Romans 11 - Will Every Jewish Person Be Saved?

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The Remnant of Israel

If anyone wondered who Paul's audience was when he wrote the letter to the church in Rome, we have seen the last three chapters are directed at the future of the people of Israel. He starts by saying, "Does that mean God rejects the Jews". Because the gospel went to the Gentiles as a result of the unbelief of many Jews, it did not mean God was going back on any promises God made to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.

Paul cites himself as an example. He was fierce and loyal Jewish, until he came to faith in Jesus. He became a Christian, or what some call a "Messianic Jew". I like this term because Jewish people who come to faith in Jesus are fulfilling the call given to their ancestors. Paul presents the idea that there is a "remnant" of Jewish people who will come to faith in Jesus at some time in the future! Like anybody else they will saved by faith. 

What does this word "remnant" mean? 

Though not many Jews in Paul’s day embraced Jesus as Messiah, a remnant did and God will use that small group in a big way. - Guzik

“It was not the number as much as the permanence of God’s plan for Israel that mattered in the time of Elijah… He put his trust in God’s grace, not in numbers.” - Morris

Ingrafted Branches

Then, Paul uses the metaphor of a vine and its branches to explain his point. Paul says that though they stumbled, the Israelites are not beyond being saved. If they come to faith and are included in the body of Christ, how much joy and blessing there will be as a result.

At this point he says, "I am talking to you Gentiles", so his audience at that point seems to have shifted. The Gentile Christians in Romans needed to be taught about the past covenant God had made with Israel. It was God's desire to save the Jewish people as much as them. This is where he uses the analogy of the vine and branches. 

The Israelites were the original branches who were organically connected to the vine, as God's chosen people. Then, he tells the Gentiles that they were like the "wild shoot" that was grafted into the vine. I.e. They came to be connected to the vine (the church) unnaturally. Therefore, they could not be conceded and look down on the branches (the Jews) who were cut off the vine. 

He says, "If God will not spare the natural branches, how much more will he not spare the ones grated in!" 

All Israel Will Be Saved

Then, Paul makes an interesting statement. He says the Jewish people's hearts have been hardened until the full number of Gentiles have come in. Then, he says, "In this way all Israel will be saved."

What does this mean? Does every Jewish person get saved? How? 

There is a distinction between national or ethnic Israel and spiritual Israel. Paul makes this clear in Galatians 3:7 and other passages. Nevertheless, God still has a purpose and a plan for ethnic Israel and will bring salvation to them. - Guzik

This states clearly for us that God is not finished with Israel as a nation or a distinct ethnic group. Though God has turned the focus of His saving mercies away from Israel specifically and onto the Gentiles generally, He will turn it back again. - Guzik

Importantly, we need to remember the only way to be saved is to trust in Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. There is no other way to be saved. See John 14:6 where Jesus says this himself. So by saying this Paul is not creating some separate way for Jews to be saved. 

Many think this statement applies to the end times.

The Bible indicates this is a necessary condition for the return of Jesus Christ (Matthew 23:39, Zechariah 12:10-11). Jesus will not return again until God turns the focus of His saving mercies on Israel again, and Israel responds to God through Jesus Christ. - Guzik

Then, Paul states that the "gifts and call of God are irrevocable". God's promises to Abraham will always stand true. God does not go back on a promise. The Jewish people were the original recipients of the covenant promises which God promised to Abram in Genesis 15. He told him through his faith, he would be a blessing to all nations, which includes the Gentiles.

So what can we conclude? God desires all people to be saved both Jews and Gentiles. If Jesus is waiting for all people to be saved before he returns that seems problematic. If after the rapture all Jews come to faith, it would only be that generation of Jews who are living when Jesus returns. 

Plus remember there are many Jewish Christians, which we call "Messianic Jews". In our own evangelism we should be as zealous to reach Jews and the rest of the world!

So what is the answer to the question will every Jewish person be saved? The answer to that question is only if they receive the grace of God in Jesus Christ by faith!  It is by grace alone, by faith alone, based on the Word alone that we are saved!