Romans 11:25-36--The Mystery of Israel's Salvation

Romans 11:25-36
English Standard Version

The Mystery of Israel's Salvation
25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
    he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
27 “and this will be my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
    that he might be repaid?”

​36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

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The passage continues to explain the "partial hardening" of Israel that has come at this time until "the fullness of the Gentiles has come in."  Then Paul says something interesting--"all Israel will be saved."  It's clear that this doesn't mean "ethnic Israel," but is instead talking about all those who are "in Christ."  They are the "true Israel," as there is one family, but the Gentile believers have been adopted into it.

However, Paul clarifies that they are not "the enemy" that many anti-Semitics have made them to be.  They are still "elect" in a different way, as they were chosen from among the nations to be the children of God and show and tell the gospel to the whole world, even though they are now enemies of the gospel.  God still loves them for the sake of their forefathers (especially Abraham).  Then another important point is made--God's covenant with Israel is irrevocable.  They will always be "the people of God," though only those who are "completed Jews" and are "in Christ" will receive eternal life.

Mercy was shown to them for a time during the disobedience of the Gentiles, and now mercy is being shown to the Gentiles during the time of disobedience of the Jews.  In this wall all of us have been disobedient and deserve judgment so that Ephesians 2:8-9 speaks of all of us, "8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Paul admits that this is something that is beyond us.  God's judgments are unsearchable and not up for scrutiny.  Think of the conversation that God had with Job at the end of the book of Job.  God's answer to Job is basically, "I am God, and you are not."  In fact, most of what Paul says in verses 34-35 is from the book of Job (some is also from the book of Isaiah).

I love the last verse here, "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."  That's a summary of everything we've talked about so far in Romans, it's been done for Him, through Him and to Him, so that He might receive all the glory and honor forever and ever.