Romans Week 8 | The God Who Restores

INTRODUCTION

Last week, we looked closely at Paul’s powerful message in Romans 10:

• The gospel is near

• It’s accessible

• Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

We saw that salvation isn’t earned — it’s received by faith...And we were reminded that this good news must be shared, because faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ.

But after announcing this wide-open invitation to salvation, Paul knows an important question remains — a question heavy on his Jewish readers’ hearts and still relevant for us today:

• If the gospel is for everyone, what about Israel?

• If God’s promises are unbreakable… why don’t Paul’s own people believe?

• Has Israel missed its chance?

• Has God moved on?

Romans 11 is Paul’s pastoral and theological answer.

He shows us God is NOT done with Israel. Not then. Not now.

Even though many rejected Christ, God has always preserved a remnant — a faithful group chosen by grace...And just as the gospel opened the door for Gentiles to be grafted into the family of God, the story isn’t finished:

God still has a redemptive plan for Israel.

• Romans 10 → The open door of salvation

• Romans 11 → God never closes a door He promised to keep open

Romans 11 is about God’s faithfulness, His mercy, and His unstoppable plan — a plan that humbles us, expands our perspective, and ends with Paul bursting into worship:

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!”

“Church, Romans 11 reminds us: even when you don’t understand God’s plan, you can trust God’s heart. He hasn’t dropped Israel, and He hasn’t dropped you.”

“You ever try to follow GPS, and it suddenly yells: Recalculating… Romans 11 is Paul saying: God doesn’t recalculate. His route never fails.”

POINT 1 — GOD HAS NOT REJECTED HIS PEOPLE

SCRIPTURE — ROMANS 11:1–5 (ESV)

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

EXEGESIS HIGHLIGHTS

Paul begins with a bold question:

“Has God rejected His people?” Answer: “By no means!”

Even though many in Israel rejected Christ, God’s faithfulness hasn’t changed. Paul uses himself as living proof: “I myself am an Israelite… God hasn’t rejected me.”

Then he reminds us of Elijah, who thought he was the only faithful believer left. But God said: “I have kept for Myself seven thousand…”

God always preserves a remnant.

Not because they earned it. Not because they were stronger. Because they were chosen by grace.

Paul continues by showing how God’s redemptive plan works through Israel’s stumbling and extends salvation to the Gentiles.

SCRIPTURE — ROMANS 11:6–16 (ESV)

6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” 9 And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; 10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.” 11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! 13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 If the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

EXEGESIS HIGHLIGHTS 

• Grace and works cannot be mixed. ("Otherwise grace would no longer be grace.")

• Israel’s unbelief = temporary hardening

• Their stumbling opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles

• Gentile inclusion is part of God’s design, not an accident

APPLICATION 

• Don’t interpret present circumstances as God abandoning His promises.

• Even when culture rejects Christ, God still has His people.

• If you ever feel like Elijah — “Lord, am I the only one?” — you’re not.

• God’s plan includes both Israel AND Gentiles — one redeemed family.

“Church, when it looks like everything is falling apart, heaven is not panicking. God always has a remnant, and His grace is always one step ahead of our mess.”

POINT 2 — GENTILES ARE GRAFTED IN BY MERCY

SCRIPTURE — ROMANS 11:17–22 (ESV)

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off.

EXEGESIS HIGHLIGHTS 

Paul shifts images now from remnant → olive tree.

Israel = natural branches Gentiles = wild branches grafted in

This is a powerful picture:

We didn’t replace Israel. We were invited into their story.

And how were we grafted in?

By mercy — not merit.

• The “root” = God’s covenant promises

• We stand by faith, not superiority

• Pride has no place in the family of God

• The kindness AND severity of God remind us to stay humble

APPLICATION

• No believer should look down on Israel.

• Our posture must be humility: “I am here because of mercy ”

• When we remember grace, awe returns.

“If we’re the wild branches, nobody needs to be strutting around the tree. We’re not the reason it’s alive — we’re the ones hanging on by grace.”

POINT 3 — GOD’S PLAN ENDS IN RESTORATION

SCRIPTURE — ROMANS 11:25–32 (ESV)

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; 27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” 28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Now Paul lifts our eyes to the end of the story.

A partial hardening has come on Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.

But the hardening is not permanent. It has an expiration date.

Then comes a stunning promise: “And in this way all Israel will be saved.”

This means: A future, large-scale turning of the Jewish people to Jesus.

God is faithful to His promises. And the God who started the story with Abraham will finish it in Christ.

Israel dispersed — but not destroyed. Preserved for future restoration. The remnant held the line until the day God finishes His promise.

SCRIPTURE — ROMANS 11:33–36 (ESV) 

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Here we see Paul Worship!

APPLICATION 

• God sees the whole picture.

• His promises are unbreakable.

• Worship is the only right response.

• When it’s all finished, every ounce of glory belongs to Him.

“We don’t have to connect all the dots to worship the Creator. Romans 11 invites us to put down the whiteboard and lift up our hands.”

GOSPEL CONNECTION & CONCLUSION

Romans 11 shows us God’s heart:

He does not give up on people. Not Israel. Not the Gentiles. Not you.

Israel stumbled, but God didn’t walk away. He preserved a remnant, kept His promise, and extended mercy.

The same pattern unfolds for us:

• We rebelled — God pursued

• We wandered — Christ came near

• We were broken branches — Jesus was broken for us

Salvation is not achieved by effort. It is received by mercy.

Everything God does flows from the mercy revealed in Christ — mercy extended to every sinner who believes.

Paul ends in worship — and so should we.

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever.”