Lord's Day (November 11, 2007)

Today's reading was on Romans 11:25-29. Here are some different versions of the text we covered at Grace:

"For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery--so that you will not be wise in your own estimation--that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." --NASB

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob"; "and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins." As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. --ESV

Our outline is thus delineated:
1. A Mystery Revealed (v. 25)
2. All Israel Will Be Saved (vv. 26-28)
3. Irrevocable Election and Calling (v. 28b-29)

Point two I wish my pastor would have explicated more. He didn't, but it's OK. He did, however, point out the eschatological vein of the Dispensational theology. In point 2, they would refer this to the second coming of Christ, i.e., "out of Zion..." Dr. Gleason would argue that this is a primary text for Christ's first advent. This is seen by Paul's rendition of Isaiah 59:20-21. There is only one way by which "All Israel will be saved," via in Christo Iesu.