"All Israel Will Be Saved"
Opening Prayer
Pray that God will give you both conviction and grace as you wrestle with the challenges of today’s passage.
Read ROMANS 11:25-36
[25] I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. [26] And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. [27] And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” [28] As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, [29] for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. [30] Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, [31] so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. [32] For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. [33] Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! [34] “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” [35] “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” [36] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What is the purpose of Israel's "hardening"?So what is going to happen? In v. 26 Paul makes a very controversial statement: “All Israel will be saved.” The church has interpreted that in three main ways over the centuries. The first is that all physical Israel will eventually come to faith in Jesus. This, however, would seem to contradict Paul’s understanding that only a proportion of physical Israel really were believers (9:6b) and it is the remnant who are really true Israel (11:1-10). The second interpretation is that “Israel” has come to mean the church, made up of both Jews and Gentiles. But this is very confusing and makes the word “Israel” mean something very different. Moreover, at this point Paul’s argument is all about physical Israel. The third, and in my view, chief interpretation is that “Israel” means believing Israel (Jewish Christians), and Paul expects there to be many of them in the end.
God has not abandoned Israel as he reaches out to the Gentiles. Instead, he has welcomed them both as his people. In a sense this is what Romans has been about from the very beginning (1:16). It is a wonderful mystery, and Paul breaks out into a tremendous song of praise to God.
Apply
Praise God that he has received both Israel and the Gentiles. Thank him that you are counted among this people.
Closing prayer
Redeemer Lord, I, too, praise You for offering Your great salvation to all people through Jesus Christ, Your Son.
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