What does Romans 11 describe happening to Israel and the Gentiles?
Romans 11 describes Israel, rooted in Abraham, as having rejected everything, so God strips branches from that tree and grafts Gentiles in. It also speaks of the casting away of Israel, while the Abrahamic promise that all families of earth be blessed continues through Christ and Paul's account.
Les explains that Genesis promised the seed of the woman would defeat sin, death, and Satan, and Abraham was given the promise that this seed would come through his lineage, through the nation of Israel. That Abrahamic covenant becomes the foundation of everything into the New Testament, Christ's earthly ministry, His rejection by Israel, and the Church Age after the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. In Romans chapter 11, Israel had rejected everything, and God is going to strip the branches from the tree, which is Israel rooted in Abraham, and graft in the Gentiles. Romans 11 verse 15 then refers to the casting away of them.
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?
More Questions
What is Paul contrasting in Romans 11:15?
In Romans 11:15, Paul contrasts the reconciliation poured out on the Gentile world with the far greater restoration of Israel that will happen when God returns to fulfill His promises to them.
Does the reconciling of the world in Romans 11 mean the whole world will be saved?
The reconciliation language connected to the casting away of Israel does not mean the whole world is going to be saved.
What does 'the casting away of them' refer to in Romans 11:15?
In Romans 11:15, the 'casting away of them' refers to the Jew, the nation of Israel.