God's Sovereign Plan for Israel and the Gentiles:
The Faithfulness of God in Salvation
Romans 11
Introduction
Romans 10 emphasizes Israel’s need for the gospel, that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not by the works of the law, and that righteousness is available to all who call upon the name of the Lord, whether Jew or Gentile.
Romans 11 is a powerful chapter that demonstrates God’s faithfulness to Israel and His mercy toward the Gentiles. Though Israel rejected Christ, their Messiah, God has not abandoned His people. Instead, one day, Israel will be restored. This chapter is a powerful refute of Replacement Theology which I would like to discuss quickly at the end.
As we walk through this chapter verse by verse, we will see how God's wisdom and sovereignty are beyond human understanding.
I. God Has Not Cast Away His People (Romans 11:1-10)
"I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, ‘LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life’?
Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.
What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Just as it is written:
God has given them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes that they should not see
And ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.
And David says:
Let their table become a snare and a trap,
A stumbling block and a recompense to them.
1 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,
And bow down their back always."
- As an Israelite himself, Paul is proof that God still saves His people.
- Paul references Elijah, who thought he was the last faithful believer in Israel. (1 Kings 19).
- But God assured him that He had reserved 7,000 people who had not worshipped Baal.
- Just as God preserved a remnant in Elijah’s time, He has done so in Paul’s time.
- Salvation is entirely by grace, not by human effort.
- The elect is again a representation of God’s foreknowledge and has nothing to do with discrimination but they had a choice to believe. The elect are those who choose to believe.
- Israel sought righteousness but did not attain it because they pursued it by works instead of faith.
- Their rejection of Christ led to spiritual blindness, as foretold by Scripture.
II. Salvation Has Come to the Gentiles (Romans 11:11-24)
"I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them... do not boast.
You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.’ Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again."
- Fall in the question, signifies a fall beyond recovery, outside of God’s salvation plan, which did not happen and it points to their rejection of Christ.
- Israel’s rejection of Christ was not the final chapter—rather, it led to salvation for the Gentiles. If Israel’s rejection brought blessings to the world, imagine how much greater their restoration will be!
- However, this was also meant to provoke Israel to jealousy, leading them back to God.
- Paul uses the olive tree as a metaphor for God’s people.
- Israel is the natural tree, but some branches were broken off due to unbelief.
- The Gentiles are wild branches, grafted in by grace.
- Paul warns the Gentiles not to boast, for they depend on Israel’s root (God’s covenant).
- God has the power to restore Israel if they return to faith in Christ, (graft back the broken branches).
- Paul reminds Gentiles that faith, not heritage, determines who remains in God's covenant.
- If Israel was judged for unbelief, Gentiles must also remain faithful and not become arrogant. We stand by faith, what makes us Christians is faith and what keeps us Christians is faith.
- His mercy extends to all who believe.
III. The Mystery of Israel’s Future Salvation (Romans 11:25-32)
"For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery... that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.’
For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.
Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all."
- Paul calls this a mystery—something previously in the Old Testament hidden but now revealed through Christ Jesus
- That Israel’s spiritual blindness is temporary and will end once the Gentiles’ full number (which no one knows) has come to Christ.
- Paul speaks of a future time when Israel as a whole will turn to Christ. This is a widespread national turning to Christ, not all individuals.
Zechariah 12:9-10
“It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”
- God’s covenant with Israel will be fulfilled when they accept Christ as their Savior.
- And we have to remember that:
- Though Israel currently opposes the gospel, God's promises to them remain intact.
- His calling and gifts cannot be revoked.
- God allowed both Jews and Gentiles to experience disobedience, so He could show mercy to all.
IV. Praising God's Wisdom (Romans 11:33-36)
Paul ends with a doxology, a declaration of praise to God.
Verse 33-36
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."
- God's wisdom is beyond human understanding.
- His plan for Israel and the Gentiles is perfect.
- No one can advise God or claim that He owes them anything.
- Everything we have is from Him, through Him, and for Him.
- Everything exists because of God, and He deserves all glory forever.
How Romans 11 Refutes Replacement Theology
Replacement Theology (also called Supercessionism) teaches that the Church has completely replaced Israel in God’s plans, meaning Israel no longer has a unique role in God’s covenant. However, Romans 11 strongly and directly refutes Replacement Theology in five key ways:
- God has not rejected Israel—a remnant remains. (v. 1-6)
- Israel’s rejection is temporary, not permanent. (v. 11-15)
- The Church is grafted in, not replacing Israel. (v. 16-24)
- Israel will be restored after the fullness of the Gentiles. (v. 25-32)
- God’s promises are unchangeable and beyond human wisdom. (v. 33-36)
Romans 11 makes it clear: Israel has not been replaced but remains central to God’s plan. The Church has been included in God’s covenant, but God will fulfil His promises to Israel in His perfect timing.
And God’s perfect plan and we need to trust it as is said in Jeremiah 29:11-14
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.”
Amen!
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