“For 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.” -Romans 11:30–32
The entire point of Paul’s argument now comes into view. God has consigned all to the prison of disobedience—both Jew and Gentile—that he may have mercy on all. One can only show mercy on those who don’t deserve it. By making all undeserving, he makes all potential objects for mercy.
Paul’s all here does not mean every last person. To stretch the meaning that far would be to embrace universalism. All is all nations, all people grouples—Jews and Gentiles alike.
The way God has accomplished this is by showing mercy to the Gentiles when the Jews rejected him. By the mercy shown to the Gentiles, the Jews will be drawn to belief and receive mercy. It is now being done just the same way it was done when the Gentiles rejected the truth and God called Abraham out from Ur of Chaldees to make himself a covenant nation of believers so the Gentiles then would be drawn ti belief and receive mercy.
The fact that Paul is the minister of the Gentiles is evidence of God’s providential strategy.
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