Study Notes Romans 9:7-9

We know that all the people of Israel were not spiritual Jews just because of their genetic inheritance. This was true before Christ and has been true even after Christ. There has always been a national Israel and a spiritual Israel. While national Israel is just that – national – those who believed God and His promises are spiritual Israel. Romans 9:7 says: “nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” No one has ever been automatically classified as belonging to spiritual Israel just because he was a member of the nation of Israel.

Francis Schaeffer notes the following: “Speaking of the Jews’ destiny as a nation, Paul wrote, “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” (Rom. 11:15). I will not exegete this entire verse, but I do want to point out that a time is coming when the nation will be a spiritual, believing Israel. Romans 11:25 adds, “Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” The phrase “in part” is a happy one, for multitudes of individual Jews from the book of Acts onward have believed and become spiritual Jews, as well as being natural Jews by birth. Looking to the future of the Jews as a nation, Romans 11:26 says, “And so all Israel shall be saved.” And it is in this setting that Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” As there is a continuity of the book, the power and the divine leader, so there is a continuity of spiritual blessings — in the past, present and future — under the spiritual portion of the Abrahamic covenant.”

When the fullness of the gentiles will come in we cannot know. However, when it does, the second coming will not be far behind. The Bible comes to an end with the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and it is announced, "Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, everyone who pierced him; all the tribes of the Earth will wail because of him” (Rev. 1:7). Then the Lord will restore Israel and bring peace on earth in His way and through His chosen people. Once more the cloud of glory will appear on the earth. We read in the prophecy of Isaiah, “Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy and a pavilion. It will be for a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and the rain” (Isa. 4:5, 6).

Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday!

Rick