Even though Israel as a nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More has been set aside for a time, it has not been rejected forever. Some Gentiles in Paul’s day, proud of their new positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More, thought they had been. Many think the same today. But God forbid that this should be the case, for Israel is a people foreknown by God for a special purpose, and if they were cast off forever, His purpose would fail. Paul immediately points to himself as proof. Mercy had been shown to him, and he was an Israelite. He was both an example of the remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More God was calling at that time and a pledge of Israel’s eventual national restorationWhen a believer turns away from God, He works on them so that they turn back to God through repentance and confession. Then, the believer can once again honor God... More. God is still calling a remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More today, just as He did in the days of Elijah.

“I also am an Israelite,” Paul says. Let us set alongside those words another statement he made to a hostile Jewish audience: “I am indeed a man who is a Jew” (Acts 22:3). These two statements are worth noting in the light of the modern claims of British-Israelism, which rest almost entirely on the assumption that “Jew” always means the two southern tribes—supposedly rejected by God—while “Israel” means the ten northern tribes, to whom all blessings belong, and whom they identify with English-speaking nations. If that assumption is wrong, their entire system collapses like a bubble. Paul’s words puncture British-Israelism.

But let us return to Paul’s argument. When Israel was almost entirely apostate in the days of Ahab, God reserved for Himself no fewer than seven thousand who were truly loyal to Him at heart—even though Elijah alone stood out publicly. This was the fruit of God’s graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More, and that same graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More continues to operate. The result is “a remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More according to the electionAll believers in the assembly of God were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). This is also confirmed by the expression "before eternity" in 2... More of graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More” (v. 5). As a nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More, Israel despised graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More and sought righteousness by keeping the law, only to miss it and to fall into blindness (v. 7). But the remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More, bowing to graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More, were saved.

Verses 8–10 show that the Old Testament prophets had foretold their stumbling resultingand Testament blindness. Verse 11 explains one major consequence: through Israel’s fall, salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More has been sent to the Gentiles. The verses that follow, down to verse 15, look ahead to Israel’s future national restorationWhen a believer turns away from God, He works on them so that they turn back to God through repentance and confession. Then, the believer can once again honor God... More, and the results are sharply contrasted with what came from their being set aside.

Through their fall, the Gospel of graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More has gone out among the nations, and the Gentile worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More has been greatly enriched. It has meant “the reconciling of the worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More”—that is, the worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More which was left in darkness while God focused His dealings on Israel has now been brought into favorable consideration through the Gospel. This reconciliation"Reconcile" can also be translated as "balance." It describes how people are "brought into an agreement." "Reconcile with God" means to bring people or things into harmony with God. It... More is not the vital and eternal reconciliation"Reconcile" can also be translated as "balance." It describes how people are "brought into an agreement." "Reconcile with God" means to bring people or things into harmony with God. It... More of Romans 5—the fruit of Christ’s death—but a provisional, dispensational reconciliation"Reconcile" can also be translated as "balance." It describes how people are "brought into an agreement." "Reconcile with God" means to bring people or things into harmony with God. It... More produced by Israel’s stumbling.

Today, Israel has fallen, diminished, and broken—and all of this has worked for the good of the Gentiles. What then will be the result of their being restored—of their “fullness”? It will be a further outpouring of blessingA blessing is something good, in the Old Testament, usually associated with possessions, prosperity, and health, and is usually pronounced over someone. In principle, the lesser is blessed by the... More on the earth, so great that Paul likens it to “life from the dead.” The central point is that, although Israel has been set aside from the exclusive place they once held, the Gentiles are now receiving blessings, and yet God is still preserving an elect remnantWe speak of a remnant when the majority of God's people have become apostates and have turned away from God. God calls the remnant the few who remain faithful to... More from among Israel.

This point is confirmed and expanded in verses 16–24 by the illustration of an olive tree and the process of grafting. The olive tree is likely chosen because, producing oilWhen oil is mentioned in the Bible, it usually refers to olive oil. It was considered an important staple food and was used for ointments and as a light source... More, it is a picture of spiritual richness or blessingA blessing is something good, in the Old Testament, usually associated with possessions, prosperity, and health, and is usually pronounced over someone. In principle, the lesser is blessed by the... More. Israel once held this place of blessingA blessing is something good, in the Old Testament, usually associated with possessions, prosperity, and health, and is usually pronounced over someone. In principle, the lesser is blessed by the... More on earth through Abraham, their ancestor. They forfeited it, as we have seen, and now Gentiles have been brought into it, so that “the blessingA blessing is something good, in the Old Testament, usually associated with possessions, prosperity, and health, and is usually pronounced over someone. In principle, the lesser is blessed by the... More of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More” (Gal. 3:14).

This transfer is pictured as natural branches being broken off the olive tree, and wild olive branches being grafted in, so that these formerly wild branches now share the richness of the cultivated olive, drawing their life from its root. This kind of grafting is “contrary to nature,” as verse 24 says. It is nothing new, however, to see graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More working in ways opposite to nature.

It is important for us Gentiles to understand what has happened and how it has happened. Israel lost their place through unbelief, and we hold our place by faith. Therefore, we must beware! If Gentiles do not continue in faith, what else can they expect but to be broken off in turn? Wild olive branches cannot expect better treatment than the natural branches. Keep in mind once more that this is not about the personal salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More of individuals, but about the dispensational change in God’s government—His setting rebellious Israel aside and bringing the Gentile nations into a place of opportunity in connection with the Gospel.

God’s dealings in this matter show both sides of His character—goodness and severity—as verse 22 states. The severity of God is heavily discounted, even denied, in many religious circles today. But it exists nevertheless, and those who deny it will encounter it in due time. The natural branches—scattered Israel—will be grafted in again, and the proud Gentile branches will be broken off. The “times of the Gentiles” are drawing to a close.

In verse 25, the olive tree illustration is left behind, and Paul returns to his main theme. He plainly states that Israel’s blindness will last only until “the fullness of the Gentiles” has come in. Then their eyes will be opened, and Israel as a whole will be saved. This will occur when the Lord Jesus returns. The blindness is only “in part,” because all along God has been calling out an elect company from among them. When Jesus comes again, “all Israel” will be saved—that is, Israel as a nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More. It does not mean that every individual Israelite will be saved, for Scripture shows clearly that many will worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More the antichristThe Antichrist is a person of the end times who takes the place of Christ and is also his great adversary. He (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7)... More and perish.

“The fullness of the Gentiles” refers to God’s present purpose of calling out an elect people from among the nations. When that work is complete—when the full number is gathered—the end will come. God’s present purpose of graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More toward the nations will have been fulfilled, and then He will bring His purposes regarding Israel to completion. For He never cancels or changes His gifts or His calling. Yet He will accomplish His purposes not on the basis of human merit but of His mercy.

The New Translation renders verse 31 as: “So these also have now not believed in your mercy, in order that they also may be objects of mercy.” As a nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More, the Jews rejected the Gospel precisely because it was mercy directed especially toward the Gentiles (Acts 22:21-22 illustrates this). Eventually, they will be deeply humbled and will themselves receive blessings on the same basis as the “Gentile dog.”

As Paul finishes his review of God’s dispensational ways and sees mercy ultimately flowing even to his own people—once so hardened and self-righteous—his heart overflows with worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More. He bursts into the doxology that closes the chapter. We may call it the doxology of the wisdom of God, just as the doxology in Ephesians 3 celebrates His love, and the doxology in 1 Timothy 1 celebrates His graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More. Paul glorifies the wisdom that lies behind all God’s ways—wisdom that carries everything to a glorious end, where God’s own glory is achieved together with the blessingA blessing is something good, in the Old Testament, usually associated with possessions, prosperity, and health, and is usually pronounced over someone. In principle, the lesser is blessed by the... More of His creatures.