Romans 11:26 in the Bible says: "And so, all Israel shall be saved."
Some people believe that it says all Jews will be saved; that, at some time yet future, God is going to miraculously save all Jews. But what does the scripture say? It doesn't say all the Jews will be saved, it says all Israel.
Paul writing to the Romans, quoted Isaiah: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sands of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved, for the Lord will execute His word upon the earth, thoroughly and quickly." Romans 9:27-28, NASB.
Are these Scriptures [Romans 11:26 and Romans 9:27] contradictory? No! The Scripture in Romans 9:27-28 is referring to the A.D. 70 desolation of Jerusalem, in which 1,100,000 Jews were killed. They died without Christ. Those Jews had said to Pilate, concerning the crucifixion of Jesus, "His blood be upon us, and upon our children." Matthew 27:25, NENT.
Even though Jesus prayed on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," it is obvious that those Jews were not saved and will not be, unless they repented and accepted Jesus as their Christ. Jesus said, "No man cometh to the Father but by Me." John 14:6. It would be pure folly to believe that He would give eternal salvation to those whom He destroyed in His wrath.
The scripture found in Romans 11:26 is addressing the salvation of all the Israel of God, Christians [Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise].
There will be no blanket salvation for all Jews no more that there is blanket salvation for all mankind, as the Universalists believe.
"And he saith to me, Seal not the words of the prophecy of this booklet; for the season is nigh. Who is unrighteous, let him be unrighteous still: and who is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and who is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and who is holy, let him be made holy still." Revelation 22:10-11, NENT.
It is quite clear, that all Jews will not be saved, neither will all natural Israel, nor all the gentiles, but only those who accept Jesus the Christ. The Israel of God is not the natural nation called Israel, but the Israel which is circumcised of the heart and not the flesh. It is made up of members of all peoples who have, through Christ, entered into a personal relationship with Almighty God, walking in obedience to His will. "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to promise." Galatians 3:29, NIV.
Now the promise was given to Abraham, but it was of faith, not a natural promise. Those after the flesh, which are described (in Galatians 4:21-28) as the Jerusalem of that day, were not of promise, and were cut-off and destroyed. But the Jerusalem above (Hebrews 12:22) is our mother, and that's the only way anyone can obtain the promises given to Abraham, administered through his seed, Jesus, in the fullness of time, the revealing of the "mystery" of God.
"For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." Galatians 6:15, NENT.
The Israel of God
When we read the Old Testament accounts of God's dealings with Israel, and the Jews specifically, it becomes abundantly clear that, though given centuries of time, the natural nation Israel could never achieve salvation. According to the Bible, Judaism alone does not lead to eternal salvation.
The natural nation Israel was frequently wicked, doing abominations in the sight of God. One generation would seek God, and the next would go back into worship of pagan gods.
Yet, through His prophets, God foretold that He would someday bring salvation to Israel. This would not be their doing, but would be fully accomplished by God at His appointed time, and in His way, through the then coming Messiah for whom all of Israel waited.
Since it proved impossible for Israel (except for a small remnant) to walk with God, even after He sent His own son Jesus to die for their (and our) sins, it would seem that those Old Testament prophecies could never be fulfilled. In the natural, that would be true, but with God, we see the supernatural at work, and with Him, all things are possible.
God required holiness, and man could not produce it. It would take a perfect people who had walked upright with God all their days to fulfill the righteousness required for salvation. No such people ever existed. Only one perfect man ever lived on the earth, Jesus, the Christ, the only begotten son of God. Only He could lay claim to the promises of God for the nation Israel. In Him, God would fulfill His Old Testament promises to Israel. Not in a natural nation, but in one man would come a holy nation, the Israel of God. Not by natural procreation, but a new creation.
That one man, Jesus, who only did what the Father showed Him, fulfilled all Scripture, all types given by the law and the prophets, taking upon Himself the iniquity of us all, and nailing sin and death to a cross, He arose victorious over it. He bought salvation for all who would accept Him. In Him would the gentiles hope.
Jesus was the focal point of Israel and all history. In Him exists the Israel of God, Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise (Galatians 3:29). 'But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; neither are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "through Isaac your descendants will be named." That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.'
PAST HISTORY FOCAL POINT FUTURE MADE
MADE UP OF ONE NATION JESUS UP OF ALL NATIONS
NATURAL ISRAEL CHRIST SPIRITUAL ISRAEL
All past history focused upon the Christ, and all future claims to eternal life spring forth from and through Him. He was the manifestation of God in the flesh; the first born of many brethren.
The old Israel was a natural nation, a chosen race. The new Israel is a Spiritual nation, the body of Christ, "the church." And if we belong to Christ, and His righteousness is manifested in our lives, the free gift of God's salvation, eternal, victorious life with Jesus is ours.
