CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Romans 11:25-36

Romans 9-11 are a single unit, dealing with the problem of Israel’s unbelief. God had given Christ to the world through the Jewish people. Though multitudes of Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire were responding to the message of Jesus, most Jews had rejected it. In chapter nine, Paul makes the case that not all biological descendents of Abraham are true children of the promise to Abraham. The promise of God was a gift, and couldn’t be inherited or earned. Chapter ten takes this argument to the next step. God had in fact rejected Israel for their unbelief, rather than Israel rejecting God. Paul brings his argument to a surprising conclusion in chapter eleven. God’s plan all along had been to ultimately save all of Israel. Rejection is not final!

The first ten verses of chapter eleven give Paul’s first reason that Israel is, in fact, not completely rejected by God. First of all, Paul himself is a Jew! Obviously not all Jews are cut off from grace, as Paul is both a Jew and a Christian. Paul again refers to the “remnant”. This is the idea of a people within a people whom God set apart, or “foreknew”. He references the well known story of Elijah, a faithful prophet who was persecuted during some of Israel’s darkest days of idol worship. Though the majority of people were in a spiritual “stupor”, God had reserved a host of faithful. Paul reminds his readers that this has always been the case. This remnant was not chosen by God because they kept a kosher table but because of God’s grace.

In verses 11-24, Paul gives the second reason behind Israel’s rejection. God used it to allow Gentiles the opportunity to become a part of His people. Israel had “stumbled”, but they had not fallen beyond recovery. Their rejection of Christ had first of all led to His saving death for all people, and then their rejection of the gospel led to its preaching among the Gentiles. In Numbers 15, God commands a pinch of dough made from the first grain harvest be offered to God, who would then declare the entire batch holy. The remnant of saved Israel is this first fruit offering. God will use them, along with the Gentiles who have been “grafted” into His people to save the entire race and fulfill the ultimate End of Days plan.

In Mediterranean olive groves, branches from wild olive trees were often grafted into sterile domestic plants to stimulate growth. The Gentiles were the wild branches, replacing those branches of God’s family tree (the Jewish race) that refused to believe in Christ, and joining those branches (the Jewish remnant) who believed. Paul is concerned that neither the Gentile nor the Jewish branches of the Roman church be conceited. All of them have been shown God’s kindness because they believed. Failure to continue in that belief will lead to God’s sternness! Paul reminds both groups that God’s ultimate plan is to use both the Israelite remnant and the Gentile believers to save all of Israel. The “mystery” here is this was God’s plan from the very beginning!

Today’s sermon will celebrate the unknowable mystery of God’s plan.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Have you ever known any Jewish people? Did you ever have a conversation with them about Jesus? What were their thoughts?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Israel was both a race and remnant.

• The Church today is a race and a remnant.

• God’s plan was to save all Israel.

• God’s plan is to save all of us!

This Week’s Assignment –

Take the next step in responding to God’s plan:

_____Believe

_____Repent

_____Baptism

_____Membership

_____Ministry

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Romans 10:5-15

Review: The heart of Romans is found in chapters 1-8. Here, Paul made the astoundingly convincing argument that a right relationship with God was made possible once and for all through Jesus, whose death fulfilled God’s plan for our redemption. His sacrifice was so complete that even Gentiles who place faith in Him experience righteousness. Chapter 8 punctuates this theme, proclaiming the good news that nothing can separate from God those who believe. This good news presented a problem, however. If God’s plan was so perfect, why had most Jews rejected it? The Jewish believers in both Jerusalem and Rome may have even accused Paul of forgetting about the lost children of Israel, believing God had given up on them. Paul addresses this in chps 9-11.

Paul spent chapter 9 explaining how God’s promises are only for those who believe. In chapter 10, he makes the case that Israel was rejected for failure to believe. He sets this idea up at the end of chapter 30, using the language of running. Israel had competed in a race to find righteousness, but had tripped! The Gentiles, in contrast, hadn’t even been in the race, yet had obtained this righteousness through belief. Righteousness in this case means the right standing with God required on the Day of Judgment. Israel, however, saw righteousness as a legal code that kept them separate from their pagan neighbors. Their passionate pursuit of righteousness came through behavior rather than belief, and even led them to kill, rather than love, their neighbor.

In the rabbinic tradition, when two scripture passages appeared to contradict each other, they were laid side by side along other scriptures in order to interoperate their meaning. Paul uses this technique in the heart of Romans 10, drawing on passages from Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Moses admits that following the Law means following all of it – an impossible task. Obtaining righteousness through the Law is as impossible as traveling to Heaven or Hell. Fortunately, such travels are unnecessary, as Christ already descended from Heaven and to Hell on our behalf. We obtain righteousness when we believe this in our hearts, and confess it with our mouths. These two acts aren’t about following a salvation formula, but submitting to the Lordship of Christ.

The final section of chapter 10 knocks out every excuse Israel could give for rejecting Christ. Righteousness is necessary for salvation from Judgment, and only those who “call on” (pray to) the Lord will obtain it. While multitudes of Gentiles have called on God by confessing Jesus as Lord, most of Israel, despite their zeal for righteousness, failed to make this call. Why? It’s not because they haven’t heard, for God sent them messengers throughout their history, culminating in Christ and continuing in the apostles. It’s not because they didn’t know the truth, as the very Law they are using in pursuit of righteousness reveals the truth. It comes down to a refusal to acknowledge that God accepts ALL who call on His name – even Gentiles.

Today’s sermon will examine this question: what does it mean to be saved?

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Are you a Christian? How do you know? How did you become one? What did you pray?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Israel behaved to be saved.

• Most today try to behave.

• God saved Jews and Gentiles who believed.

• God saves those who believe today.

This Week’s Assignment –

Take the next step in responding to God’s mercy:

_____Believe

_____Repent

_____Baptism

_____Membership

_____Ministry