Romans 11:25–36 - Two Words
What does the Bible mean that "all Israel will be saved"?
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CONTEXT: Romans 9-11 comprise what is arguably the most difficult section of Scripture, unpacking the relationship between God's sovereign election of some to salvation, and His reprobation of others to everlasting damnation. This discussion comes in the context of Paul's deep desire for the Jews - his own people - to come to the gospel. This section of Romans ends with a summary of Paul's conclusions and a psalm of praise.
Romans 11:25–36 (NASB95)
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 thier sins"
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.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
34 For who has known the mind of the LORD, or who became His counselor?
35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?
36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever.
Amen.
Canons of Dordt
Point I, Article 14: Teaching the Doctrine of Election Properly
Just as, by God’s wise plan, this teaching concerning divine election has
been proclaimed through the prophets, Christ himself, and the apostles, in
Old and New Testament times, and has subsequently been committed to
writing in the Holy Scriptures, so also today in God’s church, for which it
was specifically intended, this teaching must be set forth—with a spirit of
discretion, in a godly and holy manner, at the appropriate time and place,
without inquisitive searching into the ways of the Most High. This must be
done for the glory of God’s most holy name, and for the lively comfort of
his people.
Summary
Want to get a massive argument going between good Christians who otherwise agree on nearly every point of Biblical doctrine? Lob one simple question into a group, and then quickly back away. Ask them their opinion of what Paul means when he writes that all Israel will be saved.
Many look at the relative simplicity of the statement - from a grammatical standpoint, at least, it's pretty straightforward: that in the future, all Israel - all those who descend from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be saved. For the present time, Paul indicates that Israel is experiencing a partial hardness until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Afterall, the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Therefore, we must do all we can to hasten the day of modern Israel's salvation.
Others, like John Calvin, "extend the word Israel to all the people of God," so that it includes all of God's covenant people - both the Israelites of old and now His Church. All of us have combined to become, as Paul puts it in Galatians 6:16, the Israel of God. Since God no longer distinguishes between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman (Colossians 3:11), Calvin's argument seems to make sense.
Perhaps you think it silly to argue over two words in the Bible. Maybe it is. But silly or not, these two words have exerted enormous influence over American foreign policy since the end of the World War II. There's room for lots of opinions in the Church regarding the modern day state of Israel, but as you form yours, you need to have a solid understanding of the theological tensions that undergird the issue.
Dig Deeper
A key hermeneutical (methods for Biblical interpretation) rule is that you must put your emphasis where Bible puts its emphasis. Yes, these two words in v26 are massively important, so you do need to put solid effort into understanding them well. But they're two words set in just three chapters that represent just a tiny sliver of the New Testament's 260 chapters. In other words, as important as this issue is, it is nowhere close to the primary emphasis of the Gospel. So don't make it your primary focus.
Paul seems to get this here at the end of chapter 11. To be fair, this section of Romans (chapters 9-11) are about much more than just the future of Israel; it unpacks many of the difficult details related to God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. While we often want even more Biblical data on this deep issue and wish Paul would have extended it for several more chapters, he wisely - under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - draws this section of Romans to a close and recenters our attention back to the Bible's primary and overarching emphasis:
Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
You need to make the emphases he unpacks in this short New Testament psalm at the end of chapter 11 (which is comprised of several Old Testament direct quotations and paraphrases) your emphasis in life as well.
As the Lord's Day once again approaches, pick one of the phrases in this psalm and meditate on it (chew on it / think deeply about it) throughout your day. Here's the one I'll be chewing on:
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever.
Amen.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father - how unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you would have a good understanding of the Bible's difficult words so that your life can reflect its overall emphasis;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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