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Timothy: Romans 11:25-36
The Mystery of Israel’s Salvation

25 For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be wise within yourselves, that hardness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the nations comes in;

26 and so all Israel will be saved, even as it has been written, “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

27 And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” Isa. 59:20, 21

28 Indeed, as regards the gospel, ones hostile toward you, but as regards the election, beloved for the sake of the fathers.

29 For the free gifts and the calling of God are unregrettable.

30 For as you then also disobeyed God, but now have obtained mercy by the disobedience of these,

31 so also these now have disobeyed, so that they also may obtain mercy by your mercy.

32 For God shut up all into disobedience, that He may show mercy to all.

33 O the depth of the riches and of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who became His counselor?” Isa. 40:13

35 “Or who first gave to Him, and it will be repaid to him?” Job 41:11

36 Because of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

[Literal Translation of the Holy Bible]

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I am grateful for every new day that You have given me in this life. I am thankful that I am in Your care and that I am able to participate in building Your Church in the hearts of the Vietnamese people. I pray to Christ for strength and to the Holy Spirit to help me understand the Eternal Living Word of God. I thank Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Dear Father, I would like to present my understanding of Romans 11:25-36.

Dear Father, my understanding of verse 25 is that the Apostle Paul is writing to the people of God who belong to Gentile nations, helping them to understand Your plan and intention for Israel. It is possible that Paul had heard that some of the people of God belonging to those nations believed that the Church had replaced Israel because You had completely rejected Israel. This view, called “Replacement Theology,” is still accepted by the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, and some Protestant Churches. Paul explains that Your plan for Israel to remain in spiritual blindness until the full number of Gentiles comes in is a mystery. This mystery cannot be understood until it is revealed by You. I understand that the “full number of Gentiles” is the sufficient number of people from the Gentile nations who believe in the Gospel and are admitted into the Church.

Dear Father, my understanding of verse 26 is that when the full number of people from the Gentile nations who believe in the Gospel and are admitted into the Church is reached, You will grant salvation to Israel from their spiritual blindness. At that time, Christ will descend to earth to both save Israel from the physical persecution of the Antichrist and to save them from their unbelief. I understand that this will happen at the end of the End Times, when the Antichrist leads his army into Jerusalem. Those Israelis who have faith in You will be taken to safety in the wilderness.

Dear Father, my understanding of verse 27 is that when Christ returns to grant salvation to Israel, it will also be the time when You will fulfill what remains of Your covenant with Israel. You will forgive them for their transgressions and enlighten their minds so that they may recognize and believe in Christ.

Dear Father, I understand verse 28 to mean that currently, the people of Israel are enemies of Your Church because they do not accept Christ. However, You still have compassion for them because You made a covenant with their forefathers, who believed in You.

Dear Father, I understand verse 29 to mean that Grace is the gift that You bestow upon humanity through Your mercy. The call is an opportunity that You give to each person and nation to accept Your grace. Your grace and call remain unchanged, meaning that they do not end, and the conditions remain the same. The condition for a person or a nation to receive Your grace is to genuinely repent of their sins and fully trust in You. Genuinely repenting of sins means no longer wanting to violate Your commandments. Fully trusting in You means not trying to do anything to be declared righteous by You, but only joyfully receiving Your salvation.

Dear Father, I understand verses 30 through 32 to mean that the Gentiles were originally people who did not know You, did not obey You, and lived in disobedience to Your commandments. However, it is because of the disobedience of Israel that the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles, bringing them Your mercy and salvation. Therefore, Israel will also receive Your mercy and be saved when the time comes. Both the Gentiles and Israel have sinned, disobeyed You, and You allowed this disobedience to happen so that Your mercy could be bestowed upon everyone.

Dear Father, I understand verses 33 through 35 to mean that You are the Almighty God, full of wisdom and compassion. You knew in advance of humanity’s rebellion, even of those You chose, so You predestined a perfect plan of salvation that is beyond the understanding of angels and humans. This plan of salvation fully embodies Your love, purity, and righteousness, and is a gift that You give to humanity. People do not need to do anything except believe in You.

Dear Father, I understand verse 36 to mean that all living things were created by You, according to Your will and purpose. Therefore, all things must turn to You, submit to You, and worship You forever.

Dear Father, I understand and believe that Your judgment of the entire world and the salvation of Israel in the End Times is near. The coming of Christ to take the Church out of the world is even closer. We rejoice and eagerly await the day of Christ. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
04/04/2023