Romans 11
Romans 11:25 - I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved.
In the middle of Romans 10, Paul shifted his train of thought and carried it into Romans 11.
There is a war raging between Israel and Hamas (terrorist organization) right now.
There are Old Testament prophesies and New Testament teachings linking Israel to the second coming. How they are linked has been a continuous matter of debate.
Romans 11:25 - understand this mystery
When every being (gentile) who is going to choose, comes to faith, something incredible is going to happen in Israel at that moment. All of Israel is going to come back to God.
The Supreme Court of Israel says you cannot be a citizen and Christian.
Schools of Thought
*Political rise of Israel is an indicator that the end times are close. Israel became an independent nation in 1948. This was a milestone. Israelites don't yet control the entirety of the promised land.
*Spiritual condition of Israel, not political. The awakening of the Jews. God says all of Israel will be saved, we know there will be a salvation. We don't know how this will happen.
Romans 10:15
There is a responsibility for us to tell the world about God's Son.
God revealed himself to the Jews. God promised the Messiah to the Jews. He was rejected, and opened the door to the rest of the world. Women grasp the concept. They get a guy in order to make the boyfriend jealous and come back. God gave the gentiles salvation in order to bring the Jews back.
Did God's people stumble and fall? Absolutely. Was it beyond recovery? Absolutely not. Whenever we stumble and fall, God is there to pick us up. We are never beyond recovery.
The gentiles took the church over, the Jews became jealous. We are waiting for the day when all Israel will be saved and become a church with all of those who know Jesus Christ.
How is God going to make things right with the people of Israel?
Bold statement - all of Israel will be saved.
There is no other way to come to God except through Jesus.
There is another view. Dispensationalism. There must be a future for Israel as a nation - political rise. Once Israel is a nation, that's when all of Israel will be saved through God's grace, His special love for his chosen people. They believe Israel is going to be released from the rule.
God is going to perform the miraculous.
We live in a day and age where people believe all roads lead to heaven. Nobody wants to think that somebody is going to suffer. Universalism - all roads lead to heaven. Universal salvation apart from Jesus. ... but they are good people ...
All of us need to trust God's ways, trust his mind and justice, and morality.. the plan of God, even if we don't understand. This plan has a real heaven and real hell. The danger of believing in a special way is that there is no reason for you to share. There is no other way to God than through Jesus. Hell is our default destination without Jesus.
The Mystery Link
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