Earlier today I referenced my former pastor, Dr. Michael Milton, from First Presbyterian Chattanooga. As I was browsing monergism.com later, I noticed there was an article by him. Turns out, Dr. Milton was named the new President and Professor of Practical Theology of the Charlotte Campus of Reformed Theological Seminary. I think it’s a great thing, both for him and the seminary. Congrats to Dr. Milton. The press release can be viewed here. And also for you, I would recommend reading his article from the upcoming issue of Reformed Perspectives Magazine, “Engrafted, Not Replaced.”
That’s an excellent article, and I really appreciate Dr. Milton’s tone throughout. He and I essentially agree, except that I hold that the future salvation of a large number of ethnic Jews is a probable (but not guaranteed) interpretation of Romans 11 (again, this salvation is through Christ, before His second coming, not some weird Haggesque salvation as part of the Old Covenant which is still in effect).
I lean this way because Paul mentions Jewish people in contrast to Gentiles, which he usually does in reference to ethnicity (vv. 7, 13, 14, 25). I think verse 25, gives us a better understanding of “all of Israel” will be saved: “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” The partial hardening is not upon true Israel, but ethnic Israel… UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles have come in. I think this is unmistakeably ethnic. The insinuation is that the hardening will be removed after the fullness of the Gentiles have come in. At which point we would see a large number of ethnic Jews come to faith in Christ. At this point, Paul then says “and in this way, all Israel will be saved.” I take, “in this way” to have the salvation of the full number Gentiles, and the removal of the partial hardening as its antecedent, which means that the Israel here probably does actually mean “true Israel,” i.e. saved Jews and Gentiles.
As it is, I’m not cemented into this view, but it seems the most likely to me at the moment.
Dangit, I wish I could edit already submitted comments. I gave more time to my explanation of what I differed with Dr. Milton in than I wanted. I wanted to give lots of praise for the fact that we are essentially in agreement. Mea culpa on that. This is, as I started by saying, quite an excellent article, and one that I whole-heartedly support.
[...] second article of note for today is a link to an article by his former pastor, now president of RTS Charlotte, on [...]