Romans Worksheet - Chapter 11

Introduction: 

Paul has referred to the history of Israel and the laws of Moses to tell us about God's law and how a man can not be justified through the law, but by grace alone through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  He has established this in Romans 1 - 8.  Those familiar with the Old Testament will surely want to know: "What about the nation of Israel?  What has happened, and what will happen, to Israel?" Paul will use the materials we have in Romans 9 - 11 to explain this to the readers of his letter to the Romans.

Romans Chapter 11

Paul says:  "I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He?  May it never be!"  vs. 1

1.  How does Paul describe himself in vs. 1? 1)2)3)

This is a great time to look at other verses of Paul's background and testimony.

What do you learn about Paul from the following passages of Scripture?

• Acts 26:1-23 -
• Galatians 1:13-17 -

2. Answer some questions from these passages:

From Acts 26:

• Was Paul once a Pharisee? 
• Did Paul feel he had to do things to harm the name of Jesus at one time? 
• What did he do to followers of Christ before he was converted?
• What did he try to force them to do?
• What happened to Paul on the way to Damascus to persecute Christians? 
• Who did Jesus say Paul was persecuting? 
• What was Paul commissioned to do for the Lord Jesus?

From Galatians 1:

• Was Paul zealous in his beliefs as a Pharisee in Judaism?  
• When did that change? 
• When did God set him apart for His calling? 
• What was His calling? 
• Are you surprised that God allowed him to do these things before He revealed Jesus to Him? 
• What are your thoughts related to your own life and call?

Back to Romans 11:

3.  Paul uses himself as an example of an Israelite that God has not rejected.  Paul reminds those who wonder about the election of Israel as God's people to remember what Elijah the prophet pleaded against them about. 

• What was his complaint? vs. 2-3 -
• What did God tell Elijah at that time? vs. 4 -
• How does this relate to the Israelites today? vs. 5 - 

4.  Do the Israelites gain favor by keeping the law?  

• What is the only basis of salvation for them? vs. 6 - 

5.  Read Romans 11:7-10.

• Which Israelites received what they were seeking? vs.7-
• What happened to the rest of them?vs. 7 -

Paul addressed this some in Romans 9 already. Review what he said.Romans 9:30-33 -

• How were these trying to acheive righteousness before God?
• What was their stumbling block? 
• What did they fail to do?

Paul quotes passages from the Old Testament to explain how the hearts of the Jews had hardened.

 Look these up and reply to the thoughts that follow them.

• Isaiah 6:8-10 -
• Isaiah 29:9-11-

6.  Even though Jesus told His disciples and the multitides that He was the subject of Psalms, the Prophets, and the Law of Moses, He had to open their eyes to understand it by the Holy Spirit, which is how we see the truths of God as believers of faith. 

What still happens to the majority of the Israelites at the reading of Moses and the Law? 

Do they see Jesus there? 

• Why or why not according to the following Scriptures? 2 Corinthians 3:14-17 -
• What must take place for them to finally see Jesus represented to them in the Old Testament Scriptures? 

7.  This is what happened to Paul and to each one of us that have been born again. 

Have you ever shared with a non-believing friend and got so frustrated because they could not see the same things in the Scriptures that seem so easy for you to see and accept by faith?

• Why is this so?
• 1 Corinthians 2:12-16 -

Back to Romans 11 -

Paul says:  "I say then, they (Israel) did not stumble so as to fall, did they?  May it never be!" vs. 11

8.  In God's plan, what does their hardness and non-acceptance of the Gospel bring about for the rest of the world (the Gentiles) ? vs. 11 -

9.  What does Paul look forward to concerning the future of the Israelites? vs. 11-15 -

How does Israel's rejecton of the Gospel bring riches to the world? How does their failure to receive by faith bring riches for the Gentiles?  Let's continue to see this ..... Jesus came for the lost house of Israel (Matthew 15:24)  The disciples whom He chose for His 12 apostles were Jewish men.  Jesus was born to the Jewish race.  The apostles took the Gospel to the Jews first.

What caused the apostles to turn from only delivering the Gospel message to the Jews..and take it to the Gentiles, the rest of the world?

• Acts 13:46-48 -
• Acts 18:5-6 -

This is why the Jews' rejection was riches for the Gentiles.  It is referring to all the riches (benefits) that come as a result of our relationship with Christ as believers.

10. What does Paul pray for all believers to realize?

• Ephesians 1:18-19 -

Back to Romans 11 -

Note:  Paul hopes that his ministry to the Gentiles might move some of his fellow countrymen of Israel to believe in the Gospel.  He knows that if the Jew's rejection brought reconciliation of the world to God, the Jew's acceptance of the Gospel will bring them life in place of their deadness of spirit. (vs. 14-15).  He will continue to explain that as the period of time for the Gentiles to believe comes to a closure, there will be a spiritual awakening to the Jews as prophesied in the Old Testament before the coming of the Messiah.  Read on to see how Paul explains this.

Read Romans 11:16-24.

11.  Paul is giving the visual of an olive tree.  He speaks to the Jews as the branches and the Gentiles as the wild olive that was grafted into the original tree by God's grace.

• Why were branches (Jews) of this tree broken off? vs. 20 -
• Why do those (Gentiles) grafted in by faith stand? vs. 20

We should not be arrogant of the fact that Gentiles have been grafted into the root of Jewish faith.  It was by God's grace and doing and we should be in awe of what has been accomplished for us and not be arrogant toward the Jews.  God is not finished with them yet as Paul will continue to explain.

12. What is the mystery Paul wants us to be aware of? vs. 25 -

13. What will happen after the fulness of the Gentiles come in by faith? vs. 26-27 -

Note:  This promise of the Indwelling Holy Spirit to the nation of  Israel was prophesied in the Old Testament and was pictured or foreshadowed in all of the temple requirements, sacrifices, feasts, etc.  They were taught from the Prophets that God would send HIs Holy Spirit through a new covenant that would no longer be on the outside leading them, but would indwell them and change their hearts.  Let's look at some of those passages:

• Isaiah 59:19-21 -
• Who will be redeemed in Israel? vs. 20 -
• Jeremiah 31:33-34 -
• Ezekiel 36:22-27 -

14. Please read the event that happens prior to this outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the remnant of believing Jews:

• Zechariah 12:8 - 13:1 -

Note:  Summary of what many scholars believe this is representing -  1) The fulness of the Gentiles would be the last Gentile that will believe before Jesus gathers the believers to Himself in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) .... ....2) After the rapture of the church, the wrath of God will come through the tribulation period on all of the earth, but it will be especially hard on Israel as a nation.  There will be a period of peace when a world ruler makes a peace treaty with Israel for seven years, but then he will break it in the middle of that time.  There will be 3-1/2 yrs of peace followed by 3-1/2 yrs of horrible persecution and plagues as the end of all things will be here.  This world ruler will be the anti-Christ.  ... 3) When Christ comes with His saints to be glorified at the end of that period of time and to set up His kingdom on earth, the remnant of believing Jews that have escaped to the mountains will see Him come.  This is when the fulfillment of Zechariah 12:8 - 13:1 takes place when they see with their eyes the One their ancestors crucified and they will mourn for Him as an only Son.

15. Then, it says that they will drink of the fountain for cleansing from the sin which is representative of the indwelling Holy Spirit we have experienced as described in John Chapter 7:

• John 7:37-39 -
• What had to happen before anyone could receive the Holy Spirit? vs. 39
• What would the Holy Spirit produce in a believer's life? vs. 38 -
• Who can partake of the Holy Spirit of God? vs. 37 -

16. This has explained when Israel will be grafted back in to the olive tree with those who have already been believers in Jesus. 

Currently, the individual Jews that come to faith in Christ are part of the Lord's church body, one body.

• 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 -
• Ephesians 3:4-6 -

Jews & Gentiles - In One Body - The Church

Let's Finish Romans 11 -

Read Romans 11:28-36

17. From the standpoint of the Gospel, they are enemies of it for the Gentile's sake, but from the standpoint of God's plan they are beloved for the sake of the fathers of faith (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.)...

• Does God ever change His mind about the gifts He gives or the callings He bestows? vs. 29 -
• How does this comfort you in your life?

Paul explains how the disobedience of the Israelites opened up the way for the Gentiles to come in by faith.  We were shown mercy by God's grace and that is the same way that they will come in as well, by God's grace and God's mercy upon them.

18. Why has God shown us throughout this letter to the Romans that we cannot obey His laws? vs. 32 -

19. This sends Paul into a praise session and it should us as well!

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" vs. 33

• Fill in the blanks from verse 36 - "For _____Him and ______Him and _____Him are all things.  To Him be the _____forever. Amen."

Application:

As the world events are centered around the nation of Israel today more and more, we can see that all things are coming together for the very last days of this earth as we know it.  Spend time thanking God for justifying you and bringing you into the riches of Christ's glory and the inheritance of the saints!  Thank Him for the nation of Israel and all that He will do to bring them back to Himself and fulfill His promises of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them.  Thank Him for the Spirit that we freely drink of each and every day.  Amen!

Your summary and prayer today:

 

Written by Brenda LeMoine for Heart & Home Bible Fellowship© with permission to use on RTB sites only. For personal or ministry related use, please email Brenda for permission and conditions.