The New Covenant and Israel

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. Rom 9:6-8

Previously we have established that the New Testament often provides a divinely inspired commentary and interpretation of the Old Testament. In light of that, consider how the following Old Testament passages, which many take to refer to the restored nation of Israel, are interpreted by the apostles:

"On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name," Says the LORD who does this thing. Amos 9:11-12

In Acts 15, during the council at Jerusalem, James applies this passage to the Church, and the Gentile believers being added to Jewish believers:

And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.’” Acts 15:13-17

While most might acknowledge, and even receive the points thus far discussed about spiritual Israel, there remains a sticking point. What about Paul’s statement in Romans 11:26 that all Israel shall be saved?