Israel"s Unbelief

William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into English in the 1500s. The King James version depended largely on 10 Tyndale's work. He described the gospel as glad tidings.

I like that the gospel is good news.

It is glad tidings. I would been on learning from the book of Romans at this gospel is not a man's invention, but it comes from God himself is the gospel of God, and it goes Paul is making it very clear in this wonderful letter to Romans it goes to Jew and Gentile. In fact this message was glad tidings of God's love and of the grace of God offered to us goes to the whole world it comes to every single one of us and central to the gospel is the Lord Jesus Christ. And Paul, as he is speaking no through the nation of Israel in Romans nine, 10 and 11 is making it clear that to reject Jesus as the true Messiah is to reject the good news is to reject the glad tidings because this is God's only way of salvation. Presently Paul inside the gospel goes through so other Jew and Gentile. He said in chapter 10 there is no distinction between the Jew and Gentile.

He said in chapter 3.

There is no difference between the Jew and the gentling that all of us have sinned with or Jewish or whether Gentile whether Americans or Russians or Chinese. All of us have sinned all of us are in the same position and all of us need the same good news which comes from God comes from heaven to our and is revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ. But if the nation of Israel has largely rejected the Messiah as it has. What about them will the nation of Israel always reject the Messiah. What about the future of the nation of Israel doesn't have a future. The primary focus of God's purposes today is not Israel but is the church and so has the church replaced Israel. These and many other questions are answered in Romans 910 and 11 let me ask you to open your Bibles to Romans chapter 11. This is not the easiest chapter but is a fascinating one. And very, very relevant as we think of the nation of Israel today and the Jewish people.

Paul is going to tell us as were going to read that Israel's unbelief is not total, it is sure that generally Israel, the Jewish people have rejected the Messiah but not completely.

It's only a partial hardening.

Most of them it is true, have rejected the Messiah. Paul has expounded the great truths of justification by faith in the first eight chapters of Romans and is has sought witness is aware he presents Abraham the great man of faith greatly revered by the Jews greatly revered by Muslims and Christians to this day. One of the outstanding man of history and Paul takes Abraham and is saying to all of us, but particularly the Jewish people look at Abraham. Notice how he was justified before God. Notice he was accepted by God it wasn't based on his words. Although he was generally speaking, good man and was he was declared righteous by faith and so Paul says in an astonishing verse of Romans for verse five he says to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteous, nice that's Paul's argument that there are two basic ways of trying to get right with God.

That is a works righteousness based on what we do.

Based on our achievements.

Based on our sincerity based on our goodness and we try, perhaps by keeping the commandments by following the tenets of a particular religion to manage favor with God. And Paul says that is absolutely the wrong way. The dog always has accepted people not based on their inherent goodness, but because they realize they are inherently bad and they cried out to God for mercy and forgiveness and they are saved justified by faith.

So Paul saves here in Romans for verse five, the God justifies not a good person. Now the church door, he justifies the ungodly, but that's the good news is in the because of your honest with yourself. You and I are in that category. Paul C�zanne Romans five, for example that God shows his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, not when you cleaned up your act, not when you change some of these disturbing destructive habits and tendon zooms of your life.

But it was when we were yet sinners that Christ has died for us that we have no righteousness of our own, but Christ and his grace will give you really the righteousness Spurgeon writes about this. He says the apostle Paul over and over again tells us that salvation is not by works, nay, he tells us that it is not by works in grace put together. He testifies of the two principles neutralized and kill each other and amen must either be saved holy as a result of God's favor or else you must be saved altogether. As of the result of his own merit for the two principles cannot in any way be combined will put Charles Spurgeon what is he saying either of these two principles works in grace and people, particularly people like those of us who attend Calvary church Christian churches would say yes. We believe in grace but we want to add to grace we want to say yes is grace plus what I do. Plus my baptism plus the membership of the church. Plus feeding the poor. Plus, there's plus that in Spurgeon is saying absolutely not. These are two principles and if you try to put them together. He will kill them.

It is salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and Paul inside this glad tidings went to the Jew first, and Paul has great sorrow as he looks at this fellow Jews to realize that the majority of them have rejected Christ as the Messiah as the Savior. He said, as we saw last week at the end of chapter 10 is a quote from the Old Testament the dog is holding out his hands to the nation, but they don't, he says they are a disobedient and contrary people.

Now is a question there.

And if that is true. Paul does this mean that God has rejected his ancient people Israel.

Paul now explains as we come to Romans chapter 11, but although the majority of Israel has rejected the Messiah God absolutely has not rejected his people. Romans 11 then verse one Paul says I ask then receiving the polyps to ask questions I ask then has God rejected his people. That's the question answer by no means absolutely not. God doesn't cast off his people. Although Paul's question is understandable, having regard to the fact that he's already said that Israel is a discipline agent and contrary nation. But God's never goes back on his words, and God will not revoke his covenantal promises to his ancient people. Paul's going to write in verse 29 of chapter 11 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable, that Israel is God's chosen people, and while it is true that the majority of Israel have rejected the Messiah. God always has a believing remnant the rejection. Paul is saying it's there but is only partial remnant of Israel has believe the gospel, and Paul gives two examples I asked then verse one has God rejected these people by no means example number one, it's himself. I myself am an Israelite notice he doesn't say I was, but I am is a believer in Christ is still an Israelite, but I myself am an Israelite, a descendent of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. Benjamin was the only son of Jacob Bartman the promise land in November they went with the tribe of Judah, so that Jerusalem itself was in the land of Benjamin so to be a Benjamin Ides is really to be is in a sense, one of the elite of Israel.

Paul is saying listen when you talk about being Jewish doesn't come any better than I am. I am Jewish and I'm a descendent of Abraham. I'm of the tribe of Benjamin verse two God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew do you know what the Scripture says of Elijah's example number two how he appeals to God against Israel Lord, they have killed your prophets.

They've demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life alleges in a little bit of self-pity here, but what is going to reply to him. I've kept for myself 7000 men who have not bowed the knee to Baal. No Elijah wonderful profit.

Although he was going through a difficult time at the realized he was not the only believer in Israel and of these data.

In fact that what 7000 others would not bowed the knee to the false gods of all and so at the present time verse five. So to at the present time, there is a remnant chosen by his award. Grace.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works otherwise grace would no longer be grace Spurgeon saying you can't mix into you do that you don't have grace, not 99% grace at all of grace while. Then Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking the elect obtain that.

But the rest were pardons remnant of the Jewish nation are saved according to God's gracious choice.

Grace would not be grace if it was deserved. Grace would not be grace of it.

If you work for it. Grace by definition is something we received that we don't deserve it is all of God. It is given to the undeserving is something that you don't work but is offered freely 100% in our Lord Jesus Christ, Jew, like Gentiles are saved by grace to understand that this is so important. Some of you have not yet grasped this works looks through your achievements grace which the what God has done in his son Jesus Christ part of your moments ago said that she brings families into the sanctuary. She always points to the cross.

Why because it is from the cross of Christ. The God's forgiveness and God's grace flows is not from your efforts.

But it is all of grace I have to ask you received this free gift of grace is hard for us to get minds around isn't it called loves me on the sinful that he offers me eternal life in little. My wife is terribly messed up and it's all of grace Friday and it was on Friday, November 30.

It was in Andrew's day in an America you celebrate for some unknown reason, St. Patrick's Day wearing green and have trades about sympatric sent Andrew's day comes November 30 and there's almost no mention of it and this is Scott I am very disappointed if he was discriminated.

I was a very large we sponsor very quietly humble, nonaggressive people, so we just put up with this, but supposing one of you knowing that I'm part of my Scottish heritage and the one of the unusual Americans who actually know was in Andrew's day on on that Friday, November 30 you're very wealthy, very wealthy and usually John I'm going to fly you back to Scotland's so you can celebrate sent Andrew stay on Scottish soil willing to put you out for a couple nights in the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh. That's where Sean Connery states bonds James Bond also start fights are many livers in the telephone with a cup of tea there so but I think we can get more than that minds as we were going to my friend, but the translations on the grade laid on a magnificent meal for your and flown over from Charlotte to Edinburgh first class, you know, these flames would actually lie down that night was was just remember that it's first-class. The hotel is five-star's like Joan Mayo but I'm going to begin with. Tigers of course is an appetizer, I guess, and turnips nips followed by: skate wonderful soup with fish in it: being the little tiring 3 miles from where my mother was born, and then I'm in a follow that with roast lamb Scottish lamb. Of course none of this New Zealand stuff Scottish lamb and then will have the dessert with a kludgy dumpling which none of you know about and that's what drink you think is good to drink whiskey I'm a pastor no scout. Scotland's other drink is called iron group wash them with iron group I'm picked up here from my house in the limo. I'm driven to the hotel when I arrive in Denver airport and driven in the limo to the Balmoral Hotel on Saturday.

I'm driven over to fife over the bridge to see my mother who's in a nursing home 93. I fly back first-class.

Saturday arrive here to preach the nights away. I don't know the cost of that but it would be a lot of money may supposing my friend my retrenchment for this song for me says to me today. Not John. How did you enjoy as it was very good to see here and I got 10 bucks there you are. Thank you very much and when it contributes when that be insulting. That would cost literally thousands of dollars to do that and I'm going to pay my friends who said it's a gift given in love. I'm going give him 10 barks towards that as we want to do with God. Paul talks here were going to read in terms of salvation as the riches of God do not rich we are as followers of Christ were blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ and you want to do you know a little bit you think that you can put your grubby little hands on salvation this magnificent gift. No of them says nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling naked competently for dress helpless look to be for grace follow line to the front and fly Waspy Savior or a guy that's a good news. Let the glad tidings and here Paul now says verse eight, as it is written regarding Israel, God gave them a spirit of stupor eyes that would not see in the years that would not tear down to this very day. And David says let the table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block in the retribution for them let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see and bend their backs. Whatever Morris and his commentary says those who fail God did not do so because they had been hardened, but they were hardened because they had failed him. She did you reject the truth of God that will lead you to deeper and deeper darkness and despair.

One of the principles of Scripture that when God speaks to you when you hear the word of God in the spirit convicts you don't harden your heart did you do that you will go deeper and deeper into the darkness. I've seen that with people sin that was on people's and subbing at our church who refuse the truth. The pay lip service to it and to go into further and further darkness was pulsing in these opening verses, there's always been a believing remnant in Israel. They have stumbled, but they have not completely fallen and never advances 11 through 24. Paul says that Israel's unbelief is not without a purpose of this is magnificent doing of the wonder of the purposes of God. You have never thought of this Paul is going to say something very profound that the salvation of Gentiles non-Jews provokes Israel to jealousy. Let's read it verse 11 to 15 forcible so I ask another question. Paul was your question this time did they stumble in order that they might fall on their stumbled, the question but the default by no means absolutely cannot. Rather, there's a purpose rather through their trespass. Salvation has come to the Gentiles so as to make Israel jealous know if their trespass means riches for the world and different failure means riches for the Gentiles, much more will the full inclusion mean that I'm speaking to you Gentiles, and as much then as I'm an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous and thus save some of them full. If the rejection means the reconciliation of the world. What will their acceptance mean but life from the dead, the brilliantly argued by Paul. Paul's wanting us to think that Israel's unbelief is only temporary. Guess it is stumbled onto the final fall for Israel is unthinkable and God uses their trespass. He uses the rejection there stumbling to bless Gentiles and believing Gentiles like yourselves provoke Jews to receive Christ as their personal savior Israel has rejected the Messiah, but this rejection has been the occasion of the salvation of Gentiles conceived by the reaction of some of you that you're a little bit in the park here with me a few pages back in your Bible to ask Lucy this acts chapter 13 your enrollments few pages back acts of the next chapter 13 verse 44 the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds that were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him and Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying punitives notice.

I have underlined my Bible, it was necessary necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you.

When Jesus came with was a barn Israel, who received the message first Israel are not ashamed of the gospel for support of God to everyone who believes, to the Jew first is a policy it was spoken first to you since you thrust it aside and judge yourself unworthy of eternal life will hold, we are turning to the Gentiles for so the Lord has commanded us, saying I made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Chapter 18 verse five is Paul in Corinth at 18 verse five when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word we saw this last time that the church grew through the word if you're visiting from out of state to go back home go to a church that preaches the Bible please Paul was occupied with the word testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him. He shook out his garments and said to them, your blood in your own head. I'm innocent from now on I will go to the Gentiles. Chapter 28 of acts.

The last chapter of acts acts 28 of this read from verse 28 acts 828. Thanks. Sorry.

Acts 28 verse 28 therefore let it be known to you that this salvation to God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen comes first to the Jews.

Jews generally speaking, rejected, and the gospel then goes to Gentiles and as it goes to Gentiles. Paul is saying this in turn provokes Israel to accept salvation, and in the future. Did you lose in verses 12 and 15 in the future will think of this two weeks from when all Israel receives the Messiah, their full inclusion. There will be even greater riches to the whole world, both Jews and Gentiles life from the dead. Yes, the dry bones of Israel in Ezekiel talks about in Ezekiel 37, yet shall live so God has sadly not rejected Israel.

Some of them are still being saved. Most verse 14.

Also, Israel's present stumbling and the rejection. Rejection of the Messiah are not without purpose. You find this fascinating. The one of the ways. Even today that God brings Jews to saving faith is through Gentile believers. Some nice people think, well, I'm not Jewish. I can't.

I can't present the gospel to do Jewish people. Yes, you can to three years ago good day and I were on a cruise and sitting at our table.

There were number of people and we find out with the aid of us that at least two of the couples were Jewish and so we began to speak sooner or later they say. What do you do and that they either smile or think another table that we could get and the there was a man of a year or two older than me and that he was a physician in Boston asked him what was a speciality told me it was had very high up in it. They mentioned his wife happened to mention that they were staying on the in the presidential suites in the on the boats we were not the presidential suites they were in the presidential suite songs are very, very wealthy, very successful and very charming people with wonderful conversation with them and as we talked about her faith quite openly. He was sitting opposite me and with tears in his eyes. This Jewish man very successful professional physician said to me, John. I wish I had for you heart I wish I had your faith what my doing, Gentile, and talking about the Messiah and I'm saying to him was your hope when you die because he was talking as a physician. He deals with that all the time and had no answer, and he was saying. I wish I want that I want that. He said I want that in the great example is in the not just with Jewish people, but with in the unbeliever of how we as a people of God respond when the suffering and death. Jews then can place their faith in the Messiah as their personal savior.

Don't think that only Jewish believers could witness the Jews. But this mean we must be Christlike including the way we minister in the way we conduct ourselves to do an Gentile.

I love when I hear some of your stories as of Herod over the years when when one of you comes to saving faith in Christ and the difference it makes in your home and the difference it makes in the way that you work and how it transforms your relationship and others look at your and all that they would say over and over again. I will wish I had what you had, how is it that you can continue in the face of such difficulties and problem and we can say it's all of the grace of God with a hurry.

Verses 16 through 24 Gentile Christians share in the blessings of Israel.

Now as I read this growth is very quickly elite of natural branches. You'll read all of the wild olive shirts and you read of the nourishing root of these men. Verse 60%. Once the with me going to you with me on my face.

I taught her to another head of the right time analyzes maybe a little heavy inside illegal.

If you concentrate if you focus, but we can around other people. Some of your grade. During that focus focus is key to success in life. One of them.

Verse 16. If the door offered as firstfruits is holy, so as a whole lump.

And if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you all the wild olive shoot were grafted in among the others and now shared in the nourishing root of the olive tree. Do not be arrogant towards the branches. If you want to remember it is not you who support the root, but the route that supports you. Then you will say branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. That is true. There were broken off because of their unbelief that you stand fast through faith, so don't become pride but stand in awe, full of God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you know then the kindness and the severity of God severity toward those who fall in but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off, and even they if they do not continue and that unbelief will be grafted in, for God is in the business and that God has the power to graft them in again. Praise God for if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these the natural branches be grafted back into that all an olive tree development features and the benefit of the other three was a natural branches the natural branches of the Jewish people. The unbelieving ones have been broken off.

The majority of Israel as it were, has been cut off from the olive tree because of their unbelief. There are no longer in the place of blessing the natural branches verse 21 represents unbelieving Israel, but there are in the olive tree that are still some uncut natural branches remember Israel's hardening Israel's rejection of the Messiah is only partial. Some of the natural branches are still part of the olive tree there on olive tree, only some of their 17 only some of the branches were broken off now in place of the natural, but branches the Jewish people, a wild olive shoot has been grafted in, who are the wild olive shirts Gentile's we are these branches which are grafted in our believing Gentiles who then partake verse 17 of the nourishing the roots of the olive tree within nourishing root of the olive tree. Think of the blessings of the everlasting and unconditional Abraham it covenant, the central and unifying factor in Israel's future is the Abraham make covenant that we have in the study guide part three, which I hope you have you read the article you read any other one. Read the article on the Abraham it covenant. It is so important in Scripture for understanding Old Testament, New Testament and in the future was into Genesis 12 the call of Abraham] the beginning Genesis 12 verse three is the promise only from verse two rather promise to Abraham I will make of you Abraham a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing I will bless those who bless you and him who dishonors you I will curse.

And the new unit is all the families of the earth shall be blessed, not just Israel but all the families of the Arthur blast that we through faith in Jesus Christ are grafted in to the olive tree universal blessings by grandchildren were here last week at Calvary went to Sunday school and afterwards of course grandest question is what did you learn must be tough having a pastor is a grandfather, but here it was over the running. I was so delighted here and when the thank of children's ministry. The Abraham a covenant in my little granddaughter six years old is a tell me about Abraham and she said, look at all the stars. These are the people that God is blessing the Abraham make covenant children understand that a little bit you was what Paul is saying, believing Jews and believing Gentiles are part of the same olive tree. Paul is making it very very clear that we who are Gentiles must never forget that our spiritual heritage is Jewish, is a very importantly followers of Jesus can never be anti-Semitic. Do you remember Alan Dershowitz Jewish professor from Harvard writes no nation is hated as much as the Jewish yet over the last 60 years. No nation in the world has contributed more per capita to the general welfare of the people of this planet than Israel. 6 million of them slathered in the Holocaust to know the percentage of the world population is Jewish. The Jewish people to think that our worldwide and percentage of failure .2% small but think of their influence and I read more than 1/4 of Europeans.

This is our CNN recent report just out 1/4 of Europeans believe Jews have too much influence in business and finance one third of Europeans that Jews were too influential in political affairs around the world and CNN's recent investigation concludes that anti-Semitism is alive and well across Europe.

Just yesterday I read that the French government last month said quote anti-Semitic acts have increased by 69% over the first nine months of 2018 that's in France, anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2017 and own country increased by 60%. Think of the recent shooting of the Jews in the synagogue in Pittsburgh and you may have hurt. I was glad to hear it that the United States our nation withdrew as a right leg.

When the former governor of South Carolina was the ambassador to the UN withdrew from the United Nations human rights Council.

Why would the US withdraw from the United Nations human's right Kiesel is the answer. The United Nations was repeatedly singling out Israel for condemnation, while ignoring the atrocities and other countries over the last 12 years of the United Nations human rights.

Think of the title human rights Kiesel 76 resolutions were passed against Israel, whereas only eight were passed against Iran is not just bias against Israel by governments as outright hostility. Yes today on November 24 just a few days ago, the president of Iran at an Islamic unity conference and Iran called Israel a cancerous tumor gym relevant the Bible is and you see that we are informed not just by the whims of some political party or some emotion, but by the word of God. It is important to understand that we Gentiles don't have a separate set of blessings from Israel, but sharing these blessings.

Although we remain Gentiles, we are grafted in to the place of blessing.

And so, in the present age. The church age believing Jews and believing Gentiles.

We enjoy the same blessing.

Why because we are one in Christ. So in the church today is not a Jewish church and is not a Gentile church. Incidentally, I don't think that it honors God.

When we form churches based on nationalities. I don't think that someone described calibrating recently to means that it's an American church as it had I'm Scottish it was really the American white with the college Scotsman is a positive yes I am an American citizen, but I'm still Scottish. Let's face it knows this is not an American church who wants to be part of an American church. Normally I don't to be part of a school district can imagine how bad that would be Tilson bagpipes all the time and haggis were snacks in the CDC.

It's not a matter of life for my Korean translator for a Brazilian church like former Russian church is form a Jewish church form a Gentile church poses no in Jesus Christ. The barrier between Jew and Gentile is abolished, I understand. In some cases with languages that is necessary. I understand about talking general I'm talking in principle that it is the wonder of the grace of God that in all of our diversity in terms of her language background personalities, political affiliation, preferences, likes and dislikes.

We are the church of Jesus Christ because the blood that saved me is the same blood that saved you in following policy and how you Gentiles on both. Don't be arrogant. Last thing you should be as arrogant over Jews because your believers and you think that unbelief absolutely not.

That is not the way to go is saying in the fact that Gentiles participate. The fact that Gentiles participate in some of the blessings of Abraham a covenant does not mean that Gentiles have supplanted Israel and God's program.

No, we must make a very clear distinction between Israel and the church. The church is separate from Israel was the church. The church began not with Abraham, the church began in acts two, with the ascension of our Lord Jesus into heaven, and the sending of the Holy Spirit who creates the church, Christ, and it is created by please note the incarnate Christ died on the cross for our sins, was raised from the dead, ascended to heaven as part reminded us is that the right hand of the father interceding for us and he sends his one spirit to us that we are all Jews are Gentile pulses baptized into the one what the one body. Think of this.

Paul's favorite description of the church is the body of Christ. The body of the remarkable distinction descriptions and it sets apart the church from Israel. And Paul is saying that the unbelief of the Israelites of Israel will not last forever. The belief is only temporary's only partial is only temporary and that there is going to come a day is will think in a couple weeks when the natural branches are going to be grafted back into their own olive tree. Verse 24. No Israel.

God has not rejected Israel. Israel has a wonderful and the glorious future, as we shall see. The dry bones will yet live. We as the people of God. We love the Jewish people will of Israel is not to say that everything that present Israel does is right, but they have a right to be in the land land that God has given them and that the Lord is not finished with Israel, unbelief is not final. All Israel will be saved with coverlet today. I have two questions for you.

Number one. Are you communicating the good news to Jews and Gentiles bizarrely Jewish people I know don't want to hear it may be true, most Gentiles are unbelieving to want to hear about your life as God opens the doors to tell them about the Messiah. Wonderful opportunity we have as we come up to Christmas, to reach out to people, whoever they are all nationalities to share Christ, inviting them to the concept of item the Christmas eve to be involved so that they will see the grace of God manifested in the body of Christ. My second question is this of you received this grace is saved by his grace is tragic to try and work out your own salvation. Scripture says whoever calls upon the name of the Lord, be safe, call upon the name of the Lord, and you will be safe. Father, we thank you that your mighty God, mighty to save. Jew and Gentile, and we are humbled as we think of the wisdom of God and the power of God revealed in the gospel and your magnificent plan which includes the whole world so that you will have mercy on all Jew and Gentile for such a Savior for such a plan of salvation. We think you may we humbly respond and buy very lives demonstrate that we belong to Jesus. Strengthen us. We pray in Christ name, amen