Thank you so much for sharing. Below is what I have resolved regarding this matter:
Verse 25 shows Paul giving the Gentiles perspective by telling them that eventually, the Blessed Jews who believe in Christ are assured to continue to grow. This amazing passage takes us deep into the Plan of God, for Paul speaks of how the hardened hearts of the Jews will only last until the proper and full number of Gentiles has been Spiritually cleansed and grafted in.
Romans 11:25 . . . N.L.T. – “I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.”
As said, Paul wrote this letter some 20 to 25 years after the death of Jesus. Therefore, this reference to the proper number of Gentiles had yet to be fulfilled. The fact that the Jews have yet to be collectively drawn to Christ, proves that the number of believing Gentiles has been reached. Has this collective, Jewish awakening happened after Christ? No, nothing historical has been reported. We are still waiting for this unbelievable and spectacular moment to take place.
Romans 11:26 . . . N.L.T. – “And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, "The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.”
Who is all of Israel? The possible answers are highly debated. Some say that the Gentiles are included in the Holy Name of Israel. Does this group believe this way to escape the idea that the entire Nation would not be saved? Isn’t the physical mark of circumcision a promissory note of what God will do for them, which is to grant Eternal Life? Will not God awaken all who are born of Abraham?
We are told that not all people born into Abraham's physical vine are necessarily born into his Spiritual Vine. Yes, the Jews are from the blood of Abraham and Sarah, but the Children of God are created for Himself, by Himself, and according to His Promise. This Promise was established in the Holy act of the Lord, who impregnated Sarah, not Abraham. Hence, when the Lord returned to Sarah, she would be sure to have become pregnant.
Romans 9:9 . . . N.L.T. – “For God had promised, "I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
As Paul states, it is difficult to understand why God chooses some but not others. Think about it: During Christ’s return, members of the same family may be divided. The Lord may take one brother and not the other. They are of the same blood, but some are chosen, and others are not.
Romans 9:18-20 . . . N.L.T. – “So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. Well then, you might say, "Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven't they simply done what he makes them do?" No, don't say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, "Why have you made me like this?”
What makes the three above passages from Romans a challenge to understand is that here, in Chapter 11, we see that a different form of language is used and implies a different message:
Romans 11:28-29 . . . N.L.T. – “Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.”
Above, when Paul used the word many, this is likely in reference to most. Wouldn’t these enemies be the very people who opposed Christ? Wouldn’t these enemies be Jewish, those whose hearts were hardened by the Lord Himself? Our God is fair and rational. If He hardens the hearts of many, He will also unharden them. And this is the precise story that we find within the existence of the Jews. These two passages indicate that God does acknowledge their National identity, for the Jews are the people that He Loves. Though they are sinners, and though they commit murder, as Paul says, they are still the people that God Loves. Why would we [not] believe that the Jews of Jesus’s Day would be raised from the dead to meet Christ in the sky?
Verse 25 shows Paul giving the Gentiles perspective by telling them that eventually, the Blessed Jews who believe in Christ are assured to continue to grow. This amazing passage takes us deep into the Plan of God, for Paul speaks of how the hardened hearts of the Jews will only last until the proper and full number of Gentiles has been Spiritually cleansed and grafted in.
Romans 11:25 . . . N.L.T. – “I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.”
As said, Paul wrote this letter some 20 to 25 years after the death of Jesus. Therefore, this reference to the proper number of Gentiles had yet to be fulfilled. The fact that the Jews have yet to be collectively drawn to Christ, proves that the number of believing Gentiles has been reached. Has this collective, Jewish awakening happened after Christ? No, nothing historical has been reported. We are still waiting for this unbelievable and spectacular moment to take place.
Romans 11:26 . . . N.L.T. – “And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, "The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.”
Who is all of Israel? The possible answers are highly debated. Some say that the Gentiles are included in the Holy Name of Israel. Does this group believe this way to escape the idea that the entire Nation would not be saved? Isn’t the physical mark of circumcision a promissory note of what God will do for them, which is to grant Eternal Life? Will not God awaken all who are born of Abraham?
We are told that not all people born into Abraham's physical vine are necessarily born into his Spiritual Vine. Yes, the Jews are from the blood of Abraham and Sarah, but the Children of God are created for Himself, by Himself, and according to His Promise. This Promise was established in the Holy act of the Lord, who impregnated Sarah, not Abraham. Hence, when the Lord returned to Sarah, she would be sure to have become pregnant.
Romans 9:9 . . . N.L.T. – “For God had promised, "I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
As Paul states, it is difficult to understand why God chooses some but not others. Think about it: During Christ’s return, members of the same family may be divided. The Lord may take one brother and not the other. They are of the same blood, but some are chosen, and others are not.
Romans 9:18-20 . . . N.L.T. – “So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. Well then, you might say, "Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven't they simply done what he makes them do?" No, don't say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, "Why have you made me like this?”
What makes the three above passages from Romans a challenge to understand is that here, in Chapter 11, we see that a different form of language is used and implies a different message:
Romans 11:28-29 . . . N.L.T. – “Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.”
Above, when Paul used the word many, this is likely in reference to most. Wouldn’t these enemies be the very people who opposed Christ? Wouldn’t these enemies be Jewish, those whose hearts were hardened by the Lord Himself? Our God is fair and rational. If He hardens the hearts of many, He will also unharden them. And this is the precise story that we find within the existence of the Jews. These two passages indicate that God does acknowledge their National identity, for the Jews are the people that He Loves. Though they are sinners, and though they commit murder, as Paul says, they are still the people that God Loves. Why would we [not] believe that the Jews of Jesus’s Day would be raised from the dead to meet Christ in the sky?
