Dispensationalism Part 9

Now we turn our attention to Romans 11:26, in which Paul seems to prophesy the ultimate salvation of “all Israel.” What is Paul really getting at?

No one verse in Romans can be used to develop doctrine or theology. Isolating one verse in Romans will almost certainly lead to error and result in taking the verse out of context. Romans from beginning to end is one complete thought, and taking one verse without trying to understand the whole is certain to result in error.

We must go back at least to chapter 9, verse 1, to have a more full understanding of who Paul is speaking to and what he is saying. Paul first defines whom he is referencing in Romans 9:6-8, “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: ‘THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.’ That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.”

We must notice three important definitions of Israel as used by Paul. First, he limits descendants by saying “nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants.” Thus, Paul is intentionally excluding certain people who would otherwise comprise a geopolitical nation. Second, he specifies the descendants of Isaac. This is a limited and quantifiable unit of people. Are there any descendants of Isaac remaining today? Third, Paul says “it is not the children of the flesh” but “children of the promise” who comprise descendants of Isaac. In other words, the definition of Israel is figurative, not literal. With this, we know that Christ is a descendant of Isaac and that all who believe in Him are children and heirs. Thus, believers on Christ are descendants through the promise. In other words, he is not speaking about a geopolitical nation.

By this definition alone, those who twist Romans 11:26 to mean specific people comprising a geopolitical nation are obviously not trying to conform to Paul’s real intention.

Throughout Galatians chapter 3, Paul explains this concept in more detail. In verses 6 and 7, Paul writes, “Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.” Also, in verses 13 and 14, Paul writes, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us – for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’ – in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Also, in Galatians 3:16,26-29, Paul writes, “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is Christ. … For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”

If “neither Jew nor Greek” is insufficient to persuade us against a continuation of a literal Israel, then Paul helps us understand that all who believe on Christ through faith are “sons of Abraham,” which term he uses in Romans 9 to include you and me – Gentiles. In other words, Paul is not referencing a quantitative people – all who have the DNA of Isaac; rather, he is referencing a qualitative people – all who believe in Christ through faith.

Then, throughout chapters 9, 10 and 11, Paul uses words and phrase such as:

None of these represent the language of “all Israel” and are words of exclusion rather than inclusion, of judgment and not preservation. The thrust of Paul’s message is that Israel must believe on Christ to be saved. Further, Paul writes in Romans 9:22-24, “What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”

By this, Paul means that when God elects people it is for His glory, to make known His power, and to expand His kingdom. Thus, in writing Romans 11:26, Paul has in view the expansion of the kingdom of heaven, and not the preservation of a geopolitical nation.

When we flip to Romans 12, we immediately see the object of chapters 9, 10 and 11. Paul transitions to holiness of heart and life. It is the expansion of Christ’s kingdom which is the object of chapters 9-12. The kingdom expands first by gaining new territory through spreading the gospel and second by strengthening the holiness of believers. Both are in view throughout Romans 9, 10 and 11 – continuing in Christ – and then in chapter 12 strengthening holiness.

We must not miss the requirement Paul lays out that all who will be saved must believe on Christ to receive salvation. Paul obviously is not referring to a literal salvation of “all Israel” as a geopolitical nation having a particular DNA. He is only referring to those who believe on Christ and continue in their belief.

Lastly, we can also notice that God preserves those whom He elects. Romans 11:26 is a verse of election and a promise that the elect will be saved. Matthew 24:22 The elect consist of those who continue in their belief in Christ and strengthen their holiness in the righteousness of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. These shall not be lost, for their belief shall be rewarded. Romans 11:26 is a verse promising the eternal spiritual continuation of a figurative Israel (i.e., the kingdom of heaven) through belief on Christ, despite the unbelief of certain individuals who otherwise have the DNA. Romans 8:17, Galatians 3:29, Ephesians 3:6, Titus 3:7, Hebrews 6:17, James 2:5

We also cannot miss the language of adoption, heirs and children used throughout the New Testament. Luke 20:35-37, Romans 8:15,17, Romans 9:4,8, Galatians 3:26,29, Galatians 4:5,28, Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 3:6, Titus 3:7, Hebrews 6:17, James 2:5, 1 John 3:1-2,10 This language is specifically referring to those who believe on Christ, and this is the same object of Romans 9-12.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate preserver of Israel, yet He had no offspring and died on the cross. Instead, through the power of the resurrection, Christ throughout all eternity preserves the posterity of Israel, and all who believe on Him through faith are accounted as children through adoption. You and I, though Gentile, are heirs of the promise through faith.