WAS GOD UNJUST IN REJECTING ISRAEL AND GOING TO THE GENTILES WITH THE
GOSPEL?

  This is the theme of Romans 9-11. In Chapter 9 Paul shows his love
for Israel, his people, even though they obstinately refused to accept
Christ. In Vs. 22 he speaks of them as vessels of wrath fitted to 
destruction. This means that they had fitted themselves to destruction
but God’s mercy and longsuffering is still extended to those who will
accept the gospel. Chapter 10 shows that the Jews had substituted their
own righteousness for God’s righteousness. There is no substitute for
belief in Christ. Chapter 11 shows the fact that God did not cast away
his people but that they forsook Him. The goodness or the severity of
God is meted out on the basis of the individual. Development of strong
obedient faith in Christ causes his goodness to be extended, while 
unbelief causes his severe punishment to be extended.

  1. Israel was the chosen nation of God but his choosing them hinged
on the faith and obedience of Abraham. “By faith Abraham, when he was
called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an 
inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” 
(Heb. 11:8). This family and nation that arose from his seed were 
continued as the chosen nation through faith and obedience to the law 
God had given them as well.

  2. Intermingled with the physical promises of the land that flowed
with milk and honey, were the spiritual promises of a Messiah to save
their souls. When this Messiah came  beginning with Herod the Great,
continuing with the religious leaders of the day, and finally the crowd
was convinced to reject and crucify him. They rejected the very Savior
whom they had given to the world. He came from the very seed of
Abraham (Gal. 3:16). God had decreed that the Savior should be for all
the world. Since God loved and had provided for the world it was only
right that He should turn his chosen Apostles to the Gentiles who showed
a desire to be saved. So Peter was sent to the house of Cornelius to 
tell them that “God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation 
he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
(Acts 10:34,35). Cornelius’ house accepted the gospel. When the Gentiles
at Antioch at Iconium learned that they could have the gospel, “they 
were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were 
ordained to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48). The word “ordained”
here means they were disposed to accept the gospel and thus have the 
eternal life offered.

  3. God will still save the Israelite who accepts Christ. The gospel
was always preached first to the Jew and all who heard and accepted,
(as Paul, Timothy, Lois, Eunice and a host of others had), were saved.
It is a matter of faith and obedience to the Jew just like to the 
gentile. God has not cast away his people (Rom. 11:1). As a nation
Israel had cast away God by rejecting Christ. Jesus pointed out that
they would not accept Him so their house was left to them desolate 
(Mat. 23:37-39).

  4. The promises of God to Abraham terminate or conclude in Spiritual
Israel. Spiritual Israel are those who walk after the rule of God, 
which is the gospel of God. These would be Christians (Gal. 6:16). 
Christians are the “seed of Abraham, and heirs according to the 
promise” (Gal. 3:29). They became such when they by faith in Christ
were baptized into Christ and put on Christ (Gal. 3:26-28).

  5. As a nation of people Jews can expect nothing of a spiritual 
nature unless they accept the gospel of Christ. The premillenial 
theory of another dispensation for the Jew to accept Christ is wrong.
All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Eph. 1:3). The Christian age 
lasts until the end of the world (Mat. 28:19, 20). Jews and Gentiles 
live out their lives and meet the appointment of death after which 
they face the judgment (Heb. 9:27).  There is no dispensation of grace
in the future for any one. We all face the judgment and an eternity 
of either regrets or happiness according to our disposition toward the 
gospel of Christ. “For the gifts and calling of God are without 
repentance.” (Rom. 11:29).

  The conclusion is: “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of
God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee goodness, if thou
continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” 
(Rom. 11:22). 

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