I believe you've missed what I've said, and what Romans 9-11 is teaching
Basically, you're saying "Paul didn't really mean what he wrote; he didn't really mean his fellow Israelites according to the flesh, even tho he said 'my brothers according to the flesh'; he actually meant something else"
A straightforward reading of Romans chapters 9-11 shows very plainly - if you're willing to accept the words of the Bible ‐ that once the full number of Gentiles have "come in" Jehovah, for the sake of the Patriarchs, will turn His attention to a remnant of physical Jews to open their eyes to the truth that is Jesus, thereby opening the way for them to put their faith in Him in an unprecedented way not seen since the First Century.
Im not the one saying this; Jehovah is. Anyone can read it for themselves. Its written so plainly that I'm astonished that anyone would reject it in favour of the unbiblical idea that Jehovah has completely discarded the Jews, and forgotten all His promises to them, as though he is NOT the God who keeps Covenant
The reality is: there are over 2600 mentions of Israel throughout the bible and ALL of them bar a mere few (if that) refer to the physical nation of Israel, so it's not me who is cherrypicking verses to prop up this idea; it's written all throughout the bible. It's those who say Israel has no place in Jehovah's future plans that must delicately cherrypick a few select verses and twist them out of context (or use them ignorantly) to make their case
But to be sure, our understanding isn't that much different; the differences are in the details
You wrote:
"You seem to think that because he didn't reject them, that means they will be reinstated as his chosen people."
That is not what I've said
As I've acknowledged already in previous posts: Not all Israel is faithful
Paul himself rules out all unspiritual, secular & atheistic/agnostic Jews when he wrote:
"but Israel, although pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to that law. For what reason? Because they pursued it, not by faith, but as by works. They stumbled over the “stone of stumbling”" Rom 9:31-32
&
"For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to accurate knowledge." Rom 10:2
Only Jews who worship under the Mosaic Law could be considered those who "pursued righteousness" and "have a zeal for God, but not according to accurate knowledge"
Furthermore, Jesus himself told the Pharisees that their father was the devil. Again, "not all Israel is Israel"; only those who are acceptable to Jehovah, only those chosen by Him
So this narrows down the field dramatically and means that only a remnant from among the modern-day Jews will be chosen to have their eyes opened
As Paul wrote:
"Moreover, Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Although the number of the sons of Israel may be as the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved"" Rom 9:27
What I am saying is what Paul is teaching:
They (the Israelite remnant) are "with respect to God’s choosing... beloved for the sake of their forefathers" Rom 11:28
And, when "the full number of people of the nations has come in" (Rom 11:25) God will once again turn His attention to these chosen few in order to save them (Rom 11:26)
You continued:
"To be rejected would mean that they would not have a chance again for salvation, but because he did not reject them they will be given the same opportunity as everybody else to put faith in Jesus Christ."
I largely agree with this; the path to salvation is the same: Faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 10:9-12).
But as the scriptures show, the problem is that a veil lies over their mind which keeps them from seeing the truth that is Jesus:
"But their (the sons of Israel - vs 13) minds were dulled. For to this present day, the same veil remains unlifted when the old covenant is read, because it is taken away only by means of Christ." 2 Cor 3:14
And this lies at the heart of what Paul is teaching us Gentiles who, even in Paul's day, were becoming arrogant & conceited in thinking in their hearts that they were better than the Jews because the Jews had "fallen from grace" due to their rejection their Messiah and their clinging to the Old (works-based) Covenant for salvation, despite the prophecy given in Jer 31 that there'd be a New Covenant unlike the Old one
This conceited arrogance can (and has) lead to antisemitism; a hatred of the Jews, who are Jesus' fleshly brothers and are therefore part of the equation when Jesus said (or, will say) "that you did it to the least of these my brothers you did it to me". Indeed, we're seeing a dramatic rise in antisemitism around the world due the military actions of the State of Israel even now, and dare I say it: I've often seen a callousness towards the Jews by many Christians including some here
Regarding Rom 8: I'm not sure why you have mentioned that as tho' it somehow negates what Paul says in chapters 9-11. Yes, God foreknew who would be Christ's brothers - He knew the end from the beginning - it doesn't change what Paul wrote in Chapters 9-11 one iota. He foreknew both; and what?
Here is a question for you - and for anyone who would care to answer:
WHY is Romans chapters 9-11 in the bible? If it's all done & dusted and Israel has no further place in God's plan - as everyone here is saying - WHY did Jehovah inspire Paul to write those chapters? What's the purpose if there's nothing special about them anymore?
The letter to the Romans is unquestionably one of the most profound pieces of literature in all of history; clearly inspired by Jehovah. And over 20% of it is dedicated to this subject of saving (a remnant of) the physical nation of Israel. Why? Why, if it's not important? Why, if it's insignificant? Why, if it's not true?
And another question: Whom did Jehovah make the New Covenant with?
Paul says in Rom 9:4 that to the physical Israelites belong "the covenants"
Jehovah himself tells us:
"Look! The days are coming,” declares Jehovah, “when I will make with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers on the day I took hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, ‘my covenant that they broke,although I was their true master,’ declares Jehovah.” Jer 31:31-32
"The House of Israel and the House of Judah"
We know he's talking about physical Israel because he invokes the Old Covenant made with "their forefathers"
The only way Gentiles - likened to wild Olive Branches in Rom 11 - can be included in the New Covenant is by dying a death with Christ in baptism and being raised to new life in Christ. They are "unnatural branches" that must be grafted in. But the Israelites are the "natural branches". They were broken off because of unbelief but Romans chapters 9-11 is explaining that a small remnant of Israelites chosen by election will have their blindness removed and will be grafted back in. It may only be a small remnant of the entire nation but it promises to be noteworthy
We might perceive this as unfair in some way, but how can the clay tell the Potter what to do? He's told us "they are beloved for the sake of the Patriarchs", and we have to accept that. Some of David's descendants weren't faithful but Jah allowed them to reign anyway - for the sake of David (2 Chron 21:7). If Jah wants to show special favour to a remnant of physical Israel, who are we to argue?
We need to make sure that we don't join in mistreating any of Christ's brothers, even the least of them. Unfortunately, like the Edomites mentioned in Obadiah, many Christians are cheering the destruction of the Jews at this time
Anyway, I appreciate your reply & wish you all the best. May Jehovah bless you.
