ROMANS: Salvation of Israel

Salvation of Israel

Text: Romans 11

Structure:

a. 1-5, God is the source of Israel’s salvation  

  b. 6-10, gracious gift of salvation

    c. 11-12, Salvation of Gentiles to provoke the Jews

      d. 13-16, image of olive branches

      d’. 17-21, application of the branch imagery

    c’. 22-24, They will be grafted in if will not abide in unbelieve

  b’. 25-32, Covenant of salvation

a’. 33-36, He is the unsearchable source of all      

vv. 1-5 – this is not the most boasting phrases of St. Paul, the real fun is in Philippians 3:5-6. The apostle refers to a very dark moment in Israel’s history – the kingdom is split, and the Northern one is under a severe spiritual oppression. Yet, even then the Lord has preserved and protected 7000 men of true worshiper (they did not bow their knees to Baal) (1 Kings 19:10,14,18). 

vv. 6-10 – St. Paul draws a distinction between Israel as elect group of people and the rest – similar to his example from the Book of Kings. To support his idea, he quotes from Deut. 29:3(4) followed by psalm 69:22-23. Therefore, it is not even the response that makes them the recipients of the gift, but the grace extended to them. If it would be response based – then salvation would be based on works/achievements.    

vv. 11-12 – on the other hand, there is a responsibility of their response. As a result of their fall Gentiles were brought into salvation which made Israel jealous. It could’ve been “good” jealousy – they would be even more zealous to save their Jewish neighbors, showing who were the “founders” of the covenant. Unfortunately, they ended up with bad jealousy – my way or highway attitude. Yes, it would be way more glorious if Jews and Gentiles were united around the Gospel (v. 12).        

vv. 13-16 – Introduction of the Branch imagery. Apostle, actually, begins with an image of the sacrificial dough – part of which is offered as the rite of the first fruits (Lev. 2:12; 23:10; Num 15:17-21; Deut. 18:4). His logic is if the offering is holy the whole lump is holy – because the offering represents the whole. Therefore, the holiness of branches depends on the holiness/sanctity of the root (v. 16) – thinking of an image of Psalm 1.    

vv. 17-21 – on the other hand, this should not be a reason for boasting among the Gentiles. Being an Apostle of Gentiles, St. Paul expresses his pastoral heart rooting for his team – for their spiritual benefit, but not to their pride.  

vv. 22-24 – same what happened with them – being cut off – can happen with the Gentiles if pride prevails (v. 22). Their repentance and return will be graciously accepted, and they will be grafted back in.  

vv. 25-32 – Appearance of the term “mystery” might be confusing. So, some people believe that currant Israel is THE ISRAEL. Yet, St. Paul is consistent with his usage of “mystery” (cp. Eph. 5:32) – the mystery of incarnation of Jesus Christ and salvation of the whole world. God called them in the times of their forefathers and is not going to change His mind (otherwise we would have unreliable capricious God). His mercy is open to all, same as all were “labeled” as disobedient. All sinned in Adam, and the sins of all have been pain in the Cross.  

vv. 33-36 – It is too rich and deep for us to understand – we use different scale for relationship: we like people and dis-like people. Very often we base it on their attitude toward us. But God is different – we all have rejected His will, judgements/standards, and gifts. That’s why His gift can not be “repaid” (v. 35b). That’s what amazes St. Paul, that’s what should amaze all of us – remember 5:8 (!). Therefore, to Him be glory forever (v. 36).  

ROMANS: Israel's fate

Israel’s fate

Text: Romans 10

vv. 1-4, Apostol desired the salvation of the fellow Israelites: they have a zeal, but in accordance to knowledge,

Knowledge as a close/intimate connection 

Christ is the end/goal/purpose of the Law/Torah

 

vv. 5-7, righteousness based on the Law vs. righteousness based on the faith

Living by commandments vs living by faith (Rom. 1:17, Hab. 2:4)

Also, contrast of Jesus and Moses in the Prologue of John 1:17. Note that both John and Paul do not compare the texts, they compare the “lifestyles” – life according to the LAW vs. life of faith.

 

vv. 8-10, Mouth and heart

Interesting structure of the passage. St. Paul introduces “mouth” and “heart” (v. 8), then treats them in a chiastic pattern

A. 9a, confess with you mouth

  B. 9b, and believe in your heart

  B’. 10a, with the heart one believes – justification

A’. 10b, with the mouth one confesses – salvation   

This is based on two passages from the Old Testament that the apostle uses as “proof texts,” see next 

vv. 11-13, Everyone who believes will not be put to shame/be saved – Is. 28:16 and Joel 2:32:

Isaiah 28: 16 – about believing – no shame, justification

Joel 2:32 – about calling on the name – confessing with the mouth – salvation

vv. 14-15, How would they believe if they haven’t heard?

Chain sequence: calling upon the name – believing – hearing (from someone) – there should be someone preaching, biblical reference Isaiah 52:7 (which is written right before the next quote in v. 16 – Isaiah 53:1)

vv. 16-17, Gospel was “available for them – both in the days of Isaiah and now. For Isaiah exclaims: “Who has believed heard from us?”

So, faith comes from hearing – not as a penetration of sound waves into one’s ear but as a process described in the previous paragraph, see chain sequence. To complete it Jesus instituted the Office of the Holy Ministry (Matthew 28:16-20; John 20:19-23).

 

vv. 18-21, they have heard, but

didn’t understand/accept   

Others found Me

I hold out My hand to a disobedient people

One more time, maybe they didn’t hear? No, they did – Psalm 19:4

They heard but didn’t understand/accept

Both in the times of Moses – Deuteronomy 32:21

Then a second confirmation of their rejection came from of Isaiah [65:1] (700 years after Moses).    

And yet, the Gospel was available – Isaiah testifies for that [65:2].

Again, St. Paul juxtaposes the texts of Moses and Gospels or Apostles. He shows that the Gospel as Good News was always available. But people did not listen, didn’t accept, chose to live by the commandments not be faith, therefore rejecting the Good News of salvation.  

 

STRESS OUTSIDE of VOCATION

STRESS OUTSIDE of VOCATION

Psalm 90

This is a famous psalm that “determines” the length of human life. 70 or 80 years – a good span of life. Lot’s can be done within these years. Thou people often miss that the subscription for the psalm attribute the text to Moses. And we know that Moses himself lived 120 years. This raises the question: what was he doing when he passed 70 years mark?

We know it – the answer is very simple – he was a shepherd herding the flocks for his father-in-law. Verse 10 says that 70 years is a sure mark a man can plan for. For sure, Moses was aware of sicknesses and wars that carry away the lives of the young men and women. Yet, under “normal” circumstances this is what one can expect. Then Moses pushes the boundaries a little further – maybe 80…