Glen Clary describes three views represented in confessionally Reformed churches regarding the salvation of "all Israel." This clip is from Christ the Center episode 594 (reformedforum.org/ctc594)
Thank You. Been discussing with my friend for almost a week on this topic… this seems to explain our views finally “agree to disagree”. He knows the perfect Truth, all Glory to Him
The problem starts with interpretation of the Greek word "merous" in verse 25 which ignores the rules of Greek grammar. Merous means "from part". So..."hardness from part Israel exists until the filler part [of Israel] of the Gentiles be brought in. Thus all Israel shall be saved". Paul knows that 10 tribes of Israel, the scattering of which by the Assyrian beginning around 720 BC, were still among the gentiles. If only theologians could see the difference between Israel and Judah revealed so many times by the prophets and writers of history in the Old Testament.
As far as Romans 11:25-32, it’s impossible for Israel to be the church, because: 1. The church has not undergone a partial hardening (verse 25) because the church are those who are saved. 2. The church are not “enemies” “for the sake of the gospel” (verse 28) The only way both of these things can be true is if Israel means Jewish people, who in the future, will receive mercy the way the gentiles have (verse 31) The amount of effort Paul makes throughout chapters 9-11 to make a distinction between Gentile believers and Israel is extensive. I don’t know how you can get to 11:26 and suddenly Israel means “church”.
That is the main difficulty from what I see, though the problem otherwise is how one generation of Israel being saved solves the problem of the vast majority of Israelites being rejected, which, from what I can tell, is the main issue Paul is addressing from chapters 9-11.
And if you think "Israel" refers to the Khazarian Japhetite converts to Rabbinical Judaism who "say they are of Israel but are not" and who currently occupy Palestine you're utterly wrong. Many of the Israelites settled Europe, most notably Dan whose numbers were only second to Judah, during the exodus. The people of Europe are the lost sheep of Israel.
Paul, in Galatians 4, tells the gentiles that the fulfillment of the prophecy to Israel in Isaiah 54 was included them. The New Testament began by including men of 2 tribes of Israel, Benjamin and Levi, which had remained as a remnant in the land of Judah under David's grandson. To get the rest of the scattered sheep of Israel from the gentiles, the Redeemer had to go out from Zion.
I would say it is better translated 'Israel's all' rather than 'all of Israel'. Because Gentiles getting saved draws more Jews to salvation (14) the totality of Israel's elect (Israel's all) cannot be seen until Gentile salvation comes in more fully (25). He deals with this concept of Gentile salvation drawing Jews to salvation from verses 11 to 31. Because Christianity draws Jews to salvation the Scripture which says 'the deliverer will turn away ungodliness from Israel' is fulfilled (26).
Romans Chapter 11: In its New Covenant context... There is no Plan B of salvation outside of the New Covenant Church in this passage. Plan A is found in verses 23 and 24. In Romans 1:16 Paul said the Gospel was taken "first" to the Jews. This time period can be found in Matt. 10:5-7, and Acts 10:36-38, and Gal. 1:14-18. Many try to claim God never gave the Jews a chance to accept Christ, so there must be some Plan B of salvation before or during the Second Coming of Christ. Romans 1:16 proves they are wrong, since Paul said the Gospel went "first" to the Jews. Many ignore the fact that Peter addressed the crowd as "men of Judea", and as "men of Israel", and as "all the house of Israel" on the Day of Pentecost, when about 3,000 Israelites accepted the New Covenant fulfilled in blood at Calvary. The Gentiles were not grafted in until several years later. This passage proves Paul was right about the Gospel being taken "first" to the Jews. Were all of the Israelites "partially" hardened in Romans 11, or were part hardened and another part were not hardened? The answer is found in the "remnant" of Romans 11:5. Paul reveals two different groups of Israelites in Romans 9:6-8. There is an Israel of the promise, and an Israel of the flesh. This is part of the context of Romans 11. Paul speaks about the "remnant" of Israel in Romans 9:27. This is also part of the context of Romans 11. Paul starts Romans 11 with two different groups of Israelites. In verse one Paul reveals he is still an Israelite, even after his conversion. Then Paul refers to two different groups of Israelites during the time of Elijah. There were the Baal worshippers, and there was the faithful "remnant". In verse five Paul says there is also a faithful "remnant" of Israelites during his time. This must be the Israelites who have accepted Christ, as on the Day of Pentecost. Paul uses the two olive trees as a symbol of the New Covenant Church made up of believing Israelites, and believing Gentiles grafted together into the same tree. The unbelieving Israelites have been broken off but can be grafted back in through faith in Christ in verses 23-24. Verse 26 is the problem for many modern Christians. What does the verse actually say, and how is it changed by many in the modern Church. I have heard two of our nations famous preachers say the following. "And then all Israel will be saved..." I have heard another say the following. "And all Israel will be saved..." What does God's Word, recorded by the Apostle Paul actually say? Rom 11:26 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: The English word "so" is translated from the Greek word "houto", which is an adverb of manner, instead of an adverb of timing. Some have changed the word from "so" to "then", in order to change the meaning of the verse. How will all of the "remnant" of Israel from Romans 9:27 be saved? The answer is found in the verses that precede verse 26 and are found below. Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? Paul quoted from the OT in referring to the Deliverer coming out of Sion to pay for sin. Did this happen at Calvary, or will Jesus die again for His people in the future? Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. Verse 28 can only be understood by looking at how Paul started the passage. He started with two different groups of Israelites and he ends the passage in the same way. There are two different groups of "they" in verse 28. One group of "they" reject Christ and are the enemies of God, and another group of "they" are the election which accept Christ through hearing the Gospel and faith. Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. Based on Luke 21:24b-28, the times of the Gentiles comes to fullness at the Second Coming of Christ. This agrees with what Paul said in Romans 1:16 about the Gospel going “first” to the Jews......
All Israel will be saved is correctly interpreted by Hoekema to mean all of the elect Jews who were, are, and will be brought to Christ up until His parousia. It’s the total sum of elect Jews or the sum of Israel’s remnant. It’s simply this, Israel stumbles for its unbelief and are rejected by God fir it’s unbelief, therefore now the gospel is proclaimed to the Gentiles and thus the elect Gentiles are to be saved, this results in God using the salvation of the Gentiles to provoke jealousy and envy from the Jews, thus finally resulting in the Jewish remnant(the elect) accepting Christ as Savior in accordance with Gods eternal redemptive plan.
Unless I’m missing something here, this assumes the gentiles are saved prior to the Jews. In what world does that square with Paul speaking of himself being among “the first to hope in Christ”? Unless the remnant are a small number of believing Jews who first believed, THEN came the gentiles… and THEN the hardened Jews - this is a far more plain reading of the text!
John Calvin had it right. It’s not the children of the flesh but rather those born of the Spirit who are the true Israel of God. Heirs according to the promise, born of the Spirit like Issac was. 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:63 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [o] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You [p] must be born again.’ John 3:5-7 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. Romans 9:8 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:29 28 Now you, [u] brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. Galatians 4:28-29
