All Of Israel, Or Just A Remnant?

Thanks for your question. Romans 11 says that a part of the cultural Jews will be saved and a part of the Gentiles will be saved. All those who are saved are called spiritual Israel, both Jews and Gentiles. That is why Romans 11 says "And so all Israel shall be saved ". 'All Israel' here means the part of cultural Jews who believe on Christ and the part of Gentiles who believe on Christ. They are all called Israel. The word 'so' means 'in this manner'. In this manner all Israel will be saved. What manner is that? Just what the chapter just described - that part of the cultural Jews and part of the Gentiles will be saved. That's the manner.

If you want to look further, notice in the chapter that the Deliverer comes from Zion. That happened: Jesus came from heaven. And he turned ungodliness from Jacob. Jacob is a picture of all believers here. It means Jesus came from heaven and turned all true believers to himself. Then the chapter continues that this is his covenant - to take away sins. Well, yes, of course, that's why Jesus the Deliverer came from heaven, to take away sins.

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?

Thanks for sharing. However, the Bible does not mention a bunch of cultural Jews suddenly converting after the time of the Gentiles.

Interesting. Isn't that what verse 25 is saying though? I can't imagine being wrong about this. The Bible seems so clear.

Notice how chapter 12 goes together with this principle they began with in ten

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. ( that’s a warning a stark and severe one that should rattle us a bit )

He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?


For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:26-31‬ ‭

that’s why God disciplines us and corrects our sinfulness and doesn’t just say “ it doesn’t matter what you do your saved repent or not your saved obey or not your saved “ instead he’s teaching us so we don’t perish so we actually will be saved to repent and obey him he’s leading us the right way trust him ect

so we don’t end up as those who continue willful sin and never repent .

Thanks for your question. Romans 11 says that a part of the cultural Jews will be saved and a part of the Gentiles will be saved. All those who are saved are called spiritual Israel, both Jews and Gentiles. That is why Romans 11 says "And so all Israel shall be saved ". 'All Israel' here means the part of cultural Jews who believe on Christ and the part of Gentiles who believe on Christ. They are all called Israel. The word 'so' means 'in this manner'. In this manner all Israel will be saved. What manner is that? Just what the chapter just described - that part of the cultural Jews and part of the Gentiles will be saved. That's the manner.

If you want to look further, notice in the chapter that the Deliverer comes from Zion. That happened: Jesus came from heaven. And he turned ungodliness from Jacob. Jacob is a picture of all believers here. It means Jesus came from heaven and turned all true believers to himself. Then the chapter continues that this is his covenant - to take away sins. Well, yes, of course, that's why Jesus the Deliverer came from heaven, to take away sins.

Thanks for asking. "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. " This verse tells us that part of Israel will be blind all the way up to the very end, when the last Gentile that is to be saved is saved. Part of Israel, however, will not be blind.

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?

Romans 9:6 explains to us that some of the nation of Israel, are not a part of spiritual Israel/Jacob.

Don't fall into the trap of focusing on the literal Israel so much that you forget about Jesus.

This concept has bothered me for quite some time. Does anyone have any ideas of how we justify the two below, and apparently opposing concepts?

Romans 9:27 NLT – “And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out, "Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant will be saved.”
Romans 11:25-26 NLT – “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. 26 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.”

I'm studying this as I write, so any ideas would be helpful. Thanks!

And those of you who want to fight and nit-pick . . . please don't participate. You suck the joy right out of what we're trying to accomplish, here.

Before we consider the apparent conflicting scriptures, we should consider the two Israel's mentioned in the Bible.

We have "National Israel" and Spiritual Israel". National Israel, refers to Ethnic Israeli people. So that includes all the all Israelis, regardless of what their religion is. So if we look at Israel's population today, most are Atheist.

Spiritual Israel is the Church, (the body of the Lord Jesus Christ) it consists of all of the elect of God from every age, tribe and tongue. God chose His elect before He created the world, our names are in His book. They are Gods children from every ethnicity and every age from the begging of time to the end of time.

The Israel of God is the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ, He is the Head and we are His Body. The Bible says there is no Jew or Gentile, in the Body of the Lord. All are One Body.

Thank you for stopping in . . .

Below, it seems to me that the reference to Israel is that of the Nation, a physical people. I hear what you're saying, but then I also have the Bible. Which one should I believe? I don't understand.

Romans 11:28 NLT - "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."

God didn't break His covenant with Israel