25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud and start bragging. Some of the Jews have hard hearts, but this will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to Christ. 26 And so all Israel
“A Deliverer will come from Jerusalem
and he will turn Israel
27 And then I will keep my covenant with them
and take away their sins.”
28 Many of the Jews are now enemies of the Good News. But this has been to your benefit, for God has given His gifts to you Gentiles. Yet the Jews are still His chosen people because of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 29 For God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn. 30 Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the Jews refused his mercy, God was merciful to you instead. 31 And now, in the same way, the Jews are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you. But someday they too will share in God’s mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all people in their own disobedience so He could have mercy on everyone.
33 Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are His riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His methods! 34 For who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who knows enough to be His counselor? 35 And who could ever give Him so much that He would have to pay it back? 36 For everything comes from Him; everything exists by His power and is intended for His glory. To Him be glory evermore. Amen.
In our last session, Paul addressed the Gentile believers directly and explained that we (all believers) are all branches of the tree that is the family of God. Some are original branches, and some have been grafted in, but all of us are here because of God’s grace and mercy. No one branch is any better than another. We are all equal heirs.
Paul realized that his rebuke was a bit harsh, and that he left the Jewish Christians worried about their Orthodox family and friends who, so far, have rejected God’s gracious gift of Christ. So, Paul began verse 25 with words of comfort for all who would read his letter – then, and throughout the coming centuries.
Paul began verse 25 with a glimpse into the end of times.
In our last two sessions, Paul touched on the Orthodox Jews that God had made unresponsive to the Gospel of Christ. And now, he explains that it is only temporary. As a part of God’s plan, God held back these Jewish people to make room for the Gentiles to be grafted into the family tree of God. So now, when the last Gentile comes to faith in Christ, God will open the eyes and ears of the Jewish people so that they can accept Christ as their long awaited Messiah.
Somewhere in the future is one single person who will be the last of the Gentiles that will come to faith in Christ. God knows exactly who this person is, and has known since before time even began.
God has known before time even began exactly which of us would accept Him (the elect), and which of us would reject Him. This is what is referred to as the “Doctrine of Election”. Jesus said of His second coming, in Matthew 24:31, “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Some refer to this as pre-destination. I understand why they would use that term, but I disagree only because of its connotation. Pre-destination leads us to believe that we have no choice in the matter – that our future is carved in stone, and that we have no control over it. My wife and I have debated this issue to no end.
All I can simply say is this; just because God knows all of the choices that we will ever make in our lives, doesn’t change the fact that we still have to make those choices. We are 100% in control of our own future. And, every human that ever lived is expected to answer this question: Do you believe in God? Remember back in session #4, Romans 1:18-20? No one has any excuse for not knowing God.
So the last Gentile believer comes to faith in Christ. The eyes and ears of the Jewish people will be opened to the truth of Jesus Christ. In verse 26, Paul wrote, “And so all Israel
The requirements of the Jewish people are no different than that of the Gentiles – have your heart right with God, accept Jesus Christ as your Messiah and Savior, and be changed by the Holy Spirit. “For God has imprisoned all people in their own disobedience so He could have mercy on everyone”. (Romans 11:32) We are all guilty, and we all need a savior.
Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, and the Savior of the World. He is the fulfillment of the promise that God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Romans 11:32 ends the longest theological argument for salvation through Jesus Christ recorded in the New Testament. To summarize Romans 1:1 through Romans 11:32;
We all instinctively know that there is a God (1:19). God’s judgment against sin is perfect, and it is certain (2:1-16). The Good News of Jesus Christ is for everyone – no matter who you are, or what you have done in the past (3:22). We are all sinners, and our sin has separated us from God (3:23). The only way that we can be made right is through faith in what Christ did for us on the cross (3:25). Our acquittal is not based on what we have done, but on faith in Christ (3:27). Faith is the key (4:16). Because of our faith, we are brought into a place of highest privilege where we now stand confidently and joyfully (5:2). God’s grace is a gift – free and undeserved (5:15-17). We are now one with Christ (6:5). We are no longer slaves to sin, we are now slaves to righteousness (6:18). We are no longer bound by the law, but free to live for Christ (7:4). God’s law was given to show us our sin (7:7). We will continue to struggle with sin (7:16-17). Who can free us from a life of sin? Jesus! (7:24-25). So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus (8:1). We are God’s children, adopted into His family (8:15). We long to be glorified with Him (8:23). God causes all things to work for the good of those who love God and are called… (8:28). Can anything separate us from Christ’s love? No, nothing (8:36-39). Israel Israel
In verses 33-36, Paul broke out into spontaneous praise and worship of the wonderful God that we serve. How great are His riches and wisdom and understanding! How impossible it is to understand His decisions and His methods. Can anyone know what God is thinking? Who knows enough to be His counselor? Everything comes from God . Everything exists by His power. And everything is intended for His glory. To God by the glory forever!
We do have an awesome God! He is a God that loves us so much that He put a plan into place that can make us right with Him. And, all we have to do is believe. But, it gets so much better. When we come to faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit of God takes up residence in our hearts, and it is through that real presence that we are able to live the life that God has planned for us. Paul wrote, “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” (2Corinthians 5:17NLT)
Study Questions
Who will be the last Gentile to come to faith?
Only God knows. If you have not put your faith in Christ, it could be you. If you have, it might be someone that you touch with the love of Christ and they come to faith through your testimony. In either case, how can we prepare for this?
Can you see how awesome God truly is?
Paul spent eleven chapters of his letter spelling out, in great detail, God’s plan of redemption. Paul was so blown away that he broke out into a song of praise and worship. Do you have that same feeling?
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