Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd. P.O. Box #3762 Gillette, WY 82717 (307) 686-1516

“Preaching the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)”

ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED

(Romans 11:25-29) 8/31/08

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

I. ISRAEL IS EXPERIENCING A PARTIAL HARDENING (25)

A. Paul often wrote to the Gentile churches so that they would not be uninformed (agnoéō - not - know) about God’s future plans.

B. He referred to a “mystery” concerning the Jews and Gentiles. A “mystery” is the Greek word musterion and means something formerly unknown to man but now revealed (cp. Ep 3:9). Paul uses this word some 17 times in the NT.

1. In Ep 3:3-6, Paul speaks of the mystery of the Gentiles becoming fellow heirs in Christ through the gospel (cp. Col 1:26-27). Paul was made of minister of the revelation to the Gentiles. The church age had been hidden in the OT.

2. In Ro 11:25, God’ reveals His mystery about Israel and the Gentiles in three parts:.

a) Israel has experienced and continues to experience (perfect tense) a partial (méros - part or portion) hardening (pōrōsis - medical term, callous covering or hardening of skin, dullness) to the Gospel. Israel’s “hardening” is a dullness whereas Pharaoh’s “hardening” was a stubborn rebellion (sklêrúnō).

b) The fullness (plếrōma - full or complete amount) of Gentiles and their salvation will be realized.

c) Note that the timeline for Israel’s restoration will not take place “until” (áchri - conjunction expressing time up to a point, cp. Ro 7:3) the time of the Gentiles is complete.

C. When the Gentiles understand God’s plan and the fact that they are not necessarily the center of it, they will not become conceited (cp. 11:18-22).

II. ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED (26-27)

A. In the same way (houtōs - thus, so, same way) that God is saving the Gentiles, He will also save Israel. If God is sovereign enough to graft in wild olive branches, He is sovereign enough to graft back the natural olive branches (11:16-24).

B. The phrase “all Israel” can be perplexing. Does Paul mean that every single Israelite will be saved?

1. No! Paul did not suggest that every Gentile will be saved (vs. 25), nor is he suggesting that every Israelite will be saved.

2. Neither is Paul referring to the remnant of Israel that will come to Christ during this present age, for they already have salvation.

3. Allen Radmacher explains the proper usage of the phrase, It means that the nation as a whole will be saved, just as the nation as a whole (but not every individual in it) was now rejecting the Lord.

C. Paul quotes Is 59:20-21 to show that God prophesied Israel’s restoration.

1. Is 59:1 begins with the promise that, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear.

2. Vs. 2 tells that the reason why the Lord is far off from Israel is that their, iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

3. Yet Isaiah 59 gives hope to Israel for a future restoration when the “Deliverer” (rhuomai - to draw to oneself, i.e. Deliverer, Redeemer, i.e Messiah) will come from Zion

4. Israel’s Deliverer (Messiah) will come from Zion to save Israel (Second Coming - Zec 14:1-4) and Rule over Israel (Millennium - Ps 110:2).

5. It is during Israel’s future restoration in the Millennium that the New Covenant (Jer 31:34) will be fulfilled for Israel (Ro 11:27).

III. ISRAEL’S FUTURE TIMELINE

A. Israel’s Nation

1. Israel as a nation began when God made a covenant with Abraham saying, I will make you a great nation (Gen 12:2).

2. Abraham, as the great example of justification by faith (Ro 4:1-3), is the father of the Jews and the father of all who believe (Ro 4:11-12).

B. Israel’s Messiah

1. It was prophesied to Israel that she would receive an Anointed Redeemer (Is 61:1-2) who would die for the sins of the world (Is 53:5-6).

2. Israel rejected the Messiah through unbelief. Nevertheless, God did not reject His people, but will fulfill His covenants and promises to them (Ro 3:3; 9:6; 11:1-2).

C. Israel’s Hardening

1. God sovereignly planned Israel’s partial hardening so that the Gentiles could be included in salvation.

2. God also is sovereignly using the salvation of the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy (Ro 10:19; 11:11). Indeed God has kept a present day remnant of Israel for Himself (Ro 9:27; 11:5).

D. Israel’s Trouble

1. Jeremiah prophesied about “Jacob’s trouble” (Tribulation), which is God’s judgment against the nations, characterized by persecution against Israel. Its description of tribulation and distress are unparalleled in its magnitude (Je 30:7 cp. Da 12:1).

2. It is doubtful that Jeremiah was speaking of the Babylonian Captivity because Jesus spoke of an unparalleled tribulation (“Great Tribulation”) that led up to His second advent (Mt 24:21 cp. Mt 24:30; Re 6-19). Furthermore, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was unaffected by the captivity, having ended in 721 B.C.

E. Israel’s King

1. After the Tribulation, Israel’s King will return (2^nd Coming - Is 40:9-11; Mt 24:30-31; Re 19:11-16), wage war against Israel’s enemies (Zec 14:1-4; Re 19:19-21), and occupy the throne of David (Is 9:7; Mt 25:31). Just prior to the Tribulation, the church (believing Jews and Gentiles) will be called to heaven in what is known as the “Rapture” (Jn 14:1-3; 1Th 4:13-17).

2. Though Christ will sit on the throne of David forever, Scripture prophesied a specific time frame in which Christ will reign on earth over Israel for 1000 years, called the “Millennial Kingdom” (Re 20:1-8). The twelve tribes of Israel are saved through the Tribulation (Re 7:4-8, along with believing Gentiles - Re 7:9) and are brought into the Millennium to serve the Lord and fulfill God’s promise to restore Israel in the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34).

IV. ISRAEL IS BELOVED FOR THE SAKE OF THE PATRIARCHS (28-29)

A. Paul reiterates to the Gentile believers in Rome that though they are experiencing conflict with the Jews over the gospel, Israel’s hardening resulted in their salvation (dí humás - “for you,” “for your sake”).

B. However, all animosity toward Israel is to be removed because Israel is God’s chosen (eklogê - selection, chosen by election) people. They are also loved by God (“beloved”) for the sake of the patriarchs, particularly Abraham.

C. God is not fickle in His election and therefore both His gifts and calling are “irrevocable” (ametamélêtos - not repent or change of mind).

V. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. God’s sovereign programs are unalterable.

B. God’s sovereign plans are unchangeable.

C. God’s sovereign blessings are irrevocable.