Romans 11:25-36, “God’s Gifts and Calling are Irrevocable.”
Romans 11:25-26a... Paul warned the Gentiles (vv. 20-21) to be sober minded, lest they suffer the same consequences.
Paul says God is not finished with Israel, it is a mystery: this partial hardening, i.e., the majority of Israel has been hardened spiritually toward spiritual birth into God’s family, through Christ the Lord (John 1:11-13), “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
God’s plan wasn’t about numerous Hebrew ancestors through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but it was about descendants who would have faith like Abraham; they would believe [obey] God and be filled with God’s Spirit.
Galatians 3:5-9, “So again I ask, does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham ‘believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. ’Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you. So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” 13-14, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”
Paul says this spiritual hardening of Israel (which started when Israel rejected Jesus as their Savior) will come to an end when the full number of Gentiles, chosen by God, have come to salvation, i.e., “come in”.
The verb used here for “has come in” was frequently used by Jesus in reference to receiving salvation, i.e., entering the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20; Mark9:47; John 3:5), entering eternal life (Mark 9:43-45). Notice, after the full number of Gentiles has been saved, then “all Israel will be saved.”
Romans 11:26b-27... Verse 26b is a quote from Isaiah 59:20-21, and verse 27 is a quote from Isaiah 27:9. In order for Israel to be saved, her sins must be forgiven, and that is exactly what God says He is going to do.
Think about this: Israel’s unbelief initiated the gospel going out to the Gentiles, and when the full number of Gentiles has come in [completed salvation of Gentiles], that will initiate the salvation of Israel as a nation, at least for those of Israel who are still alive.
When will “all of” believing Israel be grafted back in, as a nation restored and saved by the blood of Christ? It will be during the Tribulation, when all the unbelieving members of Israel will suffer God’s hand of judgement, and all those who respond to the gospel will receive God’s hand of mercy.
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How will they hear? Through the preaching of 144,000 Israelites chosen and sealed by God (Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1-5); through the testimony of a multitude in white robes (Revelation 7:9-10); through the proclamation of two special witnesses in Jerusalem (Revelation 11:3-13), and finally, the flying angel who brings the message of the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people (Revelation 14:6-7).
Romans 11:28-29... Because Israel rejected the Messiah she became God’s enemy temporarily, but because of God’s promises through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He will again poor out His loving kindness upon those in Israel who turn to Him from sin; for God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable.
God’s “gifts” are granted on behalf of God’s unmerited favor, and the “calling” here refers to God’s divine election of Israel to be His holy people.
God’s sovereign grace in setting us apart for salvation is not something that can be earned or merited; neither can His grace or calling be rejected or hindered or prevented; for the gifts and calling of God cannot be altered, not even by the disobedience and unbelief displayed by Israel.
Israel’s transgressions will be sovereignly and graciously taken away from her; just as the sins of all those who are called by God will be forgiven and eternally removed; God is faithful (1Thessalonians 5:24), “The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” Christ paid our sin debt in full!
Romans 11:30-32... Because of Israel’s unbelief and rejection of their Messiah, the nation of God’s chosen people was partially and temporarily removed from God’s favor and the gospel was then delivered to the Gentiles.
Just as God extended His merciful and loving grace to godless Gentiles, who were not counted among the people of God, He will again reach out to, and take for Himself, those in Israel who will believe.
God’s salvation is not based on human merit, but on the mercy of God. All mankind, left to himself or herself, would continue to reject God’s grace and remain separated from God, leading only to death. We are all condemned sinners apart from Christ, the only hope we have is the divine love and mercy of God.
Jesus Christ, through His own sacrificial death and sovereign resurrection, provided forgiveness and eternal life for anyone who will receive it; Christ expressed His love for the whole world, in order to reconcile the world to Himself (2Corinthians 5:21), “God made Him [Jesus Christ] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God,” (Romans 8:1), “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 11:33-35... In bringing his argument to a close, Paul stands in awe of God’s gracious mercy and love. We cannot fully understand God’s wisdom, purpose and plan (1Corinthians 2:14), “because they are discerned only through the Spirit,” and although
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God owes no one anything, He says (Jeremiah 29:13), “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”
Because we are all lost sinners from birth, apart from God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ, and God’s call to repent and believe in Him, we are doomed to an eternal hell. And so, our loving God has shown mercy, grace, and kindness to us in Christ; therefore, we ought, like Paul, to stand in awe, rejoicing, praising, and worshipping our great God.
Romans 11:36, “For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”
If there is any doubt in your mind or heart, consider this:
Romans 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” 13 “for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
God turns no one away, but you have to come His Way, through Jesus Christ. If you aren’t sure that you are saved, if you have any doubt at all, get things right with God.
Admit that you are a sinner, we all are!
Believe that Jesus came to save you, because He did!
Confess your sins to God, for He is faithful and just and will forgive you of all your sins: past, present, and future.
Demonstrate new life from God: pray (talk) with Him continually, read His Word daily and apply to your life what you understand, fellowship and serve in a local church where the Word of God is taught, honored, and obeyed.
Encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ toward love and good deeds, reach out to help your neighbors (anyone in need), and share the Gospel Message of Salvation with anyone who will listen: Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior and Lord, was put to death for our sins, according to the Scriptures, was buried and rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, and He is coming again, to take us to be with Him in heaven, forever, according to the Scriptures!
1John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
- Pastor Mike