Lesson by Pastor John Skaggs
Sovereign Grace Baptist
Church
P. O. Box 1173
Claypool, Arizona 85532
520-425-8345
Date: 06-03-01
Sermon Number: 056
Romans 11:26-36
Topics Addressed in this
Lesson
(God’s Plan of Salvation)
(Romans
9:1-5 NASB) "I am telling the
truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy
Spirit, {2} that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. {3} For I
could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of
my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, {4} who are Israelites, to whom
belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of
the Law and the temple service and the promises, {5} whose are the fathers, and
from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed
forever. Amen. But it is not as though
the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from
Israel; {7} neither are they all children because they are Abraham's
descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED." {8}
That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the
children of the promise are regarded as descendants."
(Galatians
3:7 NASB) "Therefore, be sure that
it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham."
If the question were posed, “Who or what is the nation Israel” most would look at you with a puzzled look. To the person on the street and to most in churches across America the answer is obvious. Israel is Israel, and it’s people are called Jews. They are the descendants of a man named Abraham with whom God has a special relationship and to whom He has promised salvation. Israel, meaning the physical descendants of Abraham, has a glorious future to look forward to.
Paul,
however, would answer the question in a different way. He would and has said, “. . . they are
not all Israel who are descended from Israel; {7} neither are they all children
(of God) because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH
ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED." {8} That is, it is not the children
of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are
regarded as descendants."
(Galatians
3:7 NASB) "Therefore, be sure that
it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham."
In
other words the, “Israel of God”, the Israel to whom the promises were made,
the Israel that will be saved and have a glorious future, is a spiritual
nation. The Israel of God consists of a
company of believers made up of both Jew and Gentile saved by the great and
awesome mercy of God. The physical
nation Israel has no better relationship with God than any other nation on
earth. Their future is no brighter or darker
than any other nation. For all have
sinned and come short of the glory of God.
All men, regardless of race, stand on level ground before God, enemies,
until they come to faith in Jesus for salvation. In God, in Christ, there is neither, Jew or Gentile, male or
female, salve or free man, all are on equal ground as concerns their need of
forgiveness and salvation. Being a
physical descendant of Abraham means nothing in the final analysis.
This
key truth is no better understood today than it was in Paul’s day. Then, as now, most fail to see the spiritual
nature of the promises made by God to Israel.
Instead the covenants and promises are said to have a physical reality
and fulfillment to all the physical descendants of Abraham. So, it appears the promises had failed or
perhaps they have been postponed or something else. Whatever the case something has gone wrong for most Jews did not
believe in Christ instead they rejected their own Messiah. The majority were glad to see Him
crucified. For in their eyes He was an
enemy of true religion. The Jews
rejected God and His Christ and God rejected them. What had gone wrong? The
coming of the Messiah was supposed to make all things right.
In the chapters nine, ten, and eleven, Paul, proves that nothing was wrong except mans understanding of the scriptures. God’s plan of salvation was right on schedule. In the introductions of these three chapters Paul expresses his love for his fellow countrymen as well as his grief and sorrow concerning their rejection of Christ. Yes, they diligently sought God but they did so in ignorance. They did not know that Christ is, “The Way” to God, “The Truth” about God, and the only “Source of Eternal Life”. Therefore, Israel rejected Christ. Some in every age have believed, for there is always a elect remnant, but most have not trusted Jesus.
In
chapter nine Paul explains the doctrine of Divine Election to show why all the
physical descendants of Abraham have not been and will not be saved. He tells us that God will save a remnant
according to God’s gracious choice or election. These and these alone will obtain everlasting life. Just as He distinguished between Ishmael and
Isaac, Jacob and Esau, so He distinguishes between one man and another in every
nation. “Not all Israel is
Israel”. That is, not everyone of
Jewish descent is destined to believe in Jesus, but only those chosen to
salvation by God. The elect from every
nation are the citizens of the true Israel not just saved Jews.
In
chapter ten Paul reveals the Good News that all, be they Jew or Gentile, who
believe in Jesus will be saved from the wrath to come. Further, he makes it clear that the
physical members of the nation Israel had heard the gospel message over and
over again throughout the centuries.
Therefore, proving that ignorance or, lack of information, was not the
primary cause of the rejection of Jesus.
Let me read a few verses from that chapter.
(Romans
10:18-21 NASB) "But I say, surely
they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; "THEIR VOICE (the voice of the Prophets) HAS
GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD."
{19} But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? (yes, they did) At
the first Moses says, "I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A
NATION, BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER YOU." {20} And
Isaiah is very bold and says, "I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO SOUGHT ME NOT, I
BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME." {21} But as for Israel
He says, "ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT
AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE."
"I
WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION, BY A NATION WITHOUT
UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER YOU." These words serve to introduce the eleventh chapter
where Paul continues to speak of God making the disobedient and obstinate Jews
jealous by turning from them to the Gentiles.
The Gentiles had not tired to please God by the works of the law like
the Jews had but they would be saved nonetheless. They had not sought the true God at all. They had been abominable Idolaters but God
would save a remnant from among them in spite of it all. Why?
For His glory, of course, but there is another reason. The Gentile’s salvation and Jewish jealousy
that would result from it would become an instrument in the hand of God to save
a remnant of the Jews. Therefore, the
elect from every nation would at last be saved. This is God’s plan of salvation.
We’ll
move through the early portion of the eleventh chapter rather quickly till we
come to our new material. (Romans 11
NASB) "I say then, God has not
rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a
descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. {2} God has not rejected His
people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the
passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? {3} "Lord,
THEY HAVE KILLED THY PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN THINE ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM
LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE." {4} But what is the divine response
to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE
KNEE TO BAAL." {5} In the same way then, there has also come to be AT THE
PRESENT TIME A REMNANT ACCORDING TO GOD'S GRACIOUS CHOICE. {6} But if it is by
grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer
grace. {7} What then? THAT WHICH ISRAEL IS SEEKING FOR, IT HAS NOT OBTAINED,
BUT THOSE WHO WERE CHOSEN OBTAINED IT, AND THE REST WERE HARDENED; {8} just as
it is written, "GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS
TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY." {9} And David says, "LET THEIR
TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO
THEM. {10} "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS
FOREVER." {11} I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? (God
has not cast the Jews off completely and forever has He?) May it never be! BUT
BY THEIR TRANSGRESSION SALVATION HAS COME TO THE GENTILES, TO MAKE THEM
JEALOUS.”
Behold the plan of salvation, as most have never seen it! This is God’s way of saving sinners! Paul knew that Israel had not been cast off entirely. He was confident that some of them would be saved for there is in every age a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. Those who are chosen for salvation will obtain it. But Paul also understood that if he was to see the salvation of his people he must turn from the Jews and take his message of reconciliation to the Gentiles. For this was God’s plan of salvation.
The
lost, but elect Jews, would witness with their own eyes the blessings once
promised to them now being given to the Gentiles. They would see in them the peace that passes all
understanding. The peace that only
comes through faith in Jesus Christ the Lord.
The elect Jews would then become envious and wish to emulate the
Gentiles who had trusted in Christ.
This envy would have as its source God the Holy Spirit who would turn
the elect among the Jews to real repentance and faith in Jesus for
salvation. Thus the elect from every nation
would be saved.
This
strange plan was designed to bring glory and praise to God. Fact is, everything God has done and is
doing in all of time is for His glory.
All things and events are meant to reveal something of the majesty and
glory of God. The bondage of God’s
elect people to sin, self, and the devil, is no exception to the rule. Rather, it is part of God’s self-glorifying
plan. (Romans 11:32-36 NASB) “For
God has shut up all (all elect Jews and Gentiles) in disobedience that
He might show mercy to all. Oh,
the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and
unfathomable His ways! {34} For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO
BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? {35} Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID
BACK TO HIM AGAIN? {36} For from Him and through Him and to Him are all
things. To Him be the glory forever.
Amen.” Our great God intends to
bring glory to Himself by the salvation of His people and He is in the process
of doing just that.
Far
from being simple and predictable God’s plan of salvation is very mysterious
and surprising! He intends to save a
people from among the Jews and the Gentiles.
But He does not do so in a direct fashion. Rather, He has determined to save them in a way that will display
His wisdom, power, grace, and wrath to all creation. So He locks His lost sheep up in the prison of disobedience. This was brought to pass by the fall wherein
all sinned and fell short of the glory of God including the elect destined for
salvation. Then He sent His Son to save
His lost sheep from their sins. He came
first to the Jews but they did not recognize Him. They would not believe Him and they crucified Him. Neither would they receive Christ’s
ministers. Why is that? Why did Israel not receive their own
Messiah? Well, on the one hand, it was
because they were sinners and had hardened their hearts. On the other hand it is because God hardened
their hearts or gave them a spirit of stupor so they could not see and know the
truth. Yes, He would let some of the
Jews out of this prison and into His kingdom of light and life but He would
first use their rebellion to facilitate the salvation of the elect Gentiles. “BUT BY THEIR TRANSGRESSION SALVATION
HAS COME TO THE GENTILES, TO MAKE THEM (the Jews) JEALOUS.” The rebellion of the Jews would lead
to the salvation of the elect Gentiles which would lead to the salvation of the
elect Jews. Lets continue with verse
fifteen.
{15}
For if their rejection be the reconciliation of the world, (the Gentiles) what will
their acceptance be but life from the dead? . . . . {19} You will say then,
"Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." {20} Quite
right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do
not be conceited, but fear; {21} for if God did not spare the natural branches,
neither will He spare you. {22} Behold then the kindness and severity of God;
to those who fell, (the Jews) severity, but to you, (the Gentiles) God's
kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
{23} And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted
in; for God is able to graft them in again.
. . . . {25} For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this
mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a PARTIAL HARDENING (Not
all were permanently hardened for some Jews in every generation have trusted
Christ.) a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the
fullness of the Gentiles has come in;”
Israel’s hardness and rebellion will continue until God has saved all the Gentiles He intends to save. {26} “. . . and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." {27} "AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."
These words contain information that should keep both Jew and the Gentile from thinking too highly of themselves and too little of their brethren. For here Paul reveals what was in former days unknown to man. He solves a mystery. He reveals to us God’s way of saving the elect from every nation, “All Israel”. With this new information the Jew is prevented from boasting of his position before God for He sees it is by faith alone that he stands. The Gentile likewise is told don’t be wise in your own estimation, for you have no advantage over the Jew, you too stand only by faith. Verse twenty five tells that Israel’s hardness and the consequent preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles will continue until every last Gentile sheep has been saved or as Paul puts it, “Until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Until the total number of all the remnants of Gentiles has been saved.
The Deliverer of verses twenty-six and seven is Jesus the Lord who has indeed come. According to Matthew He has come to save His people from their sins. “He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” This title, “Jacob”, speaks exclusively of the elect, the sons and daughters of Jacob by faith. Jesus would take away their sins. Paul goes over God’s plan of salvation once again in verses twenty-eight through thirty-one.
{28} “From the standpoint of the gospel they (the
Jews) are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice (eternal
election to salvation) they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;”
This
verse stands as one of the strongest proofs in the chapter that among the Jews
who were hardened were some of the elect.
Do you see it in verse twenty-eight?
First the Jews in question are enemies of the Gospel and, therefore, of
God. But they were enemies of God by
design. For it was Israel’s sin that
became the means God used to save His elect among the Gentiles. Then, declares the apostle, “From the
standpoint of God’s choice or election these same sinful and hardened Jews were
beloved of God and would finally be saved because . . . {29} “. . . the
gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
In other words the elect were hardened along with all the rest but
for them the hardening was only temporary, for the gifts and calling of God are
without repentance. God does not change
His mind about anything.
Commenting
on the phrase, “The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” one good man says
this; “By "gifts" are meant, not the gifts of nature and providence,
such as life, health, strength, riches, and honor, which God sometimes gives,
and takes away. Rather he refers to the
special and spiritual gifts of God’s free grace, which relate to the spiritual
and eternal welfare of the souls of men, even that grace which was given to
God’s elect in Christ before the world was, and all those spiritual blessings
given to them in Him. In other words
the gift of eternal life conferred on the elect in eternity past is immutable
and unalterable.
God
will not revoke His elective decree.
Those chosen in Christ from the foundation of the world will in time be
saved and then kept to eternity.
Whatever God purposes, or promises to give, or really does give to his
people, whether into the hands of Christ for them, or into their own, he never
repents of or reverses.
Just as the gifts are irrevocable so is His calling. By which is meant, not a bare external call by the ministry of the word, which oftentimes is without effect, and may be where persons are neither chosen, nor converted, nor saved; but an internal effectual call, by special, powerful, and efficacious grace. The apostle’s argument here is this, that since there are a number of people among the Jews whom God has loved, and has chosen to everlasting salvation, and has determined to call them by his grace; and since all these are unchangeable and irreversible, the future call and conversion of these persons must be sure and certain.” (End Quote) In other words Paul is saying that the temporary hardness of the elect among the Jews will be no hindrance to their salvation in time. For they have been given the gift of eternal life according to God’s gracious choice and will be called to actual faith in Christ at the right time. “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance,” He will not change His mind.
Paul describes the great plan once again in verses thirty
and thirty-one. {30} “For just as
you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of
their disobedience, {31} so these also now have been disobedient, in order that
because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.”
Did you get that?
The Jews were disobedient so that the Gentiles could be saved. But the Jews disobedience was also part of
God’s plan for their salvation. {32}
“For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.”
Another translation reads like this, “For God has locked up all in the prison of disobedience in order that He may have mercy on them all.” The “all” of whom Paul speaks refers specifically to all the elect Gentiles and Jews. The elect from every nation, the sum total of all the remnants of all the ages, past, present, and future. The sheep of the Jewish fold, the sheep from among the Gentiles. These together have been “Locked up in the prison of disobedience”. They have been put there by God for good reason, the glorification of Himself!
God
the creator and ruler of all things has, for His eternal glory, ordained that
even the elect be enslaved to sin, self, and the devil from the moment of their
physical birth to the time appointed for their salvation. God has “Shut them up in the prison of
disobedience.” They are trapped by
Divine decree like all the rest in inescapable hopelessness and wretchedness.
The
implications of this little statement render me almost speechless. For in this verse we must see God bringing
about the fall of man into sin. God has
shut up all men in the prison of disobedience!
God did it! God did it for His
own glory and praise! The implications
of this are to numerous to deal with.
Let me mention just a few.
Consider
what this truth does to the proponents of “Free Will.” Can one read this and still believe that man
is free to do anything he pleases? Can
the Christian encounter this text and still believe that men have the final say
in Salvation? Or must we all believe
that God has cast all into the prison of disobedience. The question is, will we believe what we see
here or defer to our feelings and opinions?
Is man free to do as he pleases or is he bound hand and foot in the
prison of disobedience? In addition I
ask, what does this sacred text say to us concerning those who believe that man
gives a begging God permission to save him?
How can that be so when God Himself has shut the sinner up in a state of
disobedience? How can man dictate to
God when he is in a prison to which God alone holds the key? Then I ask, what does this frightful, but
holy statement, declare to us concerning the depravity of man? Is man partly good and partly evil as most
would have us believe? Has sin only
affected him to some measured degree from which he might recover if he tries? No, that is not the case, “For God has shut
up all men, including the elect, in the prison of inescapable
disobedience.” It is a prison from
which none escape without Divine intervention.
Even the elect are without hope and without God until He chooses to have
mercy upon them, which He will most certainly do at the appointed time.
For God has locked up His lost sheep in the prison of disobedience so that by the appointed means and at the appointed time He might display the magnificence of His mercy upon the elect by unlocking the door and setting them free. The Holy Spirit is, as it were, the jail keeper who, at the Father’s command, unlocks the prison doors by removing the sinner’s hard heart and replacing it with a new one. This is the rebirth! This is the resurrection from the dead that comes with the gifts of repentance and faith toward Jesus Christ. This saved sinner walks out of prison into the freedom of grace.
So
it has been and so it shall continue to be throughout history. For the praise of His glorious grace and
mercy God in good time sets His people free from the prison of
disobedience. He saves a Gentile here
and a Jew there and He will continue to do so until all the elect are
saved. {32} “For God has shut up all
in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.”
The hymn, “And Can It
Be” speaks of this imprisonment and the glorious freedom given to us in time
according to God’s gracious choice and mercy.
It reads like this;
And can it be that I
should gain, An interest in the Savior’s Blood?
Died He for me who
caused his pain, For me who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, My God should die
for me?
He left His father’s
throne above, So free, So infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all
but love, And bled for Adam’s helpless race!
Tis mercy all immense
and free, For, O my God, it found out me.
Long
my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a
quickening ray: I woke – the dungeon
flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart
was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living
Head, and clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal
throne, And claim the crown, thru Christ my own,
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God should die for me!
(Romans 11:33-36 NASB) "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! {34} For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? {35} Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? {36} For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."