Peter Barnes | Romans 11:11-14
SERMON NOTES
SALVATION THROUGH JEALOUSY
(Romans 11:11-14)
Augustine on Romans 9-11: ‘Here Paul begins to speak of his hope for the Jews, lest the Gentiles in their turn become condescending toward them. For just as the pride of the Jews had to be countered because they gloried in their works, so also with the Gentiles, lest they become proud at having been preferred over the Jews.’
1. The stumbling of Israel led to the salvation coming to the Gentiles.
– 11:11; see 9:32-33; Isa.49:4-6
– see Acts 13:42-52; 18:4-6; 28:17-29
2. This should make Israel jealous.
– 11:11, 13-14; jealousy is often a factor in conversion
– we must exude grace so that unbelievers will become jealous, and we must not write anyone off
3. Israel’s inclusion would mean unbounded blessing.
– 11:12; Paul’s desire and prayer in 10:1 is now raised as a real possibility; more to come in 11:25-26a.
– John Murray: ‘”The fulness of the Gentiles” denotes unprecedented blessing for them but does not exclude even greater blessing to follow.’