Romans Part 32

Paul begins Romans 11 by asking whether God has rejected Israel, and his answer is an emphatic no. If God had rejected His people entirely, then Paul himself would have been rejected as well. Paul reminds his readers of his own heritage, noting that he was from the tribe of Benjamin. This raises an interesting question: was Paul technically a Jew? In one sense, the answer is no, since the term "Jew" originally referred to someone from the tribe of Judah, while Paul was a Benjamite. Yet in Acts 21:39 Paul refers to himself as a Jew. Following the Babylonian captivity, the overwhelming majority of Israelites who returned were from Judah, along with members of Benjamin, Levi, and a remnant of the other tribes. Over time, the name "Jew" came to refer broadly to those who practiced the religion of Israel regardless of tribal affiliation. Paul also intentionally mentions Abraham, reminding his readers that he was a natural descendant of Abraham and therefore an heir to the promises given to the patriarch.

In Romans 11:2–6, Paul explains how God has not rejected Israel. Just as in Elijah's day when God preserved a faithful remnant, He continues to preserve a remnant according to grace rather than works. Even in Paul's day, and still today, God is calling some from the tribes of Israel. Revelation 7 describes this future remnant as 144,000 from the tribes of Israel who are sealed at the end of the age, alongside "a great multitude that no one could number" from every nation. God's work has never been limited to one ethnic group, but neither has He abandoned His promises to Israel.

Verses 7 and 8 explain that many Israelites became spiritually insensitive because of their own choices, much like Pharaoh. God did not force them into unbelief but rather allowed them to continue in the direction they had chosen for a time. As with Pharaoh, God's temporary hardening was permissive rather than coercive. Whether this seems fair depends on how the story ends, and Scripture reveals that God's plan extends far beyond the present age. Paul describes Israel as having a heart that became "stone-like," recalling God's promise in Ezekiel 36:26 to remove the heart of stone and give His people a heart of flesh. That promise belongs to the New Covenant, which believers experience now through the Holy Spirit, but it will eventually be extended to all Israel. Even those who have died will have the opportunity to know God when He raises them to physical life again, as described in Ezekiel 37 and Revelation 20 after the thousand-year reign. This is not presented as a second chance but as the first genuine opportunity for those who never fully understood God's truth.

In verses 9 and 10, Paul shows that God sometimes allows people to experience the consequences of their choices so they will recognize their need for Him. If we ever stop seeing our daily dependence upon God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we have adopted the wrong mindset and are setting ourselves up for failure. God does not desire people to remain in failure, but He does desire them to learn from it. Because He knows each individual perfectly, He knows exactly what experiences are necessary to prepare each person for His ultimate purpose: transforming human beings into glorified sons and daughters in His Kingdom. We can therefore trust God's wisdom and faithfulness, knowing that if we continue responding to Him, He will never abandon His commitment to complete the work He has begun in us.

Verse 11 makes clear that Israel's stumbling was never intended to end in condemnation. Rather, God allowed their temporary rejection so that salvation could be extended more broadly, bringing reconciliation to both Jew and Gentile. This reflects the way God often works in the lives of individuals as well. He can use our failures, weaknesses, and mistakes to humble us, teach us, and draw us back to Himself.

In verse 13, Paul reminds his readers that he was specifically sent to the Gentiles. His ministry among the nations was part of God's larger plan, not a replacement for Israel but a means of ultimately bringing blessing to Israel as well. Verse 15 reinforces this point by showing that even Israel's rejection produced blessings for the world, while their future acceptance will bring even greater blessings according to God's appointed plan.

Verse 16 introduces the imagery of the firstfruits, echoing the Feast of Pentecost. Throughout Scripture, the firstfruits represent only the beginning of a much larger harvest. Christ is called the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20), believers today possess the firstfruits of the Spirit (Romans 8:23), James says the Church is "a kind of firstfruits of His creatures" (James 1:18), and Revelation 14 describes God's faithful people as firstfruits redeemed to Him. The consistent picture is that the Church in this present age is only the beginning of God's work. His plan of salvation does not end with those called today. Rather, the firstfruits point forward to the far greater harvest that God will accomplish as He continues His work of redeeming all mankind according to His perfect plan.

Epistles of Paul is a course taught at ABC by Mr. Steve Myers. Recordings from the 2023–2024 class year are available on the ABC website.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.