Tuesday, December 10, 2019

1 Year Through the Bible Series—Romans Part E+7 Reasons God has not Rejected Israel

C1 Israel
D1 There can be no confusion that Paul is speaking of DNA Israelites:
E1 Romans 9:3-5 ESV For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
E2 Romans 10:1-2 ESV Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
E3 Romans 11:1-2 ESV I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?
D2 Paul emphasizes that even though DNA Israel had the promises, it must be actualized by faith. Just being born a Jew is not enough. Romans 9:32 ESV Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,
D3 To illustrate what he means, Paul gives some examples.
E1 Esau and Jacob
F1 These are real people
F2 The outcome and teaching HERE in this passage is about nations named Esau (Edom) and Jacob (Israel).
F3 The man Esau never served the man Jacob. The nation Edom did serve the nation Israel.
G1 Edom was servant to Israel: 2 Samuel 8:14 ESV Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
G2 Edom would serve Israel but not forever: 2 Kings 8:20, 22 ESV In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own. ... 22 So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.
F4 Why? Romans 9:13 ESV As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
G1 Malachi 1:2-3 BSB “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, 3 but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
G2 Esau and his descendants did not have faith.
H1 The Edomites fought their brother instead of helping them: Amos 1:11 NLT This is what the LORD says: "The people of Edom have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They chased down their relatives, the Israelites, with swords, showing them no mercy. In their rage, they slashed them continually and were unrelenting in their anger.
H2 Idolatry: 2 Chronicles 25:20 NLT But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom.
H3 Esau himself did not have faith. He was immoral and profane: Hebrews 12:16 WEL Lest any be a fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for a single meal gave away his birthright.
G3 Jacob and his descendants (some) did have faith.
H1 Jacob himself: Genesis 28:22 NLT And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.
H2 Israel: Occasionally, the Scriptures mention the whole nation worshiping God, but often it is only small groups of Israel that worship. With the kings of Israel, some did and some did not. Compare 1 Kings 19:18.
E2 Pharaoh
F1 Romans 9:17-18 BSB For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
F2 God knew what this man was like, so promoted him to Pharaoh.
F3 God choose Pharaoh to uncover the evil in Egypt, punishment for sin, and deliverance to those who believe Yahweh.
F4 Israel did believe as shown in that they obeyed the instructions for the Passover.
E3 Punishment and blessing
F1 Not an arbitrary decision/decree of God
F2 Sin (no faith, breaking God’s laws, etc.) bring punishment (Romans 2).
F3 Faith and trust in God, His words, His rules, etc. bring mercy
G1 Romans 4:20-22 NLT Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham's faith, God counted him as righteous.
G2 Romans 10:11 NRSV The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame."
C2 Chapter 10
D1 Israel was confused and ignorant about salvation. They believed that by having the right DNA (descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and keeping the Mosaic Law would bring forgiveness of sins and a home in heaven. They were zealous in this effort.
E1 Confused because of a wrong method of Bible Interpretation. They leaned on the teachings of man. Matthew 15:9 NIV They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules
E2 They relied on theology and leaders rather than the plain, normal reading of the Scriptures as foremost importance. Mark 12:24 NKJV Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?
D2 Salvation from the beginning of creation until the end is: Romans 10:9-13 NKJV that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
D3 The greater part of Israel did not believe: Romans 10:16 NKJV But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "LORD, who has believed our report?"
C3 Chapter 11
D1 God has not rejected Israel
E1 Romans 11:2 CSB God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel?
E2 All believing Israel will be saved, forgiven, and have eternal life: Romans 11:26-27 CSB And in this way 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 will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.
E3 A glorious deliverance by Messiah Jesus at the end of the Tribulation: Zechariah 14:4-5 NLT On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south. 5 You will flee through this valley, for it will reach across to Azal. Yes, you will flee as you did from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all his holy ones with him.

C2 Applications
D1 We all sin.
D2 Being related to a certain people group does not guarantee salvation.
D3 Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It has never changed. God initiates salvation, we have our will, heart, and understanding opened by God as to our sinfulness (breaking God’s laws) and punishment. Either the sinner is punished or a substitute. The substitute must be voluntary and eligible (sinless). Only Jesus Christ is suitable. He died and suffered for our sins. God decreed that only by repentance, believing, and trusting in Jesus is the only plan of salvation. We need to do this calling on the name of the Lord Jesus to be saved.
D4 God still has a plan for Israel, the DNA people who have a piece of real estate in the Middle East.
C3 Resources:
D1 Articles on Romans 9-11 by theologians from the Society of Evangelical Arminians
D4 There are way too many Christians who believe that God has rejected the Jews and replaced her with the church. This article by Loren Jacobs refutes that teaching with 7 arguments:
E1 The Covenantal Argument (Romans 11:1 and Jeremiah 31:35-37)
E2 The Biographical Argument Israel is still God's people (Romans 11:1)
E3 The Theological Argument God foreknew Israel would reject the Gospel (Romans 11:2a and Acts 2:23, Acts 4:28, Romans 11:11 and Romans 11:25)
E4 The Historical Argument There has always been a remnant that believed (Romans 11b-10)
E5 The Argument of Origins God's promises are good and will result in a good conclusion (Romans 11:16)
E6 The Botanical Argument The natural branches (Israel) and the wild olive branches (Gentiles) (Romans 11:17-24)
E7 The Prophetic Argument Israel's hardening is only partial and temporary(Romans 11:25-27)

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