Romans 11:25-27 - Israel's Temporary Hardening

Romans 11:25-27 -²⁵ For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; ²⁶ and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
²⁷ “This is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”

Message: Partial Hardening followed by Salvation to Israel

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome.

What the Lord is Saying:

 
A mystery revealed - verse 25
Paul here continues to speak of the hardening of Israel that has occurred, but it is a partial hardening. Paul shows it to be a mystery, but it is not a mystery as something that is mysterious, but something that was previously a mystery and now has been revealed. Prophecy can be a mystery and Paul is showing here the fulfillment of that prophecy or the salvation of Israel, that will come. 

Wise in your eyes - verse 25
Paul is concerned that people will then determine, in their own eyes, truth that is only determined by God. People espouse truth all the time and Paul wants people to always submit to the truth of the Word.  

We need to realize that we do not know everything, this is what is meant by "will not be wise in your own estimation." Stated another way, "so you will not be proud and start bragging." 

I think one problem, possibly, with this understanding is we don't realize what it means for Gentiles to be saved. I think it for granted. This is a huge thing. That in itself is a mystery, revealed. And I think this is hard for me to understand because it is something I have known and often, I am caught up in the idea that Christianity is a western religion because it has shaped the landscape of this country. But God is not finished with Israel, salvation has come to a remnant of people and salvation will come to many more. 

“The Deliverer will come from Zion," - verse 26Psalm 14:7
Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord restores His captive people,
Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.

Paul ties together the prophecy or truths of the Old Testament with what he is saying here, that salvation or Yeshua will come out of Zion and be for Zion.

He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” - verse 26
Isaiah 59:20 -

“A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord. 

This redeemer will remove ungodliness from Jacob. There will be a repentance or turning away from sin for the people of Jacob because of the Redeemer. All of these verses point to the salvation of Israel. Too quickly, I want to apply all of these verses directly to me and the other Gentiles, but they have their root application toward Israel.

“This is My covenant with them, - verse 27 
The 'them' in this verse is specifically the people of Israel. This is who Paul is speaking to in these verses. A covenant is an agreement between two parties.

Isaiah 55:3
"Incline your ear and come to Me.
According to the faithful mercies shown to David.
Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you."


Promise: From Table Talk of August 26, 2014 - We Gentiles must not pridefully think the Lord loves us more than the Jews, but we must work for harmony between all peoples in the church.