Chapter 11

Where does Israel stand with God, therefore in the light of the new covenant, Jesus Christ? The question has existed in the church from Paul’s day. If faith in Christ is the entrance into the new covenant, what happens to all those Jews who don’t believe? The question has not only plagued the church, but has unfortunately also fueled much anti-Semitism throughout the centuries. I believe that anyone who has any anti-Semitic tendencies needs to read and take to heart what Paul is saying in the this chapter.

God’s Covenant Faithfulness does not Wane

Paul begins the argument with the question, “has God rejected hiss people?” Certainly not! It is through the covenant that God first established with Abraham and his descendants that the promise has been handed down. Israel was the first to receive the promises and the covenant of God. Throughout the Old Testament description of the loss of people in the records of the people’s lack of faithfulness toward God, the record indicates that God has always carried forward a remnant endowed with the promises that were made to Abraham and Sarah. It is through that remnant that grace has preceded.

Paul continues his argument with discussion of that remnant, those who have grasped the grace show through Jesus.

What of the others

Paul describes that the other have a vital place in the totality of God’s plan. They are described as those who have “stumbled.” That word stumbled and its nominative form, “stumbling block” (scandolon – scandal). The stumbling block is Christ. Throughout the telling of the gospel story the major stumbling block has been two fold. First, that Jesus could possibly be God. It is inconceivable that God who totally other could even appear in the form of human. Second, Jesus’ teachings appeared absolutely contrary to the teachings of the Torah. Jesus worked on the Sabbath when he healed the sick. Jesus touched and was touched by the unclean, lepers, women, tax collectors, and prostitutes. Jesus violated many of the koshrut laws. He appeared to be diametrically opposed to everything that self respecting “righteous” Jews believed was God’s law. Jesus was the stumbling block, the scandal. Yet, in the plan of salvation that God has established in the New Covenant, they play a role. Paul writes, “. . . through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles. . .” He continues, “For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be fur life from the dead.”

The Branches

Paul describes these as the branches that have fallen off of the olive tree, the root of the kingdom in order that others (Gentiles) wild olive branches can be grafted in so as to make them part of the total plant. He says, “. . . and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree. Do not boast of those branches.” There is no room for Gentile boasting. There is no room here for Gentile scorn or any kind toward the covenant people. This is a strong word to gentile anti-Semitism. There can be no room. God’s plan is ultimately when, “. . . the full number of the Gentiles has come in,” and then those branches are to be re-grafted that all of God’s covenant people will enter together. “And so all Israel will be saved.”

Paul reminds us that “as regard the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake, but as regard election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors, for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you (Gentiles) were disobedience to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have no been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.”

Let it be known, God does not elect a people and empower them to be a blessing to all the families of the world only to abandon them. In the economy of God’s salvation, nothing is lost. Even the temporary setback of which Paul speaks in their stumbling over Christ has become for “all the families of the world” a blessing for by it God has opened the door to the nations just as Isaiah and the prophets have said would happen. God is at work in all things reclaiming the world that has fallen.

Thursday, April 16, 2009