romans, #5 the maintenance of divine righteousness, romans 9:1 - 11:36

Romans, #5

The Maintenance of Divine Righteousness,

Romans 9:1 - 11:36

Romans #5, The Maintenance of Divine Righteousness

Romans is a complicated book that becomes much easier if due attention is paid to context.

The context of any portion of the first eleven chapters is:

the first eleven chapters. So in some ways, this is the most

difficult section of the Book for the simple reason that it is a culmination of all that has been said previously.


A brief encapsulation of our previous studies is imperative to this section:

chp.1 Theme & condemnation of the Gentiles

chp.2 Condemnation of the Jews

chp.3 Conclusion: All under sin & inNeed of Divine Righteousness

chp.4 Divine Righteousness is apartfrom Works of the Law, Circumcision, & the the Law


Continued synopsis:

chp.5 Justification by Faith explained: the Manifestation of DivineRighteousness

chp.6 Putting to Death the Man of Sin:

the Attainment of DivineRighteousness

chp.7 Freedom from sin is freedomfrom the Law


Continued synopsis:

chp.8 The Struggle Within: my mindvs. my flesh- Emancipationthrough Jesus Christ

So, after explaining the Need of, the Manifestation of, and the Attainment of Divine Righteousness,

we get see the why of the matter- Why did God do what He did how He did?

And understand how this Divine Righteousness is Maintained/Retained.


Again, breaking the section down seems to help clarify the overall point:

chp.9 God’s Sovereignty: Why did He choose Israel & reject the Gentiles?

chp.10 Salvation for all by FAITH!

chp.11 Why then the Rejection ofIsrael? The:

Extent of their rejection,

Purpose of their rejection,

Duration of their rejection.


chp.9: God’s Sovereignty manifested in Israel’s past election by His mercy and present rejection due to lack of faith.

vv.1-5 Israel was elected to receive God’s mercy through certain prescribed advantages:

1. Adoption as sons 2. the Glory

3. the giving of the Law 4. Temple service

5. the Promises 6. the Fathers

& 7. the lineage of the Christ, cf. 3:1-2

But despite these advantages, they were rejected!


Was it then God who failed to keep Israel?

Not at all, v.6a.

Why then?

Through God’s sovereign plan, it would be through the failure of the Elect (Israel) that all could have equal opportunity for salvation.

The point is then illustrated through:

1. the children of the promise, vv.6b-9

2. Jacob & Esau, vv.10-13

Their rejection was not because of works, but by God’s sovereign choice to bring in others!


Is God then unjust for so dealing with Israel?

Not at all:

1. He can demonstrate mercy to whomever He chooses, vv.14-16

2. as illustrated through Pharaoh, vv.17-18

But v.18 seems unfair! v.19

Quite the contrary, as illustrated by the Potter and his Clay, vv.20-21

How can this be? What’s the point of it all?


The Point of it All is this:If God had made salvation a matter only of works, two

very remarkable things would have followed:

1. All would have been lost, chps.1-3

2. the Divine Prerogative of God’s sovereignty- His Mercy, could not have been demonstrated! vv.22-29

Thus Israel’s election was not a result of their own works (vv.10-18), but their rejection was because they pursued a righteousness by works rather than by faith, vv.30-33!


Chp.10: Salvation for All by Obedient Faith.

vv.1-3 gives a further description of Israel’s rejection by God:

>they sought salvation through the Law

>but Christ is “the end of the Law for righteousness” v.4

>If righteousness is based upon the Law, they are spiritually dead for

they did not keep it, chp.2, v.5

Therefore….



Divine Righteousness is achieved by Faith rather than by Law:

-through having the word in your heart, vv.8, 10a

resulting in righteousness

-and through confessing with the mouth Jesus as Lord, v.9,10b

resulting in salvation.

All of which necessitates the preaching of the gospel word that faith, confession, and salvation may result,

vv.11-17!



But did rejected Israel have an opportunity for justification based on faith through the hearing of the word????

Certainly!

-through Isaiah, vv.16,20

-through David, v.18

-through Moses, vv.19

But they did not heed the Word as taught through Isaiah, David, and Moses, v.21!

And were thus REJECTED!


Chp.11: The Extent, Purpose, and Duration of Israel’s Rejection.

Israel’s rejection was not complete in the sense of being final.

A couple of illustrations are given to prove the point:

>Paul himself was an Israelite and would not be proclaiming his own death sentence, v.1

>Elijah thought he was left alone but was informed by God that a remnant yet remained through whom the ultimate salvation would come, vv.2-10



Israel’s partial rejection was to allow the grafting in of the wild olive branch- the Gentiles, vv.11-24.

This too would be used by God as motivational jealously to move Israel

back into compliance with God’s desires for them, vv.11,14.

The partial nature of their rejection is again emphasized in this section, vv.15-16, 18, 23-24.



The duration of their rejection was “until” (indicating not necessarily what follows but rather speaks of the past in view of of the present) the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

When that objective was accomplished, the hardening influence of God would be

removed and His mercy poured out upon the disobedience of both the Jew and Gentile, vv.25-32!


This concludes the Doctrinal Section of Romans.

Obviously, the next lesson will begin the Practical Applications portion of the Book….

That is,

How to Apply Divine Righteousness in Faith, Fellowship, and Daily

Living.

romans, #5 the maintenance of divine righteousness, romans 9:1 - 11:36

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