i don't know if anyone will agree with this, but, to me, it does not matter what WE think who is or who isn't Israel. What we do know is that whether an individual is one of the 12 tribes, God will know who they are and will bring them back to Him.
Romans 11:25 - Partially blinded
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Keraz
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I agree, as the mathematical fact of genetic diffusion, proves that everyone alive today has some of Abrahams genes.
Any ideas of a race or group of people having an inside track with God, are blown away by Ephesians 2:11-18 and other scriptures like: God has no favorites.
Gods people are from every tribe, race, nation and language. 1 Peter 2:9-10, Revelation 5:9-10
You make a good point! The reason it's necessary to emphasize the "Israel of God" is because so many followers of Christ believe that ethnic Jews called Israel who have never and shall never belong to "Israel of God" shall have another opportunity to turn to Christ to be eternally saved during a so-called period of one thousand literal years after Christ returns to set up a physical kingdom on this earth in a re-built temple in Jerusalem.
All ethnic Jews, called Israel of the flesh NOW have the same opportunity to have their blindness taken away IF they believe the Gospel. If they don't believe the Gospel for everlasting life before the Lord comes again, they will die in their sins just as all who remain in unbelief shall.
The blindness of ethnic Jews, called Israel of the flesh is removed the same way the blindness of all who remain in unbelief is. That is according to grace through faith when they hear the Gospel and through the power of the Spirit believe. Remember, with the exception of the remnant of Israel of faith, that is the Jews who believed the Law and Prophets that led them to faith in the Messiah to come, the whole world lay in darkness and unbelief. The first 13 verses of Jo 1 give us a picture of mankind when Christ came to earth a man.
John 1:1-13 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
If the blindness in part to Israel had ended when the Old Covenant vanished, then every single Jew of Israel would be called Messianic Jews. But sadly, the vast majority of Jews in the nation of Israel are Orthodox Jews who are still waiting for the promised Messiah to come to them.
Lambano
Well-Known Member
Who do you think is Paul referring to in Romans 11:28-29?
By context, the "but, touching on the election, they" (and you have a big "but" there; δέ, adversarial or continuative particle), the "they" who are beloved for the sake of the fathers HAS to refer to the enemies, Paul's "kinsmen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:1-5)
God loves His enemies. Imagine that. Who else told us to "go thou and do likewise"?
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The verses you reference in context are of the "Israel of God" which is all Israel that shall be saved. Israel of God is complete when the fullness of Gentiles is grafted into the good olive tree of faith with Jews of faith.
Romans 11:25-31 (KJV) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
When Christ came to earth a man, He was rejected by Israel of the flesh, not the "Israel of God." In this they are enemies of the Gospel that happened through the providence of God. Had they not been enemies of the Gospel by receiving Christ when He came, the Gospel would not have been sent unto all the nations of the earth. Because God had chosen Israel of Old to be light bearers to the whole world. But Israel of Old did not share the light of God with the nations of the world. They became puffed up and considered themselves alone as worthy of salvation. Instead of sharing with the nations of the world the promise from God to send a Messiah who would save all who are of faith, they kept God's Covenant promise to Abraham regarding a SEED (Christ) that would come through him to themselves. That's why Paul writes "concerning the gospel, enemies for your sakes".
Whose sakes? For the sakes of the Gentiles who would now hear the Gospel proclaimed to them and they too would be saved if they/we believe. Paul writes "as touching election, beloved for the fathers' sake." The elect of Israel is the remnant whom God foreknew that Paul writes "God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew." They are the seven thousand preserved by God from Old, who had not bowed the knee to Baal. They are also the elect remnant that Paul said existed at that present time. It is through this elect remnant that began with twelve disciples and faithful people like these two, John the Baptist, and Simeon, waiting in faith for fulfillment of the promised One. Through these few among Israel the spiritual Kingdom of God would grow exponentially as the Gospel is proclaimed unto all the nations of the world and all who believe have everlasting life through Christ.
Therefore, we know the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (irrevocable). Those Jews who were and still are in partial blindness (remain in unbelief) can NOW be saved through Gentiles of faith proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to them. Just as the Gentiles who were all in darkness and unbelief have turned to the Light of Christ through the election of Old as they faithfully proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to them. All without distinction, whether Jew or Gentile in darkness and unbelief in times past shall be saved if they believe through the Gospel proclaimed by the "Israel of God" in the power of the Holy Spirit
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Yes, absolutely! There is partial blindness in every nation, tribe, kindred and tongue upon the earth. There is NO nation, nor do I believe there ever shall be, any single nation on this earth that shall be without exception all of them coming out of blindness by turning to the Light (Christ) for everlasting life.
But, Paul's focus in Romans 11 when he writes of Israel is in partial blindness speaks of his kinsmen according to the flesh. Those who are children of Abraham of the flesh but are not the children of Abraham through his SEED (Christ).
Do you think this is an instance where a person doesn’t have free will?
In other words, let’s say an unsaved person who vehemently rejects Jesus is one of the 12 tribe members but it is unknown to them. That would mean, regardless of them using their free will to reject Jesus, they would become saved.
Does Israel have free will once the blindness in part is lifted?
That is simply not true. The whole remnant idea is taught throughout the Hebrew text. It is seen in the intimacy described between God and His elect. It is witnessed in the personal exchanges between the Lord and His people. There has always been a faithful spiritual people, even before Abraham, Israel and the Jews.
There is definitely a continuity between Old Testament Israel and the New Testament Church. But that continuity is not through national ethnic Christ-rejecting Israel, it is through a faithful believing Israel. God has always had an elect remnant in every age. And it is that remnant that overlies the Old and New Testament.
Firstly, who was the seed of the woman? Christ. He was God’s ultimate holy seed. What is more, God’s seed was singular, and never plural. It is founded, centered and fulfilled in Israel’s Savior. Right from the Garden, the promised seed was a redeeming Messiah. This was at the heart of the Gospel and the whole remnant seed development. He is the holy One of Israel. He is true Israel. He was the promised One. Jesus was indeed the “hope of Israel” – the only hope. He accomplished what national Israel could not do in the Old Testament. We should keep this in mind as we examine God’s remnant in Scripture.
Secondly, right from the start we can see that man either belonged to God or belonged to our arch-enemy the devil. There was no other option. One was either of God’s holy seed or Satan’s corrupt seed. God’s true elect people (both in the Old and New Testament) trace their antiquity to the outworking of God’s promise of salvation made at the beginning with Adam and Eve. The covenant God made later with Abraham was simply a confirmation and an enlargement of this original promise.
As you follow the righteous elect lineage from the beginning it is always depicted as a remnant people. Those who belong to this company are a holy seed who are considered the children of promise. The unsaved on the other hand are classified as those who are born naturally and are merely of the flesh. But those who are born of God are those who have been spiritually transformed through the work of the Spirit of God. These are the people of God. These are God’s chosen people.
We see the great dividing of the ways with the two sons of Adam and Eve, way before Abraham, and way before there was a nation of Israel. Cain was a child of the devil, and Abel was a child of God. Genesis 3:3 reveals the first record of false worship in Scripture, it says, “Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD” Cain’s sacrifice was outwardly impressive; it was a beautifully adorned offering. What is more, and significantly, it was made to Yahweh God, not the devil. However, it was not pleasing unto the Lord.
Verse 5a says, “But unto Cain and to his offering he [God] had not respect.” This shows us from the start that outward allegiance to God, human effort or the outward keeping of ordinances never denoted salvation or favor with the Almighty. You see, Cain’s sacrifice was a bloodless offering and was therefore a complete offence to God. Abel’s sacrifice in contrast was a blood atonement; in fact, it is the first record of a priestly sacrifice made by man in Scripture. Genesis 3:4 says, “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering.”
Being inspired by the devil, and full of jealousy, wicked Cain slew his righteous brother Abel. 1 John 3:12 tells us: “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” Cain was exposed as being of the seed of “that wicked one.” Abel, on the other hand, carried the Messianic hope as God’s holy seed. When Cain killed his brother, he thought he had ruined that holy lineage. But no one can resist or curtail God (Daniel 4:35, Job 23:13 and Revelation 3:7). God raised up Abel’s brother Seth to keep that spiritual heritage alive.
Israel’s propensity to go after false gods, worship idols, sacrifice their children to the fire and embrace devils, even when God was moving in their midst, is breathtaking. It is hard to view the special favor that rested upon natural Israel, including the blessing and truth they incessantly enjoyed, and then understand their habitual determination to do their own thing and follow Satan. It simply doesn’t make sense. It is only when we realize that ultimate favor with God only came through knowing Him personally and walking in obedience with Him. To this end, the majority of Israelites are customarily portrayed as not knowing real union and communion with God. Notwithstanding, God always had an enlightened people within the camp of Israel. They were a believing “remnant” that lived in the midst of an oft apostate nation. This was normally a small company of faithful Israelis.
This is all summed up in Isaiah 1:9, where we learned: “Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.”
If God didn’t have an elect seed, Israel would have been wiped off the face of the map like Sodom. Graciously, there was always an ongoing elect people within Israel that had eyes to see and ears to hear. They were God’s true chosen covenant people.
The remnant congregation can be found throughout Scripture and relates to God’s true redeemed people throughout time. This is the invisible spiritual grouping among the visible congregation of God in both testaments. We are looking at the people of God (both Hebrew and Gentile) in both covenant economies. This is the household of faith in history. The true people of God are all those who know God and enjoy a personal covenant relationship with Him. Since the Fall, God has dealt with man on the same basis throughout human history. From Adam to the end of time, salvation has always been by grace through faith.
Before we go any further, we should establish that a remnant is: ‘a small remaining quantity of something’. In a biblical sense, the remnant is the true believing people of God situated among the overall professing camp of outward devotees throughout time. It refers to those who are true to God despite surrounding compromise and/or opposition.
In the Old Testament, they were the genuine believing portion amongst national Israel. While this included Gentile converts, they were required to integrate themselves into the theocratic structure of ethnic Israel. That did not mean salvation was acquired through Israeli nationality, no, only that God’s favor was typically realized within the parameters of that small specially-chosen country. Of course, Nineveh is a notable exception.
There is a big difference between the nation being chosen to manifest the glory of God and an individual being chosen to manifest the glory of God. The choosing of Israel did not guarantee salvation for every single Israeli living there (as we can see through many passages in the Old Testament and the New Testament) – it simply demonstrated their favored position amongst the nations. The election of the individual in salvation is different; it is secured before the foundation of the earth and ensures the elect will spend all eternity with the Lord.
Under the new covenant, the “remnant” concept overflowed Israel’s borders and took on a global identity. It expanded out to a darkened Gentile world. It relates to the children of God from throughout the nations, irrespective of nationality, within the outward professing New Testament Church. John Gay explains, in an article Remnant Theology: “When Gentiles become spiritual descendants of Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ, they become part of this subset also, part of remnant Israel. That believing Gentiles are placed within remnant Israel is clearly shown by Paul's illustration of the olive tree.”
When Jesus came 2000 years ago He was on a mission of love from start to finish. Heaven couldn’t have given mankind a greater gift. His whole life was love: every word He said and every deed He did was saturated in love. His death was the final and eternal seal of that love pertaining to His ministry on this earth.
The coming redeemer was anticipated by Simeon who faithfully waited for His appearing in Luke 2:30-35, where he acknowledged: “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel … Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
The elect remnant of Israel had a spiritual awareness of Christ’s mission. Redemption was the central aspect of Messiah’s mission to earth. Israel needed the sin question addressed more than any other issue. This was man’s greatest affliction. Right was His birth redemption was the great spiritual assignment laid upon His shoulders.
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The human mind, in its complexity, often resists that which challenges our deeply held beliefs. This "blindness" spoken of by Paul is not a punishment, but rather a manifestation of our own psychological defenses when confronted with a truth that upends our worldview.
God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, works within the framework of our human nature. He does not force belief, but allows us to come to understanding in our own time, through our own struggles and growth. This partial blindness of Israel serves a greater purpose in the divine plan, allowing for the inclusion of all peoples in God's salvific work.
In the end, this passage speaks to the beautiful interplay between divine grace and human free will. It reminds us that God's love is vast enough to encompass all of humanity, working through our limitations to bring about His Kingdom.
Paul continually differentiates between the Israelite according to “the flesh” and Israelite according to “the Spirit.” He frequently qualifies his use of the Israeli or Jewish label, showing that there is both a natural and a spiritual understanding in these designations. 1 Corinthians 10:18 says, “Israel after the flesh.” In Romans 9:3 he describes the natural Jew as “my kinsmen according to the flesh” and in Romans 9:4-5 describes them as “Israelites ... as concerning the flesh.” Paul describes natural Israel as: “them which are my flesh” (Romans 11:14).
Acts 13:26 talks about “children of the stock [Gr. genos or genealogy] of Abraham” and Philippians 3:5 those “of the stock [Gr. genos] of Israel.” The Bible is here speaking in a natural sense. The Greek word genos basically means kindred or offspring.
Acts 14:2 speaks about “the unbelieving Jews” or in Acts 17:5 “the Jews which believed not.”
Romans 10:1-3 tells us: “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
National Israel didn’t get it. They were sold on a religious delusion. What is more, “the zeal of God” they had was “not according to knowledge.” They were ignorant. They were blind. They had a false perception of truth in their head, which resulted in them practicing a faulty religious system. The nation had invented a religion of good works, which was an anathema to God. The reason they did this was because they were “ignorant of God's righteousness.” They had no revelation of imputed righteousness.
Romans 9:32 tells us: “Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone.” Basically, they stumbled because of Jesus Christ. They didn’t get who He was and what He came to do. They rejected man’s only hope of redemption.
National religious Israel missed the boat because they rejected Christ (“they stumbled at that stumblingstone.”). Also, they were bound to an apostate system that revolved around keeping the law. The fact is: none of them could keep it. They were totally deceived in thinking they could. They were not a believing people which is why they were cut out of the good Israeli olive tree.
GB, Paul never says the fullness of Gentiles will remove Israel's partial blindness. He says that it is through the fullness of the Gentiles that "all Israel shall be saved." It is only by assuming "all Israel" saved are ethnic Jews that makes one believe Paul is saying the partial in blindness in Israel shall be removed. But that cannot be! Because all Israel is saved when Gentiles are grafted in with them. That means "all Israel saved" is NOT ethnic Jews, but is the "Israel of God" filled with Jews of faith and Gentiles of faith together. This is the manner in which all Israel shall be saved when the Israel of God is complete as the last Gentile is saved. That is the mystery that had been hidden in ages past, that is now being revealed through the advent of Christ.
According to John the mystery before hidden but now revealed "should be finished" when the seventh trumpet begins to sound. That is the trumpet that shall sound that time given this earth whereby man must be saved "shall be no longer." There will be no more time for man to be saved after the last Gentile is saved, and the only time left for this earth is Satan's "little season."
Revelation 10:5-7 (KJV) And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
There are two different "they's" in Romans 11:28.
Never and nowhere in Scripture are enemies of the gospel ever numbered with the election.
Never and nowhere in Scripture do the twain meet unless and until the former as individuals accept Christ, and are then numbered with the latter.
Paul further declares:
Romans 11
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
The gifts and the calling are terms associated exclusively with those who have put their faith in Christ: His Beloved Election, His true Holy Chosen People: His Church.
Upon whom does God bestow His gifts?
Romans 12:6
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
1 Corinthians 12:1
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1 Corinthians 12:28
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:12
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
God's gifts are bestowed exclusively upon His Beloved Election, His Holy Chosen People: His Church.
To them, and to no others, His gifts are without repentance.
To whom is God's calling directed?
1 Corinthians 1:26
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
Ephesians 1:18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
2 Thessalonians 1:11
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
God's calling is directed exclusively to His Beloved Election, His Holy Chosen People: His Church.
To them, and to no others, His calling is without repentance.
I've answered your question, even though I'd asked mine first.
Your turn.
Who are "special" Israel? What identifying characteristics make them special to God?
1. Their DNA
2. Their religion
3. Their culture
4. Their domicile
5. Their faithfulness and obedience to God and His Son
6. Something else
CadyandZoe
Well-Known Member
Here’s what seems to be kinda off kilter here. If Paul meant Israel will always and forever be blind in part then why even say “that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in”?
You have ethnic Israel remaining an entity up until the end of time and this ethnic Israel is blind in part forever, their status never changes. Ultimately they are no different than Gentiles, yet Paul does differentiate between the two groups. Saying the Gentiles will be blind in part until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in would be just as valid a statement, but just as uninformative and meaningless.
Is the only reason Paul makes the distinction between the two groups because he was a Jew in the past? Do you have any other instances where this type of language is used by Paul?
Spiritual Israelite
Well-Known Member
No, Paul refers to the enemies and the election separately. The enemies would be those who are blinded and the election refers to the remnant of saved Israelites, as can be seen in Romans 11:5-7.
When it says the election are beloved for the father's sakes that's referring to a special love that God has for His people which is different than the love He has for all people, including His enemies. That's what you're missing. The Greek word translated as "loved" or "beloved" in Romans 11:28 is agapētos which is used to describe an intimate love for someone. It is used in verses like these:
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved (agapētos) Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved (agapētos) of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It's not a word that would ever be used in relation to unbelievers, but rather is one used to describe the Father's love for His Son and God's love for His people (believers).
Spiritual Israelite
Well-Known Member
What do you mean "once the blindness in part is lifted"? The blindness in part is never fully lifted, but the blindness of individuals is lifted when they repent and put their faith in Christ. Look at the following passage:
Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
The blindness in part refers to the fact that there was a saved remnant of Israelite believers while "the rest were blinded". Can you see in verses 11 to 14 that Paul believed he could help save some of those who were blinded? And I'm sure some of them were saved. So, the blindness was lifted from some of them even back then at that time. It has nothing to do with the blindness in part being fully lifted at some point as many imagine. That does not fit the context of what Paul was talking about.
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