Romans 11-12

1. God Has Not Rejected His People

I’ll be reading from Romans 11 and chapter 12 from the American Standard Version. Romans 11, chapter 1. I say then, God has not rejected his people, has he? May it never be, for I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people, whom he foreknew. Or do you not know what the scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have torn down thine altars. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life. But what is the divine response to him? I have kept myself seven thousand men who have not bowed knee to Baal. In the same way, then there has also come to be at the same present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works. Otherwise, grace is no longer grace. What then? That which Israel is seeking for, it has not obtained. But those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened. Just as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not, and ears to hear not, down to this very day. And David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a retribution to them. Let their eyes be darkened to see not, and bend their knees forever. I say then, did they not stumble as to fall, did they? May it never be. By thy transgressions salvation has come to the Gentiles to make them jealous.

2. The Root Supports You

Now, if their transgression be riches for the world, and the failure be riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be? But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry. If somehow I might move to jealousy, my fellow countrymen and save some of them, for if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? And if the first piece of dough be holy, the lump is also, and if the root be holy, the branches are too. But if some other branches were broken off, and you being a wild olive and grafted in among them and became partakers of them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches.

But if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, branches were broken off, so that I might be grafted in. Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, and you stand only by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear. And if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Behold, then the kindness and severity of God to those who fall, severity, but to you God’s kindness. If you continue in his kindness, otherwise you will be cut off. And they also said, If they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut off, what by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature in a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

3. The Depth of His Riches

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your estimation that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And thus all Israel will be saved, just as it is written, the deliverer will come from Zion, he will remove ungodliness from Jacob, and this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins. From the standpoint of the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, in order that because of their mercy shown to you, they also may now be shown mercy.

4. Present Your Bodies a Living Sacrifice

For God has shut up all in his disobedience, that he might show mercy to all. On the depth of his riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgments, and unfathomable his ways. For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became his counselor, or who has first given to him that it might be paid back to him again? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever, amen. Chapter 12, verse 1. I urge you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, and which is good and acceptable and perfect.

5. Many Members in One Body

For though the grace be given to me, I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think so as you have sounded judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body, all the members do not have the same function. As we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly, if prophecy according to the proportion of his faith, if service to his serving, and he who teaches his teaching, and he who exhorts in his exhortation, and he who gives with liberality, he will lead with diligence, he who shows mercy with cheerfulness, let love be without hypocrisy, abhor what is evil, cleave to what is good.

6. Overcome Evil With Good

By being devoted to one another in brotherly love, give preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hostility. Bless those who persecute you, bless and curse not. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God.

For it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in doing so, you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.