Here are some of the treasures I discovered while reading and studying Romans chapter 11. I hope this blog post brings you encouragement!

Romans 11:6 says,
And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.  (NLT)  

I really like these commentary notes on this verse from Andrew Wommack’s Living Commentary:

“Paul stated the doctrine of justification by grace through faith so clearly in his writings that any person who claims to believe the Bible has to acknowledge this truth. However, one of Satan’s cleverest deceptions is to take a truth and add to it until it is no longer the truth. Lest that happen with this doctrine of grace, Paul stated emphatically that we cannot combine anything with God’s grace as a requirement for salvation.

In the same way that gasoline and water don’t mix, so grace and works will not mix. Justification has to be all works or all grace, but not a combination of the two.

In this epistle, Paul repeatedly made his point of justification by grace through faith. He repeatedly stressed that faith is the only requirement on our part. Here he was repeating that point once again in perhaps his clearest words yet. Still, an abundance of religious people today cannot accept the fact that all we have to do is to believe to receive God’s grace (Romans 5:2). This verse leaves no alternatives.”

Romans 11:8 says, 
As the Scriptures say, “God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day He has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.” (NLT)  

Andrew Wommack’s commentary notes:

“2 Peter 3:9 clearly says that the Lord is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” So, we can rest assured that the Lord didn’t prevent these people from being saved. No! They had already rejected God and His wooing, so He just upheld their choice and hardened their hearts even further so that they couldn’t believe. It’s like it says in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12.“

Now let me suggest you re-read these verses in 2 Thessalonians including the 3 verses preceeding 11&12. Here they are: 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12

Did you catch that in the 2nd part of verse 10? “because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” 

Like 2 Peter 3:9 says, “God is not willing that any should perish.”

Romans 11:17 says,
But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.  (NLT) 

Here are Andrew’s Wommack’s Living Commentary notes on this verse:

“The branches that were broken off were the children of Israel who rejected their Messiah. So, they were broken off, and the Christians were grafted in their place. But the roots of Christianity go all the way back to the Old Testament and Abraham as the father of us all (Romans 4:16).”

I also found this scripture reference to Romans 11:17 while using the Strong’s Exhaustive Bible Concordance Online!

Ephesians 2:11-13 (NIV)

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Man that is such good news!

Romans 11:18 says, 
But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. (NLT)  

Here are Andrew’s Wommack’s Commentary notes:

“Paul was warning the Gentiles against gloating in the fact that salvation had been opened unto them as though it happened because of some goodness on their part. It wasn’t earned. It was God’s grace. Paul explained that the Jews’ unbelief (Romans 11:20) caused them to be broken off and that the same thing could happen to the Gentiles (Romans 11:21) if they didn’t stand strong through faith.”

Romans 11:32 (NLT)
For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so He could have mercy on everyone.

I really like these commentary notes from Andrew Wommack on this verse. Be sure to click on the links to the scripture references he gives. They really help explain what the purpose of the law was in the first place. I didn’t understand the true purpose of the law for many years of my Christian life.

This is not only true of the Jewish nation. This is true of the whole human race. The Law made us all guilty (Romans 3:19 and 23) so that one sacrifice would cleanse us all (Galatians 3:22-24).

As it says in Romans 11:33:

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! (NASB)

Next God’s Treasure Chest post will be on Romans 12

To find all my other God’s Treasure Chest posts just click here on My Grace Journey and then scroll down to the topic that says God’s Treasure Chest!

If you have not yet made Jesus your Savior and received the wonderful joy that His finished work on the cross has provided for you to live in, please visit my page here titled Jesus In The Driver’s Seat. On this page I explain the good news of the gospel and you will have the opportunity to pray a prayer of salvation, making Jesus your Savior! Jesus loves you and His arms are wide open!

Sandra McCollom