God’s Plan for the Jews… And You

Posted on November 12, 2006

Romans 11:1-36

Have you ever wondered why such a tiny nation as the Jews seem to be at the center of the world’s attention so much of the time? Why do so many events revolve around them and their land? I believe it is because, behind the veil, in the spiritual realm, there is a war going on over their future. Satan has attempted their annihilation many times, and he will continue until the end of time.

What is God’s plan for the Jewish people? Why does Satan hate them and provoke so much hatred toward them? Because God has chosen them and is not finished with them!

Paul breaks forth in a “doxology” at the end of Romans 11 and the chapter teaches us why he was rejoicing so excitedly. What made Paul so ready to rejoice, and what reason do we have to rejoice tonight?

1.         God is saving a remnant. (vs. 1-6)

            A.         There will always be a remnant.

                        The evidence…

·         Paul Himself is evidence of individual Jews being saved.

·         The 7,000 prophets of Elijah’s days are evidence.

·         The Jewish believers of Paul’s time are evidence.

           

            B.         The remnant is chosen by God in His foreknowledge.

            C.         The remnant is saved by grace through faith.

2.         God is able to blind people. (vs. 7-10)

            A.         It is self-invoked by unbelief. (see v. 20)

            B.         It is God-invoked as judgment. (2 Thess. 2:11-12)

One of God’s worst judgments upon a people is to give them over to their own desires and ways. They had blinded themselves through unbelief and now God is judging them by blinding them further to the gospel.

3.         God is saving the Gentiles. (vs. 11-25)

            Why is God saving the Gentiles?

            A.         He is saving Gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy. (vs. 11, 14)

I heard the testimony of a Jewish physician from Little Rock a couple of years ago at our annual Missions Symposium. He gave the testimony of watching some Gentile Christians live their lives. It caused him to search the Scriptures and investigate the claims of Christ and be saved. He was provoked unto jealousy.

            B.         He is saving them for the mutual benefit of both. (vs. 17-24)

The Gentiles will reinvigorate the Jews and the Jews will bring the Gentiles into the covenant of blessing.

            C.         He is saving them to fulfill His eternal purpose. (v. 25)

It is God’s purpose that an elect remnant be saved from among the Gentiles as well. The “fullness” of the Gentiles refers to the time when all of the Gentile remnant is saved. It’s a word that describes a ship being filled to capacity with sailors. When this happens, the rapture will occur and God will turn his attention to the reviving of the Jews, described in Rev. 7.

4.         God will save the Jews in the end. (vs. 26-32)

            A.         God never gives up on His people. (v. 29)

Verse 29 is telling. Whether of the Jews or Gentiles, when God calls a people and gives them the gift of salvation, He never turns back on His purpose to save them. He completes what He begins in them.

            B.         God has concludes all as sinners that all might be saved. (v. 32)

Therefore…

5.         God deserves all praise and glory. (vs. 33-36)

Paul praises God as all-knowing and all-wise. Nobody can teach Him anything, nor can anyone actually give Him anything He does not already own. He is the self-sufficient Creator of the universe and He exists to be glorified. He will be glorified when the “fullness” of the Jews are saved (v. 12) and when the “fullness” of the Gentiles are saved (v. 25).

So what is God’s plan for the Jews someday, and for you today? Salvation, covenant blessing, and a return of thanks and praise to God!