Romans 9–11 is central to understanding God’s plan for Israel. We learned in Romans 9 that a remnant of Israelites believe, thanks to the electing grace of God. From God’s perspective, He chose Israel for salvation, and specifically, a remnant within Israel who would be “truly Israel” (cf. Rom 9:6, 27). We then learned in Romans 10 that, though everyone (Jew or Gentile) who believes in the Lord will be saved, the majority of Israelites have been not believed but have been a disobedient and contrary people (cf. Rom 10:3, 13, 21). They are responsible for their unbelief.
Feeling the weight of Israel’s unbelief, Paul asks a question that he answers all the way through Romans 11:10. “Has God rejected His people?” (Rom 11:1). (In context, Israel is this “people.”) The answer is an emphatic “no,” and Paul also points to himself as an Israelite that God has saved (Rom 11:1).
Paul then answers his question again: “God has not rejected His people,” adding the description, “whom He foreknew” (Rom 11:2). This description functions as a second reason Paul knew God had not rejected Israel. As we saw in Rom 8:29–30, those who are foreknown are also predestined, called, justified, and glorified. So, if Israel was foreknown by God, Israel will also be glorified. To clarify, God foreknew and will glorify the remnant within Israel, those who believe and make up “all Israel” (Rom 11:26).
A third way Paul demonstrates that God has not rejected Israel is to review what God said to Elijah. God reminded Elijah that there was a remnant of believing Israelites in his day (Rom 11:3–4; cf. 1 Kgs 19:10, 14, 18), an example of God’s dealings with Israel today—there is a remnant of believing Israelites, chosen by His grace and not on the basis of their works (Rom 11:5–6).
But what about the rest of the Israelites? In short, “the rest were hardened” (Rom 11:7). As with Israel in Moses’ day and in Isaiah’s prophecy, so the nation is today—God has judged the majority of the nation with spiritual blindness and deafness (Rom 11:8; cf. Deut 29:4; Isa 29:10). As a result, unbelieving Israel would be as David’s enemies in his day—stumbling about in darkness with a false sense of peace, headed for destruction (Rom 11:9–10; cf. Ps 69:22–23).
In summary, there is a believing remnant of Israelites today (Rom 11:1–6), but the rest are hardened (Rom 11:7–10). Thankfully, that’s not the end of Isreal’s story. As we will see in Romans 11:11–32, stated in short in Romans 11:11–12, we could map Israel’s past, present, and future like this: (1) Israel rejected God; (2) so God now shows His salvation riches to the Gentiles in order to make Israel jealous; and (3) God will save Israel in full in time to come (cf. Rom 11:26).
God is faithful to Israel and has not rejected the nation that He foreknew. Just the same, He is faithful to us. If we are foreknown, predestined, called, and justified, our hope is sure—we will be glorified one day, perfectly conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 8:18–30). Stated another way, Romans 9–11 encourages us that Romans 8 will happen. What a wonderful God we have who will fulfill our hope one day!
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