Israel A Big Part Of God's Redemptive Plan

I want to move back in again to studying how God dealt with Israel so that all the world might be saved. This is one of the most important facts about the Gospel that we can ever understand because it speaks to us about just how great God’s mercy and love are that he would work his plan out in this fashion. Here is what Paul says about it: Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob"; "and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins." As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:25-36

I want to try to break this down in the most simple form possible. Paul is saying that a partial hardening of the heart has come upon the nation of Israel so that men everywhere might be saved. Had Israel not been hardened in their heart they never would have rejected Jesus as the Messiah. If they had never rejected him, he never would have been crucified for our sins, and had he never been crucified we would have no grounds to stand before God as redeemed people. God has even saved Israel, his chosen people, by the Messiah the rejected. Christ himself told his disciples that it was absolutely necessary that he be crucified and raised to life again. Through their disobedience and rejection of Jesus as their Lord and King that have been a major part of God’s redemptive work of all mankind. That is why Paul says that he has consigned all to disobedience that he may have mercy on all. With Paul we can say WOW! How amazing and unsearchable are all of God’s plans, for only God could have come up with this plan that redeemed all of mankind. PRAISE BE THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST!