August 23, 2018
“The Gentile Great Commission”
Romans 11:11-12
Jennifer Norsworthy
Central Truth
Long ago, God spoke into motion His plan for causing His chosen people, Israel, to return to Him—by provoking them to jealousy through the Gentile believers in their promised Messiah.
Romans 11:11-12
Gentiles Grafted In
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 1 11:12 Greek their fullness mean!
Dive Deeper | Romans 11:11-12
Paul gives what many call "the Gentile Great Commission," wherein our salvation has been intended by God to provoke the Jewish people to jealousy. Until the Gentiles reach their fullness, we are part of God's plan for bringing salvation and restoration to the Jews. We see a picture of this in the book of Ruth, where a Gentile woman weds her Jewish kinsman redeemer, Boaz, and brings redemption to her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi. We, the Bride of Christ, are wed to our Jewish Redeemer, Yeshua; but He has not forgotten His chosen people, Israel, and intends that they be fully included in the inheritance that awaits us.
Israel's rejection of Christ was no surprise to God, but long before Paul wrote to the Romans, God revealed His plan for winning them back. He says, "Now I will rouse their jealousy through people who are not even a people; I will provoke their anger through the foolish Gentiles." (Deuteronomy 32:21b, NLT) Unfortunately, we have proven to be "foolish" at times throughout our church history and have often done more to provoke anger and isolation than jealousy. But God is a God of restoration, who is working all things together for the good of those who love Him, including Jews.
Paul says more riches will come to the world through Israel's full inclusion, so shouldn't we be striving to provoke them to jealousy? We do this by living lives that are attractive to them. There's no doubt that the Jewish people have a deep love and devotion for God, but they lack a relationship with Him, which is only possible through the precious blood of Jesus. Others should see a noticeable peace and freedom that overflows from our abiding relationship with God through our faith in His Son. Isaiah writes,
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." (Isaiah 52:7)
Let's strive to bring the good news of salvation to Israel by living attractive lives that draw them in!
This month's memory verse
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
– Romans 8:28
Discussion Questions
1. Read 1 Peter 3:15. In what ways does your relationship with the Lord attract others, making them "jealous" for what you have?
2. How would you describe the riches that have come to us as Gentiles through the stumbling of the Jews?
3. Christians often wonder, "How did the Jews miss it?" in terms of Christ's revelation at His first coming. How do you see God's sovereignty playing out in the temporary blindness of the Jewish people as a whole?
4. In 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Paul talks about our "ministry of reconciliation." How might our ministry of reconciliation toward the Jews differ from that of the rest of the unbelieving world?