Romans 11:1-10

As we begin chapter 11, Paul makes his final transition concerning God's faithfulness to Israel. He does so by asking rhetorically, "has God cast away His people." The manner in which Paul asked this question was to elicit a negative reply. To ensure there is no misunderstanding concerning the fact that God has not cast away Israel, Paul answers with his familiar affirmative, certainly not. According to the scriptures, there is a future restoration for Israel.Paul presents himself as the first example showing that God is not finished with Israel. Paul declares the fact that he is an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Paul, once one of the most bitter enemies of Jesus Christ and the Way, was now a part of the body of Christ. Paul was living proof there were some Jews chosen by God who by faith embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ.Next, he presented Elijah as a biblical historical illustration that God had not cast away Israel. Elijah at the lowest point of his prophetic ministry thought that he alone was the only one in all of Israel who remained faithful to the true and living God. He actually lashed out in prayer against his people. God graciously answered his prayer and told Elijah that there was a remnant of 7000 men in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal.Paul, from this historical illustration, supported by the scriptures, declared that as God had a remnant in the days of Elijah, so to there was a remnant in Paul's day, The remnant in Elijah's day, in Paul's day and up to our present day, is a remnant according to the election of grace. Because of God's electing grace, there has always been a remnant prior to the church age, during the church age and will continue until the return of ChristWhat then? There is a majority in Israel that sought to obtain the righteousness of God through the keeping of the law rather than submitting to the righteousness of faith that only comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result, this unbelieving majority is experiencing God's judicial punishment. They should have believed, could have believed but refused to believe. Now there is a spiritual blindness upon them. They are now living in spiritual drowsiness. They have a deadness towards spiritual things. On the other hand, there is a faithful, believing minority, a remnant, elected according to grace, that have embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is this faithful remnant that bears clear witness to the fact that God has indeed not cast away His chosen people, Israel