What is the meaning of Romans 11:26? And so all Israel will be saved • Paul has just said “a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25). That “until” sets a time limit: when God’s plan for the nations is complete, He turns again to the nation of Israel. • “All Israel” points to ethnic Israel as a whole, not merely a remnant and not the Church replacing Israel. God’s covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 17:7; Exodus 32:13) still stand, and Paul affirms that “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). • The phrase does not mean every individual Israelite of all time; it looks to a future generation that will, en masse, turn to the Messiah (Zechariah 12:10; Jeremiah 31:33–34). • God’s faithfulness is on display: He kept a remnant through history (Romans 11:1–5), grafted believing Gentiles in (Romans 11:17–24), and will at last bring national Israel to salvation, fulfilling His covenants (Ezekiel 36:26–28; Hosea 3:4–5). as it is written • Paul grounds his statement in Scripture, reminding readers that prophecy, not wishful thinking, guarantees Israel’s future salvation (Isaiah 55:10–11; 2 Timothy 3:16). • By saying “as it is written,” he links the present discussion to the unbreakable authority of the Old Testament (Acts 17:2; Luke 24:27). • This pattern—assert a truth, then cite Scripture—underscores that God’s Word is the final court of appeal (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 4:4). The Deliverer will come from Zion • Paul weaves together Isaiah 59:20 and Psalm 14:7. The “Deliverer” is the Messiah, Jesus, who first came to Zion (Jerusalem) in humility and will return in glory (Zechariah 14:4; Revelation 14:1). • “Will come” points forward to His second advent, when He rescues Israel from both spiritual blindness and end-time peril (Matthew 23:39; Romans 11:12). • Zion here functions as the earthly and heavenly center of God’s reign (Psalm 2:6; Hebrews 12:22). The King originates from, rules from, and returns to Zion. He will remove godlessness from Jacob • Salvation is not merely deliverance from danger but removal of sin. The covenant promise is that God will “sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean” (Ezekiel 36:25). • “Jacob” highlights the ethnic lineage of the patriarchs, again stressing national Israel (Isaiah 40:27; Micah 2:12). • Removal of godlessness fulfills the New Covenant: “For I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:10–12). • The change is internal—new hearts and the Spirit within (Ezekiel 36:27)—and results in wholehearted allegiance to the Messiah (Zechariah 13:1; Romans 11:27). summary Romans 11:26 promises a future national turning of Israel to Jesus the Messiah. After the Gentile harvest is complete, Christ will return to Zion, cleanse Israel of sin, and fulfill every covenant promise. God’s faithfulness to Israel guarantees His faithfulness to every believer today. |
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