The Probability of Impossibility

August 4, 2024

Romans 11:11-24

1. The Results of Israel’s Partial Rejection and Hardening Are Not Hopeless!

a. Salvation Has Come to the Gentiles. (Vs. 11, Acts 18:5-6)

Acts 18:5-6, “When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself to preaching the word and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. When they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.””

b. God Uses Gentile Salvation to Prompt Israel’s Response. (Vs. 12-14, Acts 13:46-47)

Acts 13:46-47, “Paul and Barnabas boldly replied, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.””

2. God Has Not Forsaken Israel!

a. Some Will be Saved to the Benefit of Others. (Vs. 15)

b. Israel’s Remnant Represents Its Foundation. (Vs. 16, John 4:22-23)

John 4:22-23, “You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.”

3. Church:

a. We are Saved to Save! (Vs. 17)

b. You are Saved Through Israel. (Vs. 18)

c. God Hasn’t Stopped Loving Israel; However, Love Alone Doesn’t Remove Judgment. (Vs. 19-22, Heb 10:26-27)

Hebrews 10:26-27, “For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.”

d. God Alone Has the Power to Save the Dead. (Vs. 23-24; Luke 1:37, 18:24-27)

Luke 1:37, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 18:24-27, “Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?” He replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.””