And so all Israel
will be saved,
As it is written:
“The Deliverer will
come out of Zion,
and He will turn away
ungodliness
from Jacob; for this
is My covenant with them,
when I take away
their sins.”
Concerning the gospel
they are enemies
for your sake, but
concerning the election
they are beloved for
the sake of the Fathers.
For the gifts and the
calling of God
are irrevocable.
Romans 11:26–29; cf.
Isaiah 59:20–21
Much
confusion over the word, “all,” so as to give a meaning that this verse refers
to “all,” of Israel will be saved and then those in confusion teach a
philosophy that “all,” Jews will be saved. Is this so? I will weigh in on this
discussion and do so as though I am stepping on eggs. Scripture defines
Scripture, and the language used in the writing of Scripture defines
understanding of word(s). The Greek word used in the above Scripture is “πας,”
(there is a circumflex of the letter “α” (my computer does not have this) and
in the above verse this word is not preceded by an article, and it is a
nominative, masculine singular word. Therefore this word carries the meaning,
according to context, either variety, or every kind, and does not necessarily
mean “all,” as in every thing, or every person as this word used in other
verses denote; Acts 2:36 is a good example of this for the Greek word, “πας,”
speaks of a certain, or a kind of house, the “house of Israel,” would
know that God has made Jesus, does this mean every one? No, what it does mean
that those whom God has called, who believe upon Jesus Christ the deliverer out
of Zion would be saved. Paul is writing about the Jewish people who were a special
people chosen by God who had become disobedient and God used their disobedience
to install His covenant to Abraham that “all,” nations would be blessed. Does
this mean that everyone would be blessed? No! Only those whom God calls, those
who believe upon Jesus Christ will be saved. Paul ensures us that God has not
cast off His chosen people, no, not in any way, and then goes on to demonstrate
to us that God will save those in Israel that will believe upon Jesus Christ
just as He will save anyone who is not a Jew and believes upon Jesus Christ.
This great mystery of the Providence of God when seen how He deals with His
creation when we as Matthew Henry stated: “The captivities of Israel, their
dispersion and exclusion from the church, are emblems of the believer’s
corrections and rebukes for transgressions; and the continued care of the Lord
towards that people, and the final mercy and blessed restoration which appear
intended for them, show the perservering patience and victorious love of God,
to those he has chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. And whom
He will save for His sake” (Mathew Henry, 1979, p. 59). God has used the
transgressions, those events in Israel, their disobedience, their obedience,
and promised to save even those in Israel that believe upon the Messiah Jesus
Christ and by this we, who are not Israelites will have confidence that He will
save even us who are believers in Jesus Christ. Paul gives us this confidence
in these words: “For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now
obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been
disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For
God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all”
(Romans 11:30–32). God through the writings of Paul mentions two olive
trees, meaning that there are two groups of people and there is a conjoining of
these two groups of people by both who come to put their faith, their belief in
Jesus Christ. God saves, and has saved by choosing His children from before the
foundation of the world (Romans 8:28–30). We are all brought together into one
house, the house of God, which you are, the temple of God. The saving of Israel
does not mean a for Israel to return to the old ways of sacrifices and priests,
no, for all believers are priests and the sacrifice we are to give, if it can
be called sacrifice, is obedience. How can we understand this? I don’t know
how, for this mystery of God belongs to God and all we are, are the recipients
of God’s mercy and grace: “Oh, the depth of he riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearcheable are His judgments and His ways past finding
out! ‘For who has know the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?
Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?’” (Romans
11:33-35; cf. Isaiah 40:13, Jeremiah 23:18, Job 41:11).
We all, at
times in the least, and sometimes often, play at being a Christian. What I mean
is this: we do and say things that seem right on the face, but in the end is
only evil. God has chosen, and God has determined by His own counsel to save a
people for His name. Think upon this, you, that is if you believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ as the Savior sent by God the Father to pay this debt of sin and
then applies this payment to whomever He chooses, then, then, why do you or I
not do those things that God has commanded? Why do we argue with God’s plain,
and very clear word? It is God who created all things: “For of Him and
through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans
11:36).
For it was fitting for Him,
For whom
all things
And by whom are all things,
In bringing
many sons
To glory, to make the captain
Of their
salvation perfect
Through sufferings.
Hebrews 2:10
God Saves: Give Him Praise
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