Romans 11

 

SECTION OUTLINE ELEVEN (ROMANS 11)

Paul overviews the wisdom of God and Israel’s future restoration.

I. This Future Restoration Is Assured because Israel’s Present Rejection Is Not Total (11:1–10, 11b–24).

A. The factions of Israel (11:1–10): Paul divides Israel into two groups.

1. The minority group (11:1–6)

a. As represented by Paul in the New Testament (11:1): His own conversion shows that God has not rejected all Israelites.

b. As represented by Elijah in the Old Testament (11:2–6): This powerful prophet, along with 7,000 other Israelites, did not bow to Baal (see also 1 Kings 19:18).

2. The majority group (11:7–10): Three Old Testament men predicted that God would harden the hearts of unbelieving Israel.

a. Moses (Deut. 29:4) (11:7–8a)

b. David (Ps. 69:22–23) (11:9–10)

c. Isaiah (Isa. 29:10) (11:8b)

B. The fullness of the Gentiles (11:11b–25): This phrase refers to a specific period of time.

1. The definition of this period (11:25): It is the time span involved in the completion of the body of Christ, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles, beginning at Pentecost and ending at the Rapture.

2. The details concerning this period (11:11b–24)

a. The purpose (11:11b–12): One purpose is to make Israel jealous to be in God’s favor again.

b. The preacher (11:13–15): Paul has been appointed by God himself to help make this a reality.

c. The parable (11:16–24): Paul employs an olive tree to illustrate all this.

(1) The roots of the tree are made up of Abraham and other godly Old Testament men (11:16).

(2) Some of the original branches have been broken off, referring to unbelieving Jews (11:17a).

(3) Now some branches from a wild olive tree have been grafted in, referring to believing Gentiles (11:17b–23).

(4) The once-removed original branches will someday be grafted back in, referring to the future repentant Israel (11:24).

II. This Future Restoration Is Assured because Israel’s Present Rejection Is Not Final (11:11a, 26–36).

A. The Israel of God (11:11a, 26–32)

1. The foretelling (11:11a, 26–27)

a. Israel restored through the promised Christ (11:26): Isaiah predicted that the Deliverer would accomplish this (Isa. 59:20).

b. Israel restored through the promised covenant (11:27): Isaiah predicted that God would keep his covenant with Israel (Isa. 59:21).

2. The faithfulness (11:28–32): All the above will come to pass, for God’s gifts and calling   are irrevocable.

B. The God of Israel (11:33–36): Paul praises God by uttering one of Scripture’s greatest doxologies.