Posts
Part 2
Gentile Christians have no grounds to boast about their inclusion
in the New Covenant as if they were now superior to the Jews (Ethnic Israel).
The Jewish branches were broken off because of unbelief. God grafted in the Gentiles
because of their faith in the Messiah. Salvation is by grace through the gifts
of faith and repentance that both Jews and Gentiles exercise as they surrender
to the Lordship of Jesus the Messiah. Boasting about salvation is not permitted!
I. [God is
still saving a remnant of Jews from Ethnic Israel according to election vs. 1-10]
II. God is now
saving a multitude of Gentiles to wake up Ethnic Israel vs.11-24
A. Salvation
has come to the Gentiles (the world) because of the temporary rejection of Ethnic
Israel vs. 11, 15, 30
1. God’s work
among the Gentiles should awaken many in Ethnic Israel to the relationship they
have forsaken vs. 11
2. The
stumbling of the Jews was not a permanent fall vs. 11
B. Blessings came
to the Gentiles through the stumbling of Ethnic Israel vs. 12
C. Blessings
will be even greater through the restoration of Ethnic Israel vs. 12, 15
1. View # 1: Paul
is just discussing all the elect Gentiles & Jews that will be saved over
time
2. View # 2: Paul
is just discussing the Jews that will be saved over time until the end
3. View # 3:
Paul is discussing a future mass conversion among those who are part of Ethnic
Israel [the correct view]
D. Salvation
coming to all nations is good for the Gentiles and the Jews vs. 13-16
1. The more
Gentiles the Apostle Paul and the church can reach with the gospel, the more
likely Ethnic Israel will be awakened to the truth vs. 13-14
2. Ethnic
Israel comprises fellow countrymen to the Apostles of Christ vs. 14
3. Ethnic
Israel’s rejection was part of the reconciliation of the Gentile world
4. Ethnic
Israel’s future acceptance will be like a resurrection for the entire true
church of the Lord Jesus Christ vs. 15
5. Paul gives
two illustrations showing transference and inclusion: bread dough and an olive
tree. If a sample of dough is pure, the source lump is pure. If a tree’s roots
are healthy, then the branches will be healthy vs. 16
E. Salvation
coming to the Gentiles does not justify pride or prejudice against, or hatred for,
citizens of Ethnic Israel (The olive tree Illustration) vs. 17-24
1. Do not
arrogantly pretend that you Gentiles, the grafted-in branches, gave life to the
Jewish olive trees’ roots. The roots gave life to the branches
2. Christianity’s
roots are Jewish. All the prophets were Jewish men. All the
Apostles were Jewish men. All the NT writing prophets were Jewish men (some
debate Luke’s Jewishness, but he may have had a Jewish mother, like Timothy).
Jesus, the Messiah, was Jewish. The first church in Jerusalem was initially
only Jewish. The Gentiles are the branches, not the root. Kill the ethnic pride
3. Some
branches thought that the Jewish branches were broken off because they were so
much better, wonderful Gentile wild olive branches. Arrogantly thinking we are
special and others are not special is sinful vs. 18-19
4. The
original branches were removed because of the unbelief among Ethnic Israel. The
same warning applies to the visible church. If the majority are full of
unbelief, that church will be broken off like Ethnic Israel was. In both cases,
the remnant will still be saved vs. 20-21
5. Gentile
church members need to take faith seriously and revere our holy, awesome God.
Our covenant community stands only by its faith—it remains connected to the
tree trunk by faith, not ethnicity vs. 21
6. God will
not tolerate disloyal unbelief anywhere He finds it. He will judge the visible
church just as He did Ethnic Israel vs. 21-22
7. Make sure
you understand God’s kindness and severity, His love and holiness, His mercy
and justice vs. 22-23
8. Ethnic Israel
will be restored to the people of God after they come to Him through Jesus the
Messiah in faith vs. 23
9. Ethnic
Israel’s restoration to the true people of God will be easier than it was to
transform and include former wicked pagan idol worshipers to the people of God
vs. 24
III. God will save multitudes
from Ethnic Israel in the future vs. 25-32
IV. God has planned this
salvation in His wisdom and power and deserves all the praise for His awesome
plan vs. 33-36
