PROPHETIC ISRAEL IS BLINDED AND HAD FALLEN: OUR SALVATION

PROPHETIC ISRAEL IS BLINDED AND HAD FALLEN: OUR SALVATION TODAY 
By: Bishop Albert Gran

EXPOSITION IN ROMANS CHAPTER 11 (Part-2)

ROMANS 11:7-14

7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8 (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.

9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

It's so plain that Paul enabled us today's teachers and grace believers how God's prophetic plan for the nation Israel was a failure "hath not obtained that which he seeketh for". What do you think Paul meant this statement; "but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." 

It's in truth that Paul had been emphasizing to an election about grace of which many in Paul's time and in our most recent time became so ignorant. Paul is not saying here that they were blinded concerning God's continuous program for Israel in view of that which was spoken by the mouth of the prophets or in view of prophecy. They were blinded of the fact that today apart from works they could be saved by the grace of God and that they could become members of the church the Body of Christ and therefore become remnant according to the election of grace. Although Paul is citing a passage in the Old testament about these things, however it's to show a parallel truth what situation they might obtain IN THE MOST RECENT TIME when Israel get saved by the grace of God of whom Paul is the apostle. They were blinded in the context how Israel today could be saved through the gospel delivered by Paul.  

ISRAEL'S FALL

   12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

Relative to the statements beforehand how they were so blinded, it's the fact however to let us grace preachers and teachers believed the present "fallen" situation of the nation Israel in consonance and in view of God's prophetic plan for them. Their fall turned out for world's riches. This of course included the Israelites as they were part of the world. It's the essence wherein their being supreme to other nations was held weightless and unimportant in the context of God's plan today. In Acts 7-8, it is Israel fall until its diminishing status along with Paul's pronouncement when salvation was sent to the Gentiles ( In Acts 9-28). Paul significantly pointed out the time frame that "Now" even when he wrote the book of Romans, it is the "fall of Israel" (and yet Israel will be saved by God's grace through Paul). Their "fulness" speaks about the resumption in the world to come when their blessedness above other people shall be restored.

PAUL'S PLEA TODAY

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

Now that the nation Israel fell off and God's prophetic plan was diminished, Paul's authority has been magnified towards the Gentiles but not only to them as he's also an apostle to the Jews for making them abide in the alection according to God's grace. The riches of the world turned out to declare the offering of God's grace for the salvation of all men. (both Jews and Gentiles)

Though Paul had spoken to the Gentiles concerning God's denouement plan through him and his apostleship for the Gentiles, yet he hoped there would be among his kinsmen not blinded about the truth of their salvation in accordance to the truth of the gospel of God's grace in the dispensation of grace which he preached.

What blessedness one might attain in this life today? It's all simply by believing to the truth of the gospel delivered by Paul.

Grace and peace to all...