Notes of Grace

The true measure of character isn’t how we treat people who agree with us, but how we treat those who don’t.

@dalepartridge Also if the Church is Israel, then Romans 11:28 makes no sense. How can the Church be “enemies of the gospel” but still “beloved for the sake of the fathers”? Paul is clearly talking about ethnic Israel (unbelieving Jews) not the Church.

Them: “All Israel will be saved! Have you not read Romans 11:26?” Me: “Who is Israel?” Them: “The nation of Israel!” Me: “For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants… That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” -Romans 9:6-8 Them: …

@dalepartridge Context matters. In Romans 11:1–2, Paul speaks of ethnic Israel, Abraham’s literal descendants. God hasn’t rejected the nation; a faithful remnant remains. And in time, all Israel will be saved once the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.

Supersessionism (Replacement Theology) misses the entire point of why God chose Israel in the first place. Let me explain. When God makes a covenant, it’s not like a human agreement that depends on both sides holding up their end. In fact, in the most important covenant moments, God makes the oath by Himself. Genesis 15 is the key. God tells Abram to lay out the animal pieces, a known ancient covenant ritual. Normally, both parties would walk through, saying: “May this happen to me if I break this covenant.” But what happens? “A deep sleep fell on Abram…” and then only God, as the smoking firepot and flaming torch, passes through the pieces. That means: God took full responsibility for fulfilling the covenant, regardless of Abram’s actions. So to say God later abandoned that covenant because of Israel’s failure is to say God lied when He made that oath. “Because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself.” (Hebrews 6:13) This is the cycle from Genesis to Revelation: They rebel. God disciplines them. But He preserves a remnant. Then He restores them, not because they earned it, but because He promised it. This cycle is baked into passages like: Leviticus 26: outlines blessings for obedience and curses for rebellion, but ends with God remembering His covenant with Abraham. Deuteronomy 30: promises exile and regathering after repentance. Isaiah 10:20–22: judgment, but a remnant will return. Hosea: spiritual adultery, but also “I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness” and “I will betroth you to Me forever.” None of this makes sense if Israel is simply replaced. God is not done, He’s working a slow redemption. This is where Romans 11 becomes essential. Paul anticipates the exact argument supersessionism (Replacement theology) is making: “Did God reject His people? By no means!” (Romans 11:1) He then lays out the mystery: Israel is partially hardened. Gentiles are being grafted in. But the root (Abrahamic covenant) still stands. And God will graft Israel back in again. “They are enemies for your sake, but beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:28–29) If that doesn't affirm a future for ethnic Israel, nothing does. Paul even warns Gentiles: “Do not be arrogant toward the branches… you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.” (Romans 11:18–20) Then there's the marital analogy. God calls Himself a husband to Israel: “I was a husband to them…” (Jeremiah 31:32) And yet even when Israel plays the harlot, what does God do? “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel…” (Hosea 3:1) God doesn’t abandon His bride. He disciplines her. He waits for her repentance. And then He restores her. This is the template for all redemptive history. If God can break His covenant with Israel, then: His promises are conditional. His faithfulness depends on our performance. Grace is not grace anymore. (Romans 11:5-6) But if God keeps His covenant with the most rebellious, hardened people group in history, then no one is beyond mercy. And that’s the whole point of Romans 11: “God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all.” (v.32) Israel’s rebellion reveals God's justice. Israel’s restoration will reveal His mercy. And the world will see both. God didn’t choose Israel because they were better. He chose them to be a mirror. A mirror of our own rebellion, and of His mercy in the midst of judgment. That’s what so many people miss. They look at Israel’s failures and feel superior, when they should be seeing themselves and God's mercy despite our sinfulness.