As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Romans 11:28-32
The Jewish people are enemies only because they have rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have done so, so that, we Gentiles might become part of God’s kingdom as well as the Jew.
There seems to be a growing trend for some Christian speaker, preachers, teachers, and from all walks of life, teaching that the Church is the new Israel. That is assuming that God has forsaken the Old Testament Israel, for the Church (which is the Body of Christ). My question is: If the Church is the new Israel what will happen to Israel?
Verse 29 of our text says, “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance (are Irrevocable).” Meaning that what God has said in the Old Testament concerning His covenant people will not fail to come to pass. There are many prophecies of the Old Testament that have not yet come to pass. Those prophecies and promises cannot be claimed to be the Church’s, except for our encouragement, and education, and growth.
God says, “I will be merciful to whom I will be merciful.” God chose to blind the eyes of many Jewish people to bring Gentiles to Himself. Let us be thankful to the people of Israel for their part in our salvation; for it is through them that we have received our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and from them we have received God’s word.
Antisemitism must stop among those who are Christian or God can set us aside as He has Israel. God is not one who forsakes His people. He has a remnant who believe Him and live for Him. One day all Israel shall be saved (Romans 11:25-27), The apostle Paul was writing here of his people, not the Church.
“The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” It is an encouragement to know that God’s word, prophecies and promises do not change. It is comforting to know that He does not give up on His people.