9:30)
The Gentiles were rarely concerned with righteousness, right living or being declared righteous in God’s sight. The pagan world was know for its wickedness. The pagan world did not believe in one Holy and Righteous God.
But even though they were not pursuing a right standing before God, they obtained it anyway! Under the NT, God is actively seeking Gentiles to be his people through the world wide preaching of the gospel. By accepting the gospel when it is presented to them, Gentiles obtain this right standing before God.
Righteousness by faith is a shorthand expression for the grace system as a whole and is similar to “justified by faith” found in Romans 3:28: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
C. To these Christ is a precious cornerstone (Romans 9:33)
In this quoting from Isaiah Paul blends two verses together; 8:14 and 28:16. Both passages are talking about the stone, rock or cornerstone. Used negatively and positively here:
1. Negatively: Stumble and fall- This rock is something they oppose or take offense to their ruin and destruction. Those who oppose Christ or who take offense at the gospel of the cross fall into eternal ruin and death. This is what happened to the Jews. 1 Corinthians 1:23: but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. Christ is also the stumbling stone that is talked about in vs. 32. They chose law over grace and they are lost.
2. Positively: Those who trust... The idea is that those who take refuge upon Rock of Christ by trusting in Him will never have to slink away in shame for having made a humiliating decision.
Paul does not make reference to it here but it does apply that Christ is a precious cornerstone. Isaiah 28:16. He is precious. 1 Peter 2:7: Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.
Christ is precious to us because of who He is.
Christ is precious to us because what He has done for us.
Christ is precious to us because of what He has done in us
Christ is precious to us because of what He is still doing in us.
Christ is precious to us because of what He has promised to give to us in eternity
