"If the casting away of the Jews was the salvation of the Gentiles, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead."
It meant that the salvation of the Gentiles happened despite the casting away of the Jews, not because of the casting away of the Jews. And the receiving of a Jew into salvation (through his repentance and faith) is tantamount to life from the dead - for him - for the Jew who gets saved.
The statement wasn't a forecast of nationwide salvation in Israel resulting in increased benefits worldwide in the last days. It was an explanation of a present reality in Paul's own day, and an answer to the wrong concept that God was somehow finished with the business of saving Jewish individuals.
It meant that the salvation of the Gentiles happened despite the casting away of the Jews, not because of the casting away of the Jews. And the receiving of a Jew into salvation (through his repentance and faith) is tantamount to life from the dead - for him - for the Jew who gets saved.
The statement wasn't a forecast of nationwide salvation in Israel resulting in increased benefits worldwide in the last days. It was an explanation of a present reality in Paul's own day, and an answer to the wrong concept that God was somehow finished with the business of saving Jewish individuals.
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