Please turn to Romans 11. We’ll be considering verses 11-24. That is on page 1125. Last week, we focused on the remnant of Israel, chosen by grace. We learned that even though Israel as a whole, rejected God and his promises, yet God in his mercy has always had a remnant of his people who did and do believe. This week, the apostle Paul shifts to talk mainly about the Gentiles. He answers the question, why did God ordained that Israel would not believe. Why? So that the Gospel would go to the Gentiles. That is the main focus of our sermon text this morning. And, as we’ll see, it will relate back to Israel. Reading of Romans 11:11-24 Prayer In 2008, art professor Sam Van Aken did something very unique. He grafted in 40 different kinds of fruit branches into a single tree. He called it the Tree of 40 Fruit. And it is quite spectacular. The tree is still alive today, 16 years later. It’s planted on the campus of Syracuse University where Van Aken teaches. Every spring, buds will blossom into a beautiful array of pastel colors with shades of white and pink and red and purple. It looks fairy-tale-like but it is real. But what’s more amazing is what happens in the summer. It produces all kinds of fruit including peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, cherries, and almonds. Basically different kinds of stone fruit -different heirloom and native varieties. Interestingly, Van Aken began producing multiple Trees of 40 Fruits and you can actually buy one. Several museums and universities now have them on display. There are about 20 of these beautiful trees around the country. It's a picture of what is described in Romans 11:11-24. People from all over the world, being grafted into the tree of faith in Christ. Each with different blossoms and fruit and each displaying the wonder and glory of God in Christ. He is the root and the source of life and the one who sustains and is cultivating this amazing tree. This idea of grafting is the apostle Paul’s main analogy in these verses. And it’s very helpful. Paul uses it to help answer an important question. His question is right there in verse 11. “Did Israel stumble, in order that they may fall?” In other words, is the reason that Israel stumbled in their faith because God wanted to reject them forever? And his answer is, “By no means.” There it is again. And actually for the rest of the verses today, he explains his answer, and he uses the grafting illustration to help. Before we dive into these verses, let me point out there are two main parts to the answer. And what we will see is that Paul actually circles back to those two answers three different times. The two parts to the answer are right there in verses 11 and 12. So, let me first highlight what he says there, and then we’ll take them one at a time and see them worked out in these verses. So, why did Israel stumble in unbelief? 1. The first part of the answer is right there after the question. “through their trespass [Israel’s trespass], salvation has come to the Gentiles.” The first reason for Israel’s sin of unbelief is so that the Gospel would go to the Gentiles. 2. And that leads right in to the second part of the answer. It’s the next phrase in verse 11. “So as to make Israel jealous.” And a little bit later Paul adds, and “thus save some of them.” In other words, one reason that salvation has come to the Gentiles is so that Israel will see what God is doing and be jealous – jealous in a good way. They will want to be a part of what God is doing and that will cause some to believe. So, that is the summary. Part #1 – Israel’s unbelief has resulted in salvation going to the Gentiles. Part #2 – the Gospel going to the Gentiles will make Israel jealous, so that more will come to believe. And we see those very same two points in verses 13-16 and then again in verses 17 to 24. It’s that last section of verses where apostle Paul talks about branches being cut off and also grafted in. Main Point #1. Israel’s Unbelief -> Salvation to the Gentiles So, let’s take those one at a time. Again, point number 1 - Israel’s rejection has resulted in salvation for the Gentiles. And to support his point, in verse 13, Paul highlights his own ministry to the Gentiles. It’s like he’s saying, “look at what God is doing among the Gentiles, to whom I am called.” Paul’s own ministry testifies to how the Jews rejected Jesus which caused him to go to the Gentiles. In fact, it’s the pattern in almost every city he went to. The first thing Paul would do is find the Jewish synagogue and speak to them about Jesus. But every time, the Jews, by in large, would reject the Gospel. So, what would he do? Paul would go to the Gentiles. Sometimes he would even be so bold and tell the Jews. If you are not going to believe, then I am going to them. That happened in the city of Antioch. It happened in Corinth. And it happened again in Ephesus. All of those are recorded in the book of ...