Yes — Israel's rejection of Jesus opened the door for salvation to come to the Gentiles by grace through faith.
Israel rejected her King, Messiah, and Redeemer and crucified Him, and through their fall God turned to the Gentiles with a gospel that was free — without work, religion, ritual, or priesthood. Paul makes this explicit in Romans 11:11: 'through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles.' God used Israel's rejection to bring about the crucifixion, and when Israel continued to refuse the message in Acts, God raised up Paul to carry grace to the Gentile world.
Romans 11:11 — Paul directly answers the question: through Israel's fall, salvation came to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:12 — Shows that Israel's fall brought riches to the world and to the Gentiles, and that God is not finished with Israel.
Romans 11:11 asks and answers the central question: '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.' The verse makes plain that Israel's stumble was not a final fall; it became the occasion for salvation reaching the Gentiles. Verse 12 adds, '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 fulness?' So Scripture itself says the 'fall of them' became the 'riches of the world' and the 'diminishing of them' became 'the riches of the Gentiles.'
Les Feldick teaches that because the nation of Israel rejected her King, Messiah, and Redeemer and crucified Him, God in turn went to the Gentiles with a 'program of grace unheard of' — a gospel that was free for nothing, without work, religion, ritual, or priesthood, and that merely had to be believed. He says Israel's rejection 'opened up the windows of heaven for us Gentiles,' whose forefathers were steeped in idolatry and the occult, while Israel alone had the true knowledge of God. Through their fall, salvation came to us Gentiles, and it was designed to provoke Israel to jealousy. Les also explains that although Israel could have had the King and Kingdom and evangelized the Gentiles, in God's foreknowledge this couldn't happen because Christ had to die; Israel responded in free will by rejecting Him, which brought about the crucifixion necessary for our salvation. Because Israel proved they would not believe in early Acts, God raised up Saul of Tarsus and sent him far hence to the Gentiles. Yet Les insists God is not through with Israel, and points to Romans 11:12 — 'how much more their fulness?' — as proof that Israel still has a future.
Les says Israel could have had the King and the Kingdom. According to Old Testament prophecy, had they done that, they could have evangelized the Gentiles and brought them to a knowledge of God. But that was hypothetical; in God's foreknowledge it couldn't happen because He had to die. God made a valid offer, and He knew Israel wouldn't accept it, but Israel didn't know that and acted of their own free will. Israel responded by rejecting it, and by rejecting it brought about the crucifixion, which had to happen for our salvation.
God turned to the Gentiles with a program of grace beyond human comprehension. The gospel He sent out was free for nothing — without work, without religion, without ritual, without a priesthood; it merely had to be believed. Because Israel rejected the Old Testament promises and crucified the Messiah, they opened up the windows of heaven for Gentiles whose forefathers were pagan and steeped in idolatry. When even the favored nation failed, God went to those Gentiles without the nation of Israel and sent His apostle out among them.
No. Les specifically warns, 'Don't subscribe to the thought of so much of Christendom tonight that God's all through with the Jew. No, He isn't.' Romans 11:11 says Israel's fall brought salvation to the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy. And Romans 11:12 asks, if their fall is the riches of the world, 'how much more their fulness?' — indicating an even greater future work for Israel.
Why Paul Went to Arabia: The Revelation of Grace
can just see Barnabas going up and down the streets of these cities along that river valley. Have any of you seen a little Jew? Have any of you heard him preach? And Barnabas finally finds him. Now look at verse 26, When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch, and it came to pass that for a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, that is, this assembly now of Jews and Gentiles, …
Through Their Fall, Grace to the Gentiles
Les explains that Israel's rejection of her King, Messiah, and Redeemer led God to go to the Gentiles with an unheard-of program of grace: a free gospel without work, religion, ritual, or priesthood, which simply had to be believed.
Windows of Heaven Opened for Pagan Gentiles
Les teaches that by rejecting and crucifying the Messiah, Israel opened up the windows of heaven for Gentiles whose forefathers were steeped in idolatry, as God sent Paul among them.
Salvation Comes to Us Gentiles to Provoke Israel
Les says through Israel's fall salvation came to us Gentiles, and God opened the windows of grace because Israel rejected Him and fell from their place of preeminence; the result was meant to provoke the Jew to jealousy.
Paul Commissioned After Israel's Continued Unbelief
Les describes how Israel could have evangelized the Gentiles if they had received the King, but in God's foreknowledge that couldn't happen because He had to die; when Israel proved they would not believe, God saved Saul of Tarsus and sent him far hence to the Gentiles.
God Is Not Through With Israel
Les warns against thinking God is finished with the Jew and points to Romans 11:12, noting that because Israel has been set aside, salvation has come to the Gentiles — but Israel's 'fulness' is still ahead.
God Turns to the Gentiles Without Israel
Les teaches that even the favored nation failed, so God went to the Gentiles without the nation of Israel, which is what Paul trumpets to the Gentile world.
Rejection Brought About the Crucifixion
Les explains God made a valid offer to Israel, but God knew they would reject it; Israel acted by free will, and their rejection brought about the crucifixion which had to happen for our salvation.
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 is the key verse directly stating that Israel's fall became the means of Gentile salvation.
Romans 11:12: 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 fulness?
Les uses this verse to show that Israel's fall brought blessing to the world and that Israel's future 'fulness' will bring even more.
Israel rejected her King, Messiah, and Redeemer and crucified Him. Through their fall, God turned to the Gentiles with a gospel of grace that was free for nothing and simply had to be believed.
No. Les says God is not through with the Jew. He points to Romans 11:12, which asks how much more their 'fulness' will bring, indicating Israel's fall is not final.
Les teaches that when Israel proved they would not believe the message preached in early Acts, God raised up Saul of Tarsus, saved him by grace, and sent him far hence — to the Gentiles.
A gospel based on the death of Christ, who paid the sin debt, and it was free — without work, religion, ritual, or priesthood. It merely had to be believed.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Went to Arabia: The Revelation of Grace