As we continue to look at rom 11, we are discovering what Paul taught about Israel, for remember, Paul after His conversion and enlightenment, understood it to be Two Israel's, and that is why He wrote rom 9:
6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Paul recognizes a Israel of Promise and a National Israel. The National Israel was comprised of both elect and non elect people. But Israel of Promise is comprised only of elect people of both Jew and gentile ethnicity; but for the most part up until Paul's time, most of the Israel of Promise was made up of elect Jews, but this was about to change.
Now verse 11
11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
God had a wise purpose behind the fall and rejection of National Israel, for it was through this avenue He would Graff in the gentiles with Covenant Israel of Promise [ The election of grace] and they would complete God's chosen Israel of God eph 2:
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; [ Elect Covenant Israel of Promise or the election of grace]
That Salvation would come to the gentiles has always been God's foreordained plan and purpose acts 15:
13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people [ Israel] for his name .
15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
For this was a work of God. God's hardening of National Israel was the way He chose to righteously bring in the gentiles, who too were of the seed of Abraham, into the fold of the [ elect covenant Israel, the election of grace] of the ethnic Jews, and they twain would become one Israel or one fold.
The Truth of the matter is that there was a elect covenant Israel in National Israel, and there was a elect Covenant Israel [ Mystery] in the Gentiles [ acts 15:14].
Now you may object, and declare this is not true, but it is True, for you see, Israel is another term for the seed of Abraham, that is, the seed of Abraham is Israel, and Israel is the seed of Abraham.
Isa 41:8
But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
Abraham was promised to be the Father of not one, but many Nations gen 17:
5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
This has to be spiritual and not fleshly. For if it was fleshly, then only one nation is Abraham the Father of and not many.
Now, He could not have been a Father without having a offspring or seed, and Just like His offspring according to the flesh is called Israel, so likewise His offspring or seed according to promise [ In all nations, spiritually] are called Israel, for they are Israel after the spirit or by the promise.
They along with the spiritual Israel in National Israel, are the Spiritual seed [ Israel] of Abraham, the Israel of God Gal 3:29 and 6:15-16.
For gentiles who Abraham as a father, has just as much right, even more, to be called Israel, because the father of Israel is Abraham, for the key to being spiritual Israel and the seed of Abraham is being in Christ, Abraham's real seed Gal 3:
16Now 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.
29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed [Israel], and heirs according to the promise.