Epistles of Paul 82

In Romans chapter 11, Paul explains that God is going to have a future restoration of Israel, and that he will also extend that same wonderful grace and mercy to all nations. But it will be to the Jew first and then to all Gentiles. This chapter is actually quite a revealing chapter about God's ultimate plan of salvation for mankind. At the end of chapter 10, in verse 19, we read, but I say, did Israel not know? First, Moses says, I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation. I'll move you to anger by a foolish nation. So, you always see that God would use the Gentiles to make Jews jealous and also by using spiritual Israel. So, he makes the Jews jealous. God does that. In verse 21, we also see that God's saying to Israel, he says, all day long, I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.

I have been doing everything I can to to the physical Israelites nation. I've stretched out my hands for them to repent and obey. I sent prophets. I sent various leaders and even sent Christ and they first killed those prophets. They stoned them. They sought some asunder and finally they even crucified Christ. And so, it says, I stretch out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people. We also went through, on the point of contrary, that it is literally a people that were there to contradict. And this time they contradicted the true gospel, the good news of what Jesus Christ is doing for all of us. And so now Paul, in chapter 11, spends time in this chapter to explain that God has not given up on Israel. And based on what was said by Paul, some could think that God had rejected Israel and that from now on God will just work through Gentiles. But indeed, because of Israel's disbelief, God made salvation available to the Gentiles.

But that does not mean that God has rejected Israel forever. And so, Paul in this section here on chapter 11 is going to explain that God has not given up on Israel. And he's going to use five examples, five examples that there is a future for Israel. And the first example is he, Paul, himself. And so, let's read in verse one. I say then, as God cast away his people, there was other Jews lost forever in a way that they don't now, they don't have any further an opportunity for salvation.

And this is certainly not. Now, and then he says, for I am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. So Paul was basically saying, because he says to the Jew first and then to the Gentile, he was basically saying that he was a Jew. Now, of course, he defined, yeah, that he was of the tribe of Benjamin. But understand that in Christ's day, a Jew was those of the house of Judah. And so, the house of Judah included Benjamin, Levi, and Judah themselves. So the term, the commonly spoken term at that time, Jew included Benjamin and Levi. And so Paul was was a Jew, in other words, of the tribe or of the house of Judah. And so, it's interesting, yeah, that Paul, he was well known in the Jewish community. He was probably a rabbi or a teacher.

And some people even think that he could have been a member of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the ruling body. And if that is the case, one of the rules for one to be a member of the Sanhedrin, you would have to be married. Now, there's no reference of Paul and his wife or his wife in the Gospels. So it could well be that he was a widower, if that is the case. And that explains some of Paul's comments. Paul's conversion is also discussed in the book of Acts.

In fact, three times it's mentioned about his conversion. And Paul uses the fact that he was converted as a proof of Israel's future conversion that were applied to all Israel.

You see, when Paul was converted, his conversion was a type of what God was going to do with the nation of Israel in the future. Let's just look at a few scriptures here. First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 8. First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 8.

It says, For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle.

I beg your pardon. I'm reading verse 9. I'm going to read verse 8. Then, last of all, he was seen by me also as by one born out of due time.

Take note of this. Paul called himself as one born out of due time.

So what does that mean? That means in due time the Israelites would be called, the Jews would be called, but he was called out of due time. In other words, as a type of what was future to happen to Israel. And so he's using himself as a type that Israel in the future will be converted, will have an opportunity to be converted. So he uses himself as an example that God will make salvation available to the Jews, to the Israelites. Let's look at another example in 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 16. 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 16.

However, for this reason, I obtain mercy that in me first Jesus might show all long suffering as a pattern to those who are going to believe on him for ever-lost in life.

So Paul, in a sense, was a pattern, a type of what will happen to the Israelites in future.

Israelites will be converted in just such a dramatic way as Paul was converted.

You see, Paul was seeing so a vision, and how many of us have seen a vision? How many of us saw Christ? Paul did. How many of us were blinded? You see, so his conversion was very dramatic.

Now in future, when Christ will return in power and glory, and when he comes back to earth, and the Jews that have been denying Christ as the Messiah, they will then respond to Christ's coming, and they say, Dad is the Messiah, and then they will respond to that understanding and to that calling. We see that in Zechariah chapter 14. Zechariah chapter 14.

Zechariah chapter 14.

That's talking about when Christ comes back, and then in verse 12, it's talking about how Christ will then, when he comes back, he will strike the people that will fight against him, and it says, Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet. These are the armies that have gathered Armageddon, and then they will go to Jerusalem to fight Christ. So he will completely obliterate them. It says, Their eyes will dissolve in their sockets, their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths, and it shall come to pass in their day. The great plague from the Lord will be among them, and every one will seize the hand of his neighbor and raise his hand against his neighbor's hand. But the interesting point is on verse 14 that says Judah also will fight at Jerusalem, and so Judah will then recognize that this is Christ, and then they will respond. So the first example that Paul makes mention here in Romans of a future restoration of Israel is his own example, example of Paul.

All right, then let's look at the second example. The second example is in Romans chapter 11 verses 2 through 8, and the second example is the prophet Elijah. And so let's read verse 2 through 4. God has not cast away his people, whom he foreknew, or you not know what the scripture says of Elijah. How he pleads with God against Israel, saying, Lord, I have killed your prophets, may your pardon, Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life. But what does the divine response say to him, to Elijah? I have reserved for myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to Baal. So Elijah was thinking that he was alone. Alone, obeying God, and that section there is described in 1 Kings 19 through verse 18. Let's just go there. 1 Kings 19. 1 Kings 19 verse 18.

1 Kings 19 verse 18 says, Yet I have reserved 7,000 in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. And so Elijah, thinking that he was alone, and that he was alone obeying God, but there were a number of Israelites, even though the nation as a whole was not repentant and changing, there were a few. There were a remnant. And now in verse 5 we read, Even so, even so. In other words, Yah is the lesson. Yah is the lesson. There's a remnant that God is working through in Israel. You see, so let's read. Even so, at this present time, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And so even though God is now in this time working with Gentiles, there are a few of the houses of Israel, a few Jews, for instance. There are in the church that God is working through Israel. Israel was God's elect nation. He foreknew them, he chose them, and he was going to use them. That the fact that most of the nation had rejected Christ as the Messiah was no proof that God had finished, or is finished, with His people Israel.

In Elijah's day, Elijah thought everyone had departed from God, but there was a remnant of true believers. And likewise, in this age, there's a remnant also from Israel. Not only Gentiles, but there are Israelites too. Verse 6, And if by grace, then it is no longer of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace, otherwise work is no longer work. And so God is calling by grace. That's God's calling.

It's by grace. It's God's forgiveness. It's God's faithfulness. That's His plan. So He is called people by grace, not by works. No matter how many sacrifices you offer, no matter how many physical things we or you or us do, that's not what calls you and I. It's God's calling. It's God's grace.

Those that are trying to earn salvation by works are rejecting God's grace. It's His calling.

The fact that God called a few is evidence that He will call more even among the Gentiles.

So even among the Gentiles, were all Gentiles converted? No, just a few. And so there are a few Israelites and there are also a few Gentiles. And so let's read now verse 7 and 8. What then?

Israel has not obtained what it seeks, but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

And it shows part of the problem. The rest of the Israelites were hardened. They were blinded.

So God called a few, a remnant, but the rest were blinded, just as it is written in verse 8.

God has given them a spirit of stupor, that eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, to this very day. So they were hardened or blinded, and this was a result of them resisting or rejecting the truth.

In a sense, it's like Pharaoh's heart was hardened because he rejected the truth.

Look at Isaiah 29 verse 10. Isaiah 29 verse 10. Isaiah 29 verse 10. For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely the prophets, and has covered your heads, namely the seers.

You see, so the people were blinded. And then look also in Deuteronomy 29 verse 4.

Deuteronomy 29 verse 4. 29 verse 4.

Says yet the Lord has not given you a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and years to hear, to this very day. And so we can see Paul here in Romans chapter 11 verses 7 and 8.

He's quoting from these scriptures. Look at specifically verse 8. For God has given them a spirit of stupid eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, to this very day. They were blinded. And so, and then continues in verse 9 and 10.

Now in verse 9 and 10 David is cited as part of this explanation here, or this example, that's used in Elijah. Now it's also quoting David and basically saying, let's just read verse 9 and 10. And David says, let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block, and a recompense to them. Let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see, and bow down their back, always. And here is David being cited. In this case, the table became a snare. It was all their blessings that they received, the Israelites have received, has become a judgment against them. God, spiritually speaking, God gave them his law, gave them his way of life, but that became a snare to them. Israel's spiritual blessings, like his law and his way of life and his principles, should have led them to Christ. But he became a snare and kept them from Christ.

Their very religious practices and observers became a substitution to what they should have been doing. It became something heavy for them, a burden. That's why it says, and bow down their back, always, as a burden. So Paul is making clear, yeah, that the hardening of Israel is neither total nor final, because a number of Israelites, there was a remnant, so it's not total, nor it's final, because there'll be a time of restoration of a future nation. So this, therefore, this section is a proof that God has a future to the nation. And if we just jump very briefly to verse 25, verse 25, he says, for I do not desire, that's Romans 11 verse 25, for I do not desire brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness, in part, has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

You see, so there's a hardening for a certain period of time, but one day that hardness will be removed. And so we see, just like in the day of Elijah, there was a remnant.

That is a proof that God has a plan for his people, that he will, as it says in Corinthians chapter 3, let's just look at 2 Corinthians chapter 3, that God will remove their vial.

2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 13 and 14.

And he says, and unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away, but their minds were blinded. For until this day, the same veil remains un-lifted in the reading of the Old Covenant, or the Old Testament, but specifically the Old Covenant, because the veil is taken away in Christ. And so they had this veil upon them. And look at chapter 4, still in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 3 and 4. He says, but even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the God of this age, as blinded, who do not believe lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. And so Paul is explaining, there is a time that Israel will be restored as a nation. In the first example, he used himself as an example. In the second example, he used Elijah. Now let's move on to the third example, which is the example of the Gentiles from verses 11 through 15. In other words, he uses the Gentiles to assure Israel of a future restoration. The Gentiles believed, and through the Gentiles, what they believed, and those that have repented, the Jews would be stirred to jealousy. So there's a little play in a few words, which I will highlight to you here in verse 11. And those are the words that are used. The Gentiles stumbled and fall, which is used twice. So let's just read Romans chapter 11 verse 11. I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not.

But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

Well, the first one, Iadis word stumbled, is from the Greek word 4417, which is patio, which is basically er, phial or stumbled. So basically they stumbled. So there's nothing wrong with the translation, but they stumbled. And so it says, I say then, have they stumbled so that, that they should fall? In other words, why did God call Israel in Old Testament? Why did he call that nation? Were they better? No. Israel was called as a nation to set a right example to the other nations, to be a light to the other nations, to appeal to the nations around them, to attract them. Israel knew the truth. They knew that they would be a messiah, but they stumbled and fell. They stumbled over Christ, over the rock.

And it says, they stumbled that they should fall? That's the question. The word folia is the word 4096 peto, which literally means fall. Does that mean that they have added? It's over?

That's what it says. Certainly not. So they stumbled, they tripped, in the sense they they urged, they failed for them to be completely lost forever. It says, certainly not.

Then it says, but through their fall. Now, the word yeah, through their fall, this word fol, the second time the word fall is used, is a different word. It's a Greek word 3900, which is paraptoma, which is the side slip or lapse or deviation or error or transgression.

And so through their fall or their trespass or the transgression, through them slipping aside from the way God gave them. How? Because they follow their own traditions, they follow their customs and their own ways. Why? Because they rejected. They rejected God's way and it became a snare, as we saw early on. So it says, I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not. But through their fall, in other words, have they stumbled that they should be literally gone forever, have had it forever? Is it over? Certainly not. But through their lapse, their error, their transgression, right, that provoked them to jealousy. Salvation has come to the Gentiles.

You see, through their fall or trespass, through their slipping aside from the way God gave them, then salvation was given to the Gentiles and then they became filled with jealousy. We have a very interesting example on Paul's first journey when he was in Antioch of Sidia, which is in the area of Galatians. And we have that example in Acts 13, Acts 13, verse 45.

Acts 13, verse 45. It's talking out that he went to the synagogue, first to the Jews, and he preached to them, and then the Jews went out and asked him to go there the following Sabbath. That's on verse 42 of Acts 13. And then, and this is, and many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Baranabas, speaking to them, and the next Sabbath, almost the whole city came. Can you imagine? Almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. I mean, they were, maybe I'm exaggerating, but there were hundreds of people there, and he says, but when the Jews saw the multitude, they were filled with envy. They were jealous.

You see, the jealousy came, and then they started contradicting and blasphemy, and they opposed the things spoken by Paul. In other words, they were contrary, as we read in Romans chapter 10, verse 21. They became a contrary people, contrary to the Gospel.

You see, so in future, what Paul is saying is, they've stumbled that they should fall, now, because in future, when God will call Israel, they will respond. Let's continue with that explanation of fall, Jan, in verse 12. Verse 12. Now, if their fall is reaches for the world, their fall, again, the same word that was used through their fall, it was parab-toma, slip, or lapse, or transgression. So now, if they fall, their transgression is reaches for the world. You see, their fall, they were a nation that God was using, and from now onwards, God was not just going to use one nation. That's why it says, therefore, was reaches for the world. He's going to call the Gentiles and the nations.

It says, yeah, and their failure reaches for the Gentiles. Their failure is in Greek, 2000 to 175, hetma, their diminishing, their deterioration, their loss.

You see, so their diminishing of their closeness to God, in a sense, their failure became reaches for the Gentiles. So, the point is, God's plan still goes forward, and so it says, how much more their fullness? How much more their fullness? You see, the Israel of God failed. Now, we need to understand that today, you and I are the Israel of God.

We are, it's us, spiritual Israel, where we need to be a light, a magnet, that our example will encourage others to be converted by our lifestyle and example, and the way we conduct ourselves. And then it says, how much more their fullness? And so, it shows that at one time, they, in the future, they'll be restored. And so, they will have fullness. There'll be a time when they'll reach fullness. So, there'll be a time that they reach fullness. Now, this word fullness is the Greek word 4,938, pleroma. It's what falls and what is filled, and it's the same Greek word that is in collagions, chapter 2 verse 9. Let's just look at collagions, chapter 2 verse 9. Collagions chapter 2 verse 9.

For in him, that's in Christ, dwells all the fullness of the guardian bodily. In other words, all the completeness of the guardian in a bodily form was in Jesus Christ. And so, there will be a time in the future that the Israelites will also reach a point of physical fullness, and therefore all will have an opportunity for salvation. So, we can see how that Paul is making reference that there will be a time when the Israelites as a nation will be restored.

Verses 13 and 14. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us... Oops, sorry, I'm in collagions. Sorry. Go back to Romans, Romans chapter 11. Romans chapter 11, verse 13 and 14. For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry.

And so, Paul here is... he has some highlighting this to the Gentiles, but look at what he's saying, because he's appealing to his own people, to his own nation, for them to also respond, because he says, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those of who are my flesh and save some of them. It was, I hope, that some of you Jews would respond and be driven by this jealousy in a positive way to respond positively.

Verse 15, for if their being cast away is reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? So, if they're being cast away, if the Israelites being falling temporarily, as he says in verse one, has God cast away his people? Certainly not. But in this concept of understanding, if that is their falling away, if they're tripping or if they're stumbling, Yahya is seen in verse 15.

If they're stumbling is reconciling of the world, in other words, the Gentiles now have an opportunity, what will their acceptance be? In other words, they are spiritually dead now, the Israelites, but when these Israelites that are spiritual dead, repent from the dead, from spiritual dead, what life they will be? In other words, they will have an opportunity to life. So, he says, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? So, when they will be accepted for them, which are now spiritually dead, that will be an opportunity to eternal life from the dead, from this spiritually dead position. And so, Paul told us, verse 15, has used three examples of that help us to understand that the nation of Israel will be restored to a great nation in the world tomorrow.

The first example was himself Paul, the second example was Elijah, and the third example was the Gentiles. But now, from verse 16 through verse 24, he's going to use the example of the patriarchs, and he uses two illustrations to show how the patriarchs are an example that Israel will be restored. And as I said, he uses two illustrations.

One is a lamp of dough, and the other illustration is the olive tree. Now, in verse 16, he starts talking about this lamp of dough. Let's just read this. For if the first fruit is holy, the lamp is also holy. If the first fruits, as we know, they were supposed to give a first fruit, like when you have the crops, they would have a first fruit, and they were supposed to give that first fruit.

And therefore, if that first part was produced, was offered to God, and it was holy, then the rest would also be, in a sense, holy. That's what it says here. If the first fruit is holy, the lamp is also holy. And that is taken from the principle in Numbers 15, verse 17 through 21. Numbers 15, Numbers 15, verse 17 through 21. And it's talking again and again, the Lord spoke to Moses, speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you come into the land to which I bring you, then it will be that when you eat of the bread of the land, they shall offer up a heave offering to the Lord, and you shall offer up a cake of the first of your ground meal as a heave offering.

It was a first fruit as a heave offering of the fresh and flow, so shall you offer it up. Verse 21, Of the first of your ground meal you shall give to the Lord a heave offering throughout your generations. So Paul is now using this example of the first part of what was produced was offered to God, and for the rest of the harvest, the rest of the harvest was acceptable to God.

This is also symbolized in a way by the Feast of First Fruits. So God accepted the first part of the dough, and therefore he will also accept the rest at a later time.

Now, but then it says, And if the root is holy, so are the branches. He says, So this also applies to the history of Israel. Abram, Isaac, and Jacob, in a sense, they were the root, the fathers, the patriarchs. And so he says, And if the root is holy, so are the branches. So are those that come after them. Now, if some of the branches were pulled out of the tree, God will still carry his promises. And so let's read now verse 17, And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them becoming a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree. So now he's extending it to Israel.

Some branches were broken off, and now he grafts in the wild branches.

Now note, this is interesting. This is normally not what people would do. Normally, they would graft good branches into a wild olive tree. But now it's showing the example that the root that what God has started is what will continue. And that root is the patriarchs.

Look at the example of Ephesians chapter 2 verse 20. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 20.

Read, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. So the root is then these wild branches, the Gentiles, are planted, are grafted in into the body, into the body. And then the root is the root of the root.

Branches, the Gentiles, are planted, are grafted in into the body, into that root.

So let's go back to Romans chapter 11 verse 18. And then he says, do not boast against the branches.

You know, because the other branches were cut off, don't boast. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. So don't boast, because you don't support the root. The promises were not made to Gentiles. They were made to Abram and the seed.

So the nations of Israel have been blessed. Even today, Israel has been blessed. It's not because of Israel's righteousness, but it's because of the promise of God. It's not our national goodness but it's the promise of God. But because we have set a bad example, that blessing will be removed.

So the olive tree represents a relationship between Gentile and Jew in God's calling.

See, Gentiles enter into God's plan of faith, not because of anything that the Gentiles did, but because of God's calling and election. And they are grafted in into this tree, as it says here.

They grafted in into the olive tree. So let's go on our reading in verse 19 and 20.

You will say then, branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. Yes, branches were broken off that we Gentiles could be grafted in. Well said. Why? Because of unbelief.

Because they disobeyed unbelief. They were broken off and you stand by faith.

Because it's by God's grace. You stand by faith. Do not be haughty but fear.

Now, looking at Hebrews chapter 3 verse 17 through 19. Hebrews chapter 3 verse 17 through 19.

He says, now with whom was the angry 40 years? With whom was God angry 40 years? Was it not with those who sinned whose corpses fell in the wilderness during those 40 years?

They sinned. It was the brown god's law, right?

And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest? It was the promised land.

But those who did not obey, they did not obey. So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. This is a critical scripture that shows that unbelief is disobedient.

Belief is obedience. Very important scripture. And so back to Romans 11 verses 19 and 20. It says they were broken off. Verse 19. And it says because of their unbelief. And we saw that Hebrews 3 17 19 is because they did not obey. You see, if you believe you got to obey.

And that's why in Hebrews 4 verse 1 it says therefore tremble. And the arch says again, but fear, but fear, tremble. Verse 21. For God did not spare the natural branches.

I mean, if God did not spare the natural branches, he may not spare you either.

God did not spare those that were of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because they disobeyed. He will do the same thing to us Gentiles if we disobey.

You will not spare us either. Therefore, consider the goodness and severity of God or those who fell. Severity, or those who fell, severity, but towards you, goodness.

You see, those that did not obey, severity. But those that got called by grace, goodness. If you continue in his goodness, if we continue by him, otherwise you will also be cut off.

Otherwise you will also be cut off. And so the Jews fell and the Gentiles came in, but they had to remain faithful. Now, you look at the history of the early church, and what do you find? You find there were a lot of Gentiles coming into the church, but these churches with a lot of Gentile people became corrupted. You read that in Revelation, in the seven letters of Revelation chapter 2 and chapter 3, these Gentile churches became corrupted, and they left away. They left away. So, it doesn't matter who is called. The important is we have to remain faithful to the goodness extended to us. We have to remain faithful to the goodness that is extended to us. Now, verse 23, and if they, and they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, we'll be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in a kind. The Jews, if they do not continue in unbelief, if they do not continue in disobedience, they will be able to be re-grafted back in. And so, God can graft in the natural branches. In other words, these relax. Verse 24, if you were cut out of the olive tree, which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? And so, yeah, we can see that Paul is, with this example, emphasizing that the Jews, when they become converted and their minds are opened, they will respond. They will be very responsive to that calling.

And so, this fourth example, which of the patriarchs, because the example of patriarchs shows that those that are of the natural olive tree will be able to get back in. And therefore, it shows, for this example also, that the nation of Israel will be restored in the future. So, see the example of Paul, the example of Elijah, the example of the Gentiles, and now the example of the patriarchs. And so, now we get to the fifth and final example in the second chapter. And that is the final example in this section, and that is the example of God Himself.

From verse 25 through verse 36, the example of God Himself. In other words, it's God's timing, and He will achieve the fullness of Israel. Look at verse 25.

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. It was until the time of the Gentiles comes to an end, when Jesus Christ returns, and therefore it is according to God's timing. It's according to God's timing. Verse 26 and 27. And so all Israel will be saved. All Israel will be saved. That's God's promise. And what God has promised will happen. Look at Isaiah 59 verse 20 and 21. Isaiah 59 verse 20 and 21.

Isaiah 59 verse 20 and 21.

The Redeemer will come to Zion and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, says the Lord.

As for me, says the Lord, this is my covenant with them, my spirit who is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of the descendants, nor from the mouth of the descendants, says the Lord, from this time and forevermore.

The promise of God is that Israel will be saved. That's God's promise. And let's read verse 26 and 27 of Romans 11. It says, and so all Israel will be saved as it is written. And now he quotes Isaiah 59 which we just read. The Deliverer will come out of Zion and he will turn away, and God is from Jacob. For this is my covenant with them. I'll take away their sins. And so God's promise is all Israel will be saved. And so he is the example of God himself because God is faithful. God does not lie. And look at verse 28. Concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. In other words, concerning the good news of the gospel which is now open to Gentiles, the Israelites are now enemies for our sake, Gentiles.

But concerning the election, the promise, because of the fathers, because of what God has promised, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. Because of the fathers, because of what is God's promise to the patriarchs, to the fathers. God does not lie. They are beloved. And so this in a sense is it's a temporary situation that the Gentiles are coming in until the fullness of the Gentiles, until the time that God decides. And then the Israelites will be restored to greatness. Verse 29, for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Irrevocable. It was God does not change. God says, I change not. Look at Melachi chapter 3 verse 6. Melachi chapter 3 verse 6.

For I am the Lord, I do not change. Therefore, you are not consumed, our sons of Jacob.

God is infallible. He will not change. Therefore, you're not consumed, our sons of Jacob.

Therefore, you're not consumed, our sons of Jacob. God will fulfill His promises. Look at Numbers 23 verse 19.

Numbers 23 verse 19.

Numbers 23 verse 19. God is not a man, then he should lie.

Nor a son or man, then he should repent. As he said, and he will not do, or has he spoken, and he will and will he not make it good? I say God will make it sure it happens.

And that's why we go back to Romans chapter 11 verse 29. Romans 11 verse 29. He says, for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. That's it. It doesn't change.

Verse 30. For as you were once disobedient to God, it was you the Gentiles were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, through the Israelites' disobedience. Verse 31.

Even salvation also have now been disobedient. Even salvation, now the Jews have been disobedient, did not believe, that through the mercy shown to you, Gentiles, they, the Israelites, may also obtain mercy. He said their blindness, their veil is removed. As he talks about in 2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 15 and 16. They got blindness, they got a veil. That will be removed. They will come, as we saw in verse 25 and 26 of Romans 11 a moment ago. He says their blindness in part, and he says, and then after that all Israel will be saved.

And so yeah, in verse 31, again, again, God reiterates that point.

Now, verse 32. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.

God wants to have mercy on everybody and forgiveness on everybody, Jew and Gentile. Yeah, there's a timing thing, but God will have mercy on everybody.

And in verse 33, oh, the depth of the reaches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. Our unsearchable, how His judgment in these ways post-founding out. You see, God will give a chance to everybody, a fair chance to everybody, and people just don't understand this way.

And in verse 34, which is quoted from Isaiah 40, verse 13 and 14, says, For who has known the mind of God? Who has become His counselor? Or who has first, that's 34, in verse 35, which is from Job 41 verse 11, or who has first given to Him, and it shall be repaid to Him. You see, God doesn't know anybody anything. But He wants to give. He wants to give mercy and forgiveness to everybody.

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To whom be glory forever. Amen. All is God's, and He wants to bless and forgive and have mercy on everybody in downtown. Thank God that God is submersible to all of us.