Sermon Central
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Romans, Part 35 Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Apr 17, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: Paul's continued encouragement to the Jews in the church in Rome also serves as a reminder to the Gentile of who we are; and that our in-grafting is for the glory of God ... not for us to swell with pride.
Romans, Part 35
Introduction
- It is important that we not only see the encouragement to the Jews in Rome
-- But, that we see our role in being part of the existing remnant
- Paul discussed that seeking God through our own pride is not the way
-- Those in Israel who thought they had found God were actually lost
-- And those who weren’t looking were those who God found and used
- V8: God blinds those so that they cannot fully comprehend
- To us, we can see this as even those who hear the Good News may reject it
- But why would God hide Himself from His creation?
- Look at this critical verse of what God enjoys: Proverbs 25:2, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”
- APP: When we spend time searching out God, we are doing the work of Kings
- DEEPER: What is God’s work? To bring His creation back to Him – to bring back to him a creation that DESIRES to be closer and WANTS to know Him
- This evening we must grasp this section; for our entire salvation is based on it
- Stand and read Romans 11:11-24 / Pray
Point 1 – Unbelieving Jews are not beyond Converting (11-16)
- Paul writes to us as a matter of fact in these verses, while still addressing the Jews
- V11: “because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious”
- It is critical that we understand his angle, and his words used here …
-- Because of our sin; because of whom we are; we are being saved because of it
-- This is done to show us just how much God loves His entire creation
-- It is what shows the Jewish nation that in God’s eyes; we are ONE race/creation
- V12: “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!”
- First, the angle he is coming at for the Jews is one of assurance
-- He is taking the time to build them up, to comfort them in our in-grafting
- Second, he is deliberately reminding us (Gentiles) of who we are
-- This is vital to grasp … our whole understanding of God relies on this
- BIG APP: The Gentiles must realize that they are saved due to the Jews.
- Paul identified himself as the apostle to the Gentiles; the one sent to tell us
- He takes pride in his ministry to us, but do you see the critical reason?
- V14: “in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them”
- Paul’s heart and desire is always to save those who need it; the Jews
- The same is consistent when Jesus taught – he was teaching for the Jews
- Go to Matthew 15:21-28
- Jesus taught that he was there for only the Jews; and God used this woman to speak to the entire crowd to show the whole picture of Jesus’ ministry
- It is through a matter of faith that this woman believed; which is how we believe
- V16: “If the part of the dough offered as first-fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.”
- The Gospel is meant for all that may hear it; it is the only way to reconcile to God
- And so, if only a portion of it is holy; then the whole must be holy as well
- APP: You cannot take a piece of sin off and make it holy
- It is either all holy or all in sin – there is no middle ground on sanctification
- TRANS: However, the Gentiles cannot get a big head about this concept
Point 2 - Alienation of Jews doesn’t mean Gentiles are superior to God (17-24)
- V18a: “do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches.”
- For the Gentile today, this is a critical verse of understanding who we are
- It is not about us; life has never been – it is about Jesus who is the VINE of life
- V18b: “If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.”
- Simply stated, we are not in charge of anything nor are we “out in front”
- It is Christ that we follow and what Paul has done is confirm what Jesus said
- John 15:1-4, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
