SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). IT INVOLVES THE GRAFTING OF GOD (vs 11-24).
• (a). the reason (vs 11-15 )
• (b). the results (vs 16-17)
• (c). the reminder (vs 18-24)
(2). IT INVOLVES THE GUARANTEE OF GOD (vs 25-32)
• (a). his promises (vs 25-27 )
• (b). his purposes (vs 28-32)
(3). IT INVOLVES THE GLORY OF GOD (vs 33-36)
• (a). God’s greatness (33-34)
• (b). God’s grace (vs 35)
• (c). God’s glory (vs 36)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
Things I have learnt from gardening:
• Nothing ever looks like it does on the seed packet.
• Your lawn is always slightly bigger than your desire to mow it.
• Whichever garden tool you want is always at the back of the shed.
• The only way to ensure rain, is to give the garden a good soaking.
• Weeds grow at precisely the rate you pull them out.
• Autumn follows summer, winter follows autumn, drought follows planting.
• Evergreens go a funny shade of brown in the winter.
• The only way to guarantee some colour all year round is to buy a garden gnome.
• However bare the lawn, grass will appear in the cracks between the patio paving stones.
• When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed;
• And not a valuable plant is to pull on it.
• If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
• TRANSITION: Our passage this morning does have a brief link to gardening;
• We have some ‘horticultural’ theology via an illustration in this chapter.
• And we will look at that in a moment.
Let me remind you that:
• We are concluding a significant section of Paul's letter to the Romans,
• If you have been here for previous studies,
• Then you probably know that chapters 9-11,
• Ask and answer the question;
“If Israel is God's chosen people and they have rejected faith in Christ as the way of salvation, what will happen to them?”
• In our section the apostle Paul uses the Gentiles to assure Israel of a future restoration.
• The Jews (Israel) may have forsaken God,
• But God will not forsake them.
• These three chapters teach us that:
• God does not abandon his people or forget his promises!
• So now, let’s look at our verses for this morning.
(1). IT INVOLVES THE GRAFTING OF GOD (vs 11-24).
Ill:
• If you are a gardener then you will be aware,
• That is possible to buy one tree for your garden that grows more than one type of fruit.
• The process used is called ‘grafting’ or ‘graftage’
• This is a horticultural technique;
• Whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together.
• You can ‘Google’ or visit ‘YouTube’ if you want to see how this works.
• TRANSITION: Grafting is the illustration used by the apostle Paul in these verses;
• The joining together of two peoples – the Jews and the Gentiles.
(a). The Reason (vs 11-15)
(The reason this grafting is taking place):
“Again I ask: did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”
• Because the people of Israel rejected Christ,
• They refused to believe in him for salvation,
• God turned to another people - Gentiles (non-Jews),
• And he has opened the door of salvation wide for them.
Quote: The apostle John in his gospel put it this way (chapter 1 verses 11-12).
“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
When ‘Israel’ (the Jewish people) rejected the gospel:
• God sent it to the Gentiles and the Gentiles believed!
• And so, in these verses the apostle Paul teaches;
• That God has used the salvation of the Gentiles;
• To provoke the Jewish people to jealousy.
• The apostle Paul hopes that they will see what God is doing for the Gentiles;
• And that they will want the same for themselves.
Ill:
• We have all seen small children not interested in a certain toy,
• Until another child wants to play with it,
• Then straight away that child will want their neglected toy back!
• The other child has provoked a reaction in the first child.
• TRANSITION:
• The apostle Paul hopes that they will see what God is doing for the Gentiles;
• And that they will want the same for themselves.
Note:
• Remember that the message of salvation is Jewish.
• We have a Bible (Old & New Testaments) written by Jews.
• That tell of a Jewish Messiah.
• The very first Church was Jewish
• (3,000 converted at a Jewish feast – Pentecost - in the capitol Jewish city of Jerusalem.)
• The first evangelists/missionaries were Jewish
• (Read about them in the book of Acts).
• And so that is in every sense a Jewish message, being preached to the Gentiles,
• And it is Gentiles not Jews who are mainly believing!
Ill;
• Imagine if a team of vegetarians bought some vegetables,
• They then cooked and produced some wonderful dishes.
• But the vegetarians then go off somewhere and have a ‘Big Mac’,
• While the meat eaters stay and eat the vegetable dishes.
• TRANSITION:
• The apostle Paul reminds us that the gospel is Jewish in every way,
• But they have rejected it and we gentiles have embraced it!
Pause for a Simple Application:
• The challenge is: if a Jewish man came into your Church;
• Would he be jealous of what the Church has in Christ?
• The challenge is: if a Jewish man studied your life;
• Would he be jealous of what you have in Christ?
(b). The Results (vs 16-17)
(The results from this grafting):
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root
The apostle Paul uses two illustrations to show to us that God is not finished with the nation of Israel.
• Verse 16a: The lump of dough.
• Verses 16b-24: The olive tree.
FIRST: The lump of dough (vs 16a).
“If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy;”
• This goes back to the Old Testament book of Numbers (chapter 15 verses 17-21).
• In that chapter the Jews were commanded to make an offering to God.
• They were to take part of the dough and offer it to God.
• This was symbolic that all the dough belonged to God.
• The idea being that when God accepts the part,
• He sanctifies the whole dough or loaf.
• TRANSITION: As we apply this to the history of Israel,
• We remember that God accepted the founder of the nation,
• e.g. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
• They were accepted despite their faults and failings,
• God accepted the ‘lump of dough’
• Therefore he will also accept the ‘rest of the lump’ as well.
• Not all Israel will be saved, not every Jew will be saved,
• But the key thought here is that God is not finished with the nation of Israel.
• And a remnant of Israel, a number of Jews will be saved.
SECOND: The olive tree (vs 16b-24).
“if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.’ 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!”
ill:
• Like the thistle to Scotland,
• Or shamrock of Ireland.
• So was the olive tree to Israel.
• In the land of the Bible, it was, and is, the most important of all the trees
• Because it is a source of food, light, hygiene and healing.
• The Old Testament on many occasions compares Israel to an olive tree.
• (e.g. Jeremiah chapter 11 verses 16-17 & Hosea chapter 14 verses 4-6).
In these verses it appears that the various parts of the olive tree represent the following:
• The “natural branches” represent individual Israelites i.e. genetic Jews.
• The “Broken off” branches are those Jews who reject Jesus Christ as their Messiah.
• The “wild olive shoots” represent Gentiles,
• i.e. people from other nations who have been grafted in.
• The “root” of the tree represents God’s covenant promises to the patriarchs,
• (i.e. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob).
In verse 24 the apostle Paul says something amazing:
• He says God has done something that is contrary to nature.
• Usually a cultivated branch is grafted into a wild tree to share its life.
• But in this case it is the wild branch (the Gentiles),
• That was grafted into the cultivated tree.
• TRANSITION:
• This olive tree illustration describes the relationship between Jews and Gentiles,
• And is a reminder that is not finished with the nation of Israel.
(c). The Reminder (vs 18-24)
(The reminder from this illustration of grafting):
“…do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.’ 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!”
• These Christian Gentiles in Rome are reminded in these verses;
• That they should not boast about their new position in Jesus.
• The same God who grafted them in,
• Is the same God who can break them off if they become lifted up in their pride.
• Not broken off in the sense of their salvation,
• But in the sense of their effectiveness and usefulness to the Lord.
• In what we would call fruit-bearing.
Ill:
• Ancient farmers who would graft branches from young olive trees into older trees,
• When the older trees were less productive and were producing little fruit,
• These grafted branches helped them to become productive again.
• TRANSITION:
• As we have seen, the nation of Israel had become unfruitful,
• So others (the Gentiles) were grafted in their place.
• However, if those who ware grafted in (the Gentiles) become arrogant and prideful,
• They too will become unfruitful and will be broken off.
• If Israel returns to the Lord (which she will) she will be grafted back in again!
• These Christian Gentiles in Rome are reminded in these verses;
• That they should not boast about their new position in Jesus.
• Instead they should want others (even Jewish people);
• To come into and enjoy their blessings in Christ.
Ill:
Poet William Norman Ewer once wrote;
How odd
of God
to choose
the Jews.
Then Cecil Browne added a second verse:
But not so odd
as those who choose
A Jewish God
Yet spurn the Jews.
• TRANSITION: These Christians in Rome needed to learn that lesson,
• So that is what the apostle Paul is saying.
(2). IT INVOLVES THE GUARANTEE OF GOD (vs 25-32)
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way[e] all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
‘The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[f] my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.’[g]
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[h] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.”
Ill:
• A friend recently bought one of those large watertight camera cases.
• The thing is sturdy and solid and designed to be used in dangerous situations.
• It comes with a lifetime warranty with the following condition:
• "This warranty excludes damage caused by shark bite, bear attack…or children under 5"
• TRANSITION:
• This section deals with the guarantees or the promises of God.
(a). The Promises of God (vs 25-27 )
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way[e] all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
‘The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[f] my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.’”
• The nation of Israel is at this moment in time, blind to their Messiah,
• But says the apostle, their blindness is only a temporary condition.
• How long will it last?
• Verse 25 says; “until the full number of the Gentiles has come in”
• If you want to know what that verse means,
• Then see (insert name) afterwards!
• Israel’s blindness is a temporary condition.
• And one day (a day only God knows);
• Many eyes will be open to the Person of Jesus and a remnant of Israel will be saved!
• God hasn't forgotten her!
Note:
• The phrase, “all Israel will be saved.”
• Does not mean that every Jew who has ever lived will be saved.
• But rather when Jesus returns the Jews who are alive on earth;
• Will see him, receive him and then they too will be saved.
• If you want more details on this, then read Zechariah chapters 12-13.
Now until that future day God is filling his house with Gentiles.
• Those who are responding to his invitation during this ‘age of grace’.
• Grace is of course receiving something you do not deserve.
Ill:
• On Friday night at our ‘Kids Klub’ we had the story, the parable of Jesus,
• ‘The parable of the great banquet’
• (Luke chapter 14 verses 16-24).
• If you know the story,
• A rich man sends out invitations inviting his friends to a big banquet.
• But those who are invited will not come,
• They all make rather pathetic excuses for not attending.
• When the rich man hears they will not come,
• He sends out his messages inviting others,
• Those described as, “the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.”
• They respond and his house is filled!
(b). The Purposes of God (vs 28-32)
“As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[h] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.”
• Question: Did you notice that one word was used four times in these four verses?
• Answer: It is the word, “mercy”.
• Quote: The preacher Dwight Pentecost used to describe the word, ‘mercy’ as;
• “God’s ministry to the miserable”
• I like that description,
• When you are without hope and without God you should be miserable!
• But in Christ we have hope and we have reconciliation with God,
• We have received mercy!
• And God’s mercy, his active compassion, extends to all people,
• Whether Jew or Gentile.
Notice: The apostle Paul speaks concerning both groups.
• FIRST: The Gentiles (vs 30).
• “Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy…”
• We were lost, we were blind, we were dead in our sins,
• Yet, God has been merciful toward us.
• SECOND: The Jews (vs 31).
• “So they too have now become disobedient in order
• that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.”
• Now how ever you want to interpret this verse,
• And the Bible scholars will tell you that there are several ways to do so.
• The main point is this!
• The mercy God has shown to unworthy Gentiles,
• Will be the same tool he uses to redeem unworthy Jews who turn to the Messiah.
• The Jews disobedience opened the door of God’s mercy for the Gentiles
• And the God’s mercy to the Gentiles will open the door of God’s mercy to the Jews
(3). IT INVOLVES THE GLORY OF GOD (vs 33-36)
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and[knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counsellor?’[j]
35 ‘Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?’[k]
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory for ever! Amen.”
•
• Having spent eleven chapters talking about God’s great plan of salvation,
• For both Jews and Gentiles,
• The apostle Paul concludes this section of the letter,
• With a short hymn of praise.
• Someone has said; “Theology becomes doxology”
• It is threefold doxology.
• That praises the Lord for three of his great characteristics.
(a). God’s Greatness (33-34)
33 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counsellor?’[j]”
• The question is asked,
• "Who knows the mind of God and who is the person that gives God advise?"
• The answer of course is no one!
• God’s mind transcends our ability.
Ill:
• Just as a baby or a small child cannot instruct an adult,
• Instead the adult instructs them,
• e.g. Howe to eat, how to brush their teeth, how to tie their shoelaces etc.
• TRANSITION:
• God instructs us and God gives us advise,
• We cannot know God’s mind or advise him on anything!
(b). God’s Grace (vs 35)
“‘Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?’”
• To summarise the question here;
• We would say: "To whom is God a debtor? Does he owe people anything at all?”
• Some people seem to think so.
• They expect God to jump through their hoops at their command.
• But that is not the God of the Bible!
• The God of the Bible is a God who gives us life,
• Both physical and spiritual.
• He reaches out to people in grace and all mankind are debtors to him!
Ill:
• Let us never forget that truth! God owes us nothing, we owe him everything!
• Every note and coin in our pockets is his gift.
• Every lung full of air is his blessing.
• Every heartbeat is His grace manifested.
• Your home, your car, you family, your job, your health, your intellect,
• Your talents, your possessions are all his gifts to you.
• He doesn't owe you, but you owe him!
• Question: And what does God want in return?
• Answer: He wants our love, which displays itself in obedience to Him,
• (John chapter 14 verse 15).
(c). God’s Glory (vs 36)
“For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory for ever! Amen.”
• Everything in this world exists because there is a God in Heaven
• Who willed it to be here!
• That is who he is and that is the power he possesses.
Quote: Colossians chapter 1 verse 16:
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"
• God is the centre of his universe.
• Question: Is he the centre of yours?
Ill:
• If the distance between the earth and the sun,
• 93 million miles was the thickness of a piece of paper,
• The distance between the earth and the nearest star,
• Would be a stack of papers 70 feet high.
• And the distance between earth and the end of just our galaxy,
• Would be a stack of papers 310 miles high.
• And our galaxy is just a little speck of dust in the universe.
• And if God created all of that!
• And if God upholds it all 'by the word of his power' (Hebrews chapter 1),
• Question: Do you ask a God like that into your life to be your assistant?
• Question: Do you connect with a God like that in order to get him to do what you need?
• Question: Do you ask a God like that into your life to be your consultant?
• Answer: NO! No! NO!
• We are his assistants, we are his subjects, we are his servants.
• A God that great, surely has to be King! Has to be Lord!
• Not someone we call on now and again when we are in trouble!
Conclusion:
• Yes, this is very much a Jewish passage;
• And some of us Gentiles might wonder why we are bothering with it.
• The reason is, is that it teaches us about God's grace in calling us to faith in Jesus.
• It reminds us that our God is a promising keeping God.
• It teaches us that we should always seek to honour the Lord;
• In all we do and in all we are.
