Isaiah 45:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Almighty declares that all who are according to the flesh, and who are counted by promise as offspring of Abraham (not everyone from Israel is truly Israel; rather, it is the children of the promise who are recognized as such, Rom. 9:6, 8), He grants everlasting salvation. They shall be free from dishonor and humiliation for eternity. Through Christ, having removed sinful impurities, liberated from the burdens of evil, and having shed decay while being adorned with immortality, we shall remain in this condition forever.

Israel finds salvation in the Lord through eternal deliverance; you will not experience disgrace or humiliation forever. Indeed, Israel is rescued in the Lord by this everlasting salvation, encompassing both the apostles and those who came to faith through their ministry. Thus, it is proclaimed to them, You shall not face shame nor disgrace, not just in this present age but also in the age that is to come.

A similar new life is in store for Israel as it embraces the New Testament Church. The subsequent phrases in the verse regarding Israel’s everlasting salvation—Israel shall be saved from the Lord by eternal salvation—implicitly require Israel's inclusion in the New Testament Church, for such eternal salvation hinges on this inclusion. When will Israel experience a transformation to Christ and join His Church? Individual conversions among Israelites have occurred since the inception of Christianity and persist to this day; however, a collective conversion will emerge, as prophesied by the Apostle Paul, only after all Gentiles have been welcomed into Christ's Church.