Remnant Reserved

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. 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: “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:1-6

Israel is not abandoned! Paul, himself was a regenerated Jew. So were eleven of the original apostles, only Judas Iscariot was not a believer. John the Baptist, Anna and Simeon, Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany, Mary Magdalene and many other racial Jews did believe in Jesus as the Messiah, during His incarnation; as well as thousands at Pentecost and in the early years of the Church.

When changes occur, and especially in times of stress and persecution, there sets in a “poor me” attitude among believers who think ourselves in the tiny minority and under society’s oppression. That’s the reference to Elijah, above (I Kings 19:10). He was under severe oppression from pagans and apostates, and his life was being threatened. There really were comparatively few believers in Israel at that time, BUT…there were more than Elijah thought (“I even I only am left, and they seek my life”). There were thousands left, and God knew every one of them; who they were and where they were, and just how faithfully they were serving Him. What’s more, He “foreknew” all these faithful believers in eternity past, and “elected” them into His perfect plan of grace.

Even during the years of dispersion and captivity because of Israel’s rebellion, God always had His people “reserved for Myself.” Such Jews as Ezekiel, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Esther, Mordecai, Ezra, Nehemiah. There were, and are, some in every generation. As Paul was writing this, there was “at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.”

And because it is by grace, it cannot be by works. Grace and works are mutually exclusive. There is no mixture. Works can happen in the believer only as a result of the grace that has made him righteous.

Grace is divinely bestowed on those who believe in the perfect provision of God through His Son Jesus Christ. God’s grace, received by our faith, makes us God’s children. We bring nothing to the equation but our willingness to believe, no matter what race we are. He gives, we receive. As we grow and learn, we produce…the fruit (singular) of the Spirit. That is our work. Believe, receive, learn, grow, produce fruit.

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. 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! Romans 11:11-12

Those Jews who have rejected Jesus are lost souls, but the nation of Israel is not abandoned. God has major plans for them, promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. What God has promised, God will do. Meanwhile, there are Gentiles who are willing to believe. Paul’s mission: give them the gospel.