Romans 11 is the final part of the Apostle Paul’s thought that extends from Romans 9 to Romans 11. In these chapters Paul is writing of the fate of the Jews in God’s economy, His plan for all things. And we arrive here at Romans 11:25-27, being told of God’s plan as it relates to both the Jews and the Gentiles – those of all nations of the earth outside of Israel.
Romans 11:25-27 (NASB) 25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,
“THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
27 “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM,
WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”
I have been an amillennialist even from before hearing of the different views on the millennium, the thousand year rule of Christ upon the earth. I hold much of the book of Revelation to be describing spiritual and earthly realities in allegorical terms rather than literal. I also believe that Revelation is about both future and fulfilled events. The new Jerusalem coming down to earth adorned as a bride has not happened yet! I take all the words of Revelation as I do all of Scripture, seriously but not necessarily literally. The reason for this is not because I underestimate God or dishonour Scripture but rather, I read Scripture on its own terms. Revelation itself tells us to take its descriptions metaphorically otherwise we would not be told in Revelation 1:20
Revelation 1:20 (NASB) 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
So why have I moved from Romans 11 to Revelation? The ultimate outcome for Israel as most likely tied up with their reclaiming their land as well as, and this is the essential point, their coming to recognition and worship of the Messiah, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, is what Paul is pressing here. This worship of Christ is based on belief in Him which, if rejected, can result in no salvation. I believe this outcome of belief for the people of Israel because of Paul’s writing about national Israel in Romans 11:25-26, 28-32. Here is the context showing the two groups being compared:
Romans 11:28-32 (NASB) 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
There is no way around this. In Romans 9 to 11 Paul is writing on one hand about the Jews as continuing disbelieving Jews and on the other, of Gentile believers. Where Paul uses the word ‘Israel’ in these passages we cannot conflate with the new Israel, otherwise known as the Church. The other verse relevant to all of this follows:
Matthew 23:37-39 (NASB) 37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 38 Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! 39 For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’”
The focus throughout Romans 9-11 is on two groups, Jews and Gentiles. Paul had been a Jewish Pharisee who oversaw with his own blessing and help the stoning of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. After his Christian conversion, Paul had no heart for Judaism but showed a very tender heart for his fellow-Jews:
Romans 9:1-5 (NASB) 1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
Later in Romans 11 Paul writes similarly:
Romans 11:1-2 (NASB) 1 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew…
Romans 11:11-12 (NASB) 11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!
Romans 11:17-21 (NASB) 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
Romans 11:23-24 (NASB) 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
And then we come to those verses declaring that all Israel will be saved (vs 25-26) :
Romans 11:25-26 (NASB) 25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved;
Verse 26 has contestable interpretations. What does Paul mean by ”all Israel”? Does he mean all of ethnic Israel including all Jews everywhere? Is he referring to all Jews living in Israel? Or does this term, ‘all Israel’, refer to all believers, whether of Jewish or Gentile ethnic background? Many Christians replace the word ‘Israel’ with the word, ‘Church’. This does not make sense of the context and flow of the whole of Romans 11. Paul is comparing ethnic Israel with Gentile believers. But is there anywhere in the course of this chapter where it would be feasible to believe that Paul has crossed over to using the term ‘Israel’ to refer to the Church? Some Christians say yes, some say no. I say no because Paul throughout this chapter is referring to national Israel in contrast to Gentile believers, the Church.
Why does this matter? It matters very much because to believe that God has not forgotten His people is vital to understanding the current state of Israel. Whoever has worked towards the state of modern-day Israel, and I have heard that this included some dubious characters, nullifies in some Christians’ minds the right of the state to exist. See, evil people created it so it can’t be from God. Biblical history is replete with examples of God using dubious characters for His purposes, both in the OT and NT. The Egyptian Pharaoh who would not let God’s people go to the land God had mapped out for them and Pilate who gave final assent to the crucifixion of Jesus are two obvious examples.
And so I come to my view of the modern state of Israel being a miracle. Not that this means that all people of the state of Israel or all Jews living anywhere in the world are God’s people while they reject Christ as their Messiah. The kingdom of God is now made up of both Jewish and Gentile believers who have turned to Christ as their Saviour and Lord across Christian history right up to today and so this will continue. Just as the Bible records the conversions of many Jews to Christ including of those who were cheering on His crucifixion, it also shows us the trouble done by those Jews hostile to the gospel spreading including to Paul spreading it. Nonetheless, Paul’s heart was for the Jews to have their eyes open to the truth of Jesus Christ as Messiah and Lord of all that exists. Yes, at one stage Paul gave up on the Jews and turned his ministry towards the Gentile nations. This does not necessarily mean that he now hated the Jews. He did not. It is just that ministry to the Jews fell to Peter or perhaps was always Peter’s special ministry. Despite all objections, I still believe that God has not thrown away the Jews in favour of the Gentiles. I believe we should pay attention to the modern state of Israel as a special place in God’s ultimate plan.
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