Les Feldick Bible Study

Can an individual Jewish person still be saved while the nation of Israel is blinded?

Yes. Though the nation of Israel is blinded and set aside for a season, an individual Jewish person can still believe the Gospel of God's grace and be saved, just as Gentiles can. The national blindness is temporary and does not remove individual access to salvation.

Les explains that God had dealt with Israel on a national basis from the time He brought them out of Egypt, but that national dealing has ended. He has blinded them nationally, yet individually they can still come in. They have not stumbled so as to fall out of God's program; God has simply set them aside for a period of time. Les uses Paul's blinding of Simon Bar-Jonah in Acts as a picture: it was for a season, not permanent. Israel's blindness is likewise not forever, though it has lasted over 1900 years. One day Israel will again have her spiritual eyes opened. In the meantime, an individual Jewish person has just as much chance at believing the Gospel of God's grace as we Gentiles.

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.

More Questions

Why did Israel's fall result in salvation coming to the Gentiles?

Israel did not stumble in order to fall permanently; rather, through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles, in order to provoke the Jews to jealousy.