The Mystery of Israel

The Gospel announces salvation for all, Jews and Gentiles, by faith in Christ. Yet the people to whom God had made the promises, Israel, did not in its mass receive the Messiah destined for it. Paul, an Israelite himself, does not skirt this wound: he devotes three chapters to it, borne by sorrow and by hope.

The privilege of Israel

Paul first recalls all that Israel has received, and that nothing abolishes: “the Israelites, to whom belong the adoption as children, the glory, the covenants, the gift of the Law, the worship, the promises.” Romans 9:4 It is from this people that Christ was born according to the flesh. The word of God has not failed: the election, that free choice by which God took Israel for his people, stands, and God remains faithful to what he promised, even when man fails him. His word holds, moreover, for a reason Paul sets down at once: the true Israel is not first a matter of birth: like Isaac, born because God had promised it, it is made up of those God chooses and who answer him by faith. “not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.” Romans 9:6 The unbelief of a part of the people does not therefore thwart the fidelity of God. Paul drives home this freedom of election by going back to the patriarchs: God chose Jacob before his birth, before he had done anything, “Jacob I loved, and Esau I rejected.” Romans 9:13 and no one can call him to account, for he is the potter, master of his clay, “to make from the same lump one vessel for a noble use and another for an ordinary one.” Romans 9:21 This mystery of sovereign mercy, without injustice on God’s part, belongs to the free design by which he chooses a people for himself.

Faith offered to all

The righteousness by faith is near and offered to whoever believes and confesses Christ: “If with your mouth you confess that Jesus is Lord, and if in your heart you believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 Between Jew and Greek the barrier falls: the same Lord shows grace to all who call upon him. The part of Israel that stumbled sought righteousness in the Law alone, instead of receiving it in faith. Paul says it without contempt, with a brother’s sorrow: Israel has zeal for God, but a zeal without true knowledge (Romans 10:2), for it has not recognized where the Law was tending. But “the end of the Law is Christ, so that everyone who believes may be justified.” Romans 10:4 The Law does not stop of itself: it leads to Christ, who is its term and fulfillment.

The olive tree and the graft

The hardening of a part of Israel is partial and provisional. A remnant remains faithful, and God has not cast away his people: “has God rejected his people? Certainly not!” Romans 11:1 Paul gives the image of an olive tree: some branches have been broken off, and the Gentiles, a wild olive, have been grafted onto the tree to live from its sap. “you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others to share in the root and the sap of the olive tree.” Romans 11:17 It is a warning against the pride of the nations: it is not the branch that bears the root, but the root that bears the branch. In this image, the root is made of the patriarchs and the promises made to Israel, the natural branches are the Israelites, and the grafted wild olive is the nations: the salvation of the Gentiles is rooted in the election of Israel, and not the reverse.

All Israel shall be saved

Paul at last unveils the hidden design of God. The partial hardening of Israel has opened to the nations the entry into salvation, and this entry of the nations will in turn provoke the return of Israel. “all Israel will be saved, as it is written: From Zion will come the deliverer.” Romans 11:26 The covenant made with Israel remains, for God does not take back the gifts he has given. “the gifts of God and his call are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29 Before this design that turns to the salvation of all, Paul ceases to reason and adores: “O the depth of the riches, the wisdom, and the knowledge of God!” Romans 11:33