15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Verse 15 returns to the thought of verse 12; Israel’s rejection of Jesus the Messiah leads to world reconciliation.
15 For
Paul continued the argument of the relationship between Jews and Gentiles with the word “for.” Verse 15 is the basis for verses 13 to 14. This verse explains why Paul glorified his ministry to the Gentiles (v. 14).
if [since] their [Israel] being cast away [rejection by God] is the reconciling of the world [Gentiles],
God’s rejection of the nation of Israel meant the gospel was offered to the entire world. When God reconciles the enmity between man and God, the hostility between them is removed. Reconciliation is always based on the death of Christ to resolve the enmity between God and man.
Ro 5:10, For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
The reconciling of the world put people in right relation to God. God made friends with the world because of Christ’s death on the cross.
2 Co 5:18-19, 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
what will their acceptance [to God] be but life from the dead?
Because Israel’s stumbling was temporary, Paul asked this question about their “acceptance.” God’s acceptance of Israel was nothing less than resurrection from the dead.
This refers to the prophetic event where Jews will accept the Messiah as a whole and God will establish the Millennial kingdom. This event of restoring Israel can be compared to giving life to the dead.
Israel’s acceptance will be like life from the dead; that is, like the first resurrection. The first resurrection includes saints at the Rapture (1 Th 4:13-18), martyred Tribulation saints (Re 20:4, 5), and Old Testament believers (Da 12:1-2).
The “acceptance” of Israel is when Jesus returns on the Mount of Olives (Zech 14). At that point all Israel as a nation will be saved. It will be like a resurrection from the dead. Regarding the nation of Jews, this refers to the nation’s rebirth in the Millennial kingdom.
PRINCIPLE:
God keeps His unalterable promises to us.
APPLICATION:
God will restore Israel one day to her place of former blessing. He will keep His unalterable promises to her. Today Israel has but a small portion of the land that was promised her. One day she will have from the River Euphrates to near the Nile River (the Red Brook), as promised in Genesis 12 to 15. This land mass includes Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and other areas.
God will give all this land back to the nation Israel, but first they need to go through the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (the Tribulation). During the Tribulation the Antichrist will rise and cause Israel great problems. After seven years of tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ, God will then restore the land to Israel.
Mt 24:21-22, 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
