Life From the Dead
A Sermon on Romans 11:13-15
Originally preached Dec. 11, 1964
Scripture
13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15For if the casting away of them be …
Sermon Description
What is the future of the Jewish nation? According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in this sermon on Romans 11:13–15 titled “Life From the Dead,” one does not have to wonder since God prophesied through the apostle Paul that there will be a great day when Israel is saved. While they may have stumbled, this was only temporary in order that the gospel might go to all the nations of the Gentiles. God has promised that there will come a day when the dead come to life; that is, when the spiritually dead Israelites receive the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe in Him. All Christians ought to pray and seek the day when God moves and causes a great revival amongst the people of Israel. Furthermore, Paul warns Gentile Christians from becoming prideful and boastful towards the Jewish people, for both Jew and Gentile are justified by faith in Christ as a gift from God. How should this message change the way Christians live now? Christians ought to seek to evangelize the people of Israel because they know that there will be a day when God causes a great revival amongst them. The church ought to pray and eagerly await the day when God fulfills His promise and brings many national Israelites into the church of Jesus Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is speaking specifically to the Gentiles in this passage because he wants them to understand God's purposes for both Jews and Gentiles.
- Paul magnifies his office as the apostle to the Gentiles but still desires to save some of his fellow Jews.
- Even though most Jews have stumbled, some are still being saved which gives Paul joy. We should have the same attitude towards those in error.
- Paul repeats his argument from verse 12 to press home his point. Repetition is key to teaching.
- The two words "indeed, therefore" are missing from most translations but help provide contrast. The translation should be "For I speak to you Gentiles. Inasmuch therefore, as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I indeed magnify my office."
- Paul wants to warn the Gentiles against feeling superior to the Jews just because the Jews have stumbled.
- What is happening now is that some Jews are being saved which shows they have not stumbled in order to fall permanently.
- If the casting away of Jews has meant the reconciling of the Gentiles, the receiving of the Jews will be like "life from the dead."
- "Life from the dead" does not mean the resurrection of Jews or Gentiles. It is a hyperbolic statement meaning great blessing and joy.
- The receiving of the Jews will confirm our faith, prove the Bible is inspired, show God keeps promises, lift the church in ecstasy, and be like seeing a hopeless sinner converted.
- The gospel being true is proven when unlikely people are converted which gives great joy. The conversion of the Jews will be even greater.
- The coming of Christ, who the sermon is focused on, makes this certain. Our faith in Him enables us to look forward to this.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.