Romans 11:1-10
Faithfulness on the Line
Has God rejected all his people?
Paul think this is the natural next question in people’s minds: “So, has God rejected his people?” Reflecting back on the last couple of weeks, why would this be the next natural question in the minds of his readers?
When you look around at the world, the church, the way you thought things would be, etc., do you ever ask that kind of question (“Has God given up on us? …on me?”)?
How does Paul go about answering this question?
“Of course not, because I’m an Israelite, and and I’m here!”
Also, God doesn’t reject those he foreknew. Those he decides to save, he saves!
And whether or not we see it, God always keeps a faithful remnant of people around.
How do Paul answers apply to your own life?
Have all God’s people rejected him?
Paul quotes Psalm 69, which is a song David wrote while begging for rescue from his fellow Israelites. Why do you think Paul quoted from this song in particular to help him make his point?
This Psalm (and many other parts of Scripture) recount the unfaithfulness of God’s people that doesn’t end in a happy ending of repentance, reconciliation, or restoration. How can the Scriptures help us navigate times where we feel like we’re watching God’s people go off the rails?
How are you inclined to respond?
Our Hope: God’s saving, adopting Spirit
Read John 5:37-40. Does this relate at all to what Paul might mean when he says Israel never found what it was looking for?
Romans 1 and Romans 9 have already talked about the idea of people’s hearts becoming hard, minds becoming futile, etc. How does this passage continue the conversation by helping us see the danger of God letting us chase after what we we want, what we think we need, where we’ll find it, etc.?
While a “spirit of stupor” might lock us into where our heart’s are naturally bent, Paul has already made it clear in previous passages that His Spirit of adoption, salvation, redemption, etc. is exactly what we need. Where should we turn, then, when we feel hopeless about the world, the church, or our own lives? What should we pray for?