ISSUES IN ROMANS #7

One of the many debated parts of Romans is the large chunk found in chapters 9-11, Paul's discussion of Israel. This passage likely stems from the tension between Jews and Gentiles in the church. It is likely Gentile Christians were wondering why they should respect Israel given the fact that the majority of them had rejected their Messiah. The Apostle to the Gentiles, himself a Jew, hit this directly in these chapters.
In essence the section breaks down in three parts. In chapter 9 the Apostle is clear that the rejection of Messiah by Israel was the plan of God. Paul writes, "God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden" [v. 18]. Yet God cannot be accused of injustice as the clay has no right to criticize the potter [v. 21]. Paul is just as clear in chapter 10 that Israel's rejection was her own decision. He writes, "For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God's righteousness" [v. 3]. The age old tension between God's sovereignty and human free will is found in these two chapters. Israel's rejection of Jesus was God's plan and it was Israel's choice.
What about the future of Israel? Paul deals with that in chapter 11. The apostle is clear: God has not given up. He has not rejected Israel [v. 1], there is as there has always been a remnant—those like Paul who had accepted Christ as Messiah and Savior [v. 5], Israel's sin of rejection had opened the door for Gentile acceptance of Jesus [v. 11], and that there would at some point be an overwhelming turning to Christ by Jews [v. 26]. Obviously in v. 26 Paul is using hyperbole. Not every Jew will come to Christ, but many will do so. In the meantime Gentiles should not despise Jews but be grateful for them as they are the root of their faith [v. 18].
God still has a plan for the Jews. He is clear in Romans and elsewhere that true Israel is made up of those who accept Christ as Savior [the Church], but because of the Fathers, God is not finished with the Jews. His plan includes a mighty turning of many to Christ. They are the root of faith so Gentiles are to respect them, pray for them, and evangelize them. There are not, never has been, nor will there be two ways to God. There is not a Jewish way and a Gentile way. There is only one way as chapter 10 makes clear—"For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes" [v. 4].
Christians should respect Jews as the root of faith. Christians should pray for the conversion of Jews. Christians should grieve, as Paul did, that Jews by and large had rejected their Messiah. Christians should also, as Paul did, seek the salvation of Jews through evangelism and missions. However, there is nothing in Paul's argument in Romans that gives the geographical land of Israel or its current political state any special significance. Zionism is nowhere found in these chapters.