FLESHLY ISRAEL AND SPIRITUAL ISRAEL ACCORDING TO THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

PAUL’S DISCUSSION OF JEWISH AND GENTILE CHRISTIANS IN ROME 

In this section, I will discuss the different sayings of Paul where he discusses issues related to Jews and Gentiles.

THERE IS NO PARTIALITY WITH GOD 

The first time Paul mentions Jews and the Greek (= Gentiles) he introduces the review tone for the discussion of the two groups throughout the whole letter. His point is that God views individual Jews and individual Gentiles in exactly the same way because there is no partiality with God.

2:8-10

⁸ however, for those who are contentious and who disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness there will be wrath and anger, ⁹ tribulation and distress, upon the soul of every man who works what is injurious, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; ¹⁰ but glory and honor and peace for everyone who works what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹¹ For there is no partiality with God.

The final result will be the same for individuals of both groups — each one who wants to serve God will be declared righteous on the basis of faith in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. But because God chose the nation of Israel as his people and gave them his Law, in order to identify his Messiah, Jews and Gentiles will be treated in different ways.

The background for all the words of Paul about the two groups is the words of Jesus in Matthew 21:42. 43:

⁴² Jesus said to them: “Did YOU never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone that the builders rejected is the one that has become the chief cornerstone. From Jehovah this has come to be, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? ⁴³ This is why I say to YOU, The kingdom of God will be taken from YOU and be given to a nation producing its fruits. 

God had decided that Spiritual Israel whose members will constitute God’s kingdom in heaven after their resurrection, should number 144,000 individuals. The nation of Israel, which was the people of God, first got the opportunity to be Spiritual Israel and fill the number of 144,000 members. The nation rejected “the chief cornerstone,” Jesus Christ, and the nation could not produce 144,000 members to become God’s kingdom. Therefore, the kingdom of God was taken from them and given to another people. As Paul shows, the members of spiritual Israel that in heaven would be God’s kingdom would come from both Jews and Gentiles.

HAVING THE LAW IS NOT THE IMPORTANCE BUT FOLLOWING THE LAW IS WHAT COUNTS 

2:12-15, 25-28

¹² For instance, all those who sinned without law will also perish without law; but all those who sinned under law will be judged by law. ¹³ For the hearers of law are not the ones righteous before God, but the doers of law will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ For whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. ¹⁵ They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused.

²⁵ Circumcision is, in fact, of benefit only if you practice law; but if you are a transgressor of law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ²⁶ If, therefore, an uncircumcised person keeps the righteous requirements of the Law, his uncircumcision will be counted as circumcision, will it not? ²⁷ And the uncircumcised [person] that is such by nature will, by carrying out the Law, judge you who with its written code and circumcision are a transgressor of law.  ²⁸ For he is not a Jew who is one on the outside, nor is circumcision that which is on the outside upon the flesh. ²⁹ But he is a Jew who is one on the inside, and [his] circumcision is that of the heart by spirit, and not by a written code. The praise of that one comes, not from men, but from God.

The Jews were circumcised and they had the law of God, and that was a benefit. However, the important point is not to have the law and have been circumcised but to follow the law. Verses 14 and 15 show that because of the conscience that God has given them, many Gentiles follow the law without knowing it. These Gentiles are, in reality, “circumsized” because they follow the law, while Jews who do not follow the law are, in reality, “uncircumcised.”

Paul built up his argument, and in verses 28 and 29, he reached the high point: The designation “Jew” in God’s view is not connected with being circumcised or not or having the law or not. But the important point is what a person is on the inside. Those who follow the law are the true “Jews” and not those who formally are circumcised. This is a masterful way to show the equal value of both Jews and Gentiles.

The last clause with the word “praise” (epainos) may be a play of words. When Leah gave birth to Judah, she connected his name with the verb yādā, which means “praise.” So, the etymology of the name “Jew” seems to be “praise.” Therefore, when Paul in verse 29 says that the “praise” of the one comes from God, the word “praise” implies that he is a Jew.

BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES ARE SINNERS, AND BOTH GROUPS ARE DECLARED RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST 

3:1, 2, 9-11, 21, 27

¹ What, then, is the superiority of the Jew, or what is the benefit of the circumcision? ² A great deal in every way. First of all, because they were entrusted with the sacred pronouncements of God.

⁹ What then? Are we in a better position? Not at all! For above we have made the charge that Jews as well as Greeks are all under sin; ¹⁰ just as it is written: “There is not a righteous [man], not even one; ¹¹ there is no one that has any insight, there is no one that seeks for God.

²¹ But now apart from law God’s righteousness has been made manifest, as it is borne witness to by the Law and the Prophets; ²² yes, God’s righteousness through the faith in Jesus Christ, for all those having faith. For there is no distinction. ²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom [paid] by Christ Jesus.

²⁷ Where, then, is the boasting? It is shut out. Through what law? That of works? No indeed, but through the law of faith. ²⁸ For we reckon that a man is declared righteous by faith apart from works of law. ²⁹ Or is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of people of the nations? Yes, of people of the nations also, ³⁰ if truly God is one, who will declare circumcised people righteous as a result of faith and uncircumcised people righteous by means of their faith. ³¹ Do we, then, abolish law by means of our faith? Never may that happen! On the contrary, we establish law.

Paul shows again that it is an advantage to have been circumsised and to have received the law. But the real problem is that both Jews and Gentiles “are all under sin.” So, neither the law nor anything else can be of value, except one thing. That is the free gift of being declared righteous on the basis of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jehovah is God of both Jews and Gentiles, and therefore all are viewed in the same way.

I need to say something about the word “law” (nomos). Often when the word “law” has the definite article, it refers to the law of Moses. Depending of the context, when “law” is written without the definite article, it may refer to another law than the law of Moses. This must be the case with the last words, “we establish law.”

The law of Moses was abolished when Jesus died, so it could not again be established. However, the point of Paul is that the Christians were not lawless because they were under another law, called “the law of the spirit” (Romans 8:2), “the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), and “the perfect law that belongs to freedom” (James 1:25):

ABRAHAM’S FAITH WAS COUNTED HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE THE LAW WAS GIVEN

4: 8-14

⁸ Happy is the man whose sin Jehovah will by no means take into account.” ⁹ Does this happiness, then, come upon circumcised people or also upon uncircumcised people? For we say: “His faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.” ¹⁰ Under what circumstances, then, was it counted? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. ¹¹ And he received a sign, namely, circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness by the faith he had while in his uncircumcised state, that he might be the father of all those having faith while in uncircumcision, in order for righteousness to be counted to them; ¹² and a father of circumcised offspring, not only to those who adhere to circumcision, but also to those who walk orderly in the footsteps of that faith while in the uncircumcised state which our father Abraham had.

¹³ For it was not through law that Abraham or his seed had the promise that he should be heir of a world, but it was through the righteousness by faith. ¹⁴ For if those who adhere to law are heirs, faith has been made useless and the promise has been abolished.

Abraham was the ancestor of the Jews, and they often boasted because of that. Paul’s point is that Abraham’s faith was counted him as righteousness before he was circumsised and before the law was given. Therefore, he is the father of both circumcised and uncircumcised persons who walk orderly in the footsteps of the faith he had when he was uncircumcised.

In chapters 2, 3, and 4, Paul discussed the advantages of the Jews and the advantages of the Gentiles. He showed that there is no partiality with God. The members of both groups are sinners, and they can be declared righteous by showing faith in Jesus Christ and his ransom sacrifice. The fine balance we see in Paul’s words would prevent any Jew or Gentile to take offense of what he had written.

In chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8, Paul discusses different spiritual issues that would build up the faith of the members of the congregation in Rome. But in chapter 9, he returns to the issue of Jews and Gentiles.

NOT THE CHILDREN OF FLESH BUT THE CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE ARE ABRAHAM’S SEED 

9:1-8

¹ I am telling the truth in Christ; I am not lying, since my conscience bears witness with me in holy spirit, ² that I have great grief and unceasing pain in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were separated as the cursed one from the Christ in behalf of my brothers, my relatives according to the flesh, ⁴ who, as such, are Israelites, to whom belong the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the sacred service and the promises; ⁵ to whom the forefathers belong and from whom the Christ [sprang] according to the flesh: God, who is over all, [be] blessed forever. Amen.

⁶ However, it is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all who [spring] from Israel are really “Israel.” ⁷ Neither because they are Abraham’s seed are they all children, but: “What will be called ‘your seed’ will be through Isaac.” ⁸ That is, the children in the flesh are not really the children of God, but the children by the promise are counted as the seed.

Paul is very much concerned about his fellow Jews, who as a nation are cursed  from the Christ. But God’s purpose of having a people had not failed because there is the Spiritual Israel, consisting not of children of the flesh (native Jews) but children by the promise that are both Jews and Gentiles.

ONLY A REMNANT OF ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED — GENTILES WILL BE SAVED BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH 

9:22-33

²² If, now, God, although having the will to demonstrate his wrath and to make his power known, tolerated with much long-suffering vessels of wrath made fit for destruction, ²³ in order that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ namely, us, whom he called not only from among Jews but also from among nations, [what of it]?  ²⁵ It is as he says also in Ho·seʹa:“Those not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved ‘beloved’; ²⁶ and in the place where it was said to them, ‘YOU are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” ²⁶ and in the place where it was said to them, ‘YOU are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

²⁷ Moreover, Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Although the number of the sons of Israel may be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant (hypoleimma) that will be saved. ²⁸ For Jehovah will make an accounting on the earth, concluding it and cutting it short.” ²⁹Also, just as Isaiah had said aforetime: “Unless Jehovah of armies had left a seed to us, we should have become just like Sodʹom, and we should have been made just like Go·morʹrah.”

³⁰ What shall we say, then? That people of the nations, although not pursuing righteousness, caught up with righteousness, the righteousness that results from faith; ³¹ but Israel, although pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to the law. ³² For what reason? Because he pursued it, not by faith, but as by works. They stumbled on the “stone of stumbling”; ³³ as it is written: “Look! I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock-mass of offense, but he that rests his faith on it will not come to disappointment.”

Paul quoted prophecies from Hoshea and Isaiah showing that only a remnant of Israel will be saved. The reason why so many Jews will not be saved is that they “stumbled on the stone of stumbling” that was Jesus Christ.

We note that being saved or not being saved only relates to becoming members of spiritual Israel with the hope of reigning with Jesus Christ in heaven. Because Jesus bought all Adams descendants when he died, most of those who have lived on the earth will get a resurrection on Judgment Day, so they personally get the opportunity to accept or reject the ransom sacrifice. Jews and Gentiles who were not saved as a part of Spiritual Israel may also be among the resurrected ones.

In all the passages that I previously have quoted, there has been a balance in what Paul said about Jews and Gentiles. But in the quotation above there is an imbalance in favor of the Gentiles. This imbalance continues in 10:18-21 that is discussed below.

THE DISCUSSION OF THE OLIVE TREE AND THE FINITE NUMBER OG SPIRITUAL ISRAEL

The distinction between fleshly Israel and Spiritual Israel is expressed by Paul in 2:28, 29 (above) and 9:6, 7 (below):

28 For he is not a Jew who is one on the outside, nor is circumcision that which is on the outside upon the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one on the inside, and [his] circumcision is that of the heart by spirit, and not by a written code. The praise of that one comes, not from men, but from God.   6 For not all who [spring] from Israel are really “Israel.” 7 Neither because they are Abraham’s seed are they all children, but: “What will be called ‘your seed’ will be through Isaac.” 8 That is, the children in the flesh are not really the children of God, but the children by the promise are counted as the seed.

I start with the last verses of chapter 10, and I discusses all the verses of chapter 11. The last verses of chapter 10 paints a negative picture of fleshly Israel. We read 10:18-21:

¹⁸ Nevertheless I ask, They did not fail to hear, did they? Why, in fact, “into all the earth their sound went out, and to the extremities of the inhabited earth their utterances.” ¹⁹ Nevertheless I ask, Israel did not fail to know, did they? First Moses says: “I will incite YOU people to jealousy through that which is not a nation; I will incite YOU to violent anger through a stupid nation.” ²⁰ But Isaiah becomes very bold and says: “I was found by those who were not seeking me; I became manifest to those who were not asking for me.” ²¹ But as respects Israel he says: “All day long I have spread out my hands toward a people that is disobedient and talks back.”

In verse 19 Paul asks if Israel did not know the purpose of God. They did, but they were disobedient and lacked faith. But other people who were not seeking God were found by God. These negative words about fleshly Israel could give the impression that there was no hope for any member of Israel. Paul anticipates this question, and in 11:1-6 he answered that question

A REMNANT HAS BEEN CHOSEN 

11:1-6

¹ I ask, then, God did not reject his people, did he? Never may that happen! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God did not reject his people, whom he first recognized. Why, do YOU not know what the Scripture says in connection with E·liʹjah, as he pleads with God against Israel? ³ “Jehovah, they have killed your prophets, they have dug up your altars, and I alone am left, and they are looking for my soul.” ⁴ Yet, what does the divine pronouncement say to him? “I have left seven thousand men over for myself, [men] who have not bent the knee to Baʹal.” ⁵ In this way, therefore, at the present season also a remnant has turned up according to a choosing due to undeserved kindness. ⁶ Now if it is by undeserved kindness, it is no longer due to works; otherwise, the undeserved kindness no longer proves to be undeserved kindness.

In verse 1, Paul says that God did not reject his people, and this means that while the nation was rejected, that does not mean that every individual is rejected. The proof that all individuals are not rejected is that he, Paul, is a Jew who is a servant of God.  In contrast to his previous negative quotations about Israel, he now refers to Elijah who believed that he was the only worshipper of Jehovah. But Jehovah told him that seven thousand men had not “bent the knee to Ba’al.” From this, Paul draws the important conclusion: “at the present season also a remnant (leimma) has turned up according to a choosing due to undeserved kindness.” This means that God has chosen a remnant, a small number of  fleshly Jews, to become members of Spiritual Israel.

THE FINITE NUMBER OF THE REMNANT 

Paul knew the sacred secret of God, that on the basis of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus, Jehovah would declare righteous and adopt as sons 144,000 humans who should reign with Jesus Christ in heaven. This finite number of the members of spiritual Israel is elucidated in some later verses in chapter 11. But in order to fully understand Paul’s following arguments, we need to have this in mind that the number of spiritual Israel is finite. We read 11:7-10:

⁷ What, then? The very thing Israel is earnestly seeking he did not obtain, but the ones chosen obtained it. The rest (loipos) had their sensibilities blunted; ⁸ just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes so as not to see and ears so as not to hear, down to this very day.” ⁹ Also, David says: “Let their table become for them a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a retribution; ¹⁰ let their eyes become darkened so as not to see, and always bow down their back.”

According to Exodus 19:5,6, the nation of Israel should be a kingdom of priests for God in relation to all other nations. In other words, they should be the kingdom of God. But Jesus said according to Matthew 21:43, that “The kingdom of God will be taken from YOU and be given to a nation producing its fruits.”  This was what Paul, according to Romans 11:7, said that Israel was earnestly seeking to obtain. But they did not obtain it. However, “the ones chosen obtained it,” and these are those who have been adopted as sons of God to be members of Spiritual Israel. Paul quotes the prophetic words of Isaiah 29:10 and Psalm 69:22 showing that Israel as a nation would not serve God. Paul elucidates the issue of the chosen ones in verses 11 and 12:

¹¹ Therefore I ask, Did they stumble so that they fell completely? Never may that happen! But by their false step there is salvation to people of the nations, to incite them to jealousy. ¹² Now if their false step means riches to the world, and their decrease means riches to people of the nations, how much more will the full number of them mean it!

At the beginning of verse 11, Paul says that while the nation would not serve God, there was hope for individuals of the nation. Then we come to the important point implying the finite number of spiritual Israel. Because of the false steps of the majority of Israel, there is salvation for the people of the nations. The point here is that because the number of Spiritual Israel is finite, some Jews had to take false steps in order to make room for others, for the people of the nations. If there was no finite number of the members of spiritual Israel, there would be no reason why people of the nations first would get salvation only after the majority of the Jews had made false steps.

But what is the meaning of the last clause of verse 12, “how much more will the full number of them mean it!” The pronoun “it” refers to “riches to the world,” so the point is that the full number of the Jews means riches to the Gentiles. What does this mean?

I will now discuss the words “the full number of them [the Jews]:

Seven thousand persons had not bent their knee to Baal (verse 4). In a similar way, a remnant of fleshly Israel has been chosen by God (verse 5). The chosen ones of fleshly Israel had become a part of Spiritual Israel (verse 7). The full number of those chosen of fleshly Israel will be riches to the Gentiles (verse 12). The words, “the remnant,” “the chosen ones,” and “the full number” all refer to the individuals of fleshly Israel that are a part of Spiritual Israel, the group with 144,000 members.

I will now discuss how the full number of the chosen ones of spiritual Israel would be riches to the Gentiles. This means that if one or a few Jews took false steps, and some Gentiles, because of this, came in line for becoming members of spiritual Israel, that would be riches for these few Gentiles. But how much more riches to the Gentiles would not the full number of the Jews mean. Verse 7 illuminates this:

The very thing Israel is earnestly seeking he did not obtain, but the ones chosen obtained it. The rest had their sensibilities blunted;

When the ones chosen had obtained being members of Spiritual Israel, their full number was reached, and all other Jews “had their sensibilities blurred.” This means that Gentiles could take the place of those whom God had rejected, and these places were numerous. So, when the chosen obtained their membership in spiritual Israel, and their number was full, and all other Jews were rejected, this caused a great number of vacancies in Spiritual Israel that could be filled by Gentiles. Therefore, the full number of Jews led to riches for the Gentiles.

However, Paul’s point is that while the number of Spiritual Israel is finite, and this finite number will be filled by the full number of Jews and the full number of the Gentiles, these two “full numbers” are not static and predestined. A person who is counted among “the full number” of Jews or Gentiles may later turn against God. So another person, Jew or Gentile may take his or her place in order to keep the number full. We read in 11:13-16:

¹³ Now I speak to YOU who are people of the nations. Forasmuch as I am, in reality, an apostle to the nations, I glorify my ministry, ¹⁴ if I may by any means incite [those who are] my own flesh to jealousy and save some from among them. ¹⁵ For if the casting of them away means reconciliation for the world, what will the receiving of them mean but life from the dead? ¹⁶ Further, if the [part taken as] firstfruits is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are also.

Paul now speaks directly to the Gentiles in the congregation in Rome. His point, that he elucidates later, is that because so many Jews did not accept the call of God, and the Gentiles got the chance to fill the number of spiritual Israel, the Gentiles must be careful to keep their place in spiritual Israel. If not, Jews may take their place, those who originally got the opportunity to fill the number of spiritual Israel. This is clearly shown by Paul’s illustration.

THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE OLIVE TREE 

Paul’s point about the full number of the Jews as riches for the Gentiles was very important for Paul. In order to help the members of the congregation in Rome to grasp this point, he adds the illustration of the olive tree. We read Romans 11:16-24:

¹⁶ Further, if the [part taken as] firstfruits is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are also.¹⁷ However, if some of the branches were broken off but you, although being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a sharer of the olive’s root of fatness, ¹⁸ do not be exulting over the branches. If, though, you are exulting over them, it is not you that bear the root, but the root [bears] you. ¹⁹ You will say, then: “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ All right! For [their] lack of faith they were broken off, but you are standing by faith. Quit having lofty ideas, but be in fear. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. ²² See, therefore, God’s kindness and severity. Toward those who fell there is severity, but toward you there is God’s kindness, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise, you also will be lopped off. ²³ They also, if they do not remain in their lack of faith, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature and were grafted contrary to nature into the garden olive tree, how much rather will these who are natural be grafted into their own olive tree!

This illustration accords with the arguments of Paul in verses 11 to 15 about the relation of Jews and Gentiles to Spiritual Israel. Let us first look at the nature of the illustration. There is an olive tree with one trunk with a finite length and a finite number of branches. The trunk and the branches illustrate Spiritual Israel and the Jews that first got the invitation to be all “the branches” of the olive tree, illustrating spiritual Israel (God’s kingdom).

The situation was not that there was one trunk with an infinite length, and when Jews or Gentiles started to serve God, they were grafted into this infinite trunk, so the olive tree became higher and higher with more and more branches. But there was one trunk with a finite number of branches. And before a person of the Gentiles could be grafted into that trunk, one Jewish branch had to be broken off. The whole illustration shows that the spiritual Israel has a limited number, which we learn from Revelation 7:4 and 14:1 is 144,000.

Paul is very much concerned about his fellow Jews. While the final number of spiritual Israel is fixed, the full number of Jews and the full number of Gentiles that together will constitute 144,000 members is not fixed. Paul shows that Jews who did not want to serve God, and therefore were broken off from the tree, could be grafted into their own tree again if they “do not remain in their lack of faith” (verse 23). But that would require that one Gentile branch that had been grafted into the trunk was broken off.

Therefore, Paul speaks to the Gentiles in the congregation in Rome admonishing them “not having lofty ideas” (verse 20). For if a Gentile does not continue in the faith, these branches will be lopped off the tree, and a possible Jewish branch will be grafted into the trunk instead.

THE SALVATION OF SPIRITUAL ISRAEL

After Paul has used the illustration of the olive tree to drive home all his points in the previous 15 verses, he draws an important conclusion in verses 25 and 27:

²⁵ For I do not want YOU, brothers, to be ignorant of this sacred secret, in order for YOU not to be discreet in your own eyes: that a dulling of sensibilities has happened in part to Israel until the full number of people of the nations has come in, ²⁶ and in this manner all Israel will be saved. Just as it is written: “The deliverer will come out of Zion and turn away ungodly practices from Jacob. ²⁷And this is the covenant on my part with them, when I take their sins away.

Paul has shown that a great part of the members of fleshly Israel have shown lack of faith, and therefore they have as branches, been lopped off the olive tree and have been replaced by Gentile branches. Paul’s desire was that “some from among them (the Jews)” might be saved (verse 13). This shows that “all Israel” in verse 26 does not refer to fleshly Israel but to all the members of Spiritual Israel.

In verse 26, Paul says that “in this manner all Israel will be saved.” I will ask: “In which manner”? The answer is: In the manner that is mentioned in verse 25: “that a dulling of sensibilities has happened in part to Israel until the full number of people of the nations has come in.” To what do the words “in part” refer? Does it mean that “a dulling of sensibilities” has happened to all fleshly Israel for a time, “until the full numbers of the nations have come in”? Or does it mean that a part of Israel permanently has “a dulling of sensibilities”? We find the answer in verse 7 where we read that, “The rest had their sensibilities blunted.” So, the dulling of sensibilities has happened to all members of fleshly Israel, except the chosen ones. Then we go back to the question.

In which manner will Spiritual Israel be saved? The full number of the Jews (verse 12), (the remnant, the chosen ones), plus the full number of people of the nations (verse 25) will together constitute the full number of 144,000 members of spiritual Israel. In this manner all Israel will be saved.

As evidence that “all Israel will be saved” Paul refers to different prophecies, and we read Isaiah 59:20,21:

²⁰ “And to Zion the Repurchaser will certainly come, and to those turning from transgression in Jacob,” is the utterance of Jehovah.

²¹ “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” Jehovah has said. “My spirit that is upon you and my words that I have put in your mouth—they will not be removed from your mouth or from the mouth of your offspring or from the mouth of the offspring of your offspring,” Jehovah has said, “from now on even to time indefinite.”

This is a prophecy that continues through chapter 60, and several prophecies in this chapter are quoted in Revelation chapters 21 and 22, and are applied to New Jerusalem, God’s Kingdom — Isaiah 60:3 to Revelation 21:24; Isaiah 60:11 to Revelation 21:25; Isaiah 60:19 to Revelation 21:23 and 22:5. Because Paul refers to the prophecy in Isaiah 59:20, 21, and prophecies in this context refer to spiritual Israel, it must be Spiritual Israel that will be saved and not fleshly Israel. The new covenant that is mentioned in Romans 11:27 and Isaiah 59:21 is also a covenant with spiritual Israel.

In Romans 11:28-32 Paul is summing up God’s salvation related to the Jews and Gentiles in the congregation in Rome:

 ²⁸ True, with reference to the good news they are enemies for YOUR sakes, but with reference to [God’s] choosing they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. ²⁹ For the gifts and the calling of God are not things he will regret. ³⁰ For just as YOU were once disobedient to God but have now been shown mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹ so also these now have been disobedient with mercy resulting to YOU, that they themselves also may now be shown mercy. ³² For God has shut them all up together in disobedience, that he might show all of them mercy.

In all his discussions of the Jews and Gentiles in the congregation in Rome, Paul masterfully expressed a balanced view of the two groups, as he also does in these verses. Both groups have different attributes, but the final result is based on God’s mercy.

Paul has discussed a rather complicated side of God’s purpose. But all those who are able to grasp the different points of Paul’s discussion, see how these points magnify God’s wisdom. In the last part of his discussion, Paul utters an exclamation of the greatness of Jehovah God in verses 33-36:

 ³³ O the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments [are] and past tracing out his ways [are]!  ³⁴ For “who has come to know Jehovah’s mind, or who has become his counselor?”  ³⁵ Or, “Who has first given to him, so that it must be repaid to him?”  ³⁶ Because from him and by him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

  After having studied this article, we can heartily agree with Paul and say, AMEN.

CONCLUDING REMARKS 

All the epistles and letters in the Christian Greek Scriptures are addressed to those who have been declared righteous and have been adopted as sons of God — Spiritual Israel. They have the hope of reigning with Jesus Christ in heaven.

According to Revelation 7:4 and 14:1 this group counts 144,000 members. Many commentators claim that this is a symbolic number. But the discussion of Paul in Romans chapter 11 confirms that the mentioned group has a finite number, and this supports the number given in Revelation.

This article has discussed the difference between fleshly Israel and Spiritual Israel. But there is also a group of God’s servants counting billions that will live forever on the earth when it has become a paradise. A discussion of this group is found in the article, “‘The heavenly calling’ and ‘the inhabited earth to come’ according to the Epistle to the Hebrews” and in my book, The Atonement Between God and Man. If we do not distinguish between the two mentioned groups, we will not understand the text of the Bible.