The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-Q, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 19."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1980. All Rights Reserved.

Question

I have a question concerning Jewish witness from Romans 11, and I was talking with a pastor of another church about Jewish witness, and this chapter seems to be suggesting that the Jews hold a very special place in God’s heart. In verse 12, “Now if their transgression be riches for the world...verse 15, “For if their rejection be the reconciliation of the world...and then going farther down into verse 24, comparing the cultivated olive tree off of which they came to us being the wild olive tree having to be grafted on. And, then, going farther down in verse 25, “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery---lest you be wise in your own estimation---that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles, and thus all Israel will be saved... and then, finally, verse 33, ... “How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

Now this pastor suggested to me, and it sounded logical to me, that the judgment of the Jews is something that God may have a special dispensation for the Jews and that it is not necessarily, absolutely necessary for them to know Jesus Christ as their Savior to be saved, as long as they are well-founded Jews and they seek the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they live a good Jewish life. And, he suggested that it is possible because of the mystery that is mentioned here and because of the unsearchableness of God’s judgments that perhaps it is not absolutely necessary that they know Jesus Christ because their hearts have been hardened. Now, what do you think about this?

Answer

I think, that's totally wrong. That is a horrifying thought, because if the implication of that thought is, you do not evangelize a Jew, that is a horrifying thought.

First of all, he does not understand the interpretation of Romans 11. That is clear.

Secondly, he does not understand the doctrine of salvation. That is clear.

Thirdly, he does not understand the extent of either of those. And, I am not disparaging him. I am just saying, if that is what he believes, I do not know who he is, but if that is what he believes, that is a horrifying thing.

The point in the text here is, that God does have a special place for Israel. Israel will be restored. If the diminishing of Israel, that is if their setting aside was the riches of the Gentiles. Look, if Israel was set aside and the church was born, and we have all been enriched by it what greater thing will occur when they are grafted back in. In other words, if their diminishing meant this for us, what in the world would their salvation mean for us? It is very much like Romans 5 argument, where he says, “If the death of Christ could reconcile us to God, what can the life of Christ do? to keep that reconciliation a reality.

So, I think, what the text is saying here is that God has set aside Israel. There is no question about that. But, they are not set aside permanently, and they are not set aside totally. Because, earlier in the chapter, he says that there is a remnant according to the election of grace in chapter 5. So, it is a partial setting aside, and it is a temporary setting aside because later in chapter 11, he says, all Israel is going to be saved. But, he also says in Acts 4, the Holy Spirit, "that neither is there salvation any other. For there is none other name under heaven given among men by whereby we must be saved." He said that to Jews in the city of Jerusalem who were the Jewish leaders. That is a very definitive statement, and a very clear statement.

So, what he is saying is, Israel was set aside, yes, temporarily and partially. And in their setting aside, the riches was turned to the Gentiles. After the Gentiles fullness has come in, after the church is complete (that's what that means) God will go back and redeem Israel. Zechariah tells us exactly how. He says, “They will look on Him whom they have pierced and they will mourn for Him as an only son.” That is an indication that their salvation comes about directly as a relationship of their focus on Jesus Christ. At that point, they will be saved. And, then He will fulfill His covenant, verse 27, He will take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, now, they have become enemies for your sake. In other words, their setting aside affected the salvation of the Gentiles. But, as touching the election, in other words, in God’s eternal purpose, they are the beloved for the Father’s sake, for God cannot change His covenant. His gifts and callings are without repentance, and so, He will bring them back. There is no question that He will bring them back. But, the bringing back has to be around the truth of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Question (continues)

But, you are saying that does not necessarily speak to Jews today, to the families and friends who are Jewish?

Answer (continues)

No. It speaks to the nation as a nation, not to individual Jews today. An individual Jew today is saved like anybody else is, by faith in Christ. And, apart from that, there is no salvation.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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