Israel: Her Past, Present, And Future In Romans 9–11 -- By: Robert G. Gromacki

Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 18:2 (Fall 2014)
Article: Israel: Her Past, Present, And Future In Romans 9–11
Author: Robert G. Gromacki


Israel: Her Past, Present, And Future In Romans 9–11

Robert Gromacki

Distinguished Professor Emeritus
of Bible and Greek
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH

Introduction

The general theme of the book of Romans is the revelation of the righteousness of God (Rom 1:17). All men, both Jews and Gentiles, stand in need of divine righteousness. All are morally guilty before the just God of the universe because all are under sin—under its penalty, power, and effects (Rom 3:9–19). All manifest their enslavement to sin by their rejection of truth that God has revealed in the created world, in the image of God within man, and in the Holy Scriptures (Rom 1:18–3:20).

All men, both Jews and Gentiles, cannot do anything to merit the righteousness of God. Rather, all must admit their moral guilt and condemned state before God. When that confession occurs, then sinners are in a position to hear the good news—the gospel, wherein Christ satisfied the righteous demands of God for sin through his redemptive death on the cross and his victorious resurrection from the dead (Rom 1:16; 3:21–31). Any person, either Jew or Gentile, can receive the righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ. After a believing sinner has received the righteousness of God, he is justified, or declared to be righteous by God (Rom 3:21–5:21).

In the first eight chapters of Romans, the Jewish apostle, Paul, argued that believing sinners can trust God through Jesus Christ for deliverance from the penalty of sin (justification), for victory over the power of the sinful disposition (sanctification), and for ultimate liberation from the effects of sin demonstrated in human’s mortal, corruptible bodies (glorification).

In the next three chapters (Romans 9–11), Paul relates the redemptive program of God for believers to his covenant promises to the nation of Israel. The main issue is this question: How can believers trust God to complete his redemptive plan for them when he has not yet finished his covenant program for Israel? Can there be an eventual loss of salvation through believers’ personal moral failure and unbelief? Has Israel lost its promised future?

“The gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom 11:29 KJV). No genuine believer will ever lose...

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