“A SURVEY OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS” ROMANS 11:1-24 A REMNANT OF ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED, PART I

Paul begins this most sublime Chapter 11:1 by saying – “I say then, Hath God cast away His people?  God forbid.  For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”  Paul is rather confident in his assertion that God has not permanently cast away Israel as a nation because he is proof positive that being presently saved during this present age of grace that God is not through with Israel.  In other words, Paul uses himself as proof that a present remnant is being saved in this dispensation of grace.  Paul had responded by faith to God’s provided righteousness and he was a genuine Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin.  Paul went on to declare in verse 2, that God had not rejected His people whom He foreknew.

God chose Israel in eternity past and entered into covenant with them; and the relationship that He had with them will not be nullified (Jeremiah 31:37).  Using Elijah as an illustration further in verses 2-4, Paul will declare the second proof that God has not permanently cast aside His people.  Quoting from I Kings 19:18, Paul proved through a distraught prophet by the name of Elijah that he was not the only worshipper in Israel as his complaint suggested (I Kings 19:10), for there was a remnant of God who had not bowed down to Baal.  Furthermore, Paul concluded after looking in the past, that God has a present remnant of Israelites that are being saved in this age of grace (v. 5).  And the remnant that is being saved today is saved on the basis of grace, and not by works (v. 6).

At the present, Israel is blind because she refused to accept the truth of God (v. 7).  Quoting from Deuteronomy 29:3-4 and Isaiah 6:9-10, Israel’s blindness is a result of her rejection; and having rejected the truth, it is difficult in reaching Israel with God’s grace (v. 8).

In verses 9-10, quoting from Psalm 69:22-23, Paul declared that Israel’s blessings from God should have led her to Christ; however, it became a stumbling block and a means of receiving God’s judgment.   In verse 11, Israel has not permanently fallen, but her rejection has enabled God through His grace to provide salvation for the Gentiles.  As the Jews are received in verse 12, there will yet be a great number of Gentiles that will be saved during the Great Tribulation period and the Millennium Kingdom.

As an apostle of the Gentiles, Paul hoped that through his preaching that many of his people might be stirred to jealousy and turn to Christ (vs. 13-14).  In God’s prophetic program, Paul reminded the Gentiles that Israel’s rejection has set the stage for the reconciliation of the world (v. 15).  Israel’s reception of Christ will result in Israel being a part of the first resurrection (see Revelation 20:4-5).  Paul used two illustrations in verse 16 that Israel’s rejection was temporary and not permanent.  God is not through with the nation of Israel, for they have been set apart for God’s use.

In verses 17-19, the Gentiles have benefited from Israel’s rejection and those benefits are rooted in the fact that God called Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and from that the nation Israel, He brought Jesus Christ, our Saviour.  In fact, the olive tree is a picture of the Gentiles.  But the root of the tree is a picture of the Abrahamic Covenant that guaranteed blessing to both the Jew and Gentile through Christ.  However, Gentiles who are saved should not boast because they became a part of the root of the tree through Israel’s rejection and through faith in Christ (vs. 20-21).  In conclusion, God’s rejection of Israel temporarily reveals the severity of God; however, the Gentiles’ reception of God reveals His benevolent goodness toward them.  Nevertheless, since God accepted the Gentiles who had no merit, He will surely restore Israel who likewise had no merit.  In other words, God will restore Israel, represented as the natural branches.  God will not permanently cast Israel away (vs. 22-24).

May God Bless!