Here’s the outline for my sermon on Romans 11:11-24 “Hope and Humility” preached at Cross of Christ Fellowship in Naperville. You find the audio here.
INTRO: BOAT ILLUSTRATION (saved by Coast Guard).
Expected response HOPE and HUMILITY.
-Christians ought to be hopeful and humble.
*A right understanding of who God is and what He has done leads to HOPE and HUMILITY
CONTEXT REMINDER:
Romans is about the GOSPEL.
Romans 1-4 explains gospel; 5-8 unpacks ramifications.
Romans 9-11 is wrestling with the question of Israel.
If the gospel is the fulfillment of God’s promises to save Israel, how come so few Israelites believe?
Has God’s word failed? NO!
1. God’s purposes in election prevail.
2. Israel has failed to experience salvation because it sought it through works instead of faith.
3. God is not done with Israel!
-Last week: God chooses a remnant by grace who are saved. Rest are hardened.
-This week: There is still hope for Israel, and we Gentile Christians ought to be humble.
*A right understanding of who God is and what He has done leads to HOPE and HUMILITY*
1. HOPE: There is still hope for Israel (11-15)
Paul reassures us that there is STILL hope for Israel. While a partial hardening has taken place, the story is not yet over.
-Question ASKED (11a) So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall?
-“stumble”=reject the Messiah and miss out on salvation. “that they might fall”= fall/sin irrevocably
-Is there is NO hope for Israel?
-ANSWER (11b): By no means!
-Strongest possible way to say NO in the Greek.-God has a Purpose even in Israel’s failure and rejection of the Messiah (11c)
-“through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles” = Non-Jews have received the gospel!
-Acts 13:44-52 (Paul’s 1st Missionary journey in Antioch “we are turning to the Gentiles”)
-“so as to make Israel jealous”=God’s purpose is that Israel would experience a right jealousy and repent.
-Generally, jealousy is a sin. But there are some examples of godly jealousy (God w/people, husband/wife, here)
-There is still HOPE for Israel and Something Wonderful is coming (12)
-IF… Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles,
-Israel’s disobedience “RICHES” for world and Gentiles=SALVATION
-HOW MUCH MORE…how much more will their full inclusion mean!
-“Full inclusion” A large ingathering of Jews who come to faith in Jesus.
-“how much more” =Something WONDERFUL is coming!
-Paul is HOPEFUL for Israel and what God will do for her in the future.
-Paul’s ministry and hope of some Jews Being Saved (13-14)
-Apostle to the Gentiles (13)
-JEALOUSY for a good purpose (14)
-“thus save some”=Not Paul personally, but through Paul.
-Same for us. We share gospel with Jews and non-Jews that some might be saved.
-SAVED from hell and estrangement from God!
-Paul’s HOPE for Israel elaborated (15)
-IF…15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world,
-Reconciliation with God! That is why gospel is so IMPORTANT
-WHAT WILL…what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
-ACCEPTANCE (Large turning of Israel at end of history),
-“Life from the dead”=Resurrection of everyone
-Daniel 12:2—Some to eternal life, some to eternal death
APP: God is not done with Israel, but as Christians we have hope that Israel has mercy in her future.
-Christians ought to be HOPEFUL about future, ultimately God will ‘make everything beautiful in his time’ (Ecc 3:11)
-We have the hope of ETERNAL life, the new heavens, new Earth.
QUESTIONS TO ASK: What gives you hope? Things of this world, or God and who He is and what He has done?
Is God your hope? If you are a Christian, you have every reason to be hopeful.
2. HUMILITY: We, Gentile Christians, Must Reject Arrogance and Walk in Humility (16-22)
Gentile Christians faced a temptation to become proud and arrogant toward their fellow Jews, but Paul shows us that this is out of place. Instead, we ought to be humble and fear God.
-An analogy GIVEN about beginnings and continuation (16) 16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
-FIRSTFRUITS were the first part of the sacrifice that Israel was to offer from harvest.
-DOUGH is holy, so is the WHOLE LUMP= Abraham/Isaac/Jacob (dough), Israel is whole lump
-ROOT is holy, so are the branches=Patriarchs (Abrah/Isac/Jac)à Israel.
-This analogy is setting us up for verses 17-22.
-Analogy USED to explain the incorporation of Gentiles in the people of God (17)
-Branches broken off (ethnic Israel that rejects Jesus)
-Wild olive shoot grafted in (Gentiles)
-RIGHT RESPONSE: REJECT ARROGANCE (18)
-COMMAND: “do not be arrogant toward the branches [Jews]”
-RATIONALE: “If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.”
-It is illogical and foolish to be arrogant toward Israel. We find our roots there!
-HYPOTHETICAL STATEMENT used to support an arrogant attitude (19)
19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
-We always make excuses to justify our pride.
-RIGHT RESPONSE (20)
-It is true, in part: That is true. (branches were broken off that Gentiles might come in)
-But does not justify an arrogant attitude.
-Branches broken off because of unbelief: They were broken off because of their unbelief,
-This is why unbelieving Jews are not part of the “olive tree”=God’s true people.
-COMMANDS: but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
-STAND FAST THROUGH FAITH: Active decision to believe gospel
-Faith is not passive, it is active. We “pursue it” (1 Tim 6:11)
-DO NOT BECOME PROUD: We must reject an arrogant pride.
-Christians ought to be marked by humility!
-BUT FEAR: Fear of God, reverent affectionate submission to God.
–Ex 20:20; Isaiah 33:5-6; Prov 9:10
-WARNING TO HEAR (21)
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
-God will not spare those who reject him (2 Tim 2:12b-13)-RIGHT VIEW OF GOD: BEHOLDING HIS KINDESS AND SEVERITY (22)
*IMPORTANT INSIGHT: We must let the Scripture inform us on who God is and keep its balance
-Some today only talk about his love, but never his wrath
-Some only talk about hell, but not holiness or grace
-Here we are reminded of the balance: KINDESS & SEVERITY of God
-God’s KINDESS: to welcome Gentiles in through grace
-God’s holy SEVERITY: to cut off Israelites who reject Jesus
-OUR TASK: “continue in his kindness”= actively following Christ
(Wonderful description of being a Christian!)
-WARNING: “Otherwise you too will be cut off.”
-There is no promised hope for those who do not continue in the faith.
-CAVAET: Those who are truly Christians will not walk away (1 John 2:19)
APP: A PROUD Christian is an oxymoron and contradiction of terms.
-Jesus is our model for humility (Phil 2:6-11).
-Jesus saved us from our sin and pride, that we might walk in holiness and humility.
3. MORE HOPE: Another Word of Hope Regarding Israel (23-24)
Our passage ends with another word of hope regarding Israel. God is not finished with Israel!
-Possibility of Israel being grafted back in (23a)
-God has the power to do it! (23b)
-It is easy task compared to Gentiles being brought in (24)
APP: This something that is good and right to hope for, pray for, and work toward.
*A right understanding of who God is and what He has done leads to HOPE and HUMILITY*
