Mystery in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

 

Romans 11:25-27 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

This comes at the end of chapters 9-11 in which Paul explains the relationship of the Jews to the Gospel. Gentiles are believing in Christ and Jews are not. What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (Romans 9:30-31) This was a burning question – If this is of God and Jesus is the Messiah of Israel, why don’t Jews believe in Jesus?

Paul is answering the questions:

11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? and 11:11 “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? His immediate answer to both is, God forbid. And here he explains it – this was something that God had not revealed to the prophets – blindness in part has happened to Israel. In part means not total (there are individual Jews being saved to this day) and not complete or forever, it is temporary, only until. Until what? The fulness of the Gentiles be come in. This is the purpose of God for this current age - He is gathering in the Gentiles! The Gentiles are responding to Jesus and Israel has the tendency to reject him. So, According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; unto this day. (Rom 11:8)

This blindness is a judgment from God because they refused to believe Jesus is the promised Messiah. But it is only until! What happens when the fulness of the Gentiles be come in? All Israel shall be saved! God is not unrighteous so as to forget His promises to the fathers and the prophets - all Israel shall yet be saved. Praise God!

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

according to the revelation of the mystery - I confess, I have struggled with this passage, what it means, but as I went through Romans for this study, I came to the conclusion that this harks back to chapter 11 and the mystery that blindness in part is happened to Israel. In other words, God is reaching out to and gathering in the Gentiles, and He gives us Gentiles grace to hear the gospel, believe in Jesus the promised Savior, and be established in the faith. Hallelujah!


NEXT: Mystery in 1 Corinthians