Has God Completely Rejected the Jewish People?

Direct Answer

No — God has not completely rejected the Jewish people; He has set them aside nationally for a time and will fulfill His covenant promises to them.

In Romans 11 the question is asked whether Israel stumbled so as to fall completely out of God's program, and the answer is "God forbid." Les Feldick teaches that God has set Israel aside and blinded them nationally, but the nation still remains God's covenant people. During this interval the gospel of God's grace has gone out to the Gentiles, and individual Jews can still be saved by believing it.

Key Scriptures

Romans 11:11 — Paul directly asks whether Israel stumbled that they should fall and answers "God forbid," showing that the nation has not been completely rejected.

Romans 11:1 — Paul asks "Hath God cast away his people?" and answers "God forbid," citing himself as an Israelite as evidence that God has not rejected them.

What Does the Bible Say?

Romans 11 asks the very question of Israel's rejection: "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall?" The answer follows immediately: "God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy." So Scripture does not say that Israel has fallen permanently; instead it presents their fall as the doorway through which salvation came to the Gentiles. Paul also asks, "Hath God cast away his people?" and answers, "God forbid," reminding readers that he himself is an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. The Bible therefore explicitly denies that God has completely rejected the Jewish people.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Israel's Rejection?

Les Feldick explains that before the book of Acts, God dealt with the nation of Israel on a national basis — "Jew only" with rare Gentile exceptions. By the end of Acts the format had changed: Paul was sent to the Gentiles, and after Jewish rejection he turned to them. Les emphasizes from Romans 11 that Paul's question "Have they stumbled that they should fall?" is answered with "God forbid." God has not removed Israel from His program; He has simply set them aside for a period of time. Through their rejecting the Messiah and crucifying Him, salvation came to the Gentiles under a different format — the gospel of God's grace.

Why Did Israel's Fall Bring Salvation to the Gentiles?

Les points to Romans 11:11 where Paul asks whether Israel stumbled that they should fall, and the answer is "God forbid." Rather, through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Les clarifies that this is not the same as the earlier Jewish format; it is a whole different format of God dealing with Gentiles apart from the nation of Israel.

Is God Finished With the Nation of Israel?

Les says absolutely not. God is not through with His covenant people. Though He dispersed them, took away their temple, and took away their country, they are now back in the land and waiting for the day they can have their temple once again. He even says that Romans 11 "trumpets" and "screams" that God is not through with Israel, and that anyone who teaches otherwise would have to tear this chapter out of the Bible.

Can Jewish People Be Saved Today?

Les makes a clear distinction between the nation and the individual. On a national basis, God has set Israel aside and blinded them, especially after the events recorded at the end of Acts. But individually, a Jew has just as much opportunity as a Gentile to believe the gospel of God's grace and be saved. National blindness does not prevent individual Jews from coming in.

From the Teaching

The Shift From Jew Only to the Gentiles

Les explains that God's earlier dealings were with Israel as a nation, but by the time of Acts 28 Paul is meeting Rome's Jewish leaders after the message had already turned predominantly to the Gentiles.

God Forbid: Israel Has Not Fallen Completely

Les highlights Paul's inspired statement that through Israel's fall salvation came to the Gentiles, and the emphatic answer to whether they stumbled so as to be done away with is "God forbid."

God Is Not Through With His Covenant People

Les teaches that God dispersed Israel and took away their temple and country, but they are back in the land and God still has a future plan for them.

God Will Put the Jew Back

Les says Romans 11 trumpets that God is not through with Israel; when the present Gentile age ends, God will break off the Gentile and put the Jew back, fulfilling the promises made to Abraham.

Through Their Fall, Salvation to the Gentiles

Les connects Israel's rejection of the Messiah to the gospel going to the Gentiles, answering the question of whether Israel has been canceled out of God's program with "God forbid."

Nationally Blind, Individually Saved

Les distinguishes national blindness from individual opportunity: Israel has been set aside nationally, but individual Jews can still believe the gospel of God's grace.

Israel Is Still God's Covenant People

Les insists that despite what most politicians and religious leaders say, the little nation of Israel is still God's covenant people, even though He has set them aside for now.

Rebuking the 'God Is Through With the Jew' View

Les refutes the common Christendom claim that God is all through with the Jews because they were the Christ-killers, showing that this contradicts Scripture.

Bible Verses

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.

This verse directly addresses whether Israel's stumble meant total fall and shows that their fall became the means of bringing salvation to the Gentiles.

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.

Paul makes explicit that God has not cast away His people, using himself as an Israelite example.

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