“For I will not leave you ignorant of this mystery, my brethren (lest you be counted prudent among yourselves): hardening has happened to Israel in part, until the perfecting of the nations comes in. And then Israel as a whole will be saved, just as it is written: “He will come out of Zion; He will turn away unrighteousness from Jacob (Is 59:20-21). And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”
Rom 11:25-27

In this section, Paul summarizes all the previous thoughts and brings them to a conclusion. Here he also tears open the last clouds so that the view of God’s action becomes free. This is liberating for all peoples – for the Jews and for the nations. Each has its own place. No one is abandoned. Everyone is involved, but with different tasks.

In the last three chapters, Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ was the theme. Finally, in the understanding of the believers, the Messiah had come, but the people rejected this Messiah. Of course, there were individual exceptions. The Jews, who had come to faith in Christ through Paul’s gospel, were faced with a conundrum. Now how was God to proceed with this people of Israel? Were the people cast out by God?

All of this Paul debunked step by step. Here now he writes the summary:

• There is a secret we should know (> revelation here!)
• Israel is partly obdurate (> but others are not!)
• until the “completion of the nations” comes in (> The present church)
• so that afterwards the people as a whole will be saved (> the New Covenant).

The secret

The mystery Paul is talking about is the partial hardening of Israel for a certain time. The hardening is not final, but only as long as the “completion of the nations” continues to be incomplete. After that, Israel will be restored, namely when “God Himself will take away the unrighteousness from Jacob” and “He will take away their sins”. These are concrete statements, even if the details are missing.

This is not about which denomination you belong to, whether you are then an Orthodox Jew or a Reform Jew, or even a Messianic Jew. All these comparisons and demarcations as we know them today are then no longer relevant. Jeremiah described it this way:

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, ” says the LORD: “I will put my law within them and will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then shall no man teach his neighbor, or his brother, saying, Know the LORD. For they shall all know me from their least to their greatest, saith the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.”
Jer 31:31-34

Israel and the church from all nations

Now Paul has described the relationship between the people and God, but what about my attitude and yours toward this people?

“Though according to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, yet according to the election they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.
For the gifts of grace and the calling of God are incalculable.
For just as you were once recalcitrant against God, but now have obtained mercy on their recalcitrance, so they too have now become recalcitrant against the mercy granted to you, so that they too can obtain mercy from now on.
For God includes all together in unruliness, that He may have mercy on all.”
Rom 11:28-32

Paul reasons step by step. The word “because” introduces the next justification in each case. It is striking that Paul repeatedly defines God’s action as decisive. This culminates in the statement that God Himself includes all together in contumacy so that He can have mercy on all.

The statement in Rom 11:32 is the conclusion of the doctrinal part of the Epistle to the Romans. First, he made it clear that no man is righteous, not even one. Subsequently, he revealed God’s righteousness, which is for all (Romans 3). If we have followed the apostle’s words up to this point, he has spoken first of this righteousness of God, then of the fact that we may have peace with God on the basis of this righteousness (Romans 4-5). It may transform our lives and firmly focus our outlook on God’s action. Those who put this into practice in their daily lives (Romans 6-7) and always keep it in mind in this world (Romans 8) will gain foresight and confidence based on God’s promises.

The expectation of the prophets had not foreseen this development. The present time was a mystery. Therefore, questions arose about God’s dealings with Israel. What would happen next for these people? This is what Paul is talking about in Romans 9-11. God did not cast Israel out. What is going on right now was never mentioned before, but it is not the end. Once it goes on. Just, however, a time of the community was “interposed”. That is why there is enlightenment from the apostle. This was unknown. This was a “secret” until now. Paul explains that this condition is for a specific time. It is the state “until” the fullness of the nations is collected. After that, things continue powerfully for Israel. An amazing development and an amazing outlook!

Let us also keep in mind that it is not individual people who are being addressed here, but entire peoples. It says nothing about you or me, but about how God deals with peoples. For a long time, Israel was central. Right now, however, individuals from all nations are central to the proclamation. Today, they form this congregation from all peoples. They form the Church, the Ekklesia (Greek: called out ones). That was mind-blowingly new. However, this is not the last word that was spoken about Israel. There will be a moment when Israel will step onto the stage again and promises to the people will come true. This is how Paul talks about it.

Comprehensive healing

If you read the Epistle to the Romans, you will learn how God comprehensively prepares and executes His salvation. Changes are not made “suddenly”; they are long processes. God works in history. The term “history of salvation” was once coined for this. It is in history that God works out His salvation. No one is left out. All are reached, but not all at the same time. In fact, the present time was unknown for a long time. If we look at our time with some distance, we realize that our time is also a step towards His goal of one day becoming “all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28).

The liberating thing is that we ourselves and this world remain secure in His action. This does not relieve us of the responsibility to treat ourselves, our neighbors or our world well. Paul holds that – regardless of the circumstances – God works. This gives courage and confidence. That’s something to look forward to. This changes my story and yours and the world’s. This includes outlook.

“For God includes all together in contumacy, that He may have mercy on all.”
Rom 11:32