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The Letter to the Romans
FORMER ADVENTIST FELLOWSHIP BIBLE STUDY

COLLEEN MOORE TINKER
(Notes)

41. All Israel Will Be Saved

Romans 11:25-27

25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."

Key Words

Mystery

Israel

Hardening in part

Full number of Gentiles

Covenant

Paul has just gone into detail explaining how Jewish "branches" had been broken off God's olive tree in order to make room for Gentiles to be grafted in. He has also explained that the Gentiles can be broken off because of unbelief just as the Jews were, and that the Jews can be grafted back in if they come to faith. Now he states his conclusion in clear terms: "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved."

1. In Paul's day, the "mystery religions" taught special knowledge available only to the initiated. When Paul uses the word "mystery', however, he refers to something that can be known but has been kept hidden in past ages until its revelation in Christ. In the context of verses 22-25, what is the "mystery" to which Paul refers?

2. About what other realities of Jesus and His work does Paul use the term "mystery"? (see Romans 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 4:1; 13:2; 14:2; 15:51; Ephesians 1:9; 3:3-4, 9; 5:32; 6:19; Colossians 1:26-27; 2:2; 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; 1 Timothy 3:9, 16.)

3. Against what is Paul warning the Gentile believers not to be conceited, and how will understanding this mystery help them in that goal? (see also Romans 11:17-21; 12:14-16)

4. "Israel has experienced a hardening in part," Paul says in verse 25. What is this hardening, and what is the significance of "in part"? (see verse 7-8; Romans 9:18; 2:5; 17-24; 1:18-19; 28-32)

5. How did Israel arrive at this extended state of hardening? (see Romans 2:28-29; 9:30-33; 10:1-4)

6. About what is Paul talking when he says, "until the full number of the Gentiles has come in"? (see Luke 21:23-24; 21:14-16; Mark 13:9-10;)

7. What prophecies does Paul draw on when he says, "All Israel will be saved"? (see Isaiah 45:15-17; Jeremiah 31:31-34)

8. In context, who is "Israel" in verse 26? (see 11:1-2, 7, 11, 22-25, 28-31)

9. Paul quotes verses 26-27 from Isaiah 59:20, 21. Who is "the deliverer", and what covenant is God talking about in verse 27? (see Isaiah 59:20-21; 11:1-5; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Isaiah 42:6-7; Zechariah 12:10-13:1; Ezekiel 36:24-30; Galatians 4:21-31; Hebrews 8:7-13; John 16:13-15)

Commitment

10. What has been your understanding of God's attitude toward the Jews since the time of Jesus?

11. What deception or subtle arrogance is God challenging in you as you read that their hardening is temporary, that the time of the Gentiles will end, and Israel will yet be saved?

12. Ask God to open your heart to the truth. Ask Him to reveal to you any arrogance or sense of "specialness" you have kept hidden deep inside. Ask Him to teach you truth with His Spirit and to help you to rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Ask Him to humble your heart and to praise Him for His faithfulness that always fulfills His promises to His people.