Romans 11:25-36

The closing verses of this passage (v33-36) are worthy of memorization.  What a great hymn of praise!  Many years ago my wife and I were part of a choir that sang these verses; the words are still there to this day, which is amazing given how easily I forget things.

And what is also amazing is the reason for this praise.  It is the result of God’s faithfulness to Israel and using Israel’s rejection in the filling up of the Church.  Rom. 11:25 gives a brief statement of this mystery (something not known in previous ages but is now being revealed; cf. Rom. 16:25-27).  Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  

The next words are powerful: And so all Israel will be saved.  Israel’s glorious future (note: “will be” is future tense; it does not refer to the remnant of Israel that are part of the Church) has already been mentioned by Paul.  He referred to their “fullness” (v12) and their “acceptance” (v15).  He noted that God is able to graft them in to the tree again (v23-24).  

Paul makes this statement and gives two primary supporting arguments.  First is his quote of Isaiah 59:20-21 (11:26-27).  God promised the coming of the Deliverer to Israel at a time that would involve His covenant to take away their sins.  This is not an isolated prophecy but was given frequently (e.g. Jer. 31:31-34; Isa. 32:14-20; 44:1-8; Ezek. 37:24-28; Joel 2:28-32).  The coming of the Deliverer results in the nation turning from sin.  Briefly, Scripture paints a picture of the regathered nation going through a terrible time of trouble that results in two-thirds of the nation dying but the rest coming through the fire and welcoming the Deliverer, mourning the One they had pierced (Zech. 12:10-14; 13:7-14:4).  The idea that Israel who enters the earthly kingdom of Christ is a holy seed or remnant of saved individuals is also referred to in several places in the Old Testament (cf. Isa. 4:2-6; 6:13; 26:1-6; 62:12).  They are protected by God until the return of Christ (Rev. 7:1-8; 12:6,13-17).  

Paul’s second supporting argument is bound up in the character of God!  What a magnificent statement: For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable!  God made an unconditional covenant with Abraham; He will keep His word.  Even Israel’s failure to keep the conditional covenant from Mt. Sinai will not cause them to forfeit what God graciously promised.  The result of this is that in this day, right now, we have a special perspective towards Israel: enemies for the sake of the gospel but beloved because of our common root (the fathers).

Notice that in the end we are where we were at the beginning, in Rom. 9.  All of this shows the mercy of God, both to Israel and the Gentiles.  All have been seen to be disobedient so that God might have mercy on all.  Truly this is a story in which we can say: For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.