Romans 11 - Will Every Jewish Person Be Saved?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 11

The Remnant of Israel

Paul has been addressing primarily his brothers and sisters, the Israelites in the last three chapters. He had explained that many of the Jews, though they were zealous, had missed the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus. Interestingly he says, "God did not reject the people he foreknew". This could possibly play into the predestination vs. free will argument suggesting that God might foreknow someone but they have rejected his free offer of grace in Christ. 

Then, Paul says there has been a remnant of Israel which will be saved "by God's grace". Like Gentiles, they did nothing to deserve this free gift, or it would not be grace. 

Ingrafted Branches 

Paul uses the metaphor of a tree, which is very common both in his writings and in Jesus' gospels. The Israelites are presented as the original or natural branches.  As the Israelites' hearts were hardened, the natural branches were cut off. In the Old Testament Israel was called, "The Vine" of God. In the New Testament Jesus said, "I am the true vine." As believers, we are told to abide in Jesus, and we will bear much fruit.

But, Paul says that the natural branches (Israel) were cut off so the unnatural branches (Gentiles) could be grafted in. Israel's loss led to the Gentile's gain, as they repented and came to faith in Jesus. Since their loss meant riches for the Gentiles, how much more will it mean for the original branches, the Jews" to be grafted back in when they return. 

I have mentioned a few times whether Paul was talking to a primarily Jewish audience or also to a Gentile audience in the book of Romans. Though these last chapters 9-11 seem directed at the Jews, Paul says this in Chapter 11.

 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.

All Israel Will Be Saved

This is a very interesting chapter. We go from only a remnant of Israelites being saved to all Israel being saved. What gives? He cites the full number of Gentiles need to come to faith before all Israel is saved. 

And, when all Israel will be saved, they will be saved through embracing Jesus Christ as Messiah – as unlikely as this seems. They are not saved with some peculiar “Jewish” salvation. - Guzik

This is a key verse:

"As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable."

"Even though it seemed that in Paul’s day the Jews were enemies of God and were against Jesus, they are still beloved – if for no other reason, then for the sake of the fathers (the patriarchs of the Old Testament).  This is another reason why God hasn’t given up on national and ethnic Israel. This principle, stated by Paul, comforts us far beyond its direct relevance to Israel. It means that God will not give up on us and He leaves the path open to restoration." - Guzik

So what then can we conclude:

1. There is a remnant of Jewish people who will turn to and accept Jesus as the Messiah. 

2. All Israel will be saved does not mean that every single Jew who has ever lived will be saved. 

I think New Testament writer F.F. Bruce has the best handle on this when he says, 

"Even as the apostasy of Israel did not extend to every last Jew, so the salvation of Israel will not extend to every last Jew; Paul is speaking of the “mass” of Jews when he says all Israel. “All Israel is a recurring expression in Jewish literature, where it need not mean ‘every Jew without a single exception’, but ‘Israel as a whole.’” (Bruce)

The bottom line for me is that God makes his salvation known to all people both Jew and Gentile. Jesus died for all people and whoever calls on the name of Lord will be saved. If people were saved just by being born into a certain ethnicity, there would be no sense of an individual coming to  faith in Jesus. 

There is nowhere else in the whole gospel where the gospel is presented and accepted to a single ethnicity. Those the Israelites were God's chosen people, as a nation their role was to be recipients of the promises of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Their role was to be the line through which Jesus came to be born of a woman.  

To take the phrase "All Israel will be saved" literally, would go against the rest of the teaching of the gospel. The bottom line is that Paul had a huge heart for his fellow Israelites. He desperately wanted all people to be saved though his legacy was an apostle to the "Gentiles"!