Romans 11:25-36

Israel will be saved

The passage

Romans 11:25–36 NKJV

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 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. 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. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! “For who has known 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?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 11

11:33–36 Paul presents a doxology about God’s wisdom using two quotations from the OT (Isa 40:13; Job 41:11). Both quotations celebrate God’s exalted status and wisdom over His creatures. The creatures must remain dependent on the Creator. They have no right to assume His role as Creator or judge; they do not even have anything to offer God that He might need. In light of His greatness, all humanity must recognize His mercy, which He demonstrated by offering Christ so that all who believe may be saved.

The Bible Guide Israel Will Be Saved (11:1–32)

Israel will be saved

(11:1–32)

Paul is quite convinced that God hasn’t finished with Israel. He knows from his own experience that even the most self-righteous and militant Pharisee can be saved.

So why are so many Jews rejecting Christ at the moment? Paul believes their hostility will be useful—because it will show up the grace of God and the faith of the Gentiles. The fact that Jews don’t believe allows God to spring another surprise—that he chooses Gentiles. Paul adds excitedly: if Jewish rejection means Gentile selection, what wonderful things await us when the Jews accept Christ!

By preaching to Gentiles, Paul hopes to make Jews jealous. Israel is still the main stock of God’s people, into which the Gentiles are now being grafted. Gentiles must be careful not to make the same mistake of pride—or they will find themselves pruned out again.

So God still calls the Jews. Before Christ, the Jews were ‘in’ and the Gentiles were ‘out’. Now, for a time, the Jews are ‘out’. But the underlying trend has always been that God is wanting all people everywhere to be saved.

The Bible Guide Paul’s Hymn of Praise (11:33–36)

Paul’s hymn of praise

(11:33–36)

Paul has come to the summit of his gospel presentation. He surveys the mighty panorama of God’s plan—Jew and Gentile, creation and new creation, all united in Christ. He praises the majesty and mystery of our glorious God.