Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 11:28

"As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers` sake." — Romans 11:28 (ASV)

As concerning the Gospel. This means as far as the gospel is concerned, or in order to promote its extension and spread throughout the earth.

They are enemies. The word enemies here stands in contrast to 'beloved.' In one respect, namely, on account of 'election,' they were still beloved—that is, beloved by God. However, in another respect, they were His enemies: opposed to Him, or cast off from Him.

The enemies of God are all who are not His true friends (Colossians 1:21; Romans 5:10). The term here is applied to the Jews because they had rejected the Messiah, had become opposed to God, and were therefore rejected by Him.

For your sakes. This means for your advantage. Their rejection became the occasion by which the gospel has been preached to you (Compare to Romans 11:11, 19, 20).

As touching the election. This means as far as the purpose of election is concerned—that is, the election of their fathers and of the nation to be the 'peculiar people' of God.

They are beloved. God still regards them with interest, has purposes of mercy toward them, and still intends to do them good. This does not mean that He approved of their conduct or character, or that He had for them the same kind of affection He would have had if they had been obedient. God does not love a sinful character, but He may still have purposes of mercy and regard people with deep interest on whom He yet intends to bestow mercy.

For the fathers' sakes. . He had chosen their fathers to be His peculiar people. He had made many promises to Abraham respecting his seed and extended these promises to his remotest posterity. Though salvation is by grace and not from human merit, yet God has regard for His covenant made with the fathers and will not forget His promises.

It is not on account of any merit of the fathers or of ancient saints, but solely because God had made a covenant with them; and this purpose of election would be made manifest to their children in later times. As those contemplated in the covenant made with Abraham, God retained for them feelings of special interest and designed their recovery to Himself.

It is clear here that the word election does not refer to external privileges, for Paul is not teaching the doctrine that they will be restored to the external privileges of Jews, but that they will be truly converted to God. Yet this truth should not be misused by others to lead them into a false sense of security in sin.

No one has any security of happiness and of the favor of God except the one who complies with the terms of His mercy. His commands are explicit: to repent and believe. Nor can there be safety except in complete compliance with the terms on which He is willing to bestow eternal life.