Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Israel in Romans 11

Pre-wrath and pre-tribbers are fond of quoting Romans 11 as evidence of a future for Israel. They rarely provide a thorough exegesis of the entire chapter, and to do so is beyond the scope of this page, but I will present one passage which is problematic to their position right out of Romans 11. How can they account for this passage?
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
For Paul Israel's future with respect to God was not a given, unless this is a mythical hypothetical and is dismissible as such. Rather, for Paul it was possible that Israel might not come to faith.

The condition for admittance for Israel is the same as it is for the Gentiles, faith in Christ.

The whole chapter refutes their central notion, namely that there are two peoples of God. Today and in the future there are and will be only one people of God, those who come to Him in faith. Israel, through unbelief, has separated herself from God. If and when she comes to faith in Jesus as their Messiah, she will be saved.

No comments: