STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 52

LESSON OF THE BRANCHES

Romans 11:16-21 (KJV)

¹⁶ For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷ And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; ¹⁸ Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. ¹⁹ Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. ²⁰ Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: ²¹ For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Romans 11:16-21 (CEB)

¹⁶ But if part of a batch of dough is offered to God as holy, the whole batch of dough is holy too. If a root is holy, the branches will be holy too. ¹⁷ If some of the branches were broken off, and you were a wild olive branch, and you were grafted in among the other branches and shared the root that produces the rich oil of the olive tree, ¹⁸ then don’t brag like you’re better than the other branches. If you do brag, be careful: it’s not you that sustains the root, but it’s the root that sustains you. ¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰ Fine. They were broken off because they weren’t faithful, but you stand only by your faithfulness.^[a] So don’t think in a proud way; instead be afraid. ²¹ If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you either.

1.    HOLINESS AFFECTS IT ALL V. 16

2.    BRANCHES BROKEN OFF (ISRAEL) V.17A

3.    BRANCHES GRAFTED IN (US) V. 17B

4.    SUSTENNANCE COMES FROM THE ROOT V. 17C

5.    BOAST NOT V. 18

6.    BROKEN BRANCHES BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF V. 20A

7.    GRAFTED BRANCHES STAND ONLY BY FAITH V. 20B

8.    WALK WITH CAUTION V. 20C

9.    IF GOD DIDN’T SPARE THE NATURAL BRANCHES, HE WON’T SPARE YOU EITHER. V. 21

WE WERE INCLUDED, BUT WE CAN BE EXCLUDED IF WE ABANDON OUR FAITH AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE CAN BE BROUGHT BACK TO GOD IF THEY EXERCIZE FAITH IN CHRIST.

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 51

PURPOSE OF ISRAEL’S FALL

Romans 11:11-15 (KJV)

¹¹ I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. ¹² Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? ¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: ¹⁴ If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. ¹⁵ For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

Romans 11:11-15 (CEB)

¹¹ So I’m asking you: They haven’t stumbled so that they’ve fallen permanently, have they? Absolutely not! But salvation has come to the Gentiles by their failure, in order to make Israel jealous. ¹² But if their failure brings riches to the world, and their defeat brings riches to the Gentiles, how much more will come from the completion of their number! ¹³ I’m speaking to you Gentiles. Considering that I’m an apostle to the Gentiles, I publicize my own ministry ¹⁴ in the hope that somehow I might make my own people jealous and save some of them. ¹⁵ If their rejection has brought about a close relationship between God and the world, how can their acceptance mean anything less than life from the dead?

1.    SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES V.11

2.    PROVOCATION TO JEALOUSY V.11B

3.    RICHES V. 12

Ø  Riches to the world (opportunity for relationship with God)

Ø  Riches to the Gentiles – adoption into God’s family

Ø  Even better if Israel comes back to God

4.    APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES V. 13

Ø  Even though Paul claims he is apostle to the Gentiles, he still wants Israel saved

5.    SAVE SOME V. 14

Ø  His purpose (and God’s) is to provoke Israel (some at least) to salvation

6.    POSSIBILITIES V. 15                        LIMITLESS!

WE ARE RICH (IN GRACE) BECAUSE OF ISRAEL’S LOSS, BUT IF ISRAEL COMES TO GOD, ALL WILL BE RICHER BY FAR.

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 50

ISRAEL AND GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Romans 11:1-11 (CEB)

11 So I ask you, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! I’m an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. ² God hasn’t rejected his people, whom he knew in advance. Or don’t you know what the scripture says in the case of Elijah, when he pleads with God against Israel? ³ Lord, they have killed your prophets, and they have torn down your altars. I’m the only one left, and they are trying to take my life.^{[a] 4} But what is God’s reply to him? I have kept for myself seven thousand people who haven’t bowed their knees to Baal.^{[b] 5} So also in the present time there is a remaining group by the choice of God’s grace. ⁶ But if it is by grace, it isn’t by what’s done anymore. If it were, God’s grace wouldn’t be grace. ⁷ So what? Israel didn’t find what it was looking for. Those who were chosen found it, but the others were resistant. ⁸ As it is written, God gave them a dull spirit, so that their eyes would not see and their ears not hear, right up until the present day.^{[c] 9} And David says, Their table should become a pitfall and a trap, a stumbling block and payback to them for what they have done.¹⁰ Their eyes should be darkened so they can’t see, and their backs always bent.^{[d] 11} So I’m asking you: They haven’t stumbled so that they’ve fallen permanently, have they? Absolutely not! But salvation has come to the Gentiles by their failure, in order to make Israel jealous.

1.    HAS GOD REJECTED HIS PEOPLE? V. 1-2A

2.    THE CASE OF ELIJAH V. 2B-3

3.    GOD’S ANSWER V. 4

4.    THE PRESENT TIME V. 5

5.    GRACE’S ROLE V. 6

6.    ISRAEL DIDN’T FIND WHAT IT WAS LOOKING FOR V. 7

7.    AS IT IS WRITTEN V. 8-10

8.    Q & A V. 11

Ø  Question: has Israel fallen permanently?

Ø  Answer: absolutely not

Ø  Result: salvation has come to the Gentiles by their failure & this will make Israel jealous which will bring them back to God

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS NOT ONLY SAVES US BUT WILL BRING ISRAEL BACK TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.

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FOOTNOTES

1 Kings 19:10 (CEB)

^{[a] 10} Elijah replied, “I’ve been very passionate for the Lord God of heavenly forces because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars, and they have murdered your prophets with the sword. I’m the only one left, and now they want to take my life too!”

1 Kings 19:14 (CEB)

^{[a] 14} He said, “I’ve been very passionate for the Lord God of heavenly forces because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars, and they have murdered your prophets with the sword. I’m the only one left, and now they want to take my life too.”

1 Kings 19:18 (CEB)

^{[b] 18} But I have preserved those who remain in Israel, totaling seven thousand—all those whose knees haven’t bowed down to Baal and whose mouths haven’t kissed him.”

Deuteronomy 29:4 (CEB)

^{[c] 4} But until this very moment, the Lord hasn’t given you insight to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.

Isaiah 29:10 (CEB)

^{[d] 10} The Lord has poured on you a spirit of deep sleep, and has shut your eyes, you prophets, and covered your heads, you seers.

Psalm 69:22 (CEB)

^{[d] 22} Let the table before them become a trap, their offerings a snare.

STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 49

THE PREACHERS’ PROBLEM

Romans 10:16-21 (KJV)

¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? ¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ¹⁸ But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. ¹⁹ But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. ²⁰ But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. ²¹ But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Romans 10:16-21

Common English Bible (CEB)

¹⁶ But everyone hasn’t obeyed the good news. As Isaiah says, Lord, who has had faith in our message?^{[a] 17} So, faith comes from listening, but it’s listening by means of Christ’s message. ¹⁸ But I ask you, didn’t they hear it? Definitely! Their voice has gone out into the entire earth, and their message has gone out to the corners of the inhabited world.^{[b] 19} But I ask you again, didn’t Israel understand? First, Moses says, I will make you jealous of those who aren’t a people, of a people without understanding.^{[c] 20} And Isaiah even dares to say, I was found by those who didn’t look for me; I revealed myself to those who didn’t ask for me.^{[d] 21} But he says about Israel, All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.^[e]

1.    NOT ALL OBEYED THE GOSPEL –V. 16

Ø  People who hear the Gospel don’t always accept it

Ø  Many in Israel did not and still don’t

2.    DIDN’T ISRAEL KNOW & HEAR? – V. 19-21

Ø  See footnotes

Ø  The record stands that God has done His part to inform and call Israel (and the world) to Christ, but many still do not receive God’s invitation and help

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FOOTNOTES

Isaiah 53:1 (CEB)

^a 53 Who can believe what we have heard, and for whose sake has the Lord’s arm^[a] been revealed?

^b Psalm 19:4 (CEB)

^c but their sound extends throughout the world; their words reach the ends of the earth. God has made a tent in heaven for the sun.

Deuteronomy 32:21 (CEB)

^d They provoked me with “no-gods,” aggravated me with their pieces of junk. So I am going to provoke them with “No-People,” aggravate them with a nation of fools.

Isaiah 65:1 (CEB)

^e I was ready to respond to those who didn’t ask. I was ready to be found by those who didn’t  look for me. I said, “I’m here! I’m here!” to a nation that didn’t call on my name.

Isaiah 65:2 (CEB)

^f I extended my hands all day to a rebellious people walking in a way that isn’t good, following their own plans;