Israel's Adversarial, Beloved Status
Romans 11:28-31 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; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.
Verse 28 flows straight from the context of vv. 25-27, drawing a conclusion to the current state of Israel as a predominately unbelieving people. In relation to Christians they are God’s “enemies,” for they rejected Jesus as the Messiah. This is their spiritual condition as they stand before God. In spite of this, Gentile Christians are not called to hate Israel, for Israel’s current state of unbelief has allowed Gentiles to be brought to salvation in Christ (v. 28; cf. 11:11).
Certainly Gentile Christians are not to treat their Jewish brethren as rivals to be destroyed but as enemies to be loved (cf. Matt. 5:44). Though Israel is an enemy of God with regard to the gospel, she is loved by God “from the standpoint of God’s choice,” or election, for the sake of their forefathers (i.e., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob). Now God’s choice of Israel does not mean that every Jew who ever lived will be saved but that the nation as a whole is blessed by God. Being “beloved” of God will culminate in the salvation of the elect for salvation. So, since “all Israel will be saved” (26), Gentile believers must maintain a proper, loving attitude towards Israel.
Verse 29 explains that both God’s calling and His gifts, which are given to His people, are “irrevocable,” literally “not repented of”—emphatic in the Greek text. God is unable to repent of His gifts and His calling of Israel, for “It is not as though the word of God has failed” (9:6). God called Israel through Abraham to be a special, unique nation among all other peoples in history, and He has not rescinded that divine call. Israel’s “gifts” (Gr. charismata) would the numerous blessings Paul spoke of in 9:4-5. These gifts continue to be offered freely to Israel, the same salvation offered to Gentiles, namely belief in Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God, Lord of heaven and earth. Those who trust in Jesus as the Christ receive God’s gifts, and God will never repent of such. Gentiles must therefore respect the Jews, for they themselves have a secure salvation as a result of Israel’s unbelief. Albeit, God will save Israel—always true to His word.
Verses 30-31 are parallel in a 3+3 format and summarize what Paul has said. The first three points concern Gentiles who were, first, at one time disobedient to God. Second, they are now receiving mercy by God. Third, they are receiving mercy because of Jewish unbelief. The second three points concern Jews, who are, first, currently disobedient to God. Second, during their disobedience the Gentiles are able to come to faith which is the “mercy shown to you.” Third, the mercy currently being shown to the Gentiles will eventually produce the future mercy for the Jews. This is what Paul previously said in 11:11 and 11:14, namely, that Israel will become jealous of Gentile salvation and will eventually long for what the Gentiles have in Christ. This will, in turn, bring forth their “fullness” (11:12), their “life from the dead” (11:15).
The second use of the word “now” in v. 31 simply means that though Israel is not “now” receiving the mercy of salvation, Paul sees the time of Jesus and the events of His life up to His second coming as an unfolding unity of time called the eschaton—the time of the end.
Food For Thought
Christians can view Israel as their enemies in terms of the gospel. But true Christians love their enemies! In loving the Jews through our actions and behavior toward them, therefore, we will move them to jealousy (11:11). And when God’s time arrives, they will indeed come to Christ in mass and bring divine blessings upon the world that the world has yet to experience.
Verse 28 flows straight from the context of vv. 25-27, drawing a conclusion to the current state of Israel as a predominately unbelieving people. In relation to Christians they are God’s “enemies,” for they rejected Jesus as the Messiah. This is their spiritual condition as they stand before God. In spite of this, Gentile Christians are not called to hate Israel, for Israel’s current state of unbelief has allowed Gentiles to be brought to salvation in Christ (v. 28; cf. 11:11).
Certainly Gentile Christians are not to treat their Jewish brethren as rivals to be destroyed but as enemies to be loved (cf. Matt. 5:44). Though Israel is an enemy of God with regard to the gospel, she is loved by God “from the standpoint of God’s choice,” or election, for the sake of their forefathers (i.e., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob). Now God’s choice of Israel does not mean that every Jew who ever lived will be saved but that the nation as a whole is blessed by God. Being “beloved” of God will culminate in the salvation of the elect for salvation. So, since “all Israel will be saved” (26), Gentile believers must maintain a proper, loving attitude towards Israel.
Verse 29 explains that both God’s calling and His gifts, which are given to His people, are “irrevocable,” literally “not repented of”—emphatic in the Greek text. God is unable to repent of His gifts and His calling of Israel, for “It is not as though the word of God has failed” (9:6). God called Israel through Abraham to be a special, unique nation among all other peoples in history, and He has not rescinded that divine call. Israel’s “gifts” (Gr. charismata) would the numerous blessings Paul spoke of in 9:4-5. These gifts continue to be offered freely to Israel, the same salvation offered to Gentiles, namely belief in Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God, Lord of heaven and earth. Those who trust in Jesus as the Christ receive God’s gifts, and God will never repent of such. Gentiles must therefore respect the Jews, for they themselves have a secure salvation as a result of Israel’s unbelief. Albeit, God will save Israel—always true to His word.
Verses 30-31 are parallel in a 3+3 format and summarize what Paul has said. The first three points concern Gentiles who were, first, at one time disobedient to God. Second, they are now receiving mercy by God. Third, they are receiving mercy because of Jewish unbelief. The second three points concern Jews, who are, first, currently disobedient to God. Second, during their disobedience the Gentiles are able to come to faith which is the “mercy shown to you.” Third, the mercy currently being shown to the Gentiles will eventually produce the future mercy for the Jews. This is what Paul previously said in 11:11 and 11:14, namely, that Israel will become jealous of Gentile salvation and will eventually long for what the Gentiles have in Christ. This will, in turn, bring forth their “fullness” (11:12), their “life from the dead” (11:15).
The second use of the word “now” in v. 31 simply means that though Israel is not “now” receiving the mercy of salvation, Paul sees the time of Jesus and the events of His life up to His second coming as an unfolding unity of time called the eschaton—the time of the end.
Food For Thought
Christians can view Israel as their enemies in terms of the gospel. But true Christians love their enemies! In loving the Jews through our actions and behavior toward them, therefore, we will move them to jealousy (11:11). And when God’s time arrives, they will indeed come to Christ in mass and bring divine blessings upon the world that the world has yet to experience.
More to read:
Copyright © 2024 Harvest Bible Church, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Harvest Bible Church
14954 Mueschke Road
Cypress, TX 77433
Our mailing address is:
Harvest Bible Church
14954 Mueschke Road
Cypress, TX 77433
Recent
Archive
2025
January
A Burden For IsraelIsrael's PrivilegesGod's Unconditional Promise To IsraelThe Children of PromiseGod's Sovereign ElectionGod's Sovereign ElectionMercy On Whom He WillsIs God Fair?Absurd Questioning of GodWhat If God Really Is Sovereign?God's Glory in Grace and JudgmentNot My People; Now My PeopleJews and Gentiles: One In ChristSalvation of the RemnantGod's Sovereignty, Man's FreewillWorking For RighteousnessJesus: the Stone of StumblingZeal Without KnowledgeWhy Work For a Gift?No Seeking, Just Believing
February
Salvation Near To AllJesus: Savior and LordSalvation For WhoeverBeautiful Preachers of the GospelChoosing UnbeliefIsrael's Ongoing ObstinancyGod Has Not Rejected IsraelGod's ForeknowledgeGod's Foreknowledge, Pt. 2God Has Not Rejected Israel, Pt. 2God's Faithful RemnantA Faithful Remnant, Pt. 2The Chosen and the HardenedJealousy of Israel?Jealousy of Israel? (part 2)Grafting of GentilesIf You Continue...Kindness & Severity of God
March
Israel's Partial HardeningSalvation Coming To IsraelThe Deliverer From ZionIsrael's Adversarial, Beloved StatusGod's Mercy On All, Jew and GentileOh, The Depths of GodTo God Be the Glory, ForeverIn View of God's Mercies...Only Proper Worship Will DoOur Reasonable Service To GodOur Spiritual WorshipDon't Be ConformedBe TransformedProving God's Perfect WillThe Christian's Measure of FaithA Proper View of OurselvesOne Body, Many Members
2024
October
November
The Benefit of SanctificationFree From LawHave You Died?Released From Law's BondageThe Law is Not SinHoly Law; Deceptive SinDead To Sin But Still Vulnerable To ItGod's Spirit vs. Our FleshNot Me But SinWretched People That We AreNo CondemnationThe Law of the Life-Giving SpiritWhat We Can't Do, God DidWhere Is Your Mind?Mind on Flesh vs. Mind on SpiritThe Indwelling Holy SpiritNo Obligation to Our FleshAdopted By God, Now His ChildrenHeirs of God; Co-Heirs with ChristBe Filled with the Spirit
December
The Creation Eagerly AwaitsCreation Under the CurseHoping For What We Don't SeeGroanings of the SpiritMomentary, Light AfflictionAll Things For Good?All Things For Good, Pt. 2Foreknown and PredestinedCalled, Justified, and GlorifiedThe Necessity of PredestinationDrawn To ChristGod Is For His PeopleAll Good Things For God's PeopleNothing Can Separate UsCan't Salvation Be Lost?Nothing Can Separate Christians From God
Categories
no categories
No Comments