Studies in the End-Times – David Sliker
The Delight of Jesus for Israel’s Purpose Page 4
The Delight of Jesus for Israel’s Purpose (Rom. 11:25-29)
I. The need for right understanding of this mystery (Rom. 11:25)
A. Paul understood the necessity of the Gentiles understanding the “mystery of Israel”, or “hidden plan” of God:
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Rom. 11:25)
B. Even within the Roman church at that time, there was a subtle arrogance and haughtiness that was settling in the hearts of the Gentiles in regards to their presumed superiority over ethnic Jews that had rejected the gospel, which was even leading to a subtle dishonoring of the Jewish believers in their midst.
18 …do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root (the original covenant Hebrews), but that the root supports you. (Rom. 11:18)
20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. (Rom. 11:20)
C. End-Time pressures: equipped with understanding so as to not deny our faith –
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches (Israel), He may not spare you either. 22 Consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Rom. 11:21-22)
D. The progression of ignorance: ignorance can become arrogance, which can become passive resistance, then active resistance and then apostasy (Rom. 11:22). If this passivity continues then it may grow into arrogance with the risks of denying their faith and thus being cut off by God. In other words, some believers who lack understanding will progressively draw back in compromise resulting in some actually denying their faith.
E. It was critical that the Gentiles of the Church of Rome re-connect to the purpose of God for Israel. Only by understanding and contending for God’s purposes for Israel would they themselves be entering into God’s purpose. This was critical for God’s plan to unite the two groups into deep, affectionate partnership, humility, and agreement. The Jews, according to Paul, had served the Gentiles richly – even in their failure:
12 Now their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! (Rom. 11:12)
F. In the fullness of their destiny and purposes, they would serve the nations of the earth in an even greater measure – but first God purposed to bring salvation to the Gentiles after their “fall”, or failure to recognize Jesus as their Messiah. This was so that the Gentiles could, in humility, serve Israel – provoking her to jealousy and fullness of salvation initially, then humility and gracious thanksgiving afterwards.
11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall (be forever separated from God’s plans and purposes)? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. (Rom. 11:11)
G. When we come into agreement with God regarding His plans and purposes for Israel, we come into agreement with a significant aspect of His purposes for us in salvation as well. It is critical that we learn to pray according to God’s heart for Israel. We must not be given to unsanctified sympathy and affection for the Jews apart from God’s desires and plans. He desires to bring her into her fullness through great fire and testing (Zech. 13:9) during what Jeremiah called “Jacob’s Trouble” (Jer. 30:7) in which, according to the book of Daniel, her own power will be “completely shattered”(Dan. 12:7). We are called to, in the coming days, be both bold about God’s plans for Israel’s testing while standing with her in prayer for her salvation and destiny.
I. All israel will be saved: fully delivered and obedient (Rom. 11:26-27)
26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away all ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is my covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:26-27)
A. Paul understands that the blindness that has come to his ethnic brethren is neither total (“blindness in part has come…”) nor final. He is saying clearly that God is not finished with unbelieving Israel. There would be a time in the future that this blindness, or veil that kept them from recognizing the truth about Jesus, would be lifted. For now, however, the measure of blindness that had come was unto a sovereign purpose that did not negate His future purposes for them, only delaying them.
B. There was coming a time, after the “fullness of the Gentiles” had come in, that not only would the blindness be lifted, but also all of their sinful behavior would be removed from their nation and all of their ungodly idols, patterns, and cultural compromises would be taken away.
C. Paul, in verse 26, is quoting Isaiah 59:20, as a reference to the entire passage from chapter 59. In it, Isaiah is describing a time in which Israel is, corporately, at the height of her sin and disobedience, groping in blindness and darkness, desperate and rebellious, and even those who seek to depart from evil are in danger of being utterly devoured. It is in this context that the Lord Himself will bring salvation from Israel’s enemies into complete and comprehensive physical and spiritual deliverance, that the Holy Spirit and truth might dwell in their midst.
D. In verse 27, Paul quotes Isaiah 27:9, which is a reference to the time of the restoration of Israel after the indignation of the Lord strikes the nations when He “comes out of His place” to “punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity…” (Isa. 26:20-21) It will be in this future time that Israel will “fill the face of the world with fruit” (Isa. 27:6) when the iniquity of Jacob will be covered – all as a fruit of the removal of the sins of Israel, including altars, wooden images, and incense altars that accompany demon worship and great wickedness.
E. Paul’s understanding of what Israel’s salvation (and the “fullness of Israel”) means is clear by his use of these two verses. He is saying more than “All the Jews will be born again”. Paul envisions a future time in which, in the context of great trouble and sorrow over both her own sin and the rage of the nations against her, Jesus Himself would come and rescue her from both threats. He will remove all threats and establish her in the Holy Spirit and truth. Israel will walk in full agreement with righteousness, purity, and the fullness of God’s ordained lifestyle.
II. ethnic jews are beloved by jesus (Rom. 11:28)
28 Concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. (Rom. 11:28)
A. Paul then shifts back to the present reality to try to connect the Gentile believers with the mindset and emotions of Christ towards the unbelieving Jews. Even what is seemingly “negative” about the great resistance of the ethnic Jews towards Jesus and the gospel message is taking place for our sakes:
28 Concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake… (Rom. 11:28a)
32 For God has committed (shut them all up in) them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. (Rom. 11:32)
B. What must bolster the heart of the Gentile believers in their commitment to Israel in the face of this fierce opposition and pressure (both from the Jews, and at the end of the age, the nations of the earth) is to remain connected to the delight of Jesus for His brethren.
28 …but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. (Rom. 11:28b)
C. Paul’s reference to “the election” is speaking of their choosing by God from among the nations to fulfill His purpose. He “elected” them from among all of the peoples of the earth to be the ones to walk out the “adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, and the promises,” (Rom. 9:4) as well as the ones who would walk out the partial blindness and failure. Most of all, however, they have been “elected”, or chosen by God to express the fullness of a nation walking in the blessings of obedience before all the peoples of the earth.
D. Jesus loves them in that they have walked all of this out before Him. He has great zeal and passion for them, as He views them not just by their present reality. He views them according to His covenant commitment to their fathers (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David).
E. Jesus views them according to His commitment to their destiny and fullness tomorrow. When He views ethnic Jews, even in their current condition, according to their past heritage and their future obedience and devotion, He is filled with love for them. His great love is both covenantal and prophetic in nature.
I. God is committed to the irrevocable purpose of israel (Rom. 11:29)
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Rom. 11:29)
A. Again, though their current condition is discouraging, Jesus has not forgotten their destiny or what they were chosen for. His covenant commitment to deliver them from both the nations and their own disobedience will stun the Jews and cause the nations to tremble:
14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me.” 15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. 16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me. (Isa. 49:14-16)
12 But You, O LORD, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your name to all generations. 13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. 14 For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, and show favor to her dust. 15 So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Your glory. 16 For the LORD shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. (Ps. 102:12-16)
B. His purpose in “electing” them is detailed in Deuteronomy 28:1-14, related to their full and careful, or “bridal” (loving and devoted) obedience and the great blessings of the Lord that will come upon them as a result:
1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God…” (Deut. 28:1-2)
C. Israel, having been “provoked to jealousy” by the predominantly Gentile church at the end of the age, will in turn provoke the nations of the earth under the leadership of Jesus to walk out the commandments of the Lord (Sermon on the Mount). The nations will flock to Israel to learn from her, that they might walk in the same blessing and abundance:
2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isa. 2:2-3)
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