The Righteousness of God: Israel's Future Restoration
Did God reject His people? By no means! Paul himself is proof: an Israelite, a believer in Christ.
God has not rejected Israel. A remnant remains. Their rejection opened the door for Gentile salvation. And their full inclusion will bring even greater blessing.
This is the mystery: Israel's hardening is partial and temporary. All Israel will be saved.
God has not rejected His people
"I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin."
Paul's question addresses a natural conclusion from chapters 9-10. But God has not rejected Israel.
Paul himself is proof. God's promises to Israel still stand.
Don't you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah? Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me.
Elijah thought faithfulness had disappeared. But God's response: I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
God always preserves a remnant.
Chosen by grace
"So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace."
The remnant principle applies in Paul's day. A remnant of Israel believes in Christ. Chosen by grace emphasizes divine election, not human merit.
Grace and works are mutually exclusive. Adding works to grace destroys grace. Salvation is entirely by grace or not at all.
What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened.
Grace, not ethnicity, defines the remnant.
Salvation has come to the Gentiles
"Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious."
Israel stumbled but did not fall beyond recovery. Their rejection opened the door for Gentile salvation.
God's purpose: to provoke Israel to jealousy, moving them to embrace Christ. Israel's fall is not final.
But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
From lesser to greater: Israel's rejection brought blessing to Gentiles. Israel's full acceptance will bring even greater blessing.
Israel's restoration will bring life from the dead.
The olive tree
"If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches."
The olive tree is Israel, the people of God. Some natural branches (unbelieving Jews) were broken off. Wild olive shoots (Gentiles) were grafted in.
Gentiles now share in covenant blessings (the nourishing sap).
Warning against Gentile pride: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. Gentiles are grafted in; they do not replace Israel.
The root (patriarchs, covenant) supports the branches, not vice versa. Gentiles owe everything to Israel's heritage.
Gentiles are grafted in, not replacing Israel.
Do not be arrogant
"Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either."
Arrogance is dangerous. If God judged unbelieving Israel, He will judge unbelieving Gentiles.
Natural branches (ethnic Israel) were not exempt. Wild branches (Gentiles) will not be either. God's justice is impartial.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
God's character includes kindness and sternness. Apostasy results in being cut off. This is a warning against presumption.
God's justice is impartial; pride precedes a fall.
Israel will be grafted in again
"And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again."
Israel's restoration is possible. If they abandon unbelief, they will be re-grafted. God is able emphasizes divine power.
After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
Grafting Gentiles (wild) into Israel's tree was contrary to nature. Re-grafting Jews (natural) is according to nature. Israel's restoration is more natural than Gentile inclusion.
God is able to restore Israel.
The mystery revealed
"I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved."
A mystery: a truth once hidden, now revealed. Israel's hardening is partial (not all) and temporary (until).
The full number of Gentiles refers to the completion of Gentile salvation. Purpose: to prevent Gentile conceit.
All Israel does not mean every individual Jew but the nation corporately, or the full number of elect Jews. In this way suggests a process: after Gentile fullness, Israel's salvation.
As it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.
Israel's hardening is partial and temporary.
God's gifts are irrevocable
"For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable."
Irrevocable means without repentance, unchangeable. God does not revoke His gifts (covenant blessings) or call (election of Israel).
This guarantees Israel's future restoration. God's promises stand forever.
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.
Two perspectives on Israel: enemies regarding the gospel (their rejection opened the door for Gentiles); loved regarding election (God's choice of the patriarchs).
God's election of Israel is irrevocable.
God has bound everyone over to disobedience
"For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all."
Universal disobedience (Jew and Gentile) reveals universal need for mercy.
God's purpose: to have mercy on all (both groups). All are guilty so all must receive mercy. This magnifies grace.
Salvation is entirely of mercy, not merit.
Universal guilt reveals universal need for mercy.
Doxology
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!"
A doxology of wonder. God's riches, wisdom, and knowledge are unfathomable. His judgments are unsearchable. His paths are untraceable.
We cannot fully comprehend God's plans. Humble awe is the right response.
Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?
No one knows God's mind fully. No one advises God. No one can put God in debt. God owes nothing to anyone.
For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Final exhortation
Romans 11 assures us that God has not rejected Israel. A remnant remains, chosen by grace. Their rejection brought Gentile salvation. Their restoration will bring even greater blessing.
Do not be arrogant, Gentiles. You are grafted in, not replacing Israel. The root supports you, not vice versa.
Israel's hardening is partial and temporary. All Israel will be saved. God's gifts and call are irrevocable.
God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all. Jew and Gentile, all are saved by mercy, not merit.
From Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever.
Closing prayer
Father, we marvel at the depth of Your wisdom and knowledge. Thank You that Your gifts and call are irrevocable. Thank You for grafting us into Your covenant people. May we not be arrogant but tremble before Your kindness and sternness. To You be the glory forever. In Jesus' name, amen.