Subject: “How much more their fullness” Romans 11:12
11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
Romans 11:11-12
INTRODUCTION
1. Is there a future for Israel?
2. Paul’s teaching on the subject may be misunderstood
a) By Jews
b) Be Gentiles
STUMBLING DIFFERENTIATED FROM FALLING
I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not!
Romans 11:11a
1. Did Israel stumble?
Yes!
2. Did they stumble so that they would fall and never rise again?
NO!
3. Paul was aware that his teaching on the stumbling of Israel could be misread and misunderstood
a) Stumbling is one thing
b) Falling without hope of restoration is another
c) Stumbling may be likened to backsliding
d) But God can heal the problem of backsliding Jeremiah 3
THE “FALL” OF ISRAEL CORRECTLY UNDERSTOOD
But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:11b
1. The “fall” of Israel
a) Stumbling that leads to a Fall
Yes!
b) This “fall” is not to be interpreted as the end of Israel
2. The salvation of the Gentiles
a) Israel had rejected the Lord
b) The invitation was now open to Gentiles (Acts 13:46-48)
c) Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14)
THE FUTURE OF A RESTORED ISRAEL
Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
Romans 11:12
1. The “fall” and “failure” of Israel
a) Riches for the world
b) Riches for the Gentiles
2. Spiritual riches
This is the focus
3. The “fullness” of Israel
a) Prophetic
b) Projection of a vision and hope
PROPHECIES OF A RESTORED ISRAEL
1. Isaiah 11 and 12
2. Jeremiah 29
3. Ezekiel 36
OUR CHALLENGE
1. To have greater knowledge of God’s plan
2. To pray for Israel
3. To be thankful for the blessings God has graciously bestowed on us