First Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Devotional: Romans 11:25-32

Today’s passage: Romans 11:25-32

Helpful thoughts:

  • Paul uses the word “Mystery” to refer to something the Old Testament did not entirely reveal.  What this passage speaks of is something the Old Testament pointed toward, which is now further clarified.
  • The identity of “All Israel” has been debated.
    • It cannot mean every Jew who has ever lived.  This would contradict many other passages in Scripture.
    • It could mean all in Israel who will be saved.
      • And this could include all in Israel who will be saved from the beginning to the end…or it could refer to a future large ingathering of Jewish people at the time of Christ’s return.
    • Others believe it refers to all the Jews and Gentiles who believe.  Using the terms for true spiritual Israel and the Church interchangeably.
      • For what it’s worth, it seems to make the most sense to me that the use of “All Israel” being saved refers to all of Israel who will be saved from beginning to the end.  This would agree in the context with the idea of the “fullness of the Gentiles” coming in.
      • Whichever option proves to be the correct one, faith in Jesus Christ alone will remain the means of our salvation.
  • “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”  Everyone has been and will be to the glory of God.  Even people’s disobedience is used by God to bring about the obedience of others.

Questions to consider:

  1. Why will there be a people in eternity who are without sin and enjoying God forever?  Who has put this plan into motion and who will bring about its fulfilment without fail?
  2. What must be true of all of us in order for God to show us mercy?  What are some attributes of God that would be on display even in a perfect, sinless world?  What are some attributes of God we have only know because of the existence of sin?
  3. People can tend toward debate and argument over who the “True Israel” is and who the Church is… What parts of that issue are the most important?  If we were to get too involved in arguing with other Christians concerning that issue, what greater priorities might we fail to pursue?