All Israel will be saved

Romans 11:25-36 ; 6/8/2025; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

The topic we are going to talk about today is very big and cannot be covered in a small size.  However, praying for God’s mercy and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to help us see the eternal mystery is indeed God’s grace.  Let’s look at the first point:

 All Israel will be saved

The Bible declares that  all Israel will be saved, and all will be saved.  But who is the whole house of Israel?  When is the whole house of Israel?  Where is the whole house of Israel?  What is the mystery revealed by God in this?  First, hardening and filling.  The Bible says that this is a mystery.  This mystery includes two aspects.  One is that the Israelites are somewhat hardened; the other is that the number of the Gentiles will be filled.  Judging from the content of the scriptures, this mystery does not say anything else except hardening and filling, right?  The Israelites rejected Jesus Christ, which was their hardening.  Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles, preaching the gospel to the Gentiles until the time of filling.  If people can think less and have a cautious heart against the additions of humanism, this could have ended here.  Of course, it is reasonable to have doubts.  For example, if the Gentiles are filled, then should the Israelites be filled?  What is the quantity and proportion between the two?  The Bible does not say, so I will stop here!

Secondly, salvation comes from the removal of sin.  Then Paul came to his conclusion. He said,”And in this way all Israel will be saved.”  The Bible’s view of salvation is actually very simple and has never changed, that is, justification by faith.  God said: You are saved by grace through faith.  Not by work, so that no one can boast.  What do you believe in?  Believe that God raised him from the dead, that Jesus is the Son of God, the Son of man who has become flesh.  So, what does it matter if you believe in God?  Paul quoted the words of the prophet Isaiah, “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.  If sin is not removed, how can we come before God and restore our identity as God’s children?

Finally, the gift and the calling.  The Israelites in the scriptures are not the same as the entire house of Israel.  The Israelites refer to the Jews whom Jesus Christ faced when he became flesh and came to the world.  The Israelites, including the high priest, who shouted that they wanted to “crucify him”  The Bible says them,  ”a partial hardening has come upon Israel, “  The whole house of Israel refers to those who are justified by faith and whose sins are forgiven, including Jewish Christians and Gentiles who believe in the Lord.  This is the core of the mystery that Paul talked about, that is, no matter who you are, as long as you believe in the Lord Jesus, you will be included in the whole house of Israel.  Not only that, God also confirms the relationship between God and man in the form of a covenant, that is, the forgiveness of sins is the sign of the new covenant!  Let’s look at the second point:

Obey and you will receive mercy

Paul said that because of God’s gifts and calling, there is no regret.  Because God is an omnipotent God, and even more so a covenant-keeping and loving God!   First,God’s mercy for those who disobey.  From the history of the Israelites, they disobeyed God for a long time and did many things in rebellion.  They complained after leaving Egypt, and lived in the wilderness for forty years.  A whole generation died,   and only Joshua and Caleb were left to enter the promised land.  After Solomon, there were many bad kings and few good kings in the successive dynasties, and they were marked by the history of captivity and return.  Jesus has come, preaching, casting out demons, healing and saving people among the Israelites.  However, the Jews chose to rebel, refused to obey, and were unwilling to believe in Christ.  It seems that God’s salvation plan has been blocked, right?  Paul said, “For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, “ It is because of this that the Gentiles receive God’s salvation!

Secondly, they are all consigned to disobedience.  The Gentiles are justified by faith and saved by grace.  When they come to the church, they wonder why there are Jews who disobey God in the church?  In addition, the Jews outside the church are persecuting Christians.  Imagine what would happen if it were you?  Would you feel emotional, difficult to calm down, or even hate and want revenge?  For this reason, Paul said to them, “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.”  So that’s how it is.  We Gentile believers and Jewish Christians were all consigned to disobedience by God.  What is there to boast about?  It is the same today.  Whether people are white, black, Asian, or any ethnic group, we are all united in Christ!

Finally, disobey in order to obey.  Perhaps we would ask, why does God want to consign us all to disobedience?  The Bible says that God has a special purpose to have mercy on all!  Of course, it is difficult to ask all questions related to life with “why”, don’t you agree?  When Paul wrote this, he couldn’t help but compose a poem, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”  Yet, obedience is what God expects of all who belong to Him.  “And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)”  Let’s look at the third point:

 

All things come from Him

Since it is God’s will that the whole house of Israel be saved, no one can fathom His wisdom and power.  First, for who has known the mind of the Lord?  The prophet Isaiah once said, “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:4)”  Paul must have been inspired by the Holy Spirit to quote the words inspired by God to the prophet Isaiah seven hundred years ago and write down his own feelings, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Cor. 2:9)”  From God’s perspective, we see that the Holy Spirit chose two prophets from the Old Testament to the New Testament to speak the same words, which is extremely amazing!

Secondly, who came before the Lord?  However, God further reveals to us, ”these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (1 Cor. 2:10)”  The Holy Spirit searches everything, but what about humans?  Obviously, fleshly people cannot understand the things of the Holy Spirit.  Not only can they not understand, but they regard spiritual things as foolishness, and are still proud and self-righteous!  Unless people are willing to have the heart of Jesus Christ and become spiritual people who are accepted by God.  Then, what the Bible says about the gift of ”The spiritual person judges all things” will for sure come upon them and become a vessel to glorify God, benefit people, and build the church.

Finally, everything comes from Him!  God is the Creator, Savior, and Judge.  “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.(John 1:3)”  He wants the whole house of Israel to be saved, and the whole house of Israel will be saved, because this is what God said!  Paul also said at the end, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”  Through faith in Jesus Christ and through Him we have become new Israelites, descendants of Abraham, and members of the whole house of Israel.  What a great honor and grace this is!

Conclusion

Thank God! Once God’s words are explained, they will shine eternal light, illuminating the road to Damascus!  It turns out that the Israelites are not equal to the entire family of Israel.  The only standard for salvation is Jesus Christ.  Apart from Him, there is no salvation!

Let us pray……

 

25 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.

26 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”;

27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.