“A SURVEY OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS” ROMANS 11:25-31 A REMNANT OF ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED, PART II

In this majestic chapter 11, Paul has discussed how the Gentiles were blessed spiritually as being the spiritual offspring of Abraham through faith; that is, Israel’s rejection meant the grafting in of the Gentiles, resulting in God casting aside His people temporarily until the fullness of the Gentiles (Acts 15:14).  However, with the Gentiles sharing in the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:3b) as the spiritual offspring of Abraham, it will never mean that the Gentiles have replaced Israel as the heirs to the promises God made to Israel (Genesis 12:2-3; 15:18-21; 17:9-21; 22:15-18).

God has not totally abandoned His people permanently; however, because of Israel’s blindness and rejection, He has set Israel aside temporarily and He is calling out a group called the church (Ephesians 2:11-22).  After He finishes with the church, He will resume His dealing with Israel by re-gathering, saving and restoring her at His Second Coming!  What a God we serve!  In verses 25-27, Israel’s stumbling as a nation is viewed as a mystery.  A mystery is not something mysterious, but an Old Testament truth not yet revealed, but is now revealed (Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26).

Paul wanted the Gentiles to know about this mystery in God’s sovereign plan.  Moreover, he did not want the Gentiles to be too conceited, for God set Israel aside temporarily so that He might display His grace toward the Gentiles. Temporarily, the Nation of Israel is experiencing a hardening in part until the fullness of the Gentiles (Acts 15:14).  After “the fullness of the Gentiles” (v. 25), the partial hardening of Israel will be removed and all Israel will be saved or delivered.  The believing remnant will be saved sovereignly by God, for Israel will be delivered by God during the Great Tribulation Period and this fact is affirmed by Paul as he quotes from Old Testament passages such as Isaiah 27:9 and Isaiah 59:20-21.

In fact, Israel will be saved at Christ’s Second Coming, but there is a remnant of Israel that is being saved during this church age.  Israel’s hardening and rejection is only partial and temporary; God has not totally cast aside His people!  In verses 28-29, Paul declared that the gospel was brought to the Gentiles because God had to deal with Israel as enemies.  However, because of God’s love for His elect people and the covenant He made with the patriarchs, His promises to Israel will not be revoked, for Israel will be restored.  In times past, Paul reminded the Gentiles that they had been disobedient to God but in this grace age they have received mercy through the unbelief of Israel (v. 30).  Although Israel as a nation is disobedient to God, God will continue to extend His mercy to Gentiles and when His fullness for them be realized; God will indeed extend His mercy to Israel, for she will be fully restored (v. 31).

Since all men have “sinned and come short of His glory,” Paul concluded that God has extended mercy on both the Jews and Gentiles (v. 32).  Thought of God extending His lavish and great mercy upon the Jews and the Gentiles caused Paul to break forth with a great doxology of praise.  God’s salvation for mankind was so wonderfully designed by Him, for His knowledge and wisdom is past finding out!  He is the sole designer of this masterful plan of salvation.  He is the sovereign ruler of all things and He is under no obligation to repay anyone, for no one has given Him anything.  Paul concluded chapter 11 with verse 36, that says – “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

May God Bless!