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To: Teófilo

25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:


26 posted on 07/26/2012 1:16:39 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: xzins
I think that Paul answers the question Romans 11. It's an answer probably neither side wishes to hear. It is this: God Himself placed enmity between the two religions. Why would He do that? God had to harden hearts against Jesus, because only by Jewish rejection of Jesus could His message of salvation go out to gentiles like me.

So, we gentiles are in a bind. On the one hand, the Jews are "enemies of the gospel", and yet their enmity was the price of gentile salvation. Christians must be wary of attacks on the gospel, yet they must love the attacker because without the attacks we wouldn't have been saved.

Paul also makes it clear that this is a great "mystery." I think that he's saying here, in effect, "Nobody is more surprised by the Jewish rejection of Christ as me, Paul. But I've seen after all these years that their rejection is a hidden part of God's plan of salvation for you gentiles. So be glad that Jews have rejected Christ, and while taking care to keep the faith pure, love the Jews as the apple of God's eye." Not an easy thing, but I think it's what Paul was saying all along.

46 posted on 07/26/2012 6:01:33 PM PDT by Gluteus Maximus
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