“God’s Plan for Israel”

 

“God’s Plan for Israel”

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Romans 11:25-36

As we close this incredible chapter of Romans, we need to understand a couple of things: God has not ultimately rejected His people (National Israel), the Gentiles (non-Jews in lineage) are the current group in focus as God’s church is built, and there is a plan for Israel that only the great God of the Bible could put together. While there are some differences in opinion as to the details, we can conclude this theological section of Romans with a better understanding of both God’s elective choices and His love for Israel.

 

Unique Words In The Passage

1.      Uninformed – To be ignorant, to not know

2.      Mystery – God’s purposes to also bless the Gentiles with salvation in Christ

3.      Hardening – The blunting of one’s mind

4.      All – The whole, used before a country or a people

5.      Saved – To deliver from that which keeps you them from receiving the Messianic promise

6.      Irrevocable – Not repented of, not regretted

7.      Unsearchable – Cannot be searched out

8.      Unfathomable – Cannot be traced out or comprehended

 

 

I.                   The “Mystery” is Revealed    Romans 11:25-32

a.       Paul continues his conversation with the Gentile readers in Verse 25. Paul’s desire is to let them know that God has a plan that includes both Israel and the Gentiles. He has cautioned them about arrogance that might come from the knowledge that for now Israel is in a “hardened” state to the message of salvation by grace to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

b.      He does not want his readers to be “uninformed” that is ignorant or unknowing of God’s plan going forward. He speaks of a “mystery”; something that has been previously unrevealed that is now being made known. He takes no time to “reveal” the mystery; that for now there is a partial hardening of Israel so that the Gentiles might come to salvation.

c.       Why does Paul want them to know this? He does not want them to be “wise in their own estimation”. He does not want them to be conceited or arrogant with the fact of their opportunity for salvation and the blinding of Israel for the time being.

d.      When we arrive at Verses 26-27, we will need to concede the difficulty of it in translation. At first glance, the phrase “all Israel will be saved” can be very problematic. We have already concluded that no one will be saved by either their works or their lineage from Romans 9:7-13. So what is being said here? There are a few thoughts on the meaning of “all Israel” in this passage:

                                                              i.      The total number of elect Jews from all generations. This would seem to not come to grips with the climactic nature of Paul’s argument here. While it is true that “Elect Israel”, the “True Israel” will be saved, this seems almost anticlimactic to the idea of “mystery” and Paul’s unveiling of God’s plans here.

                                                            ii.      The total number of the elect, both Gentile and Jew. John Calvin believed this, but the term “Israel” has not been used of Gentiles in these chapters.

                                                          iii.      The great majority of Jews in the final generation. “All Israel” should not be understood to say that every individual Jew will be saved any more that the term “Gentile” should mean every individual Gentile. The idea is not that at the return of Christ all Jews that are alive will be saved. F.F. Bruce really helps us here as he states, “All Israel is a recurring expression in Jewish literature. Where it does not mean “every Jew without exception”, it does mean “Israel as a whole”.

e.       Isaiah 59:20-21 is being quoted here. What Paul seems to be saying is that when the elect of the Gentiles have been saved, the hardening currently afflicting  Israel will be removed and all Israel will resume its position as the elect people of God before Him. At that point, salvation of individuals will occur as it did for Paul and always has – on the basis of personal faith in Israel’s Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ.

f.       From this information we can deduce 2 things:

                                                              i.      Israel’s “hardening” is temporary – The Gospel message will again be clear to Israel and many will be saved.

                                                            ii.      Israel’s “hardening” is partial – It will only last until the “fullness” of the Gentiles has come about.

g.      With that difficult passage somewhat cleared up, we return to the discussion of God’s elective choice. Verse 28 tells us that National Israel, while enemies of the gospel for our sake, are from God’s elective choice beloved and embraced. Why? For the sake of His own promises to the Patriarchs, the fathers of the nation of Israel. The next verse, Verse 29, goes on to say that both the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable; not a source of either repentance or regret.

h.      As we continue with Verses 30-32, we are told that the Gentiles were disobedient but still received mercy even as National Israel was disobedient. At this time in the future, National Israel will receive the same opportunity to receive mercy and the opportunity for salvation in Jesus Christ. This passage does not teach some type of “universal salvation”, but that there will be opportunity for both Jew and Gentile (equally separated from God by their sins) to receive by faith salvation in Jesus Christ.

 

II.                The God of this Revelation    Romans 11:33-36

a.       This passage of Scripture is beautiful and does such a good job of speaking about the God that in His elective choice has made salvation possible for both Jew and Gentile. Verse 33 speaks to God’s wisdom and knowledge, while also acknowledging the fact that the God that we serve is not completely understandable or traceable to us as humans.

b.      Isaiah 40:13 is quoted in Verse 34. The idea is that none of us can serve God as counselor or consultant.

c.       Job 35:7 and 41:11 are quoted loosely in Verse 35 to make the point that His plan is one of His own making, His own responsibility and His own sovereignty.

d.      Finally, Verse 36 really reveals the fact that Paul can’t even go on to his next idea in chapter 12 until he notes that God is the First Cause, the Sustainer, and the Final Source of our worship. There is really nothing else that can be said except, “To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

 

III.             An Application For All Of Us

a.       With all of the difficulties in understanding all of the details of chapter 11, we are left with the fact that God does have a plan for His people Israel that will be realized in the future. He is the author of all of our salvation, both Gentile and Jew alike. To Him be the glory forever! Amen!!