Romans 11 25-36

GOD’S MERCY IS FOR EVERYONE

Romans 11:25-36

Rom 11:25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.

The “mystery” is that God closed the minds of the Jews for a while so that gentiles could learn about Christ and eventually help the Jews. 

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, "The One who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and He will turn Israel away from ungodliness. Rom 11:27 And this is My covenant with them, that I will take away their sins."

Life Application New Testament Commentary:

11:26-27 This statement, all Israel will be saved, has provoked a variety of interpretations. The most widely held are as follows:

·The majority of Jews in the final generation before Christ’s return will turn to Christ for salvation.

·Paul is using the term Israel for the “spiritual” nation of Israel made up of everyone—Jew and Gentile—who has received salvation through faith in Christ. Thus all Israel (or all believers, the church) will receive God’s promised gift of salvation.

·Israel as a whole will have a role in Christ’s Kingdom. Their identity as a people won’t be discarded. God chose the nation of Israel, and he has never rejected it. He also chose the church, through Jesus Christ, and he will never reject it either. This does not mean, of course, that all Jews or all church members will be saved. It is possible to belong to a nation or to an organization without ever responding in faith. But just because some people have rejected Christ does not mean that God stops working with either Israel or the church. He continues to offer salvation freely to all.

·And so means “in this way” or “this is how,” referring to the necessity of faith in Christ.

These explanations do not exclude one another, and they all serve to underscore Paul’s clear intention: to demonstrate that God had not rejected Israel. Indeed, Paul believed the nation of Israel would be restored to God. Both Jews and Gentiles will make up the flourishing tree that stands for the Kingdom, as well the brush pile of broken branches prepared for burning that represents those who have rejected God’s gracious offer of forgiveness.

To confirm his statement, Paul quotes from Isaiah, first from Isa_59:20-21. Jesus Christ is the Deliverer who will come from Jerusalem. For the first and only time in this letter, Paul speaks of the second coming of Christ. At that time, Christ will turn Israel from all ungodliness (see also Psa_14:7; Psa_53:6). God also promises to take away their sins (see also Jer_31:33-34).

Rom 11:28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people He loves because He chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Rom 11:29 For God's gifts and His call can never be withdrawn. Rom 11:30 Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against Him, God was merciful to you instead. Rom 11:31 Now they are the rebels, and God's mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God's mercy.

Again Paul is stating that the Jews will not be forgotten. God had made a promise and he will keep it.

Rom 11:32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so He could have mercy on everyone. Rom 11:33 Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways! Rom 11:34 For who can know the LORD's thoughts? Who knows enough to give Him advice? Rom 11:35 And who has given Him so much that He needs to pay it back? Rom 11:36 For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.

These verses are more plain in the message: ^30-32 There was a time not so long ago when you were on the outs with God. But then the Jews slammed the door on him and things opened up for you. Now they are on the outs. But with the door held wide open for you, they have a way back in. In one way or another, God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that he can personally open the door and welcome us back in.

^33-36 Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.

Is there anyone around who can explain God?
Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?
Anyone who has done him such a huge favor
    that God has to ask his advice?
Everything comes from him;
Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him.
Always glory! Always praise!
    Yes. Yes. Yes.