 Previous Chapter |
 Return to Outline |
 Ask Questions |
 Next Chapter |
In these verses Paul explains, in a very graphic manner, the circumstances concerning "election" and the position of the Jews, then, now and in the future. What about the Jews at the time of Christ? First we must make clear that God did not reject the Jews as a nation in spite of their disobedience. Paul relates the time when Elijah wanted the Lord to do this. They had killed the Prophets and demolished the alters of the Lord and they were seeking to kill Elijah. They were worshipping the idol Baal. But God would not destroy the whole nation, rather, He choose 7,000 men who had not bowed to Baal and the rest he gave a "spirit of stupor". Hardened their hearts, their eyes could not see, their ears could not hear. Paul says though they stumble over the rock of Zion, they have not fallen. But Paul makes it very clear in verse 25 that at the time of Christ, a hardening had come upon part of Israel, a hardening like the one God put upon Pharaoh. This is God's way of working out in the lives of men.
This, according to Paul, is the condition of the Jew today. God will continue to
harden the hearts of the Jews until the full number of Gentiles have come in, then
all Israel will be saved. They shall be brought to believe in Jesus Christ whom
they crucified. The time that this is to take place is not clear. Some believe
that it has already come to pass. They sight the fact that many Jews accepted
Christ after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 Ad. Others believe
that it is an on going thing, but most believe it will occur as Paul said, when all
the Gentiles that are to be saved are saved. This will be in "last days" that John
speaks of in the Book of Revelation.
The Gentiles, Now
["Click here for Romans 11:13-36"]
This, according to Paul, is the condition of the Gentile today. First, Paul reminds us that it was because of the rejection of the Jew that salvation came to the Gentile. He reminds that we are "grafted on". The "root" and the "tree" is still Israel. Some branches were broken off and we were grafted on. They were broken off because of their hardened hearts and we were grafted on because of our faith, a gift of God.
But Paul warns us not to be proud or boastful, nor should we be conceited. For if God did not spare the "natural branches", he will not spare us if we become boastful of our salvation.
Because of the Gospel, the Jews are enemies of God, but they still are His elect. Now write this 29th. verse on your heart and never forget it, "The gifts and the call of God is IRREVOCABLE. They cannot be changed because God will not change them. (The Perseverance of the Saints).
We can see a plan ordained from the beginning of time, summed up in verse 32. "For God has consigned or ordained all men to disobedience that he might have mercy upon all (that he has mercy upon)." Can we understand this? No. (verse 34) "for who knows the mind of the Lord", or who is wise enough to discern the Lord's ways. Who has given a gift to the Lord that He would repay with that much understanding.
Paul ends this section by simply accepting that which the Lord ordains as being His prerogative. Amen.
Previous Chapter |
Return to Outline |
Ask Questions |
Next Chapter |