The meaning of this verse has been hotly debated by Bible teachers and scholars throughout history. What does Paul mean, exactly, when he says that all Israel will be saved?

Here's the picture Paul has painted in the previous verses: As a nation and, in large part, as individuals, God's chosen people Israel have refused to believe in Christ as Messiah and the only way to be saved. In fact, God Himself has caused them, the nation and most of her people, to become hardened in this unbelief. Why has God done this? In part, Israel's rejection of Christ created room for the rest of the world (Gentiles) to come to God themselves through faith in Christ. In the previous verse, Paul wrote that when the "fullness" of the Gentiles has come to Christ, God will remove the hardening on the nation and people of Israel.

Now Paul writes that "in this way all Israel will be saved."

Some have read this to mean that every Israelite who has ever lived will be saved in the end. This does not seem to fit with Paul's teaching in Romans that salvation comes only by God's grace through faith in Christ. Clearly, some Jewish people—as is the case in any culture—had thoroughly and totally rejected God. God is not extending salvation to those who actively hated Him, merely based on their ethnicity.

Some read this to be an account of specific events during the end times when Israel, under great persecution, will be saved from further earthly harm by the "Deliverer." "Salvation" and "deliverance," in an Old Testament sense, are closely related. This interpretation does not take Paul to mean eternal salvation in this verse, though the context seems to be about salvation from sin. Paul likely refers to the end times, the last days of history, when Isaiah's prophecies about a Deliverer from Zion banishing Israel's ungodliness will be fulfilled (Isaiah 59:20. Most Bible teachers understand Paul to be describing the second coming of Christ.

Another view is that by "all Israel," Paul means all who are in Christ, both Jews and Gentiles. This view understands the church to be a new Israel. This view is not in keeping with the full context of Scripture. Paul has written that everyone who comes to God by faith are the children of Abraham (Romans 4:16), but in this very chapter he has made a clear distinction between believing Gentiles and Israelites.

Many Bible teachers have concluded that by "all Israel," Paul means either all Israelites who trust in Christ (Romans 9:6–8) or the nation of Israel as a whole. In either view, the outcome would be the same: All Israelites will be saved who come to faith in Christ at some future time after God removes the hardening of their hearts. The sense of Paul's words conveys the idea that this will include enough Israelites to represent the nation as a whole, though it will not necessarily include every Israelite living at the time.

Not every verse of Scripture is crystal clear, and not every question we can ask about the Bible ends in a neat, clean answer. This statement is obscure enough that some translations title this section "The Mystery of Israel's Salvation." As is always the case, however, the Bible is only obscure on issues which don't affect our relationship with God, or the core doctrines of the faith.

Romans 11:25–32 wraps up a long section about God's plans for His Israelite people. In short, He plans to remove the hardening of unbelief and renew His covenant with Israel. This will occur as many Jewish people come to faith in Christ at some future time. Israel remains deeply loved by God because of His irrevocable promises and calling for the patriarchs. In the end, God will show mercy to all Jews and Gentiles who come to Him through faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.

In Romans 11, Paul concludes his exploration of God's plan for His chosen people Israel. It's true that as a nation, Israel has rejected faith in Christ, but a remnant of Israelites has believed in Jesus. God has hardened the rest in unbelief, but will bring Israel back to faith when enough Gentiles have come to Him through Christ. Then many Israelites will trust in Christ, as well, and God will renew His covenant with His people. Paul concludes this section with a powerful poem or hymn about God's independence and how He is beyond our full comprehension.

Romans 11 concludes Paul's discussion about God's plan for the Israelites begun in Romans 9 and 10. Paul insists that, though Israel as a nation has rejected Christ, a remnant of Jewish Christians exists by God's grace. God has hardened the rest in their unbelief until enough Gentiles have come to Him through Christ. Then God will release Israel to believe in Christ and restore His covenant with her as many individual Jews come to faith in Christ, as well. Paul stands in awe of God's vast and unknowable mind and complete ownership of all things.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.

Accessed 12/22/2024 1:15:06 AM

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