罗马书［第11章］
Book of Romans 11
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罗马书［第11章|Book of Romans 11【神救赎计划的奥秘】
09/12/2021
引言:
从一开始读罗马书到现在，我们都不难发现焦点一直围绕在两组人身上，以色列和外邦人。在9-11章中更是围绕着神对这两组人救赎计划的争论性。甚至取代神学也认为，因为以色列人的悖逆和硬颈，神已经弃绝了他们，并以外邦教会取代了对以色列的拣选。但，今天来到11章，使徒保罗除了继续强调神的信实和恩典，他更揭开了神对以色列未来的计划。主题：神救赎计划的奥秘。
一、神没弃绝以色列（V1-10）
我且说，神弃绝了他的百姓么？断乎没有！因为我也是以色列人，亚伯拉罕的後裔，属便雅悯支派的。2神并没有弃绝他预先所知道的百姓。你们岂不晓得经上论到以利亚是怎么说的呢？他在神面前怎样控告以色列人说：
3主阿，他们杀了你的先知，拆了你的祭坛，只剩下我一个人，他们还要寻索我的命。4神的回话是怎么说的呢？他说：我为自己留下七千人，是未曾向巴力屈膝的。5如今也是这样，照着拣选的恩典，还有所留的馀数。
从第10章的结尾，我们知道说以色列当时的属灵状况对神来说，依然是悖逆顶嘴的百姓。因此，有人就认为神弃绝了他们。
弃绝=完全放弃
保罗再次以自问自答的方式提问：“神真的完全放弃了祂的选民吗？绝对没有！”信实神绝对没有完全弃绝祂的选民。而其中最好的证据就是使徒自己。一个蒙恩，主亲自来到大马色路上来救赎的犹太人。保罗接着也引用神如何回答以利亚先知说‘祂为自己留下7千人，是未曾向巴力屈膝的’，来加强神对选民不弃绝的论点。并且‘照着神拣选的恩典，其实神在以色列不信的人当中兴起了一群人来作为自己的余民。因此，我们知道说取代神学的教义是不属实的。取代神学认为教会在神的计划中已经代替了以色列。取代神学的拥护者们相信犹太人不再是神的选民，神已经弃绝了以色列，并且神对以色列的未来再也没有特别的计划了。
但是今天我们回顾以色列的历史，纵然以色列悖逆不信神，但神对选民的保护和计划，可以从许多中东的争战中，神如何使以色列神迹般的得胜看出来。并且，在这些心里昏迷，眼睛不能看见，耳朵不能听见，常常在自己当行的路上，自我放下绊脚石的以色列选民当中，神依然为自己存留了不少余民。因此，我们看到近年来，越来越多的弥赛亚信徒被兴起，并且肩负使命，勇敢的把福音传给自己的同胞。
我们感恩神让教会有机会在这些弥赛亚信徒的事工上有份参与奉献来资助他们。弟兄姐妹，我们也要积极的来为这一群把生命献上为主福音火热的弥赛亚信徒来代祷代求，因为以色列当中还有很多不信耶稣是弥赛亚的犹太人。
V6-10说到神给他们昏迷的心，眼睛不能看见，耳朵不能听见，其实是因为人对神的态度出了问题，当人始终悖逆顽梗不化，死不悔改的时候，神就会任凭他们。所以这也再次提醒我们，神出于恩典使我们得救，也以恩典帮助我们不断的让真理来调整我们的生命。所以当我们听见了圣灵的提醒，就不可硬着心抹杀圣灵的感动，不然神就会任凭我们陷入到蒙蔽的里面，导致灵命不但停顿无法成长，更会倒退陷在罪中都不自觉。
二、救恩临到外邦人（V11-24）
1. 外邦蒙恩激动以色列（V11-15）
11我且说，他们失脚是要他们跌倒么？断乎不是！反倒因他们的过失，救恩便临到外邦人，要激动他们发愤。12若他们的过失，为天下的富足，他们的缺乏，为外邦人的富足；何况他们的丰满呢？13我对你们外邦人说这话；因我是外邦人的使徒，所以敬重（原文作：荣耀）我的职分，14或者可以激动我骨肉之亲发愤，好救他们一些人。15若他们被丢弃，天下就得与神和好；他们被收纳，岂不是死而复生么？
失脚=可以重新站起来
跌倒=含有永远毁灭的意思
使徒保罗在这里指出，犹太人在基督这绊脚石上失脚，但神并没有要让他们永远毁灭，而是希望他们能重新站起来。所以，因着他们拒绝福音，救恩就临到外邦。神把原本属于亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各后裔的祝福，都赐给外邦信徒，使他们的生命丰盛到一个地步，目的是要让以色列百姓看了都嫉妒，借此激动他们发奋回转归向神。
我觉得我们对这段经文，可以有2个回应： 首先当神呼召我们，不论是全职或为主去成就某些托付时，我们要珍惜机会，快快回应神。因为当人的心刚硬，不顺服神时，神的作为或计划是不会被人的悖逆所拦阻。神随时都可以兴起其他人来完成祂的旨意。
其次，让我们成为那活出蒙福胜万民的生命，让我们这充满属灵福气，富足丰满的生命，让未信者看了都嫉妒，借此激动他们来认识我们的神。
2. 外邦蒙恩坚信不夸口（V16-22）
16所献的新面若是圣洁，全团也就圣洁了；树根若是圣洁，树枝也就圣洁了。17若有几根枝子被折下来，你这野橄榄得接在其中，一同得着橄榄根的肥汁，18你就不可向旧枝子夸口；若是夸口，当知道不是你托着根，乃是根托着你。19你若说，那枝子被折下来是特为叫我接上。20不错！他们因为不信，所以被折下来；你因为信，所以立得住；你不可自高，反要惧怕。21神既不爱惜原来的枝子，也必不爱惜你。22可见神的恩慈和严厉，向那跌倒的人是严厉的，向你是有恩慈的；只要你长久在他的恩慈里，不然，你也要被砍下来。
橄榄根=比喻神与亚伯拉罕所立的约
野橄榄=外邦信徒。
枝子=不信的以色列人
我们知道说使徒保罗写罗马书的其中一个目的，是要那些认为自己已经取代了以色列人在神心目中的地位的外邦信徒知道，他们能够成为属灵的以色列人，被圈在神与亚伯拉罕所立的约中，是因为有几根枝子被折下来，才有机会被接上了好橄榄树的根。所以外邦信徒欠了以色列人福音的债，因此不可向他们夸口。这也正是之前所提到的，那些取代神学的拥护者们所夸口的。这样的夸口其实是忘恩负义的表现。
很多基督徒不明白为什么611教会常要与以色列挂钩，认为我们是‘亲以色列’。很常有这样思想的人是因为不明白神的心意，不晓得我们的蒙恩是和以色列有关。
俗语说，受人恩惠千年记。这里也提醒我们不可忘恩。无论是对养育我们的父母，还是神在我们生命里，给我们安排的属灵长辈、同伴、对我们生命说真话的人，我们都要有感恩的心。
此外，使徒也提醒外邦信徒，不可忽略神的恩慈和严厉。神可以接上，也可以砍下。以色列因为不信所以被砍下。神即不爱惜原来的枝子，更何况是我们这些野橄榄呢？以色列的不信是什么呢？用理性、行为、情感或意志来冒充的，外在的假信心，这样的信必然会被砍下来。
例子：神在这段时间一直在调整我的行为导向、靠自己的服事。星期一虽是休息日，都是很紧张的在写晨祷、忙教会的事，很常压力睡不着。但是最近圣灵却要我放下，星期一出外走走。。。靠圣灵就发现到不再压力，照样可以完成，而且还可以睡。
神不无缘无故地把人从树上折下来或接上，神这样做是根据他们的信。所以我们要学会非势力非才能，也不靠自己的聪明或方式来得人的肯定，或借此表明对主的信心。反之，唯有在基督里，紧紧依靠神，就像师母昨天讲的，要越老越单纯的来坚定信靠神，好叫我们长久在祂的恩慈里不被砍下。
三、息息相关的奥秘（V23-32）
23而且他们若不是长久不信，仍要被接上，因为神能够把他们从新接上。24你是从那天生的野橄榄上砍下来的，尚且逆着性得接在好橄榄上，何况这本树的枝子，要接在本树上呢！25弟兄们，我不愿意你们不知道这奥秘（恐怕你们自以为聪明），就是以色列人有几分是硬心的，等到外邦人的数目添满了，26於是以色列全家都要得救。如经上所记：必有一位救主从锡安出来，要消除雅各家的一切罪恶；27又说：我除去他们罪的时候，这就是我与他们所立的约。28就着福音说，他们为你们的缘故是仇敌；就着拣选说，他们为列祖的缘故是蒙爱的。29因为神的恩赐和选召是没有後悔的。30你们从前不顺服神，如今因他们的不顺服，你们倒蒙了怜恤。31这样，他们也是不顺服，叫他们因着施给你们的怜恤，现在也就蒙怜恤。32因为神将众人都圈在不顺服之中，特意要怜恤众人。
这段经文要带出的是，神对以色列人的拣选是没有后悔的。他们只是暂时心硬不信神所赐给他们的救恩。就如在竹棚节时，George Annadurai 牧师和我们分享的，等到外邦人的数目填满的时候，以色列就要得救。当神的选民和外邦教会合而为一的时候，全世界就会认识神的救恩，那也将是耶稣基督荣耀再来的时候。
所以，以色列人和外邦信徒的命运是息息相关，不但不能彼此代替，反而是相铺相成的。这就是神对选民和外邦人救赎计划的奥秘。
从原本属于以色列的救恩，因着他们的不信，临到外帮人。赐福给外帮人，丰盛到以色列最终感到嫉妒，被激动而回转领受这原本属于他们的救恩。这是神奥秘的智慧。
感恩神让教会有机会制作希伯来的诗歌，让我们录制了华语的以色列国歌。就像牧师说的，当以色列人听到我们这些黄皮肤的中国人唱他们的国歌，唱希伯来诗歌赞美他们祖宗的神，一定会感到非常惊讶。我相信，他们必能感受神对他们的怜悯，而领受这原本属于他们的救恩。
四、颂赞神奥秘智慧（V33-36） 33深哉，神丰富的智慧和知识！他的判断何其难测！他的踪迹何其难寻！34谁知道主的心？谁作过他的谋士呢？35谁是先给了他，使他後来偿还呢？36因为万有都是本於他，倚靠他，归於他。愿荣耀归给他，直到永远。阿们！
神的判断何其难测和深奥，非我们的心灵能完全领会。他行事的踪迹，即他如何安排万物的创造、历史的发展、救赎和神能，都远超过我们有限的理解。因此，使徒保罗以颂赞全能的神为这章经文作为结束。神是独立自足的。祂是一切美善的源头，祂是维系并控制整个宇宙如何运作的总舵主。这样一位全能，可敬可畏的神，竟然愿意与我们分享祂的心意和计划。又以祂的怜悯公义来托着我们，其爱至深，浩大的恩典，我们能做的也只有以一生的敬畏和颂赞，顺服完成祂所托付的，叫一切的荣耀都归给祂!
总结：
神对以色列的救赎永远没有改变。我们是因他们才蒙恩得赎的。我们今天得以进入基督弥赛亚的救恩计划里，不但不可自夸乃，相反的我们要不住感恩，更要明白神的心意，要接下把福音传回耶路撒冷的使命和托付，使神要外邦和以色列合而为一的救赎奥秘得以成就。让全地都齐声来颂赞这位有丰富的智慧和行事奥秘可畏的神!
Romans 11: The Mystery of God's Plan of Salvation
GK611 Morning Devotion
09/12/2021
Speaker: Ps Deborah + Rev. David Tan
Introduction:
From the very beginning of our reading of Romans until now, it is easy to see that the focus has been centered on two groups of people, Israel and the Gentiles. In chapters 9-11 it even revolves around the controversial nature of God's plan of salvation for these two groups. Even replacement theology holds that because of Israel's rebellion and stiff neck, God has rejected them and replaced the chosen people of Israel with the Gentile church. However, today in chapter 11, the apostle Paul not only continues to emphasize the faithfulness and grace of God, but he also unveils God's plan for Israel's future. The theme: The mystery of God's plan of salvation.
1. God Has Not Abandoned Israel (V1-10)
1I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
From the end of chapter 10, we know that the spiritual condition of Israel at that time was still a disobedient and contrary people.” to God. Therefore, some people thought that God had abandoned them.
Abandonment = To give up completely
Paul again asks the question in a self-questioning manner, "Has God really completely abandoned His chosen people? Absolutely not!" The faithful God has definitely not completely abandoned His chosen people. And the best proof of this is the apostle himself. A Jew who was blessed with the grace that the Lord Himself came to the road to Damascus to redeem him. Paul then also quotes how God answered the prophet Elijah, saying, 'He left 7,000 for Himself, who had not bowed down to Baal', to strengthen the argument that God does not abandon the chosen people. And 'according to the grace of God's election, God actually raised up a people among the unbelievers of Israel as His own remnant. Therefore, we know that the doctrine of replacement theology is untrue. Replacement theology holds that the church has replaced Israel in the plan of God. Proponents of replacement theology believe that the Jews are no longer God's chosen people, that God has abandoned Israel, and that God has no more special plans for Israel's future.
But as we look back at the history of Israel today, even though Israel was rebellious and unbelieving, God's protection and plan for His chosen people can be seen in how God brought about miraculous victories for Israel in many of the battles in the Middle East. Moreover, among these chosen Israelites, who were in a heavy in their hearts, unable to see with their eyes or hear with their ears, and who often put down stumbling blocks in their own way, God still kept a remnant for Himself. Thus, we see in recent years, more and more Messianic believers have been raised up, and have taken up the mission to boldly preach the gospel to their own countrymen.
We are thankful that God has given the church the opportunity to participate in the ministry of these Messianic believers by giving to support them. Brothers and sisters, we also need to actively intercede for this group of fervent Messianic believers who have given their lives to the gospel of the Lord, because there are still many Jews in Israel who do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah.
V6-10 speaks of God “God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, actually because of man's faulty attitude toward God, and when man remains rebellious and stubborn and unrepentant, God will let them be. So this reminds us once again that God has saved us by grace, and by grace He helps us to constantly let the truth adjust our lives. Therefore, when we hear the reminder of the Holy Spirit, we must not harden our hearts to reject the moving of the Holy Spirit, otherwise God will allow us to fall into obscurity, resulting in a spiritual life that not only stops and fails to grow, but also falls back into sin without even realizing it.
2. Salvation to the Gentiles (V11-24)
（1）Gentile Received Grace Excites Israel (v11-15)
11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their [b]fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their [c]fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? Stumbled=you can get back on your feet.
Fall= Contains the meaning of eternal destruction.
The apostle Paul points out here that the Jews stumbled on the stumbling block of Christ, but God did not want them to be destroyed forever, but wanted them to rise up again. Therefore, because of their rejection of the gospel, salvation came to the Gentiles. God gave to the Gentile believers all the blessings that originally belonged to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so that their lives might be enriched to a point that the people of Israel might look upon them with jealousy, and by this they might be stirred up to turn to God.
I think we can have 2 responses to this passage.
Firstly, when God calls us, whether it is full time or to fulfill some commission for the Lord, we should cherish the opportunity to respond to God quickly. For God's works or plans are not hindered by man's rebellion when his heart is hardened and disobedient to God. God can always raise up others to accomplish His will.
Secondly, let us become the life that lives blessed over all nations, so that our life, which is full of spiritual blessings and abundance, may make unbelievers jealous when they look at it, and thereby excite them to come to know our God.
(2) The Gentiles are convinced not to boast (v16-22)
16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and [d]fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, [e]goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
Root of the olive tree= The covenant God made with Abraham
Wild Oliver Tree= Gentiles
Branches= The unbelieving Israelis
We know that one of the purposes of saying that the apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans was to let those Gentile believers who thought they had taken the place of Israel in the heart of God know that they were able to become spiritual Israelites and were enclosed in the covenant God made with Abraham because a few branches were broken down to have the opportunity to be grafted in to the root of the good olive tree. So the Gentile believers were in debt to Israel for the gospel, and therefore were not to boast about it to them. This is exactly what the proponents of replacement theology boasted about, as mentioned before. Such boasting is actually a sign of ungratefulness.
Many Christians do not understand why the 611 church is often linked to Israel, thinking that we are 'pro-Israel'. Very often those who think this way do so because they do not understand the heart of God and do not know that our blessing is linked to Israel.
As the saying goes, "A thousand years of grace is remembered. Here we are also reminded not to forget our graces. Whether it is to our parents who raised us, or to the spiritual elders, companions, and people who speak truth to our lives that God has placed in our lives, we must have a grateful heart.
In addition, the apostle also reminded the Gentile believers that they should not neglect the kindness and severity of God. God can either pick up or cut down. Israel was cut down because of unbelief. Even God does not love the original branch, let alone us wild olives. What was Israel's unbelief? It was a false faith, reasoning, behavior, emotion, or will, and such a faith is bound to be cut down.
Example: God has been redirecting my behavior and relying on my ministry during this time. Although Monday was a day of rest, I was very stressed out writing Morning Devotion and working on church matters, and I was often too stressed to sleep. But recently, the Holy Spirit asked me to let go and go out on Monday. By the Holy Spirit, I found that I was no longer stressed, and I could still finish my work and sleep.
God does not bend or join people from the tree for no reason, but He does so according to their faith. So we must learn not by might nor by power, , nor to rely on our own cleverness or ways to come to the affirmation of men, or to use it to show our faith in the Lord. Instead, we must cling to God in Christ, as our Shimu said yesterday, and trust Him more and more simply as we grow older, so that we may not be cut down in His goodness for a long time.
3. The Mystery of Interdependence (V23-32)
23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own [f]opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be [g]saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins. ”28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has [h]committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
What this passage is trying to bring out is that the choosing of God was without regret. They were only temporarily hardened in their hearts against the salvation that God had given them. As Pastor George Annadorai shared with us at the Feast of Tabernacles, Israel will be saved when the number of the Gentiles is filled. When God's chosen people and the Gentile church are one, the world will know God's salvation and that will be the glorious return of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, the destinies of the Israelites and the Gentile believers are closely related, and not only cannot replace each other, but are mutually reinforcing. This is the mystery of God's plan of salvation for the chosen people and the Gentiles.
From the salvation that originally belonged to Israel, it came to the Gentiles through their unbelief. The blessing was given to the Gentiles so abundantly that Israel eventually felt jealous and was excited to turn back and receive the salvation that originally belonged to them. This is the wisdom of the mystery of God.
Grateful to God for giving the church the opportunity to produce Hebrew worship songs and for allowing us to record the Israeli national anthem in Chinese. As the pastor said, the Israelites will be surprised when they hear us yellow-skinned Chinese singing their national anthem and Hebrew worship praising the God of their ancestors. I believe that they will be able to feel God's mercy on them and receive this salvation that originally belongs to them.
4. Praise the mysterious wisdom of God (V33-36)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
God's judgments are so inscrutable and profound that they cannot be fully comprehended by our minds. The traces of his actions, that is, how he arranged the creation of all things, the development of history, salvation, and divine power, are far beyond our limited understanding. Therefore, the apostle Paul concludes this chapter with the praise of the Almighty God. God is independent and self-sufficient. He is the source of all goodness, and He is the mastermind who sustains and controls how the entire universe works. It is amazing that such an all-powerful, awesome and fearful God would be willing to share His heart and plan with us. And He holds us in His mercy and righteousness. His love is so deep and His grace so great that all we can do is to obediently fulfill what He has entrusted to us with a lifetime of reverence and praise, so that all the glory may be given to Him!
Conclusion:
God's salvation for Israel has never changed. It is through them that we are redeemed by grace. Today we have entered into Christ's Messianic plan of salvation, and not only should we not boast, but on the contrary we should not cease to be thankful, but we should understand God's heart, and take up the mission and commission to bring the gospel back to Jerusalem, so that the mystery of salvation, in which God wants the Gentiles and Israel to be one, may be accomplished. Let all the earth join their voices in praising this God, who is rich in wisdom and who acts in mysterious and fearful ways!
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