1. Paul has just expressed his desire for Israel's salvation, while placing our thoughts upon the inclusion of the gentiles to God's promises. 1. Now with chapter 11, Paul affirms God's faithfulness to Israel, by redefining Israel, something he has been preparing the reader for since Romans 2: 1. Paul asserts that God has not rejected His people, but preserves an elect remnant by grace, not by works or ethnicity. 1. He points to himself, Elijah, and the 7,000 faithful jews (1 Kings 19:18) as examples of the remnant within Israel that were preserved. 1. And reminds us of the prophesied hardening of ethnic Israel, that it serves a redemptive purpose for "all Israel". 1. Paul explains Israel's stumbling as bringing salvation to Gentiles, using the olive tree to illustrate covenant discontinuity and to curb the arrogance of the Gentile. 1. The tree represents the Covenant of Grace rooted in Abrahamic promises but fulfilled in Christ as the true trunk. 1. Unbelieving ethnic branches are broken off, while believing Gentiles are grafted in by faith (vv. 16-24). 1. Paul reveals the mystery that partial hardening continues until "the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" (v. 25), at which point "all Israel" will be saved. 1. The modifier "all" before "Israel" parallels "all his offspring" in Romans 4:16, expanding Abraham's promise beyond ethnic descendants to all spiritual heirs by faith. 1. Therefore, hardening persists in part until Gentile inclusion completes the covenant community. 1. Though enemies in the gospel, ethnic Jews are beloved for the patriarchs (vv. 28-29), but God's irrevocable gifts extend mercy to disobedient Jews and Gentiles alike in the present (vv. 30-32), for God shows mercy "to all" after binding "all" in disobedience. 1. We must have gratitude for our grafting into Israel as the church, and should enjoy with awe God's fulfillment of His promises to "all Israel" through Christ.