He spends the first 8 chapters of Romans explaining what wonderful things God has done for us, both Greek and Jew, in Christ. Having said all that, the question arises, why are so few Jews being saved? Isn't He their Messiah? Isn't it their New Covenant? Why so few? He explains in chapter 9-11 that God has ordained the fullness of the Gentiles to precede the fullness of the Jews in salvation. Why would God do such a thing? Because He doesn't want anyone glorying in the flesh. He chose to make everyone the same (no Jewish priority). He wanted the Jews to disobey so that all, both Greek and Jew, would receive mercy in disobedience (Romans 11:30-32). This goal of making the first last and the last first so that everyone will be equal is predicted in a parable in Matthew 20:1-16. And they complained, saying, You have made them equal to us (20:12)! And the Lord said, It is My will to do so (20:14). God has chosen to call the fullness of the Gentiles before the fullness of the Jews, as explained in Romans 11. Paul explains God's goal in how He calls people in 1 Corinthians 1:21-31 as well. He selectively calls the losers of the world so that no flesh can boast, so that only Christ can be our boast. In Judaism (the Old Covenant), what matters is being Jewish. In Christianity (the New Covenant), what matters is Christ. As Paul says in Galatians 6:15-16, what matters in Christ is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, but the new creation in Christ Jesus. Those who walk by this rule (Christians) receive God's peace and mercy. These are the ones who comprise the Israel of God, which is the Israel of which Paul speaks in Romans 9:6-8, which is the part of Israel that believes in Christ in Romans 11:25, which is analogized as the believing part of the tree in Romans 11:16-24. Just as Christ became the Cornerstone of the Jews' building (New Covenant Israel) in Matthew 21:42-43 (compare Ephesians 2:12 and 2:19-22 and 1 Peter 2:1-10), likewise He became the Root of the Jews' tree (New Covenant Israel) in Romans 11:16-24. God has ordained the fullness of the Gentiles to precede the fullness of the Jews as the citizens of New Covenant Israel. As Paul states in Romans 11:25, part of Israel is ordained by God not to believe until the fullness of the Gentiles has entered (into the believing part of Israel [New Covenant Israel]). Then the other part of Israel likewise will believe and likewise will enter into the believing part of Israel (New Covenant Israel), at which point all Israel (both parts of Israel) will have been saved, as stated in Romans 11:26, at which point there will be only one Israel, New Covenant Israel, whose citizens are the saints, both Greek and Jew, at which point Israel's transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant will be complete.mikew wrote:Jim,
Its good to have gone through this exercise with you. We don't seem to be coming to closer agreement. But that's ok. It certainly isn't required.
Anyhow, the idea of this topic is to let people consider that Paul intended Rom 11:26 as the start of a new conclusion rather than finishing something about the grafting in of Jews and Gentiles.
For curiosity sake, to understand a little better where you were coming from, what was the purpose Paul was trying to achieve either just in Romans 11 or in Romans 9 to 11 (if you see this as one unified purpose)?