Blog
“Keep the Jews in Context”
Keep the Jews in Context
David Sproule
God had an eternal plan! That plan did NOT waver one bit based upon man’s acceptance or rejection of that plan!
Adam and Eve disobeyed God. God’s eternal plan was already in place and already at work (Gen. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; Eph. 3:1-11). The whole world turned their hearts to wickedness in the days of Noah. God’s eternal plan was already at work and would not be thwarted (Luke 3:36; 2 Pet. 1:5; 1 Pet. 3:18-22). The Israelites became slaves to an Egyptian superpower (Ex. 1:1-22). God’s eternal plan was already at work and this was part of it (Gen. 15:13-14; Acts 7:6-7). Israel continually rebelled against the Lord from the exodus through the judges (Deut. 1:19-28; Judg. 2:11-23; 1 Sam. 8:1-22). God’s eternal plan was still at work and would not be altered (2 Sam. 7:10-13; Acts 13:20-24; 1 Cor. 10:1-6). The nation of Israel became strong and their borders expanded far and wide (1 Kgs. 4:21), as God had promised (Gen. 15:18-21), but they turned against God and worshiped idols (2 Kgs. 22:15-17; 23:26-27). God’s eternal plan was still at work, and He would remain on course, even though His people were taken into captivity (Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10-14; 32:21-44; Deut. 30:1-10). The Lord had a purpose for the Jews.
This is the background for Romans 9-11. Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel warned, wept and wrote of Judah’s captivity in Babylon; yet, all three prophets gave Israel hope, speaking of a “remnant” that would come out of captivity. The remnant had a purpose—to bring the Messiah into this world!
So, Paul addresses the Lord’s rejection of Israel and the acceptance of the Gentiles in Romans 9-11, emphasizing that such was foretold by the prophets (9:25-29) and was not arbitrary (9:30-10:21). Paul longed for his “countrymen” (i.e., the Jews) to “be saved” (9:3; 10:1), and they could be saved in the same way that the Gentiles were saved (i.e., through obedience to the will of God, 10:1-17).
Just as a “remnant” of Jews came out of Babylon (9:27), fulfilling those prophecies and their God-given purpose, a figurative “remnant” of Jews (“some of them” [11:14], not all!) would be saved in Paul’s day (11:5), by following the same plan that God had for the Gentiles (11:22-24). “All” of the Jews who would “be saved” would “so” be saved (an adverb of manner), by following God’s plan—that is the context of 11:26.
Even when the Jews rejected the Messiah when He came (John 1:11), that was expected by Jehovah (Psa. 118:22-23) and would not alter His eternal plan of redemption. God wants “all” (Jew and Gentile) to be saved! “The way” for salvation is the same for all—through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Each person (not as a nation) must choose for himself.
