The Coming of Jesus

Paul concludes the section by rejoicing in the reason why Christ came. In Romans11 Paul is showing us what Isaiah said and what Hosea said. We repeat:

I the Lord have called You in righteousness and will hold Your hand and will keep You and give You for a covenant for the people (Israel), for a light to the Gentiles. (Is 42:6).

And He said, It is a light thing You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give You for a light to the Gentiles, that You may be My salvation to the end of the earth. (Is 49:6).

“All Israel shall be saved”. That is, all God’s people from national Israel, plus all God’s people from among the Gentiles. God does it by first confirming them in sin and then by bringing in His people through unconditional grace. There is no other way of coming to God.

…as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant for them, when I shall take away their sins. (Rom 11:26-27).

Dispensationalists say this is about Christ’s Second Coming. The text does not say this. Paul is referring to Christ’s birth and first coming, “He came to save His people from their sin.” (Matt 1:21). This is what Jesus did in His first coming. He took away our sin, He established the New Covenant and He turned away ungodliness from Jacob, meaning from His people the church.

If God has not turned away ungodliness from us then we are not in Christ. This is what He does in us through salvation. Paul is saying that Jesus came to establish the New Covenant and bring in God’s people and set them free from sin in salvation.