So Glad You Asked, Pt. 1

The Question: Will *ALL* Israel Be Saved?

The Text: Romans 11:25-32

Romans 11:25–32 “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. 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”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.”

The Referenced Texts

Isaiah 59:20–21 ““And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.””

Psalm 14:7 “Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.”

Psalm 53:6 “Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.”

Romans 9:4 “They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.”

Isaiah 27:9 “Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be atoned for, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: when he makes all the stones of the altars like chalkstones crushed to pieces, no Asherim or incense altars will remain standing.”

Other Related Texts

Isaiah 2:2–4 “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

Zechariah 12:10 ““And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.”

Zechariah 14:16–17 “Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them.”

Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Discussion

One plan or two?

Does God have a specific plan for the Church and another for Israel, or has the Church replaced Israel (replacement theology or supersessionism?

My position is that there are two components for the end-times: one for the Church and one for Israel; but it’s all one sovereign design

However, that’s a matter for a study of end times…not going there this morning

But what of *all* Israel? Will every member of the Jewish race ultimately be saved?

It is clear from within the referenced texts that salvation will only be given to those who have repented

The Conclusion

The “OT saints” were saved by faith in the one who would come

The NT saints are saved by the one who has come

The “all” statement refers to the Jews who will be saved after the full number of the Gentiles

My thought is that this most likely references a time AFTER the return of Christ, during the 1000 year reign

That's a difficult thing to establish, in that Paul does not directly address that time period, or the new Heaven and new earth

One writer sums it up this way:

“How is this going to happen? I don’t know the details, but it seems to me that Paul does mean that in connection with the second coming of Christ there will be a great turning of Israel to Christ. Just how it works, I don’t know. But I find certain prophecies very suggestive.  For example, Zechariah 12:10, Isaiah 66:8, and Matthew 23:29.  I don’t want to speculate about details we are not given. I am not sure about the precise “when and how” of Israel’s conversion. But that it is coming and that it will be given by Jesus Christ, the deliverer who banishes ungodliness and forgives sins — I feel sure.”

The Zech. reference should be read to include chap. 13

The Isaiah ref. at least through v. 14

I don’t see the connection he makes to M. 23

Helpful reading:

https://live.renew.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/6.-Five-Reasons-John-Piper-Believes-Romans-11-Envisions-Massive-Conversion.pdf

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/all-israel-will-be-saved

https://morningview.org/what-about-the-salvation-of-israel-in-the-end-times/

https://www.gotquestions.org/all-Israel-saved.html