King James Version
25 For I would not, brethren,
that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;
that blindness in part is happened to Israel,
until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved:
as it is written,
There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer,
and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them,
when I shall take away their sins.
To understand the passage better, I included a couple more verses above, to support the previous article.
My Bible teacher, Joseph, explains the "fulness" of the Gentiles:
"First, the setting of chapter 11 is God saying that the majority of Israel continue in their being blinded spiritually (stubborn, hardened hearts) to New Testament truth, especially in believing Jesus and His Gospel message.
But ever since, God made sure that a remnant of true believers existed. All the prophets of the Old Testament are prime examples. All of them, without exception prophesied about Jesus as the one and only true Messiah!
Then comes verse 25. Your question is on target because this gives the conclusion of the chapter. The intent is for Gentiles to know how Israel falls into place according to God’s plan of salvation. This is the mystery revealed to the Gentiles. Also, God’s love and promise is manifested for His Chosen People at this future time! I have no idea how their blindness will disappear and what will cause them to.
“Until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” I believe, is the completion of conversion of every ELECTED non Jew. In other words, not all Gentiles will be saved but only those who are chosen.
Matthew 22:14 (KJV)
14 For many are called,
but few are chosen.
So, I believe that this prophecy will happen when this “fullness” will take place, when the last elected Gentile will be saved."
What a wonderful explanation! And that Matthew verse was so relevant, too!
And now, I look into Apostle Paul's chapter. I've included the verses the HOLY SPIRIT guided me to, so I may understand further.
As Joseph says, "you can't overdose on God's Word".
Now, I will let the chosen verses speak for themselves:
The beginning context.
Romans 11:1-3 (KJV)
11 I say then,
Hath God cast away his people?
God forbid.
For I also am an Israelite,
of the seed of Abraham,
of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.
Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias?
how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets,
and digged down thine altars;
and I am left alone,
and they seek my life.
God answers Elias.
Romans 11:4 (KJV)
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him?
I have reserved to myself seven thousand men,
who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Apostle Paul confirms the "remnant".
Romans 11:5 (KJV)
5 Even so then at this present time also
there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
The "state" of Israel.
Romans 11:7 (KJV)
7 What then?
Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for;
but the election hath obtained it,
and the rest were blinded.
Which was prophesied.
Romans 11:8 (KJV)
8 (According as it is written,
God hath given them the spirit of slumber,
eyes that they should not see,
and ears that they should not hear;)
unto this day.
Paul's "revelation".
Romans 11:11 (KJV)
11 I say then,
Have they stumbled that they should fall?
God forbid:
but rather through their fall
salvation is come unto the Gentiles,
for to provoke them to jealousy.
The potential "fulness" of Israel.
Romans 11:12 (KJV)
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world,
and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles;
how much more their fulness?
The mystery of Israel's salvation.
Romans 11:15 (KJV)
15 For if the casting away of them be
the reconciling of the world,
what shall the receiving of them be,
but life from the dead?
Israel and God -- the "Holy One of Israel".
Romans 11:16 (KJV)
16 For if the firstfruit be holy,
the lump is also holy:
and if the root be holy,
so are the branches.
Gentiles as "wild olive tree".
Romans 11:17 (KJV)
17 And if some of the branches be broken off,
and thou,
being a wild olive tree,
wert grafted in among them,
and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
God's gift to Gentiles and Israel.
Romans 11:19 (KJV)
19 Thou wilt say then,
The branches were broken off,
that I might be grafted in.
Why some Jews fell away.
Romans 11:20 (KJV)
20 Well;
because of unbelief they were broken off,
and thou standest by faith.
Be not highminded,
but fear:
Paul's warning to proud Gentiles.
Romans 11:21-22 (KJV)
21 For if God spared not the natural branches,
take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God:
on them which fell, severity;
but toward thee, goodness,
if thou continue in his goodness:
otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Hope for Israel.
Romans 11:23 (KJV)
23 And they also,
if they abide not still in unbelief,
shall be grafted in:
for God is able to graft them in again.
The rightful heirs to God's plan of salvation.
Romans 11:24 (KJV)
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature,
and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree:
how much more shall these,
which be the natural branches,
be grafted into their own olive tree?
The "waiting" process.
Romans 11:25 (KJV)
25 For I would not, brethren,
that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;
that blindness in part is happened to Israel,
until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Israel gets saved.
Romans 11:26-27 (KJV)
26 And so all Israel shall be saved:
as it is written,
There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer,
and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them,
when I shall take away their sins.
The mystery of salvation continues.
Romans 11:28 (KJV)
28 As concerning the gospel,
they are enemies for your sakes:
but as touching the election,
they are beloved for the father's sakes.
The paradox in salvation.
Romans 11:30-32 (KJV)
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God,
yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed,
that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,
that he might have mercy upon all.
Who can fathom it all?
Romans 11:33-36 (KJV)
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom
and knowledge of God!
how unsearchable are his judgments,
and his ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord?
or who hath been his counsellor?
35 Or who hath first given to him,
and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
36 For of him,
and through him,
and to him,
are all things:
to whom be glory for ever.
Amen.
As Gentiles, we now see the role we play, towards Israel's salvation, and vice-versa.
It is a mystery, a paradox, a master plan of God, which only He could really fathom.
In the next article, apostle Paul explains how we can all come into the "fulness" of CHRIST.
