1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,120 Romans 11, beginning with verse 11. 2 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:14,640 I say then, They did not stumble so as to fall, did they? 3 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:16,920 May it never be. 4 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:24,920 But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles to make them jealous. 5 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:31,000 Now if their transgression be riches for the world, and their failure be riches for the 6 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:37,160 Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be? 7 00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:40,240 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. 8 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:46,840 Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might 9 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:54,320 move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 10 00:00:54,320 --> 00:01:00,280 For if their rejection be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be 11 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,120 but life from the dead? 12 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:10,300 And if the first piece of dough be holy, the lump is also. 13 00:01:10,300 --> 00:01:16,240 And if the root be holy, the branches are too. 14 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:22,680 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you being a wild olive, were grafted in 15 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:30,600 among them, and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not 16 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,880 be arrogant toward the branches. 17 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:39,680 But if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the 18 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,680 root supports you. 19 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:48,400 You will say then, branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. 20 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:55,520 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. 21 00:01:55,520 --> 00:02:01,240 Do not be conceited, but fear, for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither 22 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:03,000 will He spare you. 23 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,440 Behold then the kindness and severity of God. 24 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:15,320 To those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness, 25 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,280 otherwise you also will be cut off. 26 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:24,160 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God 27 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:29,000 is able to graft them in again. 28 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:36,080 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary 29 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:44,240 to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these who are the natural 30 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:49,120 branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 31 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:59,360 The family waited anxiously in the surgery waiting room for the procedure to be finished. 32 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:04,600 After what seemed like an eternity, the surgeon finally appeared at the door, and they all 33 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,160 rose to meet him. 34 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,880 Immediately they said as with one voice, well how is he? 35 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,360 What are the results? 36 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:22,840 Can you imagine any surgeon responding at that point by saying who cares? 37 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:27,060 What difference does it make anyway? 38 00:03:27,060 --> 00:03:32,960 Of course we can't imagine such a thoughtless kind of response, because the family does 39 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:34,600 care. 40 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:43,000 Likewise, it is difficult to imagine anyone who could be so callous as to ask the question, 41 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,400 who cares if Israel has a future? 42 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,720 What difference does it make anyway? 43 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,680 But there are those who seem to have that kind of an attitude. 44 00:03:53,680 --> 00:04:00,560 Let me suggest three reasons to you as to why it should be very important to every Christian 45 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,040 that Israel has a future. 46 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:13,040 Number one, it means that we too can trust the promises of God to be literally fulfilled. 47 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:22,160 God has given many promises to Israel as a nation that have not yet been literally fulfilled. 48 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:27,560 I recognize that there are some people who think that they are being spiritually fulfilled 49 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,480 in our day in the church. 50 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,720 I disagree with that. 51 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,660 I believe that God literally keeps His promises. 52 00:04:36,660 --> 00:04:42,140 He has never failed yet to do that. 53 00:04:42,140 --> 00:04:47,720 The restoration of Israel will be proof of it. 54 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:52,140 God literally keeps what He says He will do. 55 00:04:52,140 --> 00:04:59,600 That means that I can trust God to literally keep the promises He gives to me too. 56 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:08,960 Secondly, it gives us hope for a future in the world that includes righteousness and 57 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,080 peace. 58 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:17,940 Right now the world is controlled by wickedness and war. 59 00:05:17,940 --> 00:05:23,420 That is the way it will be until Jesus Christ comes. 60 00:05:23,420 --> 00:05:29,440 This is man's day, and man is expressing himself with all of his selfishness, resulting 61 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:34,200 in strife and warfare. 62 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:40,200 But the fact that Israel has a future means that Jesus Christ is coming back to the earth 63 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:46,200 and will establish a kingdom founded upon righteousness and which will be known for 64 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,160 its peace. 65 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:53,320 The nations of the world today long for peace. 66 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:58,560 They do not so much long for righteousness, and that is why they cannot have peace. 67 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:05,800 But when Jesus comes, righteousness will come with Him and peace. 68 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:11,760 A third reason why we should be glad to know that there is a future for Israel is that 69 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:17,960 it means Jesus will receive the recognition and the glory that is due Him. 70 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:23,800 Today He is ignored by the nations, but there is a day when they will not be able to ignore 71 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:25,280 Him. 72 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:27,520 That day is coming. 73 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,800 It is the day dealing with the restoration of Israel. 74 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:37,240 So for these three reasons, I believe that we ought to be glad that the best is yet to 75 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:41,400 come for the nation of the Jews. 76 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:49,300 We have examined two of the six evidences given to us in Romans 11 that there is a future 77 00:06:49,300 --> 00:06:51,720 for the Jewish nation. 78 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:55,680 In verse 1 we have seen the pattern of the apostle. 79 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:03,800 He was one who was born again prematurely as he saw it. 80 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:10,240 For his conversion involved a spectacular vision of the glorified Christ. 81 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:19,400 In Timothy he says that his conversion is an example, a scheme, a pattern. 82 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:25,040 Certainly not for people in this age, for we have trusted in a Christ whom we have never 83 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:29,920 seen and yet we love Him. 84 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:36,160 But not so with the future conversion of Israel, for that nation will be converted in a day 85 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:40,220 with the glorious appearance of Jesus Christ. 86 00:07:40,220 --> 00:07:46,360 And that vision of Him whom they have pierced as we saw in Zechariah last week will bring 87 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:51,840 the nation to repentance. 88 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:58,000 And so the apostle's conversion, his pattern involved there, is proof that Israel will 89 00:07:58,000 --> 00:07:59,000 one day be converted. 90 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,520 And really it shows us how. 91 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:05,480 Then secondly we saw in verses 2 through 10 the principle of the remnant. 92 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:11,880 God always deals with a remnant, with a few. 93 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:15,680 God does not deal with a majority. 94 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:19,200 God is not democratic. 95 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:21,000 I didn't say He wasn't a democrat. 96 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:25,000 I said He wasn't democratic. 97 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:33,640 God deals with the few, with the remnant, with just a part, a fraction of the whole. 98 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,440 He always does that. 99 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:42,720 And today in this age there are a few Jews who are saved. 100 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:44,000 They are a remnant. 101 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:50,740 Now they are part of the church of Jesus Christ in which there is no longer Jew or Gentile. 102 00:08:50,740 --> 00:08:54,840 And yet the fact remains that they are the natural descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and 103 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:55,840 Jacob. 104 00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:04,920 They are saved and their salvation, though they be few, is a pledge that someday God 105 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:09,980 is going to bring to Himself the nation as a whole. 106 00:09:09,980 --> 00:09:13,760 That is the principle of the remnant. 107 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:20,240 Now let's move ahead today to evidences 3 and 4 that the best is yet to come for the 108 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,720 nation of Israel. 109 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:27,120 Evidence number 3 is the first point we'll look at this morning. 110 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:32,360 Verses 11 through 15, the purpose of the church. 111 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:39,400 When you and I understand part of the purpose of the church in this age, it shows to us 112 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:43,920 that God is still going to bring to Himself the Jewish nation in the future. 113 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:47,080 Now you stick with me and you'll see what I mean. 114 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:54,680 First I want you to notice though that there is a word repeated in verses 11 and 12, the 115 00:09:54,680 --> 00:10:01,460 word transgression, and it refers to what happened to the Jews. 116 00:10:01,460 --> 00:10:06,540 He speaks about their transgression twice. 117 00:10:06,540 --> 00:10:14,560 The transgression or the false step or the blunder of the Jewish nation was that they 118 00:10:14,560 --> 00:10:26,160 rejected their Messiah and the righteousness which God offered to them by simple faith. 119 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:34,200 When they made that false step, they stumbled over the stumbling stone, Jesus Christ, as 120 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:38,240 we saw back in chapter 9 of Romans. 121 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:46,880 But as the apostle asks in verse 11, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? 122 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:53,440 In other words, he says, yes, they have stumbled, but does that mean that they have fallen never 123 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,240 to rise again? 124 00:10:56,240 --> 00:11:04,680 Does that mean the Jews have stumbled and that they will never be able to rise up? 125 00:11:04,680 --> 00:11:07,120 That they have irrevocably fallen away? 126 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,040 Is that what it means? 127 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:14,460 Well he asks the question in such a way as to expect a negative response, as he did back 128 00:11:14,460 --> 00:11:16,880 in verse 1 for that matter. 129 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:20,780 He says, may it never be, that is not the case. 130 00:11:20,780 --> 00:11:25,320 They have stumbled, but not irrevocably. 131 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:32,400 Nonetheless, at the present time, Israel's hardness of heart has resulted in something 132 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:37,160 very wonderful for you and for me. 133 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:41,480 That seems strange to speak of it in that way, doesn't it? 134 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:49,440 But Israel's transgression has resulted in something that is marvelous for you if you're 135 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,440 a Gentile. 136 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:54,220 He speaks about it in verse 11. 137 00:11:54,220 --> 00:12:03,760 He says, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles, verse 12. 138 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:11,280 Now if their transgression be riches for the world and their failure be riches for the 139 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:15,700 Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be? 140 00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:17,160 Verse 15. 141 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:26,560 If there the Jews' rejection be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be? 142 00:12:26,560 --> 00:12:33,520 He says here that the failure of the Jews has resulted in the salvation message being 143 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,040 proclaimed to the Gentiles. 144 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:43,120 And it means that now we have spiritual riches in Jesus Christ to which we were not privileged 145 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,320 before. 146 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:54,640 It means that now in Jesus Christ, God is reconciling the world to himself. 147 00:12:54,640 --> 00:13:01,760 And so even though the transgression of Israel is a tragedy for that people, it nonetheless 148 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:11,040 has been used of God for the good of the nations of the world, for the church is being formed 149 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,040 as a result of it. 150 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:21,360 And what is God's purpose for this church, this unique and distinct body of people being 151 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,920 gathered together in this age? 152 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:32,240 Well in relation to Israel, there is a specific purpose for the church. 153 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,120 And that's found in verse 11. 154 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:44,840 He says salvation has come to the Gentiles to make the Jews jealous. 155 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:48,840 Skip on down then to verse 13. 156 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:55,160 He says inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my office if somehow I 157 00:13:55,160 --> 00:14:03,100 might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 158 00:14:03,100 --> 00:14:10,960 In other words, God is pouring out his blessings upon those who were not his people before 159 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,560 the Gentiles. 160 00:14:13,560 --> 00:14:21,440 So that as those blessings are seen and observed, especially by the Jews, they will be provoked 161 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,620 to emulation, to jealousy. 162 00:14:24,620 --> 00:14:32,220 Not sinful jealousy, but to a desire to get in on the blessing. 163 00:14:32,220 --> 00:14:38,220 That is the reason that God has called us out in relation to Israel. 164 00:14:38,220 --> 00:14:47,840 That they may be stimulated, provoked to desire what we have found in their Messiah so that 165 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:57,440 they might be saved as he says it himself in verse 14. 166 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:09,160 Paul argues that when Israel does respond as a nation and when she is fulfilled as it 167 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:15,360 said in verse 12 and accepted as it says in verse 15. 168 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:22,960 In other words, when Israel is turned back to the Lord, when that day comes, there is 169 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:31,280 going to be great blessing not only upon them, but also even more blessing on the Gentiles. 170 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:36,160 That's why we should long for that day and look for it. 171 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:45,820 But you say what blessing more could possibly come to the Gentiles than we already have? 172 00:15:45,820 --> 00:15:51,600 It is that blessing of world righteousness and peace. 173 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:53,760 That is the blessing. 174 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,600 Notice what he says in verse 12. 175 00:15:56,600 --> 00:16:05,560 He says if their transgression be riches, their failure be riches, how much more will 176 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:08,260 their fulfillment be? 177 00:16:08,260 --> 00:16:15,480 In other words, when the Jews come back to Jesus Christ and receive him, when they are 178 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:23,560 fulfilled, when their purpose is consummated in that sense, then in that day how much more 179 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:30,520 blessing, how many more riches will belong to Gentiles as well as Jews? 180 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:35,620 What a great day that is going to be when they receive their Messiah. 181 00:16:35,620 --> 00:16:39,580 He compares it to resurrection in verse 15. 182 00:16:39,580 --> 00:16:46,040 He says that is going to be such a day when they are accepted again by God that it will 183 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:51,640 be like life from the dead. 184 00:16:51,640 --> 00:17:02,840 The world has been plunged into death and turmoil and war because of sin. 185 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:09,400 But when Jesus comes to reign, the curse of sin will be turned back and there will not 186 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:12,000 be death as there is now. 187 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,280 And there will not be disease as there is now. 188 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:17,280 And there will not be war as there is now. 189 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:25,440 It will be like the whole world was resurrected from the dead in that day. 190 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:31,200 What a great day of blessing when Jesus comes to establish his kingdom and Israel receives 191 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,000 her Messiah. 192 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:40,040 Now I want to draw a personal application before we go to the next evidence. 193 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:46,080 It speaks here about the church provoking Israel to jealousy. 194 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:54,360 May I ask you a question on a personal level that follows that up? 195 00:17:54,360 --> 00:18:07,280 Does the quality of your walk with God provoke anybody to jealousy to know Jesus Christ? 196 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:14,720 By looking at the character of your life, does anyone desire to come to know Jesus Christ 197 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:20,240 as Savior? 198 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:31,120 I am not talking about a cheap pasted on smile and superficial words of praise Jesus. 199 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:37,840 A friend of mine worked, I should say, in an office in a city far from here. 200 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:45,920 And her employer professes to be a Christian and all day long he runs around the office 201 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:52,600 praising Jesus, hallelujah, smiling. 202 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:57,760 And yet underneath those words are all kinds of inconsistencies. 203 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:05,000 Do you think that kind of a superficial Christianity attracts anybody to Jesus Christ? 204 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:09,980 It doesn't even attract Christians, let alone unsaved people. 205 00:19:09,980 --> 00:19:14,980 She finally quit the job because of it. 206 00:19:14,980 --> 00:19:22,760 What I'm talking about is the reality of faith, the depth of character, the sense of God's 207 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:34,000 presence about you, perseverance in your trials, confidence in the face of some future uncertainty, 208 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:43,720 your ability to admit mistakes and ask forgiveness and then go on, true joy in adversity. 209 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:48,680 You see, friend, the world is not looking for people who are perfect. 210 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:55,000 When we give unsaved people the idea that we have arrived and we're perfect, what we 211 00:19:55,000 --> 00:20:00,400 actually do is discourage them because what they usually say is, I can never live like 212 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:02,560 that. 213 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:09,200 What they're looking for is someone who's willing to be transparent and to say, I've 214 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:11,140 got a need. 215 00:20:11,140 --> 00:20:12,880 I'm facing this battle. 216 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:20,000 I'm in the midst of this struggle, but who at the same time, evidence is a clear faith 217 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:26,520 in Jesus Christ, a depth of knowing Him. 218 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:32,520 When the world sees the Christian in struggle and being faithful to Jesus Christ, then the 219 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:41,200 world says, now there is something I want. 220 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,840 That's provoking them to jealousy. 221 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:46,560 That's the way we ought to live, isn't it? 222 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:48,200 That's the way I want to live. 223 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:49,320 That's the way you want to live. 224 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,580 I trust God help us to be that way. 225 00:20:52,580 --> 00:20:59,420 So that out there in our homes and in our neighborhoods and at the office and the classroom, 226 00:20:59,420 --> 00:21:05,400 as people observe us and sense the reality of Jesus Christ in our lives with our struggles 227 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:12,360 and our disappointments and our heartaches and our stresses, and yet as they see the 228 00:21:12,360 --> 00:21:20,960 reality of Jesus Christ, they will say, I want Him. 229 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:26,280 We come to the second evidence in our discussion today, the fourth on the outline, as to how 230 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:28,960 we know Israel has a future. 231 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:40,280 It is because of the promise of continuity, verses 16 through 24 of our text. 232 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:46,200 When you read these verses, you must keep in mind that primarily God here is speaking 233 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:56,180 with, He is dealing with, nations as a whole, as bodies, and not with individuals. 234 00:21:56,180 --> 00:22:02,880 If you apply these words strictly to individuals, you will come to all kinds of confusion. 235 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:09,080 But if you back off from what is said here and realize that He is speaking here to Gentiles 236 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:19,320 as a body, as a group, and to the Jews as a body, as a group, then it makes good sense. 237 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:26,820 He uses two illustrations to show us what He means by continuity. 238 00:22:26,820 --> 00:22:32,560 God has promised the continuity of the nation of Israel. 239 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:37,100 The first illustration is a lump of dough. 240 00:22:37,100 --> 00:22:46,180 He says in verse 16, and if the first piece, or literally the first fruit of dough be holy, 241 00:22:46,180 --> 00:22:49,520 the lump is also. 242 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:54,800 He's going back here to that Old Testament picture of the first fruit. 243 00:22:54,800 --> 00:23:04,360 What it means is that the presentation of the first fruit represents the whole. 244 00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:08,880 It guarantees the whole that is to come. 245 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:15,440 The first fruit that He speaks about here seems to be the patriarchs. 246 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:21,480 In other words, God made covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 247 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:28,920 He established relationship and promise with them. 248 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:30,580 They are the first fruit. 249 00:23:30,580 --> 00:23:38,120 They have been set apart by God, they're holy in that sense, to a special end. 250 00:23:38,120 --> 00:23:47,320 Now He says, if the first fruit is holy and set apart, so is the lump, so is the rest, 251 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:52,200 so is the rest of the nation of Israel, in other words. 252 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:54,300 So there's a continuation. 253 00:23:54,300 --> 00:23:59,480 If God made the promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it is still good for the nation 254 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:00,480 as a whole. 255 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:01,480 That's the point. 256 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:05,280 Now, the second illustration is drawn out a little more. 257 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:11,720 It's the illustration of a tree, specifically an olive tree. 258 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:14,160 There are four parts to this illustration. 259 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:16,840 There's the tree itself. 260 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:26,400 The tree seems to symbolize the purpose of God and the privileges that God gives to those 261 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,920 who are a part of that purpose. 262 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:33,980 This is not the tree of salvation. 263 00:24:33,980 --> 00:24:37,720 It is a broader concept than that. 264 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:45,560 Now, please understand that or you will get messed up in your interpretation of this passage. 265 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:52,360 This is a tree which represents the broad purpose of God and the privileges that He 266 00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:55,120 gives to those who are a part of it. 267 00:24:55,120 --> 00:24:59,720 Now, He talks about a root to the tree. 268 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:02,580 That's the second thing. 269 00:25:02,580 --> 00:25:05,680 The root is mentioned in verse 16. 270 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:09,160 It seems to be parallel with the first fruit. 271 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:15,480 I take the root to refer to the patriarchs again and to God's covenant with Abraham 272 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:22,800 specifically and the blessings in that covenant for both Abraham's descendants and all of 273 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:26,120 the nations, the Gentiles too. 274 00:25:26,120 --> 00:25:34,040 So we have a tree that has a root and that root is God's covenant with Abraham. 275 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:37,600 And of course, a tree has branches. 276 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:43,920 The natural branches refers to the natural descendants of Abraham, the promised line 277 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:44,920 of the Messiah. 278 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:49,120 In other words, national Israel. 279 00:25:49,120 --> 00:25:54,300 There are the natural branches on this olive tree. 280 00:25:54,300 --> 00:26:02,240 And then He speaks about a wild olive tree and some branches that are broken off of it. 281 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:12,000 The wild olive branches refers to the Gentiles. 282 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:19,040 The natural branches to the Jews, the wild olive branches to the Gentiles, including 283 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:22,000 most of us who would be here this morning. 284 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:25,720 We would be like the wild olive branches. 285 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:29,640 Our roots don't go back to the Abrahamic covenant. 286 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,920 Now there's some action that takes place here. 287 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:35,640 What happens? 288 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:44,720 Some of the branches that are natural to the tree are broken off and laid aside. 289 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:53,160 God does that and it symbolizes the breaking off of the nation of Israel from His purpose 290 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:55,440 and the place of privilege. 291 00:26:55,440 --> 00:27:01,880 He breaks it off and lays it aside, these natural branches, the physical descendants 292 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:04,240 of Abraham, the Jews. 293 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:06,080 You got that? 294 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:10,380 They are broken off. 295 00:27:10,380 --> 00:27:11,640 But God's not finished yet. 296 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,880 There's a second action that takes place. 297 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:22,600 God goes to this wild olive tree over here, this little runt of a thing, this tree that 298 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:30,840 doesn't produce much because it's so wild, and He breaks off branches from it and brings 299 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:34,480 them over here to the natural tree and He grafts them in. 300 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:39,000 Now if you know anything about horticulture, you know that's the opposite of what you 301 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:42,240 normally do. 302 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:48,440 Normally you would take a branch from a good tree and you would graft it into the wild 303 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,520 so that it would produce good fruit. 304 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:59,400 But contrary to nature here, God takes the wild and He grafts it into the natural, to 305 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:01,800 the good tree. 306 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:07,280 My friend, that symbolizes the gospel going to the Gentiles. 307 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:17,120 The Gentiles now in the place of privilege, in the purpose of God. 308 00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:21,880 Now He delivers a warning to the Gentiles as He talks about this and He's already 309 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:26,660 identified Himself as the apostle of Gentiles. 310 00:28:26,660 --> 00:28:32,360 So He speaks to those to whom He is primarily sent. 311 00:28:32,360 --> 00:28:41,320 He says in verse 17, but if some of the branches were broken off and you Gentiles, being a 312 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:49,240 wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root 313 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:58,040 of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. 314 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:04,000 But if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the 315 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,920 root who supports you. 316 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:13,760 He says you Gentiles, don't become arrogant over the Jews because you better keep in mind 317 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:19,040 that you're not supporting them, it's their root supporting you. 318 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:20,920 No place for pride. 319 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:27,560 But He says some of you are going to say branches were broken off so that I might be grafted 320 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:29,440 in. 321 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:34,920 And He concedes quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief. 322 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:38,000 That's why they were broken off. 323 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:42,480 The Jews were broken off because of unbelief, rejection of their Messiah. 324 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:50,240 But He says you stand, you're part of the tree by your faith. 325 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:54,880 But He says do not be conceited. 326 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,480 Twice He has said that now. 327 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:02,240 Why is that? 328 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:06,480 Because it is the natural thing for the human heart to be proud. 329 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:09,240 That's why. 330 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:14,360 If you look back over the last 2,000 years, you will find many unfortunate statements 331 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:19,480 made by Gentiles regarding the Jews. 332 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:21,880 That's why. 333 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:28,600 He says do not be arrogant and think that somehow you are better than the Jews. 334 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:34,160 Do not be conceited, but He says you Gentiles fear. 335 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:40,000 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. 336 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:47,000 Now He's not talking to individual believers in Jesus Christ, He's talking to the Gentile 337 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:48,320 nations. 338 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:50,520 Got that? 339 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:52,920 Same with verse 22. 340 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:59,720 Behold then the kindness and severity of God to those who fell, severity, that's the Jews. 341 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:08,220 But to you, you Gentiles, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness, otherwise 342 00:31:08,220 --> 00:31:15,180 you also will be cut off. 343 00:31:15,180 --> 00:31:21,640 He is not saying here that a genuine Christian can be cut off from Jesus Christ. 344 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:26,160 Already in Romans chapter 8, He has made it clear that there is nothing that can separate 345 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:31,040 us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. 346 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:36,500 But what He is warning the Gentiles about is this. 347 00:31:36,500 --> 00:31:46,320 Just as the nation of the Jews was cut off from the tree because of apostasy and unbelief, 348 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:55,920 so the Gentiles can be cut off from the place of privilege because of apostasy and unbelief. 349 00:31:55,920 --> 00:32:05,960 And my friend, that is exactly what is going to happen as this age comes to its close. 350 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:18,300 The professing church will grow more and more apostate until finally there is that one world 351 00:32:18,300 --> 00:32:27,480 ecumenical movement which will bring together various aspects of Christendom, and I use 352 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:31,540 that very broad word again. 353 00:32:31,540 --> 00:32:39,160 Under the leadership of the false prophets, and He will then direct the worship of that 354 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:48,160 one world church to this new messianic figure the Bible calls the Antichrist, the beast, 355 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:50,700 the man of lawlessness. 356 00:32:50,700 --> 00:32:54,560 Read about it in Revelation 13 and 14. 357 00:32:54,560 --> 00:33:04,280 And then read about that apostate church being sliced off, destroyed, and judged in chapter 358 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:12,440 17 of the book of Revelation. 359 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:18,160 And so the warning that He delivers to the Gentiles as a whole is a warning that is a 360 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:22,700 very legitimate one. 361 00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:28,160 But on the other hand, He gives here a promise to Israel. 362 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:36,780 And if it's found in verse 23, He says, And they, the Jews also, if they do not continue 363 00:33:36,780 --> 00:33:41,640 in their unbelief, will be grafted in. 364 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:45,360 For God is able to graft them in again. 365 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:50,320 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree and were grafted contrary 366 00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:57,240 to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these who are the natural 367 00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:00,640 branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 368 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:05,880 In other words, there is a day when God is going to take these branches that He has cut 369 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:12,440 off before and He is going to put them back into this place of His purpose and His privilege 370 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:13,440 again. 371 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:18,520 He is going to graft Israel back into that tree. 372 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:23,520 That is the restoration of Israel that we have been talking about. 373 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:25,320 That's the promise of continuity. 374 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:30,560 It could not be clearer that the best is yet to come for Israel. 375 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:35,320 God still has a purpose for that people. 376 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:40,280 We see this, by the way, back in Acts chapter 15, and I ask you to turn there just so that 377 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:43,260 you can be aware of this. 378 00:34:43,260 --> 00:34:50,240 This is a statement by James, who was the leader in the church in Jerusalem and the 379 00:34:50,240 --> 00:34:53,440 half-brother of our Lord. 380 00:34:53,440 --> 00:35:01,600 James, after listening to Barnabas and Paul relate their missionary journey, their first 381 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:08,280 journey, and after listening to the words of Peter, says this beginning in verse 13 382 00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:10,560 of Acts 15. 383 00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:14,240 Brethren, listen to me. 384 00:35:14,240 --> 00:35:23,080 Simeon, that's Peter, has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from 385 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:29,000 among the Gentiles a people for His name. 386 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:34,120 If you want to write something in your margin, you can write out there what God is doing 387 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:40,280 right now, because that is exactly what verse 14 is all about. 388 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:46,960 God is taking out of the Gentiles primarily a people for His name. 389 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:48,840 That's what God is doing right now. 390 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:52,600 I'll go on to verse 15. 391 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:59,840 James continues, and with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, 392 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:10,400 after these things I will return and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. 393 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:16,840 I will rebuild its ruins and I will restore it in order that the rest of mankind may seek 394 00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:22,100 the Lord and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord who makes these 395 00:36:22,100 --> 00:36:24,880 things known from of old. 396 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:25,880 What does he say here? 397 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:33,280 He's saying, after these things, that is, after God has called out this body of people, 398 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:40,440 this elect nation to Himself that we call the church, after these things He will return 399 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:46,960 to Israel, to the tabernacle of David which has been knocked down, and He will restore 400 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:47,960 it again. 401 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:55,120 And so a different picture, same truth as the olive tree. 402 00:36:55,120 --> 00:37:01,640 God has now been laid aside, will be received again by God. 403 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:05,280 What a great day that will be. 404 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:12,760 Now I'd like to close with some personal application out of these last few verses. 405 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:18,720 For while these verses are directed to Gentiles in general, there are some points that you 406 00:37:18,720 --> 00:37:21,000 and I need to heed individually. 407 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:30,920 I want to call these three actions to avoid failure in our Christian lives. 408 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:40,160 For just as Israel failed God, it is possible for you and for me to fail God. 409 00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:42,280 We don't want to do that. 410 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:47,720 I can't imagine a person saying, well I'm a Christian and it's my goal in life to fail 411 00:37:47,720 --> 00:37:48,720 God. 412 00:37:48,720 --> 00:37:52,480 I've never heard a testimony like that in all my life. 413 00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:55,160 No, we want to serve God. 414 00:37:55,160 --> 00:37:56,720 We want to be fruitful. 415 00:37:56,720 --> 00:38:03,120 How can we serve God faithfully? 416 00:38:03,120 --> 00:38:08,400 Number one, cultivate humility. 417 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:13,320 If you would avoid failure in your Christian life, take that action. 418 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:15,160 Cultivate humility. 419 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:17,560 Do not be arrogant. 420 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:20,840 Do not be conceited. 421 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:29,760 Because that absolutely undermines and destroys whatever God's work is in your life. 422 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:37,000 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. 423 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:41,840 When pride enters your life, whether it be the pride of something you have or something 424 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:49,000 you've attained or even your spiritual gifts or your ministry, that pride will destroy 425 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:52,800 you. 426 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:59,440 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, the mind of humility. 427 00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:04,000 Secondly, sustain faith. 428 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:09,680 We trust Jesus Christ, that's how we're saved, by faith. 429 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:14,200 But it is a sad thing that there are some Christians who, having trusted Jesus Christ 430 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:19,520 by faith, seem to leave their faith at the cross and go on and walk by sight all of their 431 00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:22,880 lives. 432 00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:30,700 And God's will is that we walk by faith, not by sight. 433 00:39:30,700 --> 00:39:36,800 What is there in your life today that God has to do? 434 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:41,680 That you cannot pull off on your own. 435 00:39:41,680 --> 00:39:46,080 What is there that is bigger than you are? 436 00:39:46,080 --> 00:39:48,880 Anything? 437 00:39:48,880 --> 00:39:53,800 If there's not anything that big, if it's not as big as God, then you need to examine 438 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:57,220 yourself to see if you are really trusting God. 439 00:39:57,220 --> 00:40:02,120 If you're out there walking on the edge of faith. 440 00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:06,800 And Jesus went to Nazareth and it says that he could do no mighty work there because of 441 00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:07,800 their unbelief. 442 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:10,880 May that never be said of any of us. 443 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:15,480 A third action, develop a healthy fear. 444 00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:20,040 He says, do not be conceited but fear. 445 00:40:20,040 --> 00:40:21,360 There are two kinds of fear. 446 00:40:21,360 --> 00:40:24,940 One is the fear of a slave. 447 00:40:24,940 --> 00:40:29,480 That is the fear that comes because one does not know the future, one may not know his 448 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:31,720 master. 449 00:40:31,720 --> 00:40:35,480 He has no assurance. 450 00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:40,260 And then there's the fear of a son. 451 00:40:40,260 --> 00:40:44,520 That is the fear that is reverential fear. 452 00:40:44,520 --> 00:40:49,860 It is obedience out of respect. 453 00:40:49,860 --> 00:41:01,680 My friend, as you see the kindness and the severity of God, it ought to produce in us 454 00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:07,040 a healthy respect of who God is and what he's like. 455 00:41:07,040 --> 00:41:09,600 And out of that respect will come obedience. 456 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:11,200 That's what it means here by fear. 457 00:41:11,200 --> 00:41:13,440 Do you fear God? 458 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:17,680 Or are you playing with God? 459 00:41:17,680 --> 00:41:22,960 Are you just kind of toying with God? 460 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:28,640 Trying at times to put God off, to call his bluff as though God were bluffing. 461 00:41:28,640 --> 00:41:33,040 My friend, you cannot play games with this God. 462 00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:41,720 Today, be sure that there is in your life a healthy respect for him who is not only 463 00:41:41,720 --> 00:41:45,400 kind but who is severe. 464 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:48,560 And let that respect produce obedience. 465 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:53,600 It'll be worth it because someday Jesus is going to come and we're going to see him face 466 00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:54,600 to face. 467 00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:58,880 We're talking here about the best is yet to come for the Jews. 468 00:41:58,880 --> 00:42:02,420 My friend, the best is yet to come for the Christians. 469 00:42:02,420 --> 00:42:05,440 This life is not all there is. 470 00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:07,880 Right now we're in a valley. 471 00:42:07,880 --> 00:42:13,880 We live in tears and disappointment and heartache and stress and pressure. 472 00:42:13,880 --> 00:42:16,640 That's a part of it. 473 00:42:16,640 --> 00:42:20,880 Don't get yourself focusing on those things. 474 00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:23,600 But keep your eyes focused on Jesus Christ. 475 00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:27,560 I came across a story this last week I want to close with. 476 00:42:27,560 --> 00:42:30,160 It's a story out of the life of F.B. 477 00:42:30,160 --> 00:42:31,160 Meyer. 478 00:42:31,160 --> 00:42:40,160 On an occasion he went to New York City to visit his dear friend Iris Sankey. 479 00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:44,720 Iris Sankey may be a new name to some of you but he was the Cliff Barrels as it were who 480 00:42:44,720 --> 00:42:45,720 traveled with D.L. 481 00:42:45,720 --> 00:42:52,320 Moody in the great days of campaigns through the United States and Great Britain. 482 00:42:52,320 --> 00:43:02,880 This was about 15 years after Moody's death, about 1913, 1914, when Meyer knocked on the 483 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:05,520 door of Sankey and went in for a visit. 484 00:43:05,520 --> 00:43:11,020 For about an hour they shared together the old days when both of them had the privilege 485 00:43:11,020 --> 00:43:14,680 of traveling with Moody. 486 00:43:14,680 --> 00:43:26,000 And as that conversation began to wane, F.B. Meyer got up and went over to Sankey and pulled 487 00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:33,240 him out of his chair and led him to the Melodion that he had played on for years and years 488 00:43:33,240 --> 00:43:36,600 and carried with him from campaign to campaign. 489 00:43:36,600 --> 00:43:45,840 And he put his arm around him and he said, sing again, beloved. 490 00:43:45,840 --> 00:43:54,240 Sankey who was a very old man, crippled with arthritis, other problems, took his shrunken 491 00:43:54,240 --> 00:44:01,400 fingers and laid them on those yellowed keys and began to play. 492 00:44:01,400 --> 00:44:07,800 And he began to lift that voice once known for its richness and its fullness. 493 00:44:07,800 --> 00:44:14,120 And he sang, there will be no dark valley when Jesus comes. 494 00:44:14,120 --> 00:44:18,240 There will be no dark valley when Jesus comes. 495 00:44:18,240 --> 00:44:26,000 There will be no dark valley when Jesus comes to take his loved ones home. 496 00:44:26,000 --> 00:44:31,840 F.B. Meyer sobbed like a baby. 497 00:44:31,840 --> 00:44:34,680 My friend, that's true. 498 00:44:34,680 --> 00:44:39,080 When Jesus comes, we'll leave the valleys and we'll be with him. 499 00:44:39,080 --> 00:44:48,000 And how glad then we'll be that we were faithful now and obedient now out of fear of him and 500 00:44:48,000 --> 00:44:52,160 that in humility we walked with him faithfully. 501 00:44:52,160 --> 00:44:53,160 Let's pray. 502 00:44:53,160 --> 00:45:03,440 Oh Father, help us to lift our eyes today from those concerns that rob us of spiritual 503 00:45:03,440 --> 00:45:09,520 reality and to focus them on Jesus Christ. 504 00:45:09,520 --> 00:45:18,160 Father, there are some of us today who need to repent of sin and to get back to a place 505 00:45:18,160 --> 00:45:19,160 of obedience. 506 00:45:19,160 --> 00:45:27,440 There are some of us today who need to confess that we've become very nearsighted and we've 507 00:45:27,440 --> 00:45:32,680 lost that longer vision that Jesus is coming again and whatever we're going through now 508 00:45:32,680 --> 00:45:35,680 is worth it. 509 00:45:35,680 --> 00:45:38,640 There are some here who may need to be saved. 510 00:45:38,640 --> 00:45:54,360 For whatever the need, meet it in this hour I pray in Jesus' name, amen.