Verse By Verse Through Romans

Chapter Eleven

Romans 11:1 “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”

• “I say then…” is essentially as if the Spirit has Paul saying “in light of” what was written at the conclusion of what we have as chapter ten (Romans 10:17-21).
• Would God ever cast away His people? NO, (Deuteronomy 31:1-8, Psalms 37:28, Psalms 89:31-37, Psalms 94:14, and Hebrews 13:5-6).
• Does that mean they could not walk away from Him? NO, (Judges 2:10-12, John 6:60-71, and Hebrews 3:15-4:2; cf. Psalms 106:34-39).
• This letter has the phrase “God forbid” throughout (Romans 3:4, Romans 3:6, Romans 3:31, Romans 6:2, Romans 6:15, Romans 7:7, Romans 7:13, Romans 9:14, and Romans 11:11).
• Paul serves as evidence that God had not forsaken Israelites as he states what he is carnally (Romans 9:3) [of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin] (II Corinthians 11:22 and Philippians 3:3-5). Not only Paul, but all of the Apostles were Jews. The first Gentile to obey the Gospel call wasn’t until the tenth chapter of the book of Acts.
• The fact of the manner is, as already declared in this letter, the Jews had the first opportunity to hear the Gospel and obey it (Romans 1:16; cf. Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:5, and Acts 3:25-26).

• God foreknew His people (Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:3-12, Ephesians 2:1-17, and I Peter 1:1-2).
• The word “foreknew” [προγινώσκω; Strong’s # 4267] is also translated “seeing ye know these things before” (II Peter 3:17).
• The account concerning the 7,000 who had not left for Baal (I Kings 19:1-18).

• We read earlier in this letter about a remnant (Romans 9:27-33).
• The contextual point is that God hasn’t forsaken those who have remained true to Him regardless of how bleak things seemed to be (cf. Isaiah 1:1-9).

• Very simple… Back to the end of chapter nine again (Romans 9:27-33). Grace is the source of a continuing remnant, not works. The remnant existed because of grace. It was the Lord leaving the remnant in place (Isaiah 1:1-9). God did not destroy everyone. This has to be remembered lest one boast in their works as though they had done something without God’s grace (Ephesians 2:1-10).
• Remember what we have read in this letter so far. God has been clear that the works of the Law of Moses did not justify. It was His promise, His work that brought the Jews to where they were at this time Paul is writing this letter (Romans 3:27-4:5 and Romans 4:13-25).
• See the clarification that existed long ago: Deuteronomy 9:1-29
• Unfortunately, some people miss the great lesson here and teach things from this that are not true. Works of faith have always been part of what pleases God (James 2:14-26). Obedience is required for salvation (Hebrews 5:8-9).

• According as it is written (Isaiah 29:1-10). *Verse ten specifically.
• Israel had not obtained (Romans 9:31-32 and Romans 10:1-3).
• This was not God’s desire (Ezekiel 18:31, Ezekiel 33:11, and I Timothy 2:4), but rather the fruit of their ways (Hosea 5:1-6).
• Israel that had not found is Israel that is according to the flesh, the physical descendants of Jacob (cf. I Corinthians 10:18 and Philippians 3:5), not spiritual Israel (Romans 9:6-8, Galatians 3:26-29, and Galatians 6:11-16).
• It is an important distinction because of what is later written in this chapter that includes the Gentiles (Romans 11:25-27).
• Their being blinded (John 12:36-43).

• Look back at what David said regarding his enemies and the greater context concerning Jesus (Psalms 69:22-28; cf. Psalms 28:4-5).
• Had God given them what they deserved, they would have been consumed. Thankfully, He keeps His covenant (Malachi 3:6; cf. Psalms 105:7-10).
• What God did show was mercy (Nehemiah 9:28-31 and Lamentations 3:22).

• How did the fall of the Jews lead to salvation coming to the Gentiles? Consider an account that shows how this happened (Acts 13:45-52).
• To provoke them to jealousy (Romans 10:19). *More on this in vs. 13-14

• The world benefited by the fall of the Jews as the Gospel was then directed abroad (Acts 18:1-6 and Acts 28:17-28).
• Remember, this was not a surprise to God (Isaiah 46:9-10). His plan all along, knowing what was to come, was for all nations to be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). Thus, the commission of preaching the Gospel was given to go into all the world and preach to everyone (Mark 16:15-16).
• If the Jews falling was so beneficial, think about what would be with their “fullness” [as if they were all in]. It was God’s desire that both Jew and Gentile come into one body (Ephesians 2:11-22).
• Remember, in this congregation the Jewish Christians are not being what they should be (Romans 2:1-29 and Romans 3:9).

• Paul saying he was the apostle of the Gentiles did not mean he was the only one teaching Gentiles (Acts 10:1-48, Acts 15:23, and I Peter 2:5-10).
• Nor did that mean he did not teach Jews (Acts 17:1-3, Acts 17:10, Acts 18:18-19, Acts 19:8, etc.).
• Paul did have a focus on Gentiles as the Lord desired such of him (Acts 9:15, Romans 15:16, Galatians 2:7-9, Ephesians 3:1-11, I Timothy 2:5-7, II Timothy 1:11, and II Timothy 4:17).
• Would Paul mind provoking some of the Jews to emulation [jealousy; our God is now their God] if it led to their salvation. Not at all. He would do anything lawful to help the lost be saved (I Corinthians 9:16-23 and II Timothy 2:10).
• Think about this. The Jews had a mindset, and rightfully so, that salvation was of them (John 4:22). God was known as “the God of Israel” (Exodus 34:23, Joshua 10:42, I Samuel 1:17, I Chronicles 17:21, II Chronicles 20:29, etc.).

• The point of verse twelve is repeated in a different way.
• Following the logic… Through the fall of the Jews Gentiles were brought to God (Romans 11:11-12). Bringing the Jews to jealousy could save some which occurred by God turning to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13-14). If so much good came from them being cast off, just imagine the good that could come by them being received. It is likened to a resurrection.
• The spiritually dead brought back to spiritual life (Luke 15:11-32).
• God’s design is peace, in the one body [church], made up of Jews and Gentiles alike (Ephesians 2:11-22).

• The Jews were the first fruit (James 1:1; James 1:18; cf. Romans 1:16, Matthew 10:5-6, and Luke 24:47).
• The lump is as though we are talking about a lump of clay or dough (Romans 9:21 and Galatians 5:9). See: Strong’s # 5445. The point explains itself.
• Just as with Jesus (John 15:1-8), the branches and the root are tied together.

• Some branches broken off while others graffed in (Ephesians 3:1-11).
• Salvation did not come into this world through us Gentiles (Genesis 49:10 and Hebrews 7:13-17; cf. Genesis 29:31-35).
• It not being of “us” (so to speak) so there is no place for boasting (Ephesians 2:5-10).

• Why is it that people like to take a point and run with the “you blew it” charge on others (Proverbs 24:17)?
• Be not high-minded (Isaiah 2:11, Luke 18:9-14, Romans 12:1-3, Romans 12:16, and I Timothy 6:17).
• Did you see what God did with the Jews, His people? You better take that and instead of boasting, fear (Hebrews 3:12-4:3).
• They were cast off because of disbelief (Matthew 13:53-58, Matthew 21:42-46, John 10:24-27, John 12:36-37, and Hebrews 4:6-11).

• Behold [most often translated “know”; Strong’s # 1492].
• Them which fell is contextually the Jews. When you know that, you know the severity of God. He loved them, but that did not cause Him to turn a blind eye to their sinful actions (Exodus 4:22 and Jeremiah 5:22-25). They were the ones to whom belonged the covenants, law, the seed promise, etc. (Romans 9:1-5). What does it say about His severity that He would turn against them?
• Towards the Gentiles, we see goodness. Salvation opened to those who were once not His people (I Peter 2:5-10).
• In general, His goodness towards sinners (Romans 5:6-10).
• His goodness has been and is conditional (Deuteronomy 11:26-28, Luke 11:28, and Colossians 1:18-23).
• The balance is has been taught in this letter (Romans 2:1-11).
• Think about the point in Hebrews 10:26-31.

• God is able to restore them. They [the Jews] can be graffed back in if they do not abide in unbelief (Acts 3:13-19).
• They will not be graffed back in if they remain in unbelief. Throughout the New Testament we see clearly that one cannot please God without faith (Mark 1:14-15, Mark 16:15-16, John 3:12-18, John 3:35-36, John 5:24, Acts 8:4-13, Acts 8:26-39, Romans 1:16-17, Galatians 3:26-29, Ephesians 3:8-12, Colossians 1:23, I Timothy 1:5, Hebrews 10:38, Hebrews 11:6, I Peter 1:9, I John 5:4, and I John 5:10).
• God is able to restore them. Part of the work of Christ was the restoration of Israel (Matthew 1:21, Luke 19:1-10, and Isaiah 49:1-7).

• The Spirit has Paul return to the point made earlier in this context (Romans 11:17-18).
• If God can bring the Gentiles into the tree going back to Abraham when they were not of that tree (Galatians 3:7; Galatians 3:26-29 and Ephesians 2:11-17), how much more those who were by nature the children of Abraham (Acts 3:25)?
• On the other hand, John had to cool off similar thinking (Luke 3:1-9).

• The mystery (Ephesians 2:1-3:11).
• The blindness UNTIL… Yet, the opening of their eyes had to come from them desiring to see (II Corinthians 3:11-18).

• Here, this is the promise of old in accordance with what was written concerning Israel according to the flesh (Isaiah 59:20-21).
• There is another point to consider too. The fact that those who died under the Law of Moses were not without hope (Hebrews 9:15-17).
• His covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; cf. Hebrews 8:1-13).
• As a side note… Remember the spiritual Israel (Romans 9:6-8; cf. Mark 3:31-35, Romans 2:28-29, Romans 4:12, Galatians 3:7, Galatians 3:26-29, Galatians 4:22-31, and Colossians 2:10-17). The New Covenant redefines Israel around Christ, not ethnicity.

• Enemies (Romans 11:11).
• But for the election, beloved for the Father’s sakes (Genesis 26:1-4 and Micah 7:20).

• “For” ties us back to the previous statements (Romans 11:25-28).
• The gifts of God (i.e. Romans 1:11 and Romans 6:23).
• The calling of God (II Thessalonians 2:14).
• In these things, God will not revoke them (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:1-6, and James 1:17).
• That does not mean what He says does not have conditions that need to be met (Exodus 19:5, Jeremiah 7:23-34, Hebrews 3:14, I John 1:7, and Revelation 2:10).

• Remember this point that, in times past… Those who have the opportunity for salvation should remember where we come from and not begrudge someone else the same opportunity (I Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 2:1-17, Colossians 3:6-7, I Timothy 1:13-16, and I Peter 4:1-5).
• Those, at the time this is written, that were Gentiles who had not previously believed (I Peter 2:5-10).
• Where would any of them [or us] who have been sinners be with God if it were not for His mercy [compassion] (Titus 3:3-5)?
• Think about the mercy that is in place through Christ (Hebrews 4:14-5:9).
• Think about the role of the saints in having mercy [compassion] upon others (Matthew 5:7, II Corinthians 4:1-7, and Jude 1:22-23).

• This point, though worded differently and coming from another line of reasoning, is the same as what was written in Romans 3:9-26.
• Jesus didn’t come into this world just to save the Gentiles or just to save the Jews. All, who had sinned, were considered unbelievers regardless of the fact of whether or not they had obey Moses’ Law. Thus, Jesus is truly the Savior of the world (I John 4:14).
• There was not a class of sinners. The Jews, though they might have been God’s people of the past, did not have a “lesser sinner” label. Faith now had to be not only in the things past, but in Christ Jesus the Lord (Romans 10:1-4 and Galatians 2:16).

• God’s thinking is very deep and only the fool ignores that (Psalms 92:5-6). His greatness is beyond searching (Job 5:8-10).
• Furthermore, there is no comparison of worldly knowledge to God’s (I Corinthians 1:25-31 and I Corinthians 3:18-20).
• “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable” (Psalms 145:3).
• There is none like God (Jeremiah 10:6).
• Consider how much He knows (I Chronicles 28:9, Psalms 139:1-6, Isaiah 46:9-10, Acts 15:18, and I John 3:20).
• His greatness is incomparable (Deuteronomy 3:24 and Psalms 86:8).
• Look up sometime (Psalms 19:1-6 and Genesis 9:11-16). Consider Creation at some time (Isaiah 40:25-26). What is holding up the earth (Job 26:7)? How do you exist (Isaiah 45:12)? From what did man become flesh (Genesis 2:7)? What continues to keep you alive (Isaiah 42:5, Acts 14:17, and Hebrews 6:7)? What keeps the oceans in place (Jeremiah 5:22)? Who controls seasons (Genesis 8:22)?
• How can you claim to know His mind when His thinking is beyond our thinking (Isaiah 55:8-9)?
• Who could be God’s counsellor (Isaiah 40:13-25)?

• What man could think he has done something for God that God is to repay that man? What we should realize is that we are not owed something by God (Luke 17:7-10; cf. I Corinthians 15:9-10 and Ephesians 3:8).
• We are not the givers, we are the recipients (I Corinthians 4:1-7).
• No boasting when you realize who needs who (Ephesians 2:1-10).

• These points essentially are repeating the potter and clay illustrations of chapter nine (Romans 9:20-24).
• Everything made is “of Him” (Genesis 1:1-31 and Acts 17:28).
• Everything is “through Him” (Psalms 33:6, Isaiah 45:10-12, John 1:1-3, and Colossians 1:16-20).
• Everything is “to Him” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 and Revelation 4:11).
• All to the glory of God (Romans 16:27, I Corinthians 10:31, and Jude 1:25).