Clarity in the Confusion (Romans 11)

Romans 11 is a notoriously difficult chapter, one that provokes as many questions as it provides answers.  It is easy to get caught up on what we don't understand rather than what we do understand.  But we should not let the clear lessons of the chapter get lost in what confuses us.

Romans 11 is part of a three chapter set (9-11) where Paul answers the question what does the Gospel mean for God's relationship with Israel?  Does the rejection of the Law as a source of righteousness mean that Israel is no longer a "chosen people?"  Does it mean that the Jews have no special place in God's plan?  Reading through these chapters, Paul's answer is a clear no.  Paul still believes that there is great advantage in being a Jew and that God's calling of Israel has not been revoked.  We need to be careful not to assume that we instantly understand all that Israel's continued call means.  Lessons from this chapter need to be carefully drawn when one is going to apply them to contemporary Middle East politics. Still, Paul is clear that Israel still has a special place in God's heart.

I see several clear lessons here in Romans 11:

1. God has not rejected Israel.  The Jewish people still have a place in God's heart.  God continues to offer the Jewish people righteousness, only this righteousness is not found in the stipulations of the covenant but through faith in Jesus and the work that He has done. 

2. Gentile Christians should never harbor anti-Semitic sentiments.  God has not rejected the Jewish people.  His gifts and call are irrevocable.  Instead, we should have humility, knowing that we too are rejected without faith. We should have a heart for Jews to have faith in Jesus just like we have a heart for all peoples to know Christ.

3. Israel remains the root of Gentile salvation.  Jesus was a Jew.  His story unfolds out of Judaism.  Gentile Christians are grafted into God's work that began with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Gentile Christians should be thankful for Israel because without Israel there would be no salvation for us.