Romans 11 Rebukes Zionists and All Unconditional Security Believers (Romans 11 Verse by Verse)

Before getting into Romans chapter 11, it is important to note Romans 9:6-8: “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”

The children of promise are those who keep God’s covenant by meeting its conditions. There were always natural descendants of Abraham who did not do this. It is even emphasized in Romans chapter 9 that there were many Israelites throughout the Old Testament whom the Lord rejected and judged for their disobedience. It is no wonder that so many natural Jews have rejected Jesus, saying “we will not have this man to reign over us.” (See Luke 19:14)

In reading through Romans chapter 9 note that the topic never changes. Note also that the topic never changes in Romans chapters 10 and 11. The Apostle Paul is explaining the Apostolic viewpoint concerning the Jewish people. In Romans chapter 10, Paul went to say the following.

Romans 10:16-21: “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias (Isaiah) saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias (Isaiah) is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”

Now we come to Romans chapter 11.

Romans 11:1: “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”

Jesus called Paul into his grace. Being Jewish didn’t mean he could not be saved. Yet he was not in God’s grace when he was rejecting Jesus as the Messiah. That rejection ended when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus and Paul responded from the heart like he did (Acts 9:6). Paul submitted to Jesus’ Lordship by faith and he had to work accordingly. He didn’t obtain grace by performing the Mosaic ceremonies (which he had already been as zealous for as anyone) nor by doing other works to try to atone for his sins and thereby make God his debtor who owed him justification.

Nothing said here is claiming that God would not cast away the Jewish political nation. He did so shortly after the Book of Romans was written. The faithful remnant of Israel is the foundation of the Christian church and Jewish people can yet obtain God’s grace through Jesus Christ.

Romans 11:2-3: “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot (know) ye not what the scripture saith of Elias (Elijah)? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.”

In relation to foreknowledge, God has appointed only one plan of redemption from sin unto eternal life. He was working to accomplish this plan since mankind fell in Genesis chapter 3. God foreknew Israel in the sense of planning a specific nation to bring forth Christ through. Those whom God foreknew on an individual basis are those who obey the terms of the Gospel of Christ- since the offer of His grace in Christ is to “whosoever.” The Lord’s elect are those chosen on a conditional (not unconditional) basis due to their proper response to Jesus Christ (the Elect One).

The worshipers of Baal in Elijah’s time were natural Israelites. The unfaithful of Israel were obviously never part of the faithful remnant of Israel which the Lord recognized. The unfaithful of Israel often persecuted the faithful remnant (and this continues to this day). Paul’s point is that there were always faithful Israelites (though often very few); and there were always unfaithful Israelites (sometimes almost all of them- as in Elijah’s time). This didn’t mean that the Lord was unfaithful to His promises to Israel. Yet it surely also doesn’t mean that unfaithful natural Israelites are heirs of the promises of His covenant.

Romans 11:4: “But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.”

Only those who are faithful to the Lord are His true people under His grace- even though that has often been an incredibly tiny minority of natural Israelites. That has not changed to this very day.

Romans 11:5: “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”

That remnant of natural Israelites according to the election of grace is now among the true Christian church as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. How much more clearly could Paul have stated that? Yet the Zionists do not receive this. There is no other remnant of natural Israel which the Lord recognizes as His own. The Zionists have no good reason to say Jews who reject Jesus Christ are among God’s chosen people nor do they have any Biblical basis to apply promises to Abraham and his seed to these.

Romans 11:6: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

The unconditional security believers go wrong badly since they do not heed the examples from the Old Testament of actually receiving God’s grace. These examples are clearly applied to Christianity in the New Testament over and over again. Romans 10:21 had recently demonstrated that the Israelites who are not part of the remnant according to the election of grace are not so due to their disobedience and gainsaying. Paul has just used the example of Elijah and the 7,000 people in Israel who had not bowed their knees to Baal being the remnant according to the election of grace in their time. He also applied that example to the present time. The true remnant according to the election of grace submits to the Lord and keeps the requirements of His covenant. Elijah and the 7,000 faithful were the remnant according to the election of grace- because they were faithful worshipers of the Lord. Those who believe that living in sin and disobedience is compatible with having a saving interest in Christ are blatantly disregarding the Old Testament illustration of salvation by grace which was just given. They have a vain hope of being under God’s true grace. In Romans 11:6 Paul is rebuking the Jews who rejected Jesus while claiming that the sacrifices in the Law of Moses were sufficient for their justification. They also called their hope in justification through these sacrifices “grace.” The sacrifices in the Law of Moses were to be done by faith as a schoolmaster to Christ and were never intended to be a means of justification in themselves. Those who try to earn justification by other self-appointed means are also not partakers of God’s grace.

Romans 11:7: “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.”

Many Jews then and throughout history have been very zealous to obtain God’s favor in ways which He never appointed. That is also the case with mankind in general. No one can successfully give a bribe nor work to avoid bowing before Jesus Christ as the true Messiah and submitting to the authority of His Word.

Romans 11:8-10: “According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.”

Zionists practically disregard how so much of the Bible, Old Testament and New Testament, involves conflict between righteous Jews and unrighteous Jews.

Romans 11:11: “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”

It is emphasized over and over again in these chapters that no one is under God’s grace who disobeys the Gospel of Christ. Those who don’t recognize this deny the significance of Paul’s road to Damascus experience. Paul clearly means in verse 11 that the offer of God’s grace in Christ is still extended towards individuals among the Jews though the Jews have brought such a vast corporate blinding upon themselves.

Romans 11:12-14: “Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.”

The normal pattern on Paul’s missionary journeys was to come to a city and proclaim Christ first in the Jewish synagogues and then turn to the Gentiles after the synagogue eventually rejected him (though some in the synagogue would believe and join with Paul). Even after forsaking the synagogue which had rejected him, Paul still hoped that Jews there would be brought to faith in Christ through the righteous examples of the Gentiles who gave heed to his message. Paul’s hope that some Jews would be saved through him being faithful in his office would be vain if Jews couldn’t yet be saved. Paul himself was a natural Jew.

The Zionists who believe that natural Israel is in covenant with God as it rejects Jesus Christ also make a claim that is out of line with Paul’s mindset. Note as well that multitudes and multitudes of professing Christians believe in vain that they will be saved through Jesus Christ even though they do not emulate Paul in the sense of being diligent to walk in line with the authority of Christ by resisting sin and doing what His Word commands. Paul’s statement in verse 14 is similar to what he said in Acts chapter 26:29.

Romans 11:15: “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?”

The Lord eventually forsook the Jewish nation and cast it off as the center of His worship in AD 70 through the Temple’s destruction by the Romans. Casting away the Jewish nation didn’t mean the promises of the Gospel would no longer be extended to individual Jews. It is still an especially glorious thing when a Jewish person turns to Jesus Christ, yet Jews who reject him are dead in their sins like other sinners are.

Romans 11:16: “For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.”

The Lord raised up the ancient nation of Israel for the holy purpose of teaching His ways to the world and bringing forth the Messiah through it. The Jews as a people have a holy calling. Yet the reality that salvation is of the Jews only means greater trouble for Jews who deny Jesus Christ as the Jewish Messiah and do not faithfully follow Him. The unbelieving Jews are cut off from the true remnant of Israel. This is obviously implied in the next verse.

Romans 11:17-18: “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.”

Don’t use these verses to tell people they are in sin for not consenting to Zionism. That is lying. Rather than rebuking people for not consenting to the unjust, partial concept of Zionism and its disastrous real life implementation, this verse is actually rebuking believers in unconditional security for the Christian. It is ironic yet no mystery that most Zionist Christians are believers in unconditional eternal security who think that there are no conditions for remaining in Christ. It is often you, Zionist Christians (very many of you), who think that you are immune from Jesus rejecting you in the end no matter how you live.

When Romans 11 warns Christians not to boast against the branches (meaning, natural Jews), it doesn’t mean to support them in their theft of land nor back off from holding them accountable for their thefts, murders, and other oppressions. The warning to Christians not to boast against natural Jews comes in the context of stating that Jews who reject Jesus Christ have been cut off from covenant with God while true believers in Him from among the Gentiles are grafted in. This is why true believers in Christ, whether they are natural Jews or Gentiles, are called the seed of Abraham and “the Israel of God” (see Galatians 3:29 and Galatians 6:16 respectively). The modern nation of Israel is an impostor entity. The land of modern Israel was lawfully inhabited by others whom the Zionist Jews stole from, displaced, and murdered (many) in taking it. That land is cursed now for the modern Jews rather than a promised land for them. Zionism is downright evil and the Lord will punish modern Israel and its supporters for its evils.

Jeremiah 22:13 says: “Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbor’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work…”

Romans 11:19-21: “Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.”

Believers in unconditional security in Christ utterly disregard what was just stated.

Romans 11:22: “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.”

Zionists and all unconditional security believers don’t behold the Lord’s severity. They think they can disregard the Bible, only use it when it’s convenient for them, and somehow believe that operating like this won’t result in their being sent to hell. They disregard the Lord’s severe judgment on Jerusalem through the Romans in AD 70. They bless Jews who reject Christ as if they are God’s chosen people anyways. They support them in taking land and trampling others with no warrant from the Lord. They speak and act like Jews don’t need to be held accountable for their sins and rather think they can be won to Jesus by flattery- all in utter defiance of the righteous severity of God.

Romans 11:23-24: “And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?”

There is nothing said here to warrant calling unbelieving Jews God’s chosen people nor to warrant supporting Zionism.

Romans 11:25-27: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion (Zion) the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”

Paul is not negating everything he said about the lost condition of Christ-rejecting Jews here. He is rather describing the true nature of salvation. Jesus will also restore Israel nationally- when He returns. At that time He will deliver the faithful remnant of Israel (composed of faithful Jews and Gentiles) and judge the ungodly. He will root out the enemies of His Gospel and they will not inherit His kingdom.

Romans 1:18: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness…”

Romans 11:26 is a reference to Isaiah chapter 59 which speaks about the Lord’s controversy with Israel’s wickedness, His judgment of the ungodly, and comforting His faithful people.

Shortly beforehand, the following is stated in Isaiah 55:6-7: “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

None of this warrants support for wicked modern Israel nor guaranteed salvation for individual Jews. Nothing stated here even guarantees a great revival or awakening among the natural Jewish people at the end of time or ever.

Romans 11:28: “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.”

The Zionist Christians don’t believe that Jews who deny Jesus Christ are enemies concerning the Gospel. They also tend to think that Jews who reject Jesus aren’t so bad compared to other sinners. They are out of line with the Bible’s counsel themselves.

Paul had already made it clear that the remnant of Israel according to the election of grace is comparable to the 7,000 in Elijah’s time who had not bowed their knees to Baal. Those who were worshiping Baal in Israel were natural Israelites too. The Lord still wants Jewish people to bow to Jesus as their rightful Lord and thereby come into line spiritually with their faithful ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Zionist Christians disregard the first half of Romans 11:28 and make unwarranted claims out of its second half.

Romans 11:29: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

Verse 29 is not teaching unconditional security. That has even been blatantly rebuked in this chapter. It is also not teaching that valid spiritual gifts can be abused in wacky, out of line ways. It is rather teaching that God did not make a mistake in calling Israel (that is, ancient Israel) as a nation to its special purpose in His plan of redemption nor does He regret giving His Word through that nation.

Romans 11:30-31: “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.”

This is basically re-stating what was said back in Romans 11:12-15 to emphasize that salvation in Christ is yet offered to the Jewish people as much as to others.

Romans 11:32: “For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.”

The Lord makes it clear throughout the entire Bible that His mercy towards individuals is anything but arbitrary and unconditional. As was seen in Isaiah 55, the Lord has made a way for people to obtain His mercy and He has set forth the terms for that. It is up to each person to obey those terms and come into line with Him. Christ is called a stumbling stone to people several times in the Bible because they won’t do so. Zionists falsely claim Jews are among God’s chosen people though they do not receive and walk in line with Israel’s Messiah. Unconditional security believers oppose the Lord by disregarding His terms of mercy. They thereby express controversy with the Lord and oppose people actually obtaining His mercy.

Romans 11:33-36: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”