CHAPTER ELEVEN OUTLINE

 

Outline of the Chapter: The Hope Of Israel

I. Jews are not rejected as individuals (1-6)

A. Paul himself is an example.

B. What Elijah forgot.

[1]. Man's limited knowledge
[2]. God's unlimited power
[3]. The difference between grace and works

II. Unbelief results in the hardening of the heart (7-10)

A. Isaiah prophesied of their rejection.

B. David prophesied that their table would become a snare, a trap and a stumbling block.

III. Israel will eventually accept the stumbling stone, (11-24)

A. The salvation of the Gentiles, intended to provoke Israel to jealousy.

B. Worldwide blessings will be the result of Israel's acceptance of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

C. Abraham's blessings foresaw Israel's ultimate acceptance.

D. The Gentiles become children of Abraham by faith rather than birth.

E. Israel is the natural branches of the tree, the Gentiles are the wild branches grafted in.

IV. The prediction of Israel's return (25-29)

A. One of the mysteries of the Bible.

[1]. Blindness in part
[2]. Limited in duration..."until"
[3]. Revealed to prevent Gentile conceit

B. All Israel shall be saved.

[1]. The deliverer will come out of Zion.
[2]. He will end Jewish unbelief.
[3]. He will corporately forgive Israel of their sin.

C. Two present implications.

[1]. They are enemies of the gospel.
[2]. Beloved for the fathers' sakes.

V. God's strategy to provoke Israel (30-32)

A. God uses the Jewish rejection as the Gentile's opportunity.

B. God uses the Gentile mercies to provoke Israel to jealousy.

C. Concludes all under sin - awareness of this fact necessary for salvation.

VI. God's inscrutable wisdom and ways (33)

A. Judgments are beyond accountability.

B. His ways are beyond understanding.

VII. The insignificance of man when compared to God (34-36)

A. Who can understand God?

B. Who can add anything to him?

C. Who can out give God?

D. He is the originator sustainer and finisher, the Alpha and the Omega.

 

Chapter Eleven concludes, the discussion begun in (9:1) of Israel and its' relationship to salvation provided in Jesus Christ. The chapter answers the very important question, "Is God through with Israel?" In Acts Chapter One the disciples asked Jesus, "Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus answered, "It is not far you to know the times or the seasons..." Jesus did riot deny the fact that Israel would one day receive the unconditional blessings and promises of the covenants (Rom. 9:4). Herein lies the difference between the A-Millennial and Pre-Millennial systems of theology. The A-Millennialists proclaims that "the Church" has by default assumed the blessings promised to Israel. The Pre-Millennialists believe in the future restoration of Israel as a nation and God's peculiar and special blessings given to them. The daily newspaper, the events of the 20th Century, and the Bible back this second system. As one A-Millennialist put it, "If the Bible is to be interpreted literally, the Pre-Millennialist is undoubtedly correct." "Hath God cast away his people?"

Verse:

11:1 Some verses on the national restoration of Israel: (Hos. 3:4,5; Jer. 30:10,11; 16:14,15; 24:6; Isa. 11:11,12; 43:5-7; Amos 9:14,15; Isa. 49:14,15; 1 Sam. 12:22; Jer. 31:37)

The phrase "God forbid" is used 10 times in the Book: (Rom. 3:4,6,31; 6:2,15; 7:7,13; 9:14; 11:1,11).

The British Israelite, i.e., Armstrong and friends, teach that the word "Jew" refers to the two southern tribes, specifically Judah, and that the term "Israelite?" refers to those of the lost tribes, the 10 northern tribes.

Paul calls himself an Israelite here in the text, yet he is from the tribe of Benjamin, a southern tribe (Phil. 3:5). In (Gal. 2:14), Peter is called a Jew and he's from Galilee, the area occupied by the 10 northern tribes.

Don't confuse physical Israel, (1 Cor. 10:18), with spiritual Israel, (Rom. 2:28,29; 9:5,6).

11:2 "Foreknew" - (Rom. 8:29; Ex. 3:19; 1 Pet. 1:2; Acts 2:23)

"Wot" - know

" ...maketh intercession ... against" Here Elijah prays against someone, interesting thought. David does this often in the Psalms.

11:3 Quoted from (1 Kings 19:10,14).

11:4 Quoted from (1 Kings 19:18). The 7,000 prophets that bowed not to Baal are a type of the Jewish remnant that will be saved in the tribulation. Could 7,000 be an accurate figure? Remember the 144,000 are taken out. (Rev. 7:9-15; 14:4,5). They were reserved because they would not bow.

11:5 "A remnant" - (Rom. 9:27; Isa. 1:9; 10:20-22; 46:3; Joel 2:32; Mic. 2:12; Zech. 8:6,12; Rev. 12:17; Eze. 6:8).

"Election" - (Rom. 9:11; See notes on Rom. 9).

11:6 (Eph. 2:8,9; Rom. 4:4,5; Jn. 6:29).

11:7 (Rom. 9:31,32; 10:3)

"Hath obtained it" - How? By submitting themselves to the righteousness of God, (Rom. 10:3).

"Blinded" - (Rom. 11:25)

11:8 "...as it is written" - cited generally from (Isa. 29:10. Also Isa. 6:9,10; Jer. 5:21; Matt. 13:14; Deut. 29:4; 2 Cor. 3:14).

11:9,10 "David saith " (Ps. 69:22,23).

"Alway" - every way.

11:11 Is the only purpose in Israel's stumbling that they should fall? Through their fall the Gentiles have found salvation and this will make Israel envious. (Acts 28:25-28; Isa. 6:9,10; Deut. 32:21; Hos. 1:9,10; Rom. 10:19).

11:12 "How much more their fullness… when Israel receives Christ as their Messiah.

11:13 Note the context of the chapter, the topic is not individual salvation, but gospel privileges to the Jews and Gentiles.

Jesus Christ's primary ministry was to Israel, (Matt. 10:6; 15:24; Jn. 4:22; Isa. 2:1-3; Rom. 15:8), and Paul's primary ministry was to the Gentiles. "I am the apostle of the Gentiles'' - (Acts 9:15; Rom. 15:16).

Notice "to you Gentiles" - Paul is not speaking at this point to saved Romans, but to all Gentiles.

11:14 "Emulation" - envy.

"Are my flesh" - (Rom. 10:1; 1 Cor. 10:18).

Paul, understanding human nature, realizes that if you can get someone mad enough about something, that maybe they'll get interested enough to take a closer look and find out they are wrong!

11:15 The verse predicts both a national and spiritual resurrection of Israel according to the flesh.

11:16 "The firstfruit" - (1 Cor. 15:20-23; Rev. 14:4; Ja. 1:18. Jn. 15:1-8).

11:17 "Some of the branches" - Israel in part; "wild olive tree" - the Gentiles (Eph. 2:12); the root, Jesus Christ, (Rev. 5:5; 22:16; Rom. 15:12; Isa. 53:2; Isa. 11:10).

"The olive tree" - Israel: (Jer. 11:16; Isa. 17:6; 24:13; Hos. 14:6; Judg. 9:8,9).

11:18 "Boast not against the branches (Israel). But if thou (Gentiles) boast, thou bearest not the root (Jesus Christ), but the root thee."

11:19 See (verse 11).

11:20 "Well" - yes

"Be not highminded but fear..." (1 Cor. 10:12; Prov. 28:14; Phil. 2:12; 1 Pet. 1:17; 3:15).

11:21 Do not take the privilege we have for granted, you may lose it.

11:22 God is love and God is a consuming fire. God loved with a perfect love and hates with a perfect hatred. God is balanced, "Behold the goodness and severity of God."

"If thou continue" - The issue is not individual salvation but gospel privileges today.

"Thou also shalt be cut off" - mission fields are closing daily because the Gentile has not continued in his goodness.

11:23, 24 See (verse 12) "...how much more their fullness?"

11:25 The Mysteries:

1. The Mystery of Israel (Romans 11) 2. The Mystery of the Church (Ephesians 5:32) 3. The Mystery of Iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7) 4. The Mystery of God (Revelation 10:7) 5. The Mystery of Babylon (Revelation 17:7) 6. The Mystery of Godliness (I Timothy 3:16) 7. The Mystery of the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51) 8. The Mystery of the Seven Stars (Revelation 1:20)

"The fullness of the Gentiles"; (Lk. 21:24; Dan. 8:13; 12:7; Rev. 11:2; Rom. 11:8; Acts 15:13-16).

The Restoration of Israel (Lk. 1:68-77).

"Blindness"; (2 Cor. 3:14; Rom. 11:7).

11:26 Israel nationally will be saved represented by the remnant, (Rom. 11:5; Zech. 8:6-15; Rom. 9:2 7.

"As it is written" - (Isa. 59:20,21).

"The Deliver" - (Redeemer in Isa. 59). (Acts 3:19,20, 26; Ps. 18:2; 40:17; 70:5). This is the Second Coming of Christ, (Jer. 31:31-34)?

11:27 "...when I shall take away their sins..." (Isa. 27:9; Heb. 8:8-12; Acts 3:19; Jer. 31:34; Isa. 43:25).

Israel's national atonement - (Eze. 48).

11:28 Note that the gospel and election are separated in this verse. Yes, Israel is the enemy of the gospel, but concerning election they have a purpose yet to fulfill and are therefore beloved of the fathers. (Ps. 14:7)

"for the fathers' sakes..." (Gen. 12:3; Isa. 31:5).

11:29 The verse does not teach as some would that repentance is not necessary to be saved. The verse simply says that God is not an "Indian giver." What God said he will do will come to pass. (Num. 23:19; Ja. 1:17; 3:17; Lk. 6:35; Rom. 2:4)

11:30 (Eph. 2:1,2,12; Matt. 12:7; 9:1; Rom. 11:11).

11:32 (Rom. 3:9)

"...that he might have mercy upon all..." See (Rom. 9:16,18). Concerning salvation it is God's will that all receive mercy, Jew and Gentile, (2 Pet. 3:9).

11:33 "Wisdom" - (1 Cor. 2:9).

"How unsearchable..." (Ps. 145:3; Eph. 3:8; Job 5:9; 11:7; Ps. 36:6; Deut. 29:29; Isa. 55:8,9)

11:34 (Isa. 40:13; Job 21:22; Matt. 6:27; Eph. 4:13).

11:35 The verse teaches that you cannot out give the Lord. (Acts 20:35), "It is more blessed to give than to receive." if you could out give God you'd be more blessed!

11:36 (1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16).

Three chapters end with "Amen", (Rom. 11, 15 and 16).