God Still has a Plan for Israel
Romans 9
· The book of Romans is about God’s work in our lives as it relates to our predestination and pre-ordination for a purpose by God.
Romans 8:28-30
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
· Then Paul talks about how nothing can separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8:31-36)
· But in Vs. 36 he throws in this cryptic verse from Psalm 44 where Israel thought that God has forsaken them.
Romans 8:36
As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
o Romans 9, 10 and 11: There is no separation for Israel too
o God has not forsaken Israel.
o God is not finished with the nation of Israel.
o Romans 9— Israel’s past
o Romans 10—Israel’s present state
o Romans 11—Israel’s future blessing
o This is a tough set of verses for those who do not believe that God still has a sovereign plan for the nation of Israel.
o Praise the Lord that since 1948 with Israel being restored back to the land, many Christians are seeing the special plan for Israel in the last days.
Amos 9:11-15
"On that day I will raise up
The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down,
And repair its damages;
I will raise up its ruins,
And rebuild it as in the days of old;
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom,
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,"
Says the LORD who does this thing.
13 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD,
"When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
And the treader of grapes him who sows seed;
The mountains shall drip with sweet wine,
And all the hills shall flow with it.
14 I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;
They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;
They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;
They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.
15 I will plant them in their land,
And no longer shall they be pulled up
From the land I have given them,"
Says the LORD your God.
o These are the latter days! God is fulfilling His plan in our day!! These are exciting times we are living in
Romans 9:1-3
· Paul called himself a “Pharisee of Pharisees” a “most devout Jew.”
· Paul said that he was “according to the law, blameless.”
· Paul vehemently followed the Law and Torah: he was so fully committed to the Law that he hated the sect of believers, called The Way, and set out to kill them.
· But, upon being converted by his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road, he was then seen by the Jews as a kind of “traiter.”
· Paul is in deep anguish for the nation of Israel.
o I must admit I don’t understand this kind of love.
o He says he would wish that he was anathema, “eternally damned.”
o I want this kind of heart for America, for Israel, for Colorado Springs!
o Moses had such a heart too—he interceded for Israel.
o Jesus wept over Jerusalem—great heart break and pathos.
o Paul has deep sorrow over Israel—their state of rebellion breaks his heart.
o How serious are you and I about seeing our city saved?
o How desperate are we to experience a personal relationship with Jesus?
o We will never stand in eternity and be ashamed that we made some people mad through our sharing.
o Make people mad! Usually that means that the Holy Spirit is working in their life.
Vs. 4-5
· The shekinah glory—the manifest presence of God was with Israel.
· Israel was the “apple of His eye.”
· He called them “My people called by My name.”
· Christ was a Jew! Christ came in subjection to the Law.
· He was dedicated at the Temple at 12 years of age.
· He was called a Rabbi.
· We would not have the scriptures, the promises if it were not for Israel.
Vs. 6-9
· Abraham’s descendents is Israel, the nation—the seed of Abraham.
· Israel as a nation of Abraham is the only complete nation in the world: it has a past, present and future.
· America is not a complete nation: we have a past (very young), a present, but we don’t know our future.
· History is “His Story” and His story began with Israel and it will end back in Israel. It all ends up in Jerusalem.
· There is a difference between the “descendants of Abraham” and “seeds of Abraham.”
· In Genesis 22 God told Abraham to take “his son, his only son” Isaac to Mount Moriah. In this chapter it is the first time:
o “Love” is used.
o “Worship” is used.
o “Lamb” is used.
· There is another seed that comes forth from Abraham and that is the seed of Isaac.
· There is a seed of Abraham and a seed of Isaac.
· Those of the seed of Isaac are those who have embraced the Messiah Jesus by faith. They are a people of faith.
· If you do not believe in the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, you are not of the seed of promise.
· Those who walk by faith in the Jesus are sons of Isaac.
Vs. 10-13
· In Rebecca’s 3rd trimester there was wrestling going on because two nations were battling within her womb.
· Not just the bloodline of Abraham but a particular bloodline within the bloodline.
· Even with the same wife, there is another plan.
· This all about election—not up to human beings, but up to Him. I just love that God is sovereign. He knows your future.
· Spurgeon once said, “I know that God chose me before I was born because He would have never chose me after I was born.”
· Paul is quoting from Genesis and Malachi, the first and last book of the Old Testament. He is saying that God has foreseen all of this, throughout history!
Vs. 14-18
· Why did God choose you and me? It is amazing that He chose us.
· God had mercy on us!
· Ex. I wasn’t any better than my best friend in High School, but as far as I know he isn’t saved and I am. God chose me. That brings worship to my heart.
· God’s point: I am the One who is mightily at work! When we realize that all of your gifts, talents and skills come from God, then you can give Him glory for everything in your life.
· He had mercy on Israel who had broken His Law so many times. He has mercy on us even though we have broken His law so many times.
· Ex. It is interesting that in Genesis it says 10 times that Pharaoh hardened his heart and 10 times that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart—I think God hardens hearts that continually are hardened through sin.
· God gives opportunity and then He gives us what we want! Remember Romans 1? God gives people over to what they crave in our own rebellion.
· Sovereignty doesn’t exclude mercy! Pharaoh had it “his own way.”
Vs. 19
· Great question: what’s the point?
Vs. 20-21
· Who do you think you are arguing with God? Job did this but finally God said, “Where were you when I placed the earth and space in place…”
· Argue with God? Who are you?
· The reality folks: He is God and you ain’t.
· He’s not taking applications.
· This is an election year, but God is not up for reelection and He’s not resigning.
· He is sovereign over all.
· Even your life He is fashioning you just like a potter forms the clay.
· Ex. I have a potter on my road—I bet he’s never had a pot argue with him: “I just wanted to be vase not a spittoon.”
· A pot talking to a potter is more of an association than a human being arguing with God.
Vs. 22-24
· So, what if God does this? What if he raised up Egypt, Babylon or even Israel to show His mercy?
· What is our purpose in America? He is showing His longsuffering to us too.
· He never just stamps a people out.
Vs. 25-26
· God in His sovereign plan chose us, Gentiles, be His elect.
· We weren’t even seeking God yet God chose us.
· Ex. I wasn’t seeking God, I was a happy pagan, enjoying my life, and God began to put a desire for Him in my heart…
· Ex. He has done that with you…
· Spurgeon: “We are never after thoughts but forethoughts of God.”
Vs. 27-29
· God is waiting for His timing
· Ex. In America, I hope we will have a 4th Great Awakening before His coming.
· God is enduring but when he comes, he comes quickly!
Vs. 30-33
· The Jewish nation today is still trying to do their best by the Law, but none of us can keep the Law.
· In the church today, we know people who are trying to keep the Law and they can’t keep it either.
· Ex. Because you could not keep the Law, you have accepted Christ. It is offensive to religious people. They hate your simplicity! When you tell them that trying to be justified by works doesn’t save you, they get really upset…
· Same thing here: the Jews are keeping the Sabbath. There are thousands of stipulations for keeping the Sabbath. They think they are righteous and Paul is saying that “faith” is what they need!
· They are offended. You mean these Romans who have worshipped these foreign gods, who have mistresses, who don’t even know the Law, are now saved just because they have faith in Jesus as the Messiah? Are you kidding me?
· If you have not given your heart to Jesus, do it.
o It’s not religion you need.
o It’s not the Law.
o You need Jesus Christ living in your heart.
o The Bible teaches that when Christ comes into your life, He will do the changing and transforming.
This sermon was produced at Mountain Springs Church in Colorado Springs, with Senior Pastor Steve Holt. www.mountainsprings.org
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