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The Daily Word of Righteousness
You Are My People, #19
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be conceited; 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 Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:25,26)
Paul made it clear in the Epistle to the Romans that God has not forgotten His ancient people, the Jews, but will turn to them once more in the last days.
Those who claim Paul here is referring to the Gentile churches as "Israel" are ignoring the logic of the chapter. Because of their Gentile pride and bias against the Jews they are pushing to one side the common sense of the context and are spiritualizing a passage that is not meant to be spiritualized. The context is obviously discussing the plight of natural Israel.
We would acknowledge that the expression "all Israel," although addressed primarily to the elect among the Jewish people, includes the elect Gentiles; for they also are of the one Seed of Abraham, and therefore an integral part of true Israel.
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. (Romans 11:21)
The Epistle to the Romans is not a prophetic vision subject to frequent spiritualizing, as is true of the Book of Revelation. It is a letter to believers living in the city of Rome and has a strong Jewish flavor. In Romans, Chapter 11 Paul is stating in the last days God will turn once again to His ancient people. God loves the nation of Israel because of the fathers of Israel.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. (Romans 11:28)
It is good to keep in mind that Paul, James, Peter, John, and Jude were all Jews. It is remarkable that they were able to any extent at all to include Gentiles in their thinking.
The new covenant can be made only with the House of Israel—never with a Gentile.
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law [Torah] in their inner parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:33)
"The covenant that I will make with the house of Israel."
Here is the new covenant, or new testament. The new covenant cannot be made with a Gentile, only with the House of Israel. The description of the new covenant (which is the only new covenant) is repeated in the Book of Hebrews.
For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: (Hebrews 8:8)
God has reached out to Gentiles, calling them His people.
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. (Hosea 1:10)
The people who "are not my people" are Gentiles that God will adopt. But because the new covenant is made only with Israel, the elect Gentiles will never be separate from Israel, God's holy nation.
To be continued.