Part 9 – Romans 9-11 What About Israel?

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Romans Road of Core Dispensational Truth.

After explaining the riches of the Gentile grace gospels forgiveness, reconciliation, justification and “the Spirit of life” through Chapter 8, Paul now explains where Israel’s program still fits into God’s ‘eternal plan.’

Rom 9:2-7 2…I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4  Who are Israelites; to whom (exclusively, Ex 25:8-16, 21, 22) pertaineth the adoption, and the glory (cf. Hos 1:10), and the covenants (not for the Gentiles, Eph. 2:12), and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises (Isa. 35; 60:1-3; 61:3-6); 5Whose are the fathers (whom He ever loves, Rom 11:28), and of whom as concerning the flesh (as a race of people) Christ (as Jesus of Nazareth) came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.  6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For (because) they are not all Israel, which are of Israel (just racially):

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Romans 2:29)

Concerning The Future Jewish Remnant of the Tribulation

Rom. 9:24-28  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?  25As he saith also in Osee (Hosea), I will call them my people, which were NOT my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are NOT my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. 27Esaias (Isaiah) also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be asthe sand of the sea,’ (only) a remnant shall be saved: 28For he (God) will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth (the Tribulation).

Many commentators apply Rom 9:25-26 to Gentiles being saved today, but an examination of the Old Testament reveals that these statements refer to redeemed Israel as Jehovah's reconciled wife.’ He had given her “a bill of divorcement” (cf. Isa. 50:1) and had called her "Lo-ammi," "Not My People" (Hos.1:9,-10) because of her spiritual adultery; yet He never ceased loving her or abandoned His promise and purpose to make her His own indeed. This will take place after God has “finished the work and cut it (the Tribulation) short in righteousness” (Rom 9:28), This actually concerns all Israel as a nation, of course, but of whom will the redeemed nation be comprised?

It will surely not include all of the physical descendants of Abraham, nor even all those of his descendants living at that time. At its beginning it will rather include only a “remnant,” a comparatively small number of the whole nation, as indicated in the quotation from Isa 9:27-28. This is not inconsistent with the history of the favored nation, for Isaiah said of Judah and Jerusalem even in his own day: "…as Esaias said before, Except (unless) the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed (which is Christ, Gal 3:16), we had been (hopeless) as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. (the sinful Gentiles of time past)” (Rom 9:29)

Paul explains “the fall of them (Israel) leading to the grace dispensation.

“Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;” (Rom 9:32)  Jesus is the ‘Stumbling Stone’ Israel rejected and crucified but not the “fall.”

But, God gave Israel 2nd chance. (father forgive them” (Luke 23:34); let me dung it, give it 1 year’ (Luke 13:8)

Then Israel’s rejection of “the Holy Spirit” speaking through Stephen was “the fall of them.” (Act 7:55-59)

“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.” (Matt 12:31)            

Rom 11:10-13, 25 10Let their (Israel’s) eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them (Israel) the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13 For I (Paul) speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I (Paul) Am The Apostle Of The Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that Blindness In Part Is Happened To Israel, Until The Fulness Of The Gentiles Be Come In (by the Rapture).

Rom 11:28-32) concerning the (Gentile grace) gospel, they (Israel) are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they (Israel) are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29For the gifts and calling of God (upon Israel) are without repentance (He keeps His promises to Israel). 30For as ye (Gentiles) in times PAST have NOT believed God, yet have now obtained mercy Through Their (Israel’s) Unbelief: 31Even so have these (Israel) also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, (so) that he might have mercy upon all.