Join us on a theological exploration through Romans chapters 9 to 11, as we break down complex doctrines and unravel the mystery of Israel’s redemption. With candid reflections and insightful analysis, this episode seeks to connect Israel’s narrative with God’s overarching plan for the world. Witness the Speaker’s transformation from a muddled understanding to a clear vision of how God’s mercy encompasses all of humanity. Finally, discover the hope embedded within these chapters that promises redemption not just to Israel, but to all nations, reinforcing the eternal truth that God’s mercy triumphs over judgment.
I have to confess something to you. Years ago, even though while teaching on this radio broadcast, it’s now in its 27th year, but I can’t remember how many years it would be, maybe 10 or more. I would teach the book, rather the chapters 9 through 11, with a great deal of reluctance. These chapters talk about Israel and the salvation of Israel, but I couldn’t make a connection at that time between chapters 9 through 11, these chapters on the salvation of Israel, and all the glorious stuff that Paul had talked about, about the salvation, freedom from wrath, sin, law, and death. the righteousness of Christ appointed to us, the reconciliation that Christ’s death had brought to us with the Father, all of these things, they just didn’t seem to connect. And I recognize or acknowledge that there are many, many millions of Christians with similar ideas. They read the book of Romans, they read the wonderful gospel message from 3 to 8, and they stop there. Well, I confess that my blindness was so great that I continued that attitude for a number of years. I still taught the book of Romans 9 through 11 on the radio, but I muddled my way through it. I couldn’t quite see its connections. But all of that changed. I won’t say suddenly, but gradually, the more I understood that Paul was talking about the salvation of all humanity. Once you accept that Paul is talking about the salvation of all humanity, all human beings, man, woman, child, throughout the ages, through all history, then everything in Romans locks together. And you then begin to realize what Paul is talking about when he comes to chapters 9 through 11. These chapters are not an appendage. They’re not an afterthought. They are a magnificent conclusion to everything Paul has taught us in the previous chapters about salvation to the Gentiles, salvation through Jesus Christ, by faith alone. All of this now becomes very, very clear. Now, what I want to say to you now is tremendously important. This is talking about the salvation of Israel in chapters 9 through 11. But I want to make it clear that this is nothing to do with the political situation in Israel today and in the Middle East. This is not, in Paul, a declaration of our stand towards Israel politically. It is an issue of faith. It is an issue about what God has done and will do for his people Israel. Now, why is it important? I have not chosen to believe this. Rather, I don’t believe this simply because I’ve chosen to believe in Israel. I have come to these conclusions based upon the inexorable conclusion, the inevitable conclusion that a careful study of Romans 9 through 11 makes for us. We cannot avoid what it is saying. And what it is ultimately saying is this. that if you want to know your own salvation, then look at how God is dealing with Israel, because he has never forsaken them, never will, both the physical, the literal Israel and the rest, the spiritual Israel, and he will bring them to himself. For how God operates with Israel is how he operates with the world. He is illustrating to us what will be done for all the world through what he is doing through Israel. In the book of Deuteronomy, God tells the Gentiles to rejoice with his people. Now, isn’t that remarkable? Way back then, at the beginning, the inauguration of Israel, God tells the Gentiles, the non-Jewish people, the non-Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob people, to rejoice with his people Israel. Why should that be? Because the obvious purpose is that God is establishing his name throughout the earth through this little band of people. and he is going to make sure that the world knows his name through that people, not because they are any special people, not because they are any more righteous than anyone else, they’re as wicked as anyone else, they’re as fallen and broken as anyone else, but because God has chosen, through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to reveal himself through the preciousness of his Son that will be born through that line, and thus salvation will come to all the world. I pointed out yesterday that when God brings the Messiah for the salvation of Israel, he brings the Messiah for the salvation of all the world. That’s what we need to understand. And so I hope you will follow through with me as we go through these chapters, because the hope that they bring about is the hope for the world, the hope that God reveals to us here, that even though Israel has so miserably failed God and failed to believe in him, God will nevertheless redeem them, is a message to all the world. We, the world, the Gentiles, have so miserably failed to reveal God to the world, and yet in his mercy he will redeem us. And if you want to get an idea of where these three chapters on Israel are leading… then go right to the end where it says in verse 32, for God has committed all to disobedience, that is, imprisoned everyone in disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. That’s God’s plan, you see, to have mercy on all, to bring us into the judgment, to reveal his glory, to reveal our utter brokenness and sinfulness, so that we may bow before him and Longing for mercy. And then we make a wonderful commitment to him when he gives us mercy, that in him alone shall be our righteousness and strength. And then it concludes with this. For of him and through him and to him are all things. That’s the mighty conclusion that Paul makes in these three chapters. But this is a conclusion of the whole book, actually. From God and through him, through Christ, and back to him, all things will flow. to whom be glory forever. Amen. Now, you remember yesterday we came to this point in chapter 9, verse 6. But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. It is not that the Word of God has failed, in other words. And he’s talking about Israel not having found salvation, not having come to believe in the Messiah. Paul is enormously distressed by all this. With great sorrow and continual grief, he would rather be cast off himself if he could save, if his brethren could be saved, according to the flesh, the Israelites. to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, and so on, and through whom Christ came. He says, I’m so sorrowful that they have not been saved. But then he says, but it is not that the word of God has taken no effect, or it is not that the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel. And here, the average Christian goes off track. And I was one of them, I have to admit, because I thought that Paul was saying, well, you see, it’s not that God has failed because the real Israel is spiritual Israel, and God has cast off the literal Israel because they have not believed, but now he’s taking up all those who do believe in Christ, and they are the true Israel. That’s what I thought it was saying. Well, let me tell you why that’s wrong. Because it completely ignores the rest of these chapters, that is, the rest of chapter 9 and then 10 and 11. The tendency to interpret Romans, and of course the whole Bible, by verses that are lifted out of their context and brought to the people in isolation, that tendency is so severe among Christians and preachers that it throws a whole wrench in the works of the salvation that God is revealing to us. What Paul is really saying here, as we will see as we unfold these chapters, is that God is working in a different way from what we expect. All Israel will be saved. That comes later, and he’s meaning literal Israel, and we can make that point later. But he’s talking about people that he brings to faith through election. This chapter, chapter 9, is going to launch into election, and there are many people, many Christians who get really scared of that, as if God is going to elect some people and reject the rest, namely Israel. Well, that is definitely not the teaching of this chapter and the next few chapters. What Paul is going to teach is that God is electing a few to witness to the rest who are also elected, and they will be called also in due time. Let me repeat that. What Paul is going to teach in Romans chapter 9 is that God is going to call a few of the elect throughout the ages to witness to the rest who are elect but have not yet been called. And they will be in due time, either now or in the judgment. So it is not that the word of God has failed, for they are not all Israel who are of Israel. And so Paul is laying the groundwork for our understanding that true Israel, both literal and spiritual, are men and women of faith. And that though literal Israel has not yet accepted Christ, and therefore are not of the spiritual line, they are nevertheless elected still. And that’s a surprise to many of us. Verse 11, for instance, chapter 11, for instance, verse 28, concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, because they have not accepted Christ, you see, so they are enemies of Christ. But concerning the election, they are beloved. How odd is that? Well, it’s not odd, really. It simply means that God is going to fulfill his promise yet. For the sake of their fathers, they are still elect. That’s 11 verse 28. So what we have here in these chapters is an unfolding of the way God brings faith to all mankind, and it’s going to be an exciting exploration, I can tell you. But read it for yourself. so that you can gain confidence in this God of ours who is full of grace and mercy and will not hold back in saving all his creation. Well, thank you for joining me today. Colin Cook here and How It Happens. I thank you for listening to this broadcast. I hope you’re finding it enlightening. 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