Paul in Romans 9 to 11 talks about the problem of Israel’s salvation. The Israelites who were chosen by God did not believe in the Savior Jesus. This doesn’t mean that God has rejected them. God through the remnant will save them. Their unbelief was so that salvation would be spread out to the Gentiles. This is the plan of God. In today’s passage Paul tells us his final conclusion about the Israelite’s salvation as “this mystery”. (25) Today I would like to share 3 aspects about this wonderful mystery.
I. What the mystery is (Vs. 25-27)
First let’s look at what the mystery is. Please look at verses 25 to 27.
Paul who has talked about God’s plan of the salvation of the Israelites says here, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery.” (25) When Paul uses the word “mystery” he refers to what has be hidden in the past, but now by God this secret has been specially revealed. By God’s special revelation it is made visible. What this mystery is is written in the last part of verse 25 and the first part of verse 26. “Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved.”
“Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.” (25) “Until the full number of the Gentiles has come in” in Greek means “the Gentiles full time”. The problem is when this time is.
In the Present Age Bible written by Rev. Reiji Oyama, he translates this passage as “Until the time that God planned to accomplish the salvation of the Gentiles.” (25) In other words, this is in the plan of salvation that God ordained that the Gentiles that were ordained to be saved are all saved. This means the time when the ordained number of Gentiles have come into the church. As a result of Israel experiencing “a hardening in part” (25), the Gospel was spread to the Gentiles. At the time when the numbers of Gentiles are full and the plan of salvation is fulfilled, then “all Israel will be saved.” (26)
We need to understand what “all” means. Calvin and many other theologians think that “Israel” has a spiritual meaning and refers to all those who have received salvation, both Jews and Gentiles. It is true that Paul has used the word “Israel” with this meaning in many places, for example in Galatians 6:16. However, here we can see that he is not using that meaning, but is referring to the Israelites. That is because in chapters 9 to 11 Paul has talked about Israel’s salvation. In these 2 chapters the word Israel is used 13 times and they all refer to the Israelites. Therefore, we can see that here too “Israelites” refers to the Jews.
“So all Israel will be saved.” (26) Some theologians think that this “all” (26) means the way that it is written that every individual Israelite will be saved. In other words, before Christ’s second coming when “the full number of Gentiles has come in” (25) the Israelites as a people, with no exceptions, will believe in Christ as their Savior.
However, my interpretation is that “all” does not mean that all Israelites, with no exceptions, will believe in Christ, but the Israelites representative of the whole nation will believe. In other words, at the end of the age, the Gospel will be preached throughout the world. When “the full number of Gentiles has come in” (25) the Israelites who were hardened up to this point as a whole will believe in Jesus. “So all Israel will be saved.” (26) Probably this refers to the remnant. The remnant appeared in 11:5. God, even today, has by grace chosen a remnant, but in the last days more Israelites will believe in Jesus and be saved. “So all Israel will be saved.” (26)
How great this is! We are astounded by God’s wisdom and knowledge. In verse 33 Paul says, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! We can do nothing but bow before God who has such a perfect, unthinkable plan. We can do nothing but bow before God who has a wonderful mystery. We must pray “Thy will be done on heaven and earth.” We must put all in the hands of God who has and leads with a perfect plan and wait expectantly for God to fulfill the plan.
II. The unchanging call of God (vs. 28-32)
Secondly, I’d like to look at the fact that the Israelite’s salvation is based upon God’s unchanging promise. Please look at verses 28 to 32.
“They” (28), the Israelites, and “you” (30), the Gentiles, is written in a comparative style. In other words, “they” (28), the Israelites, are now not obeying God and are against the Gospel, but by God’s promises, the blessings given to their fathers, they are loved by God. God chose Abraham and said, “I will bless those who bless you…and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3) That promise will never change. God’s gifts and calling will never change no matter what happens.
This is the conclusion that Paul makes about all that he has said about the Israelite’s salvation. A promise that God once made, he does not change. That is because God is completely faithful. God’s promises will never change no matter what happens.
Isaiah 54:10
Even if the mountains change, and the hills move, and the sun and universe change, and everything in the world changes, there is one thing in our life that never changes, that never moves. That is the Word of God. That is God’s salvation. Just as a mother watches over her child so the child feels safe and happy, so does God always watch over us so how safe and happy we can be. The Israelites at times turned their backs on God and sinned. They worshipped the Golden calf. However, they were not cut off. That is because of their election, they were loved by God ”on account of the patriarchs”. (28)
In fact, God used Israelite’s sin, disobedience, to unfold the works of salvation. In verses 30 to 32, the word, “disobedient” appears 4 times. Disobedience is sin against God. It looks like it will ruin God’s plan of salvation. However, God who controls everything even turns such works of Satan into his advantage, and uses it to open the road of salvation for all men. For example, this is true with the salvation of the Gentiles. The Gentiles were saved because of the disobedience of the Israelites. The Gentiles have “received mercy as a result of their (the Israelite’s) disobedience.” (30) Our God is a God who turns the tables around. God uses such disobedience to open the doors to perform the works of salvation. That is because we are chosen by God. From the time that we confessed Jesus as our Savior who saved us from our sins, the Son of God, we were put into the promise of Abraham. We received the rights as a child of God and inherited the blessings. We are loved by God through the promises of the Word of God.
Sometimes because of our sin we think and struggle with the feeling that God has rejected us. We feel like we are at a dead end with no exits. However, God will definitely never reject us. We struggle with our sin, suffer from our sin, and so that we can repent God pours mercy upon us. There are times when we are in the midst of a huge problem. We are blocked by it, and we fall into darkness. But this is a blessing too. When we have gone through that darkness or tunnel, we will receive the light from heaven, and we can receive the salvation that God has prepared for us. We will be able to discover that we have been made into an obedient person. We must believe on the promise of God’s word that God’s gifts and calling do not change, and find hope and peace in that.
III. Leave everything in the hands of God (vs. 33-36)
Lastly. let’s look at the hymn that Paul sang as he thought about God’s plan concerning the salvation of the Israelites. Let’s look at verses 33 to 36.
From chapter 9 on Paul has talked about Israel’s salvation. God has prepared a remnant and through them God plans to save Israel. Israel has been hardened so that salvation will be spread to the Gentiles. However, in the course of time when “the full number of the Gentiles has come in” (25), the Israelites will search after God and “so all Israel will be saved.” (26) When this wonderful mystery was made visible, Paul was greatly astonished by God’s wisdom and knowledge and could do nothing but praise the God. “Oh the depth of the riches of wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (33)
People like this who look up to God, their hearts are overflowing with praise and thankfulness. However, people who don’t, who compare themselves with other people, who make decisions by their own thinking their hearts are full of complaining and discontentment, and judging others. The correct Christian life is always looking up to God, depending on God, and leaving everything in the hand of God.
Psalms 37:5
Many things happen in our life. Things that we didn’t want to happen, occur too. There are things that happen that we don’t think could be a plus in our life. However, when we look at things through God’s eyes, there is nothing that happens that is not necessary. Everything is in the eternal plan. When we look at things from God’s standpoint, everything has a wonderful meaning and purpose. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!” (36) Let’s leave everything in God’s hand and live a Christian life walking in thankfulness and praise.