Chapter 9 – God’s Selection of Israel

At first glance, these next three chapters seem to be a strange place to break from the discussion of salvation to long sections dealing with the nation of Israel. Why didn’t Paul move from the doctrinal teaching of Romans 8 to the practical duties given in chapters 12-15? As we study the chapters, we will see that it is a necessary part of Paul’s argument for justification by faith. We must always take scripture in context and to whom the passages are written. Paul is writing primarily to Jewish Christians in Rome as well as to the Gentile believers there. As always, “It is to the Jew first.”

Paul used this time to prove his continued personal love for Israel in spite of his call to the Gentiles. There is also a doctrinal reason for his discussion. Paul had argued in Romans 8 that the believer is secure in Christ and that God’s election would never fail. In fact, we see in verses 8:28-30, that according to the verb tenses used, all is done! But what about the Jews? God chose them, and yet now you tell us they are set aside and God is building His church. Did God fail to keep His promises to Israel? In other words, the very character of God was at stake. If God was not faithful to the Jews, how do we know that He will be faithful to the church?

Paul answers those questions with great care. In Romans 9, he emphasizes Israel’s past election, in Romans 10 on Israel’s present rejection, and in Romans 11 on Israel’s future restoration. Paul shows his love for Israel by declaring that he would rather be cursed and shut out of heaven if it would mean Israel’s salvation.

Paul’s theme in Romans 9 is God’s election of Israel; and the first thing he dealt with was the blessing of their election: Israel was adopted by God as His own people.

Does this “adoption “ of Israel guarantee them salvation? (A) Ex.4: 22, the Lord speaking to Moses, “…Israel is my son, My firstborn.” God was telling Moses to explain to Pharaoh that Israel was a whole nation designated as God’s firstborn son, meaning “declared and treated as first in rank, preeminent, with the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of actually being the firstborn. God was not providing salvation to every person born a Jew, but sovereignly selecting an entire nation to receive His special calling, covenant, and blessing and to serve as His witness nation.
What was “God’s glory revealed to them (v.4)? (A) The Glory cloud, the Shekinah glory, pictured God’s presence. It was present in the Holy of Holies in both the Tabernacle and the Temple.
God’s Covenants with Israel were special. What is their significance? (A) A covenant is a legally binding promise, agreement, or contract. All but one of God’s Covenants with man are eternal and one-sided – that is, God promised to accomplish something based on His own character and not on the response or actions of those who were to benefit from the covenant.
How did these covenants affect Israel? (A) All were eternal and one-sided except one, the Mosaic Covenant, the Law. It is neither, since Israel’s sin canceled it and the New Covenant has replaced it. As the definition declares, this New promise is “one-sided” – Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross with His blood
In spite of all of the wonderful things inherited by Israel through adoption as God’s chosen people, Israel did reject the promised Messiah. The question remains, how can their promised inheritance square with their rejection of Messiah and with the Gentiles being brought into the place of blessing? Did God give up on Israel and fail to fulfill His promises? (A) Just because a person is born into the nation of Israel does not mean that he is an heir to the promises. Not even all of Abraham’s offspring are counted as his children. It was of the seed of Isaac and not of Ishmael that the seed was called (Gen. 21:12). Isaac’s wife, Rebekah received a message from God, which proves that God chooses according to His own plan (v.11). He did not, nor will He ever, give up on Israel or His own.
What was God’s message? (A) V.12, 13 –“The descendents of your older son will serve the descendents of your younger son.” In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.” The important thing here is the first part of v.11, “But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received the message from God.” God’s choice of Jacob and not Esau, to continue the physical line of Abraham, was not based on his personal worth or lack of worth. Rather, God’s choice of Jacob exists only in His own sovereign plan, a perfect example of election unto salvation. This choice of Jacob before the boys were born and apart from any personal worth demonstrates that election in regard to spiritual life is unrelated to any human effort, and is based only on the privilege of God who makes His selection.
So, was God being unfair to Israel? (A) His words to Moses – “I will show mercy to anyone I choose and I will show compassion to anyone I choose (v.14).” So, the ultimate destiny of men or nations does not rest in the strength of their will or in the power of their works, but rather in the mercy of God. He will show mercy (grant salvation) to anyone He chooses (v.16).
What does Paul mean by v.22? (A) God could justly destroy sinners the first time they sin. But He patiently endures their rebellion rather than giving them what every sin immediately deserves - eternal punishment. Who are the “objects of His judgment?” Those whom God has not chosen for salvation, but rather allowed to bring upon themselves the just penalty for their sin, God’s wrath by their own rejection of Him. He does not make man sinful, but leaves them in the sin they have chosen.
Verses 23,24 are outstanding in revealing God’s character. What are the riches of His glory? (A) The greatness of His character is seen in His grace, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness He grants sinners in Christ. The “objects of mercy” are those He prepared (chose) for salvation.

Chapter 10 – Israel Needs the Gospel – Their Present Rejection

The unconverted Jews that Paul preached to thought him to be a traitor to their faith and an enemy to Israel. The opposite is true – the thing that would give him the most joy and the thing he prayed to God most earnestly for Israel is that they might be saved.

The Jews showed a great enthusiasm for God in their careful obedience to the rituals and ceremony of Judaism and from their intolerance of every other doctrine opposed to their own. Why was this not enough to save them? (A) They misunderstood the purpose of the Law and missed out on understanding God’s way of making people right before Him. What was the Law’s purpose? To reveal sin and to convict and condemn sinners. Death is the penalty and they (we too) were all guilty and deserving of death. When the Messiah came, they penalty for sin was paid, but they rejected it.
Why did Paul quote Moses from Deuteronomy in vv.6, 7? (A) These were the two doctrinal issues hardest for the Jews to accept – Christ’s Incarnation and His Resurrection. You did not have to go up to heaven to bring Christ (the Messiah) down. It would be impossible and unnecessary – Christ had already come down in His Incarnation. You did not have to go to the place of the dead (the grave) to bring Messiah up - it was impossible and He was already Resurrected.
If the gospel doesn’t tell men to do these two impossible things, what then does it say (vv.8-10)? (A) Again looking at Deut. 30, Paul says that the gospel is near, accessible, understandable and easy to obtain; it is already in your heart and on your lips. Looking for the impossible is unnecessary because God has revealed the way of salvation: it is by faith.
So what does the gospel say? (A) V.9 “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” This covers the Incarnation of Jesus as Messiah and His Resurrection from the dead. Confessing includes repenting from sin, trusting in Jesus for salvation, and submitting to Him as Lord. You must also believe in His Resurrection because it proved that Jesus is who He claimed to be and that the Father had accepted His sacrifice in the place of sinners.
Why do vv.9 & 10 seem to say two different things? (A) In V. 9, confession comes first because it follows the progression of v.9 – the Incarnation (Jesus, the Messiah, is Lord) and then the Resurrection (God raised Him from the dead). In v.10, the emphasis is on the order of events in the salvation of the sinner. First, he believes with the heart that he is made right with God, and then he makes a public confession of his salvation.
Does verse 13 contradict the fact that it is God who chooses and predestines sinners for salvation? (A) One of the great mysteries of God’s promises and one that we will never fully understand in this life. However, scripture is clear that God sovereignly chooses whom so ever He will; yet, we have the responsibility to believe in Him as Lord and Savior.
V.14 – what Christian Missions is all about! Of what use is salvation offered to Jews and Gentiles if they never hear about it? (A) This is written first to the Jews - the only way unbelieving Jews can be saved is by calling on the name of the Lord. But before they can call on Him they must believe! Believe what? That Jesus of Nazareth truly is the Son of God and the promised Messiah of Israel. It also meant believing in His death and Resurrection. But in order to believe, they must hear the Word, for it is the word that creates faith in the heart of the hearer (10:17).
What then is the remedy for Israel’s rejection? (A) Hearing the Word of the Gospel and believing in Jesus Christ. This was not new to the Jews: the last several chapters of Isaiah and Jeremiah are devoted to Israel’s ultimate salvation and restoration by the Messiah despite her rejection of Him both then and now. Paul asks in v. 18 if they had actually heard the message. Yes they have, through the OT, through Jesus Himself in His Incarnation, and through missionaries yesterday and today.

Chapter 11 – Israel’s Rejection Is Not Total

Paul answers the question that comes from 10:19-21: “Is God’s setting aside of Israel for rejecting Christ permanent?” The question implies that if He rejects Israel, can He be trusted to keep His unconditional promises to that nation (Jer.33: 19-26).

What does Paul answer? (A) V.2 – Israel’s rejection does not cancel out God’s predetermined love relationship with her. He chose her as His own from before the foundations of the world and will always keep her as His own. Paul quotes Elijah when he questioned the Lord in 1 Kings 19:11-18. God let Elijah know that He was working in a quiet way to preserve His people. He never forces Himself on anyone, but in these verses, we see seven thousand men whom He has reserved for Himself as the remnant faithful to Him (vv.5, 6). As it was then, so it will be at the end time.
Paul says, “A few are being saved as a result of God’s kindness in choosing them (v.5).” This proves God’s love for Israel. Although the nation had rejected Jesus, thousands of individual Jews had come to faith in Him. God did not choose this remnant because of the faith He saw they would have, their good works, their spiritual worthiness, but only because of His grace.
What conclusion can we come to about Israel’s rejection? (A) Israel failed to obtain righteousness because they sought it through self-effort instead of through the finished work of Christ. The remnant, chosen by God, succeeded in obtaining righteousness through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The rest of the nation suffered spiritual blindness through a judicial act of God, in response to their hardened hearts.
The nation fell, rejected God and their hearts were hardened. V.11 asks the question, “Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery (forever)?” (A) Of course not! God’s purpose is not to destroy, but to restore. His purpose is that because of their fall, salvation might come to the Gentiles, thereby provoking Israel to jealousy. Paul’s strong response confirms that Israel’s blindness, hardness, and rejection are not irreversible.
As a result of the rejection of the gospel, the nation was set aside and the gospel went out to the Gentiles. In this sense, the fall of the Jews has meant riches for the world, and Israel’s loss has become the Gentile’s gain (v.12). God intends to use His offer of salvation to the despised Gentiles to draw the nation back to Him.
God is amazing! In spite of the wholesale rejection of the nation, God continues to love them.. V. 15 –“For since the Jew’s rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, how much more wonderful their acceptance will be. I will be life for those who were dead!” When Israel was set aside as God’s chosen people, the Gentiles were brought into the position of privilege with God and thus were reconciled TO Him. When Israel is restored in the millennial Reign of Christ, it will be like worldwide regeneration or resurrection, as a small remnant of Jews witnesses to the remaining gentiles, vast numbers will be brought into the kingdom of God.
Paul has been switching from the past, to the present, to the future and now switches back to the past as he argues for Israel's ultimate redemption. He uses two OT metaphors to explain. The first has to do with dough. In the OT, a piece of dough was consecrated to the Lord as a heave offering. The thought was if the piece of dough is set apart to the Lord, so would all the dough that might be made from it. The firstfruits was Abraham. He was holy because he was the first to be set apart by God to form a new society, distinct from all other nation. If Abraham is set apart, so as those who are descended from him in the chosen line. He continues with the metaphor of the root and the branches (v.17). Who are the branches that were broken off? The unbelieving portion of the tribes of Israel. Because of their rejection of the Messiah, they were removed from their place of privilege as God’s chosen people. But only some of the branches were broken off. A remnant of the nation, Paul included, had received the Lord.
Who is the “wild olive tree”? (A) The Gentiles viewed as one people. They were grafted into the olive tree of Israel. With them, the Gentiles partook of the root and the fatness (all that is good) of the olive tree. The Gentiles share the favor that had originally been given to Israel and is still held by the believing remnant of Israel. If the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be too (v.16).

*Note: One thing we must remember, Paul here is not discussing the relationship of individual believers with God., but the place of Israel in the plan of God. Two important things to see: 1), The main trunk of the olive tree is not Israel, but rather God’s line of Privilege (not in your book!) down through the centuries. It can’t be Israel because then you would have Israel being broken off from Israel and then grafted back into Israel again. 2) The wild olive branch is not the church, but the Gentiles viewed collectively.

What do mean when we say that the trunk is the line of privilege down through the centuries? (A) God decided to set apart a certain people to occupy a special place of nearness to Himself. They would be set apart from the rest of the world and have special privileges. In the different ages of history, God would have a special inner circle. The nation of Israel was the first to be in this line of privilege. They were God’s ancient, chosen, earthly people. Because of their rejection of Messiah, some of these branches were broken off, and lost their position of “favorite son.” The Gentiles were then grafted into the olive tree, to partake in all of that is good in the tree.
Talk about v.20. It refers back to the last statement in v.19, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” V.20 goes on to say that those branches (Jews) were broken off because of their unbelief in God, and not because the Gentiles had any special claim of God. The Gentiles were grafted in because they stood by faith in Christ. But there is no reason for Gentiles to boast –the root (the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) support the tree and its branches.
If God didn’t spare the branches (Gentiles) He put there in the first place, does v.21 mean that you too might be cut off? (A) The context means that the Gentiles (it does not say believers) will be cut off if they sin against the truth of the gospel. The gospel is the truth about Jesus the Messiah. One is guilty if he rejects the gospel. Just as He judged apostate (the practice of false religion apart from Christ) Israel, so too will He judge the apostate church.
Verse 22 is continuation of this argument. It seems to say that God is kind to those who continue to trust in His kindness, but if you stop trusting, you will be cut off. Is it one or the other? (A) Remember that Paul was not discussing the relationship of individual believers to God, but the place of Israel in the plan of God. V.22 says that God is both kind and severe. His severity is seen in the removal of Israel from the favored nation status. His kindness is seen in His turning to the Gentiles with the gospel. But that kindness must not be taken for granted. The Gentiles too could be cut off if they do not maintain that relative openness which Jesus found in His ministry. In fact, according to 1 Tim. 4 and 2 and 2 Tim. 3, along with 2 Thess. 2, the professing church will leave the faith.
If there is no help then for the apostate church, is their hope for apostate Israel? (A) Yes, because of the roots of the olive tree. God will keep His promise to the Patriarchs, but God will break off the Gentiles because of their unbelief.
God shows His mercy and grace when, in the future, Israel will repent of unbelief and embrace the Messiah (Zech. 12:10). God will at that time graft the believing Jewish people (not the nation) back into the olive tree of His covenant blessings because it was theirs originally.

Paul ends these first eleven chapters about God’s mercy and grace with a doxology of praise: “For everything comes from Him; everything exists by His power and is intended for His glory. To Him be glory evermore. Amen”

Chapter 12 – A Living Sacrifice to God

Paul ended chapter 1-11 with a beautiful hymn of praise and in these final chapters, he explains in great detail how believers are to practically live out the deep theological truths he has taught us. Paul is aware that simply knowing is not doing, so he tells us how to take up our duties toward other believers, toward the community, toward our enemies, toward the government, and toward our weaker brothers. His premise is; if we have a right relationship with God, we will have a right relationship to people.

Our Relationship To God (12:1-2) - You give God your body and mind. “And So” or therefore, because of the great mercies of God seen in chapter 1-11, we should give our bodies to God, a living and holy sacrifice. This is how we are to live our lives. It is all about surrender to Him –all of it!

Why give our bodies? (A) Now that we belong to Christ, we want to use our body for His glory. After all, it is God’s Temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Jesus gave His body to accomplish God’s will on earth and we must yield our bodies to Christ so that He might continue God’s work through us. The OT sacrifices were dead sacrifices, but we are to be living sacrifices. Isaac was an example and Christ Himself an example, a sacrifice who died but rose again, a living sacrifice.
The world wants to control our minds, but God wants to transform them (Eph. 4:17-24). The word transform come from transfigure, meaning “metamorphosis.” It describes a change from within. How do we change from within? The Holy Spirit living in us releases power from within.
Your mind controls your body, and your will controls your mind. It is only when we yield our will to God that His power can take over and give us the willpower that we need to live the Christian life. How do we yield our will? Through prayer as Christ did, “Not My will, but Thy will be done.” We pray about everything, and let God have His way in everything.

Our Relationship to Other Believers (12:3-16)

God’s command to “Love One Another…” shows itself in Paul’s exhortation to the Romans. “ I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you. How much faith has He given you (v.3)?” Exactly enough to do His purpose!

Paul tells us that we are all parts of Christ’s one living body and each of us has a different work to do. How do we do that work (v.5)? (A) Each of us has a spiritual function to perform. Each believer has a gift (or gifts) to be used in the building up of the body and the perfecting of the body. We belong to each other, we minister to each other, and we need each other. We don’t use our gifts to glorify ourselves, but to glorify Him and serve one another.
Verse 6 tells us, “God has given each of us the ability to certain things well.” How do we receive them? (A) These gifts we have come because of God’s grace and we must accept them and use them by faith. We don’t take credit for them; instead, we use them to honor His name. Each believer’s gift is different, given by God so the body of Christ (the church) can grow in a balanced way.
Have you ever run across someone in the church who you know is not being truthful or is doing something only to draw attention to themselves? Paul exhorts us to do just the opposite: “Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other (vv.9-11).” Love is at the heart of it all and enables all the members of the body to function in a healthy, well-balanced way. Love must be honest, not a hypocritical love, and it must be humble, not proud, preferring one another, by treating others as more important than ourselves.
Paul tells us, “Be glad for all God is planning for you (v.12).” What happens when our life becomes difficult? Are we still to be glad? (A) Serving Christ usually means Satanic opposition and times of discouragement. Even during those times of opposition, we are to maintain the zeal we once had because we are serving God not men. The NIV translates v.12 as, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Paul now focuses on how to relate to our enemies (12:17-21).

The believer who seeks to serve God is going to have enemies, maybe the worst coming from their own homes. Paul encourages us to not play God and avenge ourselves when wronged. Christians are to live on a higher level and return good for evil. How do we do that? Through the gifts of love and faith that God has given us. God can work and accomplish His will in our lives and in the lives of those who hurt us. Our job is not to protect ourselves from those who hurt us, but to obey the Lord and leave the results to Him. He encourages us to obey Proverbs 25:21-22 and “return good for evil” so our enemy will feel the shame of his actions. It comes down to living at a higher level, living as God leads in our lives, obeying Him, honoring Him and loving even our enemies. He takes care of the rest.

PTL

Romans 9-12

Questions

2009

Chapter 9 – God’s Selection of Israel

At first glance, these next three chapters seem to be a strange place to break from the discussion of salvation to long sections dealing with the nation of Israel. Why didn’t Paul move from the doctrinal teaching of Romans 8 to the practical duties given in chapters 12-15? As we study the chapters, we will see that it is a necessary part of Paul’s argument for justification by faith. We must always take scripture in context and to whom the passages are written. Paul is writing primarily to Jewish Christians in Rome as well as to the Gentile believers there. As always, “It is to the Jew first.”

Paul’s theme in Romans 9 is God’s election of Israel; and the first thing he dealt with was the __________ of their election: Israel was adopted by God as His own people.

Does this “adoption “ of Israel guarantee them salvation? (A) Ex.4: 22, the Lord speaking to Moses, “…Israel is my son, My firstborn.” God was telling Moses to explain to Pharaoh that Israel was a _____________ designated as God’s firstborn son, meaning “declared and treated as first in rank, preeminent, with the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of actually being the ___________. God was not providing salvation to every person born a Jew, but _____________ selecting an entire nation to receive His special calling, covenant, and blessing and to serve as His witness nation.
What was “God’s glory revealed to them (v.4)? (A) The Glory ________, the Shekinah glory, pictured God’s presence. It was present in the Holy of Holies in both the Tabernacle and the Temple.
God’s Covenants with Israel were special. What is their significance? (A) A covenant is a _________ binding _________, agreement, or contract. All but one of God’s Covenants with man are _____ and _____ _________ – that is, God promised to accomplish something based on His _____ character and not on the response or actions of those who were to benefit from the covenant. This translates to grace in the NT.
How did these covenants affect Israel? (A) All were eternal and one-sided except one, the _______Covenant, the Law. It is neither, since Israel’s _____ canceled it and the New Covenant has replaced it. As the definition declares, this New promise is “one-sided” – Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross with His blood
In spite of all of the wonderful things inherited by Israel through adoption as God’s chosen people, Israel did reject the promised Messiah. The question remains, how can their promised inheritance square with their rejection of Messiah and with the Gentiles being brought into the place of blessing? Did God give up on Israel and fail to fulfill His promises? (A) Just because a person is born into the nation of Israel does not mean that he is an heir to the promises. Not even all of Abraham’s offspring are counted as his children. It was of the seed of ________ and not of Ishmael that the seed was called (Gen. 21:12). Isaac’s wife, Rebekah received a message from God, which proves that God __________ according to His own ________ (v.11). He did not, nor will He ever, give up on Israel or His own.
What was God’s message? (A) V.12, 13 –“The descendents of your older son will serve the descendents of your younger son.” In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.” The important thing here is the first part of v.11, “But _______ they were born, before they had ____ anything good or bad, she received the message from God.” God’s choice of Jacob and not Esau, to continue the physical line of Abraham, was not based on his personal worth or lack of worth, not because of his “free will” or his choice. Rather, God’s choice of Jacob exists exclusively in His own sovereign _____, a perfect example of ______ unto salvation. This choice of Jacob before the boys were born and apart from any personal worth demonstrates that ________ in regard to spiritual life is unrelated to any _______ effort, and is based only on the privilege of God who makes His selection.
So, was God being unfair to Israel? (A) His words to Moses – “I will show _____ to anyone I _______ and I will show __________ to anyone I choose (v.14).” So, the ultimate destiny of men or nations does not rest in the strength of their will or in the power of their works, but rather in the mercy of God. He will show mercy (grant salvation) to anyone He chooses (v.16).
What does Paul mean by v.22? (A) God could justly ______ sinners the _____ time they sin. But He patiently _________ their rebellion rather than giving them what every sin immediately deserves - eternal ________. Who are the “objects of His judgment?” Those whom God has _____ ___________ for salvation, but rather allowed to bring _________________ the just penalty for their sin, God’s wrath by their own _________ of Him. He does not make man sinful, but leaves them in the sin they have chosen.
Verses 23,24 are outstanding in revealing God’s character. What are the riches of His glory? (A) The greatness of His character is seen in His grace, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness He grants sinners in Christ. The “objects of mercy” are those He _________ (chose) for salvation.

Chapter 10 – Israel Needs the Gospel – Their Present Rejection

The Jews showed a great enthusiasm for God in their careful obedience to the rituals and ceremony of Judaism and from their intolerance of every other doctrine opposed to their own. Why was this not enough to save them? (A) They misunderstood the _________ of the Law and missed out on understanding God’s way of making people right before Him. What was the Law’s purpose? To ____ sin and to ________ and _______ sinners. Death is the penalty and they (we too) were all _____ and deserving of death. When the Messiah came, they penalty for sin was paid, but they rejected it.
Why did Paul quote Moses from Deuteronomy in vv.6, 7? (A) These were the two doctrinal issues hardest for the Jews to accept – Christ’s __________ and His ___________. You did not have to go up to heaven to bring Christ (the Messiah) down. It would be impossible and unnecessary – Christ had already come down in His Incarnation. You did not have to go to the place of the dead (the grave) to bring Messiah up - it was impossible and He was already Resurrected.
If the gospel doesn’t tell men to do these two impossible things, what then does it say (vv.8-10)? (A) Again looking at Deut. 30, Paul says that the gospel is near, accessible, understandable and easy to obtain; it is ________ in your heart and on your lips. Looking for the impossible is unnecessary because God has revealed the way of salvation: it is by ________.
So what does the gospel say? (A) V.9 “For if you _______ with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and ______ in your heart that God ______ Him from the dead, you will be saved.” This covers the Incarnation of Jesus as Messiah and His Resurrection from the dead. Confessing includes ________ from sin, _______ in Jesus for salvation, and __________ to Him as Lord. You must also believe in His Resurrection because it ________ that Jesus is who He claimed to be and that the Father had accepted His sacrifice in the place of sinners.
Why do vv.9 & 10 seem to say two different things? (A) In V. 9, confession comes ____ because it follows the progression of v.9 – the Incarnation (Jesus, the Messiah, is Lord) and then the Resurrection (God raised Him from the dead). In v.10, the emphasis is on the ______ of events in the salvation of the sinner. First, he __________ with the heart that he is made right with God, and then he makes a public _________ of his salvation.
Does verse 13 contradict the fact that it is God who chooses and predestines sinners for salvation? (A) One of the great mysteries of God’s promises and one that we will never fully understand in this life. However, scripture is clear that God sovereignly ______ whom so ever He will; yet, we have the _________ to _________ in Him as Lord and Savior.
V.14 – what Christian Missions is all about! Of what use is salvation offered to Jews and Gentiles if they never hear about it? (A) This is written first to the ____ - the only way unbelieving Jews can be saved is by ________ on the ______ of the Lord. But before they can call on Him they must __________! Believe what? That Jesus of Nazareth truly is the Son of God and the promised Messiah of Israel. It also meant __________ in His death and Resurrection. But in order to believe, they must _____ the Word, for it is the word that creates faith in the heart of the hearer (10:17).
What then is the remedy for Israel’s rejection? (A) _________ the Word of the Gospel and _________ in Jesus Christ. This was not new to the Jews: the last several chapters of Isaiah and Jeremiah are devoted to Israel’s ultimate salvation and restoration by the Messiah despite her rejection of Him both then and now. Paul asks in v. 18 if they had actually _____ the message. Yes they have, through the OT, through Jesus Himself in His Incarnation, and through missionaries yesterday and today.

Chapter 11 – Israel’s Rejection Is Not Total

What does Paul answer? (A) V.2 – Israel’s rejection does not _______ out God’s ___________ love relationship with her. He chose her as His ______ from before the foundations of the world and will always keep her as His own. Paul quotes Elijah when he questioned the Lord in 1 Kings 19:11-18. God let Elijah know that He was working in a _______ way to ________ His people. He never forces Himself on anyone, but in these verses, we see seven thousand men whom He has ______ for Himself as the remnant faithful to Him (vv.5, 6). As it was then, so it will be at the end time.
Paul says, “A few are being saved as a result of God’s kindness in choosing them (v.5).” This proves God’s love for Israel. Although the _____ had rejected Jesus, thousands of _________ Jews had come to faith in Him. God did not choose this remnant because of the faith He saw they would have, their good works, their spiritual worthiness, but only because of His _______.
What conclusion can we come to about Israel’s rejection? (A) Israel failed to obtain righteousness because they sought it through ______________ instead of through the ___________ of Christ. The remnant, chosen by God, succeeded in obtaining righteousness through _________ in the Lord Jesus Christ. The rest of the nation suffered spiritual ___________ through a judicial act of God, in response to their hardened hearts.
The nation fell, rejected God and their hearts were hardened. V.11 asks the question, “Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery (forever)?” (A) Of course not! God’s purpose is not to destroy, but to ___________. His purpose is that because of their fall, salvation might come to the __________, thereby provoking Israel to jealousy. Paul’s strong response confirms that Israel’s blindness, hardness, and rejection are not ____________________.
As a result of the rejection of the gospel, the nation was set aside and the gospel went out to the Gentiles. In this sense, the fall of the Jews has meant riches for the world, and Israel’s loss has become the Gentile’s gain (v.12). God intends to use His offer of _______ to the despised Gentiles to ____ the nation back to Him.
God is amazing! In spite of the wholesale rejection of the nation, God continues to love them.. V. 15 –“For since the Jew’s rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, how much more wonderful their acceptance will be. I will be life for those who were dead!” When Israel was set aside as God’s chosen people, the Gentiles were brought into the position of ________ with God and thus were reconciled to Him. When Israel is restored in the Millennial Reign of Christ, it will be like ____________ ____________ or resurrection, as a small remnant of Jews witnesses to the remaining gentiles, vast numbers will be brought into the kingdom of God.
Paul has been switching from the past, to the present, to the future and now switches back to the past as he argues for Israel's ultimate redemption. He uses two OT metaphors to explain. The first has to do with dough. In the OT, a piece of dough was consecrated to the Lord as a heave offering. The thought was if the piece of dough is ___________ to the Lord, so would all the dough that might be made from it. The firstfruits was Abraham. He was holy because he was the first to be set apart by God to form a new society, distinct from all other nation. If Abraham is set apart, so are those who are __________ from him in the chosen line. He continues with the metaphor of the root and the branches (v.17). Who are the branches that were broken off? The ___________ portion of the tribes of Israel. Because of their rejection of the Messiah, they were removed from their place of privilege as God’s chosen people. But only some of the branches were broken off. A remnant of the nation, Paul included, had received the Lord.
Who is the “wild olive tree”? (A) The Gentiles viewed as _____ people. They were grafted into the olive tree of Israel. With them, the Gentiles partook of the root and the fatness (all that is good) of the olive tree. The Gentiles share the _______ that had originally been given to Israel and is still held by the believing remnant of Israel. If the roots of the tree are ________, the branches will be too (v.16).

*Note: One thing we must remember, Paul here is ______ discussing the relationship of individual believers with God, but the place of Israel in the plan of God. Two important things to see: 1), The main trunk of the olive tree is not Israel, but rather God’s line of _________ (not in your book!) down through the centuries. It can’t be Israel because then you would have Israel being broken off from Israel and then grafted back into Israel again. 2) The wild olive branch is not the church, but the Gentiles viewed collectively.

What do mean when we say that the trunk is the line of privilege down through the centuries? (A) God decided to _________ a certain people to occupy a special place of nearness to Himself. They would be set apart from the rest of the world and have special __________. In the different ages of history, God would have a special inner circle. The nation of Israel was the ________ to be in this line of privilege. They were God’s ancient, chosen, earthly people. Because of their __________ of Messiah, some of these branches were broken off, and lost their position of “favorite son.” The Gentiles were then grafted into the olive tree, to partake in all of that is good in the tree.
Talk about v.20. It refers back to the last statement in v.19, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” V.20 goes on to say that those branches (Jews) were broken off because of their ___________ in God, and not because the Gentiles had any special claim of God. The Gentiles were _______ in because they stood by _______ in Christ. But there is no reason for Gentiles to boast –the _____ (the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) support the tree and its branches.
If God didn’t spare the branches (Gentiles) He put there in the first place, does v.21 mean that you too might be cut off? (A) The context means that the _______ (it does not say believers) will be cut off if they sin against the truth of the _______. The gospel is the truth about _______ the Messiah. One is guilty if he ________ the gospel. Just as He judged apostate (the practice of false religion apart from Christ) Israel, so too will He ________ the apostate church.
Verse 22 is continuation of this argument. It seems to say that God is kind to those who continue to trust in His kindness, but if you stop trusting, you will be cut off. Is it one or the other? (A) Remember that Paul was not discussing the relationship of _________ believers to God, but the place of ______ in the plan of God. V.22 says that God is both kind and severe. His severity is seen in the ___________ of Israel from the favored nation status. His kindness is seen in His turning to the Gentiles with the gospel. But that kindness must not be taken ___ _______. The Gentiles too could be cut off if they do not maintain that relative openness which Jesus found in His ministry. In fact, according to 1 Tim. 4 and 2 and 2 Tim. 3, along with 2 Thess. 2, the ___________ church will leave the faith.
If there is no help then for the apostate church, is their hope for apostate Israel? (A) Yes, because of the _____ of the olive tree. God will keep His promise to the ___________, but God will break off the Gentiles because of their _________.
God shows His mercy and grace when, in the future, Israel will repent of unbelief and embrace the Messiah (Zech. 12:10). God will at that time graft the believing Jewish people (not the nation) back into the olive tree of His covenant blessings because it was theirs originally.

Chapter 12 – A Living Sacrifice to God

Paul ended chapters 1-11 with a beautiful hymn of praise and in these final chapters, he explains in great detail how believers are to practically live out the deep theological truths he has taught us. Paul is aware that simply knowing is not doing, so he tells us how to take up our duties toward other believers, toward the community, toward our enemies, toward the government, and toward our weaker brothers. His premise is; if we have a right relationship with God, we will have a right relationship to people.

Our Relationship To God (12:1-2) - You give God your body and mind. “And So” or “therefore,” because of the great mercies of God seen in chapter 1-11, we should give our bodies to God, a living and holy sacrifice. This is how we are to live our lives. It is all about _____________ to Him – all of it!

Why give our bodies? (A) Now that we belong to Christ, we want to use our body for His glory. After all, it is God’s ___________ (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Jesus gave His body to accomplish God’s will on earth and we must _________ our bodies to Christ so that He might continue God’s work ___________ us. The OT sacrifices were dead sacrifices, but we are to be ___________ sacrifices. Isaac was an example and Christ Himself an example, a sacrifice who died but rose again, a living sacrifice.
The world wants to control our minds, but God wants to transform them (Eph. 4:17-24). The word transform come from transfigure, meaning “metamorphosis.” It describes a change from__________. How do we change from within? The __________ ____________living in us releases power from within.
Your mind controls your body, and your will controls your mind. It is only when we yield our will to God that His power can take over and give us the willpower that we need to live the Christian life. How do we yield our will? Through __________ as Christ did, “Not My will, but Thy will be done.” We pray about everything, and let God have His way in everything.

Our Relationship to Other Believers (12:3-16)

God’s command to “Love One Another…” shows itself in Paul’s exhortation to the Romans. “ I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you. How much faith has He given you (v.3)?” Exactly enough to do His purpose!

Paul tells us that we are all _________ of Christ’s one living body and each of us has a different to do. How do we do that work (v.5)? (A) Each of us has a ___________ function to perform. Each believer has a _______ (or gifts) to be used in the building up of the body and the perfecting of the body. We belong to each other, we minister to each other, and we need each other. We don’t use our gifts to glorify ourselves, but to glorify Him and _________ one another.
Verse 6 tells us, “God has given each of us the ability to certain things well.” How do we receive them? (A) These gifts we have come because of God’s ___________ and we must accept them and use them by__________. We don’t take credit for them; instead, we use them to honor His name. Each believer’s gift is different, given by God so the body of Christ (the church) can grow in a balanced way.
Have you ever run across someone in the church who you know is not being truthful or is doing something only to draw attention to themselves? Paul exhorts us to do just the opposite: “Don’t just __________ that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is_________ . Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with _____________ affection and take delight in ___________ each other (vv.9-11).” Love is at the heart of it all and enables all the members of the body to function in a healthy, well-balanced way. Love must be honest, not a hypocritical love, and it must be humble, not proud, ____________ one another, by treating others as more important than ourselves.
Paul tells us, “Be glad for all God is planning for you (v.12).” What happens when our life becomes difficult? Are we still to be glad? (A) Serving Christ usually means Satanic opposition and times of discouragement. Even during those times of opposition, we are to maintain the zeal we once had because we are serving _______ not men. The NIV translates v.12 as, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Paul now focuses on how to relate to our enemies (12:17-21).

The believer who seeks to serve God is going to have enemies, maybe the worst coming from their own homes. Paul encourages us to not play God and _________ ourselves when wronged. Christians are to live on a _________ ________ and return good for evil. How do we do that? Through the gifts of ________ and ________ that God has given us. God can work and ___________ His will in our lives and in the lives of those who hurt us. Our job is not to protect ourselves from those who hurt us, but to _________ the Lord and leave the results to Him. He encourages us to obey Proverbs 25:21-22 and “return good for evil” so our enemy will feel the shame of his actions. It comes down to living at a higher level, living as God leads in our lives, obeying Him, honoring Him and loving even our enemies. He takes care of the rest.

PTL