“26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written (Isaiah 59:20-21): “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” (Romans 11:26).
The apostle Paul says that “All Israel will be saved.” Earlier in the Book of Romans (Rom. 2:28-29, 4:16, 9:6-7, 10:12) he defined who is a “true Jew” and also what he means by “all Israel.”
- TRUE JEW: A true Jew according to Scripture is one who has come to Christ to be saved and has been born-again spiritually. This has nothing to do with being physically circumcised or being physically born to Jewish parents. A true Jew, in God’s New Covenant Kingdom, is one inwardly. His position and praise come from God. All believers in Christ for salvation are the “true Jews,” and all of them will be saved.
“28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” (Romans 2:28-29)
- ALL ISRAEL: All Israel or “True Israel” is made up of those who have been saved by faith in Jesus Christ. These are not people who have been born physical descendants of Abraham. True Israel is made up of those who, like Isaac, are children of the promise and not the children of the flesh. God’s New Covenant Kingdom consists of “True Israel,” which is spiritual Israel and not physical Israel.
“6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.” (Romans 9:6-8)
- Salvation is now provided for whoever believes in the Lord, Jew or Gentile. Jesus has created a New Covenant for all of those who come to Christ for salvation, Jews and Gentiles. This occurred as a result of His death and resurrection to defeat sin and provide eternal life for all those who believe. Paul wrote the letter to the Romans about AD 58. The fullness of the Gentiles meant that they were now brought to full equality with the believing Jews in Christ, and are forever included in the Kingdom of God, just as the believing Jews. This inclusion of the Gentiles was made full and clearly demonstrated for all to see, when the obsolete Old Covenant system and temple was finally destroyed and completely desolated in AD 70.
Of Critical importance: notice in Romans 11:26 it says, “and so all Israel will be saved…” (Greek: (Houto) = thus, so, in this manner). It does not say “then all Israel will be saved…” This verse is not to be isolated on its own, but is in conjunction with verse 25 and the entire proceeding passage in context. Verse 26 starts with “and” meaning that once “the present remnant of Hebrew believers were saved AND the Gentiles were grafted into full equality” –> So, or “that will be” “all Israel saved.” Verse 26 cannot be taken out of context and attempted to be shown as a contrast to verse 25 –> the words “and” and “so” are conjoining words and not contrasting words.
- Paul is powerfully confirming what we also see him write to the Ephesians in Chpt 2:14-15 –> that Christ had broken down the walls of separation and the Gentile believers were being grafted in with the Jewish believers into “one new man/creation” from the two.
See also related “Topic Studies & Terms”:
“Remnant (A Remnant Shall be Saved)”
For a more in-depth study see the related full “Study Series”: