Vengle,
I am pleased you have taken a lead with this study.
You have some very sound thoughts below!
That brings us to a particular verse which seems to be difficult for many to understand: I emphasize “seems” because it is actually quite simple.
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?”
Did their fall mean riches to the world? How so?
Take a look at how Paul used the term riches.
Rom 2:4; 9:23 and he uses it once more Rom 11:33 (2 + 1+1+1 = 5)
Coincidence he uses it 5 times?
In the context of of "grace" and "restoration"!
In this epistle those benefits are associated with the "riches" which are to be found only in Christ (Eph 3:8)! Riches therefore =
“The Gospel” & the
“Fellowship with Yahweh and His Son” upon the basis of the Truth! If anyone be it Jew or Gentile desires to receive such blessings, the individuals must use the means available only in Christ. The very means that the nation of Israel had rejected these "riches" enabled the true "wealth" which is now available to all in Christ (see Eph. 1:7, 18; 2:4, 7; 3:8, 16).
Now I believe you and I agree upon these matters wholeheartedly.
The reason those are important questions is that in the correct answer to them we see the reciprocal is true for the Jews and all Israelites exactly as it is for any nation of men.
Here is where you are wrong.
And have again moved away from the thrust of Romans 11.
Paul understands the work which Yahweh started in Israel He will finish unlike any other nation.
For instance what other nation has it been said
“salvation is of the Jews” – John 4:22
Your above comment is contrary to Pauls teaching in Rom 15:27
"For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things" their again being Natural Israel.
But the part of that verse which really hangs people up in their understanding of it is actually also the easiest part to correctly understand, “how much more their fulness”, meaning the fulness of those blinded Israelites.
That fulness of the blinded Israelites is no different than this reciprocal fulness Paul also shows us:
See comment above on fullness.
Romans 11:25 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”
If you believe that the phrase “until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” does not mean that all as in everyone in the nations is going to be saved then you have a double standard if you believe that about what Paul said at Romans 11:12.
I have never implied all Israelites will be saved, no, not once! Again your language is yet to point forward. I am waiting for you to show a prophetical understanding. I do hope it is coming soon!
What you are missing in your understanding (which I will not elaborate on right now) is that the blindness those Israelites alighted into (that veil of blindness) is the same one that the nations have been under.
This is where you are absolutely wrong and upon reflection you will detract this statement very quickly.
You cannot compare the spiritual darkness of the Jews to that of the natural darkness of the world. Here is where your understanding in terms of the covenant they are currently under and the responsibility they have to their God. Paul is one hundred precent (100%) cogniscient of this fact and hence the whole chapter is speaking to Gods future plan with natural Israel.
“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? Deut 4:7
Can you say this of any other nation in the world?
No!
Only a remnant of spiritual Israelites (spiritual Jews) have that veil removed specifically to form the first fruit rulers in and with Christ over this earth in that thousand years which is soon to arrive.
The rest of us are only brought out as individuals from under that veil of blindness by the life-giving word of God in that remnants mouth, as they preach that we need repent and turn to faith in God through Christ.
We can discuss that more later.
After this discussion in Romans 11 we need to agree to consider some unfulfilled prophecies concerning Israel. Only then will you begin to understanding the wealth of knowledge and understanding from which Paul is speaking to in this chapter.
I will resist from into these matters here and now as I am enjoying the flow of study.
Thanks for your Christ like spirit.
Insight