Romans 11:1-10: "The Remnant"

Paul continues to show us that God has not gone back on his promise to the Jews as His chosen people. As Paul customarily does, he begins with a rhetorical question to give us insight into God's character. He begins, "I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He?" Paul is saying that since God has "stretched out [His] hands to a disobedient and obstinate people", has He been frustrated and no longer desire to follow through with His promise? Paul emphatically answers with his usual, "May it never be!" Of course not. Paul has frequently upheld the character of God, and He will continue to show us, how God's promise is just as true now as it was when he gave it. What must be understood is that, as said earlier, it is not all Israel that God made the promise to, but only those who would believe in Him for salvation. MacArthur writes, "Because of His covenant promises to Israel, that nation was never, and can never be, completely cast aside by the Lord. In light of that truth, Paul affirms that God's present setting aside of Israel is only partial (11:1-10)".

The proof that God has not rejected His chosen people begins with Paul's own testimony. "For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin". Paul was living proof that Jews were still being set apart by God and upholding the convenant he had made with them from long ago. Paul was born an Israelite and he was set apart by God to tell others how to have salvation. The conversion of Paul, as amazing and miraculous as it was, validated and affirmed God's provision to His chosen people. MacArthur points out, "Paul's own conversion made it obvious that God could not possibly have rejected all Israel. He was living proof that, just as God's promises to Israel do not include all individual Jews, so his judgment and rejection of Israel do not include all individual Jews. Paul would hardly devote the rest of his life, and many times risk his life, to preach a gospel from which he himself was excluded". Paul also points out that he was a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. He was a Jew by birth and a very descendant of the one the Jews held to as the Father of Israel. Not only that but he was part of one of the favored tribes of Israel. According to Charles Hodge, "Judah and Benjamin, especially after exile, were the chief representatives of the theocratical people". Paul tells us this not to brag, for we know these mean nothing to Him in light of Christ, but he is showing that God had saved Paul, one of their very own, His promise remained true.

Paul moves on to show us further proof that God has remained faithful to His word. Paul shows that the Lord has always been faithful in keeping a remnant for Himself from His chosen nation. Reaffirming God's faithfulness, He writes, "God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?". As Paul has done throughout the book, he has given us proof of his arguments through the Old Testament. This is significant as the Jews, although they mishandled and often ignored, understood the Old Testament to be God's word. Although they had let oral tradition and extra biblical law take over, anyone honest with themselves would have to agree with Paul as he proved all he was saying was backed up by the very word of God. Paul uses the example found in I Kings 19:10. Elijah, just having been threatened by Jezebel, and seeing the devastation of his people around him pleads with God, "Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, they have torn down Thine altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life". Elijah felt like he was the only one (Jews) left that sought after the Lord. He felt the despair all around him and the success of the evil and felt like there was no one left that sought God. However, God responds to Elijah, "I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal". MacArthur writes, "Through His direct word, the Lord reassured Elijah that seven thousand others remained faithful to the true God and had not bowed the knee to the pagan god Baal, whom the wicked Jezebel and her priests had led most of Israel to worship". Isaiah had no doubt seen his share of rejection during his time. As prophet to Israel, he had been warned by God that many would reject his teaching (Isa. 6:9-13). As he saw many of his brethren bend the knee to false idols, he had a strong sense of abandonment, and must have felt like all had forsaken God. Yet, God in His faithfulness had "kept for [Himself] seven thousand men". Paul, using Scripture, is showing that God has always kept a remnant of Jewish believers that would affirm His promise to them.

Paul, using Scripture from times past now moves to the present to show that, "In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice". MacArthur writes, "By the time the apostle wrote those words, there were doubtless hundreds of thousands of Jewish Christians throughout the Roman empire and likely even beyond it". Paul is saying that since God made His promise until the present day, He has always set aside a remnant "by His gracious choice", that would follow Him, Paul being testimony of the present day. As Paul had previously spoke, it is in God's wonderful foreknowledge of His chosen that they are able to receive salvation. For it is God's gracious choice of those who would be saved, not by works, tradition, or heritage, but by the saving work of Christ to those who believe. Paul again, reiterating the way in which salvation is attained proclaims, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works". Desiring for them to slowly understand that merely being a descendant of Abraham does not save you, but rather by the grace of God, who has been faithful to save those who would believe. It is not works, but by grace that you are saved. Paul writes in Eph. 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast".

Bringing us back to the point at hand, Paul asks, "what then?". In other words, with all that has been said, what does that mean for the Jews who do not believe and have not obtained salvation? He answers, "That which Israel is seeking for, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it". Of this MacArthur writes, "The Jews of Paul's day were fanatically religious, a condition the apostle acknowledged in the previous chapter: 'For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but no in accordance with knowledge' (Rom 10:2). And because their zeal focused on their own false righteousness rather than on God's true righteousness, 'they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God' (v.3). Consequently, they did not acknowledge or receive Jesus Christ, who 'is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes' (v.4). But those whom God had chosen for Himself did seek His righteousness and graciously obtained it".

Explaining how the Jews who had sought righteousness obtained it, Paul now explains, that the Jews who have rejected Christ are those whose hearts had been hardened. Paul continues, "and the rest were hardened; just as it is written, 'God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not and ears to hear not, down to this very day'". Using a quote from Deut. 29:4 and Isa. 29:10, Paul sets forth using the law (Duet) and the prophets (Isaiah) to show "God's sovereign and predetermined hardening of hearts. But that hardening is neither capricous nor unjust. God hardens only those hearts who, in rejecting His gracious offer of righteousness, harden themselves to His grace" according to MacArthur. Again, we are stuck in trying to understand God's sovereignty in his choosing the elect, and man's responsibility of accepting the gracious offer of salvation by pursuing righteousness. However, to God, this balance is perfectly reconciled in His mind.

Going back to the Old Testament once again, Paul quotes David, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, and a stumbling block and a retribution to them. Let their eyes be darkened to see not, and bend their backs forever". Quoting from Ps. 69:22-23, Paul shows the Jews that the place they feel comfortable and secure will be a trap and a stumbling block, ultimately leading to the hardening of their hearts and blinding of their eyes. MacArthur writes, "The Jews considered God's Word, in particular the Torah, to be their spiritual sustenance - which indeed it was. But because of their rebellious unbelief, that Word became a judgment on them, a stumbling block and a retribution". The Jews became so comfortable and set on their law and traditions that when the very Messiah came to save them, they could not see Him for who He truly was and sentenced Him to death. Paul points it all back to his Jewish brethren to show them they have no one to blame but themselves. God has been faithful to keep His promise and provided so many opportunities to reconcile with Him through faith. He has held a remnant throughout all eternity and His promises will never fail. It will be only those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ that will receive the gracious gift of salvation. What an amazing testimony it is to see Paul wield scripture with such power and effectiveness. He constantly goes back to God's word to show us the promises of God, and His faithfulness to His people throughout all history.