Romans 11:28

“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.”

Context:To understand the verse better, let’s consider the context. In Romans 9-11, Paul discusses the role of Israel in God’s redemptive plan and the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in the new covenant. He explains how God has not rejected His people, the Israelites, but rather has extended His salvation to the Gentiles as well.

Enemies for your sakes:Paul states that “they are enemies for your sakes.” Here, “they” refers to the Israelites or Jews. Paul is highlighting the initial rejection of the gospel message by many Jewish people during his time. The Jewish religious leaders and many of the people saw Christianity as a threat to their traditions and did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.

Beloved for the fathers’ sakes:However, Paul adds that “as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.” This statement acknowledges that, despite the temporary enmity between some Jews and the gospel, God still has a special love for the Jewish people because of the promises made to their forefathers, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Election:The term “election” refers to God’s choice or selection of a particular group of people for His purposes. In the context of Romans, it refers to God’s election of Israel as a chosen people through whom He would fulfill His redemptive plan for the world.

God’s faithfulness:The verse underscores God’s faithfulness to His promises. Even though some Jews initially rejected the gospel, God’s love for them remains. God’s choice of the Jewish people is not based on their merit but on His covenant with their forefathers. This is consistent with God’s unchanging nature and His commitment to fulfilling His promises.