All Israel Saved

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery--so that you will not be wise in your own estimation – that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:25-29)

1. Notice that it does not say that all Israelites will be saved but that all Israel will be saved.

2. Notice that the clear implication of this passage is that the identity of Israel that will be saved includes the fullness of the Gentiles that have come in. That means that quite likely the ratio of Gentiles to Jews will possibly be enormous.

3. What does the word “saved” mean? Allow the context to define it.

4. What does “a partial hardening” mean? Hardening of what?

5. What is revealed about the covenant that is promoted by God that we can see in this text?

   1. The deliverer will come from Zion. Jesus indeed came from Israel if that is what is implied by Zion.

   2. He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

      1. Notice that the emphasis throughout these prophecies is on what God does.

      2. He removes ungodliness. What is godliness? How do you remove ungodliness?

      3. He removes it from Jacob. Jacob means usurper and deceiver, very un-godlike characteristics.

   3. There seems to be a time factor noted here – “when”. What does that imply about this covenant?

   4. Is taking away their sins parallel or something different than removing ungodliness?

6. “From the standpoint”. There is obviously two standpoints here from which to view things and each one produces a different picture or perception of what is going on.

   1. The standpoint of the gospel. What does it mean to contrast this with the other standpoint?

   2. The standpoint of God's choice or election. What does this really mean and in what context?

   3. Why does one standpoint make the Jews our enemies and the other make them look beloved? What can that tell us about the difference between the standpoints?

7. Just because God chooses someone does not force them to accept His choice. Just because His gifts and calling are irrevocable does not force the recipients to fulfill His desire for them to utilize those things properly. It simply means that He will not withdraw them. But He may have to apply them to more responsive recipients who exercise more faith in Him.

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