GOD’S PLAN FOR THE NATION OF ISRAEL, Part II:
PRESENTLY THE PROMISES CONTINUE THROUGH BELIEVING ISRAEL AND BELIEVING GENTILES
Romans 10:1-11:11
As taught by Dave Lindstrom
I. Paul’s heart’s desire and prayer to God is for the salvation of his fellow Israelites (vs 1-4).
A. Salvation (sotarian) includes justification, sanctification, glorification, deliverance from God’s wrath, and deliverance from wrong thinking (Rom. 1:15-18).
B. Even though Paul understood God’s election and foreknowledge, it didn’t stop him from serving or praying (vs 1; Rom. 8:28-9:33).
C. Paul seemed to have a “both and” mentality rather than an “either or” mentality when it came to God’s sovereignty and human responsibility (vs 1; Rom 8:27; Acts 17:24-28).
D. Trying to achieve righteousness (a right standing with God) by works will accomplish self-righteousness. Believing in the work of Christ fulfills God’s righteousness (vs 2-4; Eph. 2:8,9).
Thought: How do you see God’s sovereignty and human responsibility working together?
II. Being declared righteous by God (justification) and living out your salvation (sanctification) happens by believing and declaring that Jesus is Lord (vs 5-15).
A. Trying to be righteous before God by the Law demands 100% accuracy (vs 5; Lev. 18:5; Gal. 3:12) which for us is impossible (Rom. 3:20).
B. Attaining your righteousness before God by faith is not only possible but it is there for the asking (vs 6-15).
1. Israel was supposed to understand the concept of justification by faith from the Old Testament and from Moses himself (vs 6-13).
a. Moses not only brought the Law, he also brought the concept of forgiveness, hope, and an inner life of faith (vs 6-8; Deut. 9:4; 30:6-20).
b. Paul’s message is similar to Moses’ except that now Jesus has come, fulfilled the Law and started the New Covenant (vs 9,10; Jer. 31:31-34; I Cor. 11:25).
1. The mouth and heart coincide with confess and believe and the order comes from Moses in Deut. 30:14.
2. Confess (homologeo) means to “say the same thing” in regards to the person and provider of our faith.
3. Believing in your heart that “Jesus is Lord” brings to an individual justification (being declared righteous). This was the earliest declaration of faith by the early church (Acts 2:36; I. Cor. 12:3; Phil 2:11).
4. Confessing with your mouth brings about more of the present and future aspects of salvation.
2. Paul lists two other Old Testament passages that confirm his understanding of belief and confession (vs 11-13; Is. 28:16; Joel 2:32).
3. The Gospel (good news) is to be brought to everyone by people who have also believed and have been sent (vs 14, 15; Is. 52:7; Rom. 1:5).
Thought: How does God send people to give out His good news?
III. Even though most of the Israelites are not believing the promised message, God’s plan is still right on track (Rom. 10:16- 11:11).
A. Israel has both heard and understood but have been disobedient to the message (Rom. 10:16-21; Ps. 19:4; Deut. 32:21; Is. 65:12).
B. God has not pushed away Israel but Israel has pushed away God for the most part. During the present church age, there will always be some Israelites who will believe that are both foreknown and chosen (elected) (Rom. 11:1-7).
C. From the time of Christ until Christ’s second coming, modern Israelites are callused (hardened like a thick layer over their hearts), blinded, and deafened by God giving them over to their disobedience (Rom. 11:8-10,25; Deut. 29:4; Is. 29:10; John 12:37-42).
D. God has both allowed this and planned this to bring in the full amount of believing Gentiles and to make Israel jealous (Rom. 11:11,25).
