Romans 11:26-28 - Loved enemies

11:26,27

Paul makes a rather loose quote from Isaiah 59:9,10, with elements of Isaiah 27:9 and Jer 31:33,34.

“All Israel will be saved”. There is debate over whether Israel here refers to the nation of Israel or “true Israel” (ie believers). In the previous verse Israel clearly refers to the people of Israel, so it is unlikely that he then uses the term in a completely different sense. However, it does make good sense if we use both meanings of Israel. All Israel includes all believers, it was always part of God’s plan that the Gentiles should be saved, and we are part of true Israel. But it is also part of God’s plan that Israel herself is saved. And both aspects if God’s plan will be fulfilled.

When it speaks of “all Israel” this does not necessarily mean every single person. All does not always mean all! It is clear that many Jews throughout history have not been saved, and it is equally clear that many Gentiles are not saved. Only those who believe. So all here means that both Jews and Gentiles will be saved, and a significant number of Jews will be saved.

The quotations that Paul makes stress the point that God is dealing with godlessness and taking away our sins. We need always to remember that this is the focus of God’s plans.

11:28

As things stood at the time the Jews were enemies of the gospel. This was the present reality, and we need to remember that they actively persecuted the church, as we read about in Acts. However, Israel is also part of God’s elect, they are loved by God. Now this does not mean all Israelites will “go to heaven”, but the nation of Israel has always been in God’s plan, and still is. The gospel started with people like Abraham and promises were given to the nation of Israel. There is a general lesson to learn here as well. When we look at a situation we need to face up to the present realities. At the time of Paul’s writing part of that reality was that the Jews, on the whole, had rejected Christ and persecuted the church. A person of true faith is not afraid of reality. But we do not accept the present situation as the final situation. We consider what God’s plans are, and as far as Israel is concerned it is their eventual salvation.