Does God Want Us to Stand with Israel? (Part 2)

Today’s topic: How does Israel factor into God’s plan of salvation?

“All Israel will be saved.” So says Romans 11:26.

Who is “all Israel”?

• All Jews?
• All citizens of the modern-day state of Israel?
• All who believe in the God of Israel (Yahweh)?

Romans 11:26 is a hotly debated verse. Three main interpretations have been suggested:

1. “All Israel” = all people of Jewish blood

2. “All Israel” = the Christian church (Jews and Gentiles)

3. “All Israel” = God’s elect from among the Jews

Let’s examine each possibility.

Option 1: “All Israel” = all people of Jewish blood

To my surprise, it appears Martin Luther believed this. As a Christian who was convinced that salvation is through faith in Christ alone, Luther believed that for all of the Jews to be saved, all of the Jews would have to come to faith in Christ. In my reading of Luther’s Lectures on Romans, I discovered that Luther expected that in the end times, Jesus will make a special appearance to the Jews!

Quotes from Luther:

• “The Jews who are now fallen will return and be saved, after the Gentiles are come in, according to the fullness of the election.”
• “Christ, therefore, has not yet come to the Jews, but he will come to them, namely, in the Last Day. … He speaks about Christ’s mystical advent to the Jews. … Israel will be saved not in part but in its entirety. Now only part of them are saved, but then all will be saved.”

Luther compared it to the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. Joseph was mistreated by his brothers, the children of Israel (Jacob’s sons). After he became prime minister of Egypt, Joseph and his brothers were reunited. Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and they recognized him.

In a similar manner, Luther envisioned that Jesus will present Himself to the Jews on the last day, and they will recognize him and believe.

Certain passages in Romans 9-11 appear to contradict this interpretation.

One is Romans 9:6: “For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.” There is an Israel within Israel, so to speak. Within the people who identify themselves as Israel, there are the people whom God identifies as Israel. These are called Messianic Jews, or sometimes Completed Jews.

Also:

• Romans 9:27: “And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved.’”
• Romans 11:13-14: “Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.”

“Remnant” and “some” suggest that not all will be saved. However, let us pray fervently that all, or as many as possible, will be saved!

Option 2: “All Israel” = the Christian church (Jews and Gentiles)

As shared in the previous post, this would be true. The Church is the new Israel, the continuation of God’s promises received through faith.

Option 3: “All Israel” = God’s elect from among the Jews

In Romans 11, Paul is addressing the question: “Is God done with the Jews?”

Israel of the Old Testament had a special purpose: to preserve the promise of a Savior and to bring the Savior into the world. In that way, Israel was a bright light shining among the nations. (Isaiah 60:3)

Once Jesus came into the world, and the mission of the early church turned to the Gentiles, some people wondered if God was done with the Jews.

No! God is not done with the Jews! He loves the Jews, just as He loves all people! God wants the Jews to come to faith, just He wants all people to come to faith in Jesus!

Please join me in praying for the number of true Israel to increase, that many may know Jesus as their Lord and be saved for eternity!

Next: How are Christians to regard the nation of Israel?