Romans 11:1-5
1 I ask, then, has God rejected His people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?
3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have demolished Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.”
4 But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. (ESV)
We must understand the chapter in the light of:
- The Context of the Matter:
a. It’s the last part of the theological portion of the book, because chapters 12 to 16 are concerned with the outworking in practical godly living of the first 11 chapters.
b. It’s the last in a three chapter section in which Paul is concerned to address what is referred to as the problem of Israel – why the Old Covenant people of God had rejected the Messiah, the Christ who fulfilled all the OT promises.
c. There was a remnant in Israel who trusted God, but the rest did not. - The Conclusion of the Matter:
a. The contents of Romans 11 is very relevant for us today, very practical, spiritual and beautiful. You must learn from what God has inspired in this chapter.
b. God focusses the attention of us all on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, working with unchangeable, eternal principles.
Four things we can learn from Romans 11:
a. It reminds us of the importance of a vital relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
b. It speaks about the trustworthiness and faithfulness of God.
c. It confirms that our attitude towards the Jewish people is to see them brought into a relationship with God – that they too will find faith and salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
d. It’s about the big picture, helping us to put together the puzzle of life, which is about God working out His eternal purposes for His own glory.