A REMNANT CHOSEN BY GRACE

Romans 11:1-12 / Keywords 11:5

So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

 

The Remnant of Israel

11:1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”[a]? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[b] 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

    eyes that could not see

    and ears that could not hear,

to this very day.”[c]

9 And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,

    a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,

    and their backs be bent forever.”[d]

Ingrafted Branches

11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

Footnotes

a. Romans 11:3 1 Kings 19:10,14

b. Romans 11:4 1 Kings 19:18

c. Romans 11:8 Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10

d. Romans 11:10 Psalm 69:22,23

1. Israel rejected the Christ, but God did not reject the people of Israel. As an Israelite, Paul accepted Jesus and he served God's mission on behalf of all Israel. God has always worked through a remnant of faithful people—not through the unbelieving majority. In his time, Elijah felt like the only person worshiping God while everyone else worshiped Baal. God told him that he was not alone. God's remnant was there. When Paul felt he was alone, he was reminded of the grace of God, which has never failed to sustain a remnant of believers.

 

2. God hardened the people of Israel. He gave them a spirit of stupor and blindness. But even though they rejected God’s Messiah, he did not reject them forever in return. God used Israel’s transgression to bring salvation to the Gentiles. God hoped to make Israel jealous enough to repent and return. If the world was blessed by Israel's failure, how much more will it be blessed when they come to Christ.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to be mindful of your grace and live in hope.

One Word Live as a remnant