hisalone quoted: Rom. 11:25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

Does Hendrikson say anything specific about this particular verse?

My first thoughts (may be all wet?) about this verse are the words "has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;"
The words "come in" make me ask the question: what have the Gentiles come in to?
In previous verses leading up to verse 25, it talks about the natural branches being Israel. The Gentiles then are not natural branches, but both are grafted into the olive tree.
But I think the most important factor is the thing that both Israel and the Gentiles are grafted into. I think it is safe to say that the olive tree here is God's true children, otherwise known as the Church.
But what do the words: "until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;"?
"Until" would seem to indicate that something is to follow and in verse 26 seems to give us the answer to this. "And so all of Israel will be saved:"
Obviously not all of the Israel of the flesh will be saved, so it must be talking about spiritual Israel. I think this is backed up by Romans 9:6-8.
It would appear then that one day when the full measure of the Gentiles has come in, then the rest of elect Israel will be saved.
However I think Galatians chapter three has a lot to add about this subject. Verse 16 says "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not. And to seeds, as of many; but as of one. And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Move on down to verses 28-29 we read: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond or free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Christ's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Before the Gentiles started to be grafted into the olive tree, the Church mainly consisted of the Jews, now the Church consists of both elect Jews and Gentiles.
Both are saved the same way.

Tom

Last edited by Tom; Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:54 AM.