KJ
Rom 11:1 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.
Rom 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he
foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh
intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Rom 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged
down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Rom 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have
reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of
Baal.
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a
remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, th en is it no more of
works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works,
then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he
seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them
the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should
not hear;) unto this day.
Rom 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Rom 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
Main
Points: God has not rejected His
people. There is a remnant, elected by God’s grace, not mans’ works.
1.
Has God rejected His people? How does the illustration
of Elijah prove his point? No. God
had a remnant then and now. More importantly, it was God who was being rejected
by His people, not the other way around. They had killed the prophets and
destroyed the altars of worship. This is a very similar situation where many
were simply rejecting God’s calling to sanctification: Jesus Christ. There
would be some whose hearts were open to this gospel, but many will flat out
reject it.
2.
How is the remnant chosen? Why is the remnant not
chosen by works? (5-6) Grace and
obedience. As a flip side to Elijah’s dilemma, people who listened to God’s
prophets and respected (honored) God’s worship as he prescribed will be part of
the elect.
There is some of the verse missing in the ESV and HCSB. Paul ends the verse (6)
with: otherwise work will be no more work. Paul is expounding on the futility
of works. We/They simply cannot do what God can do. Who of us says “my work is
more important that the sacrifice of Jesus?”
Coming off of chapter 10, we are to be
calling God to help us. He will help us if we love Him and show that
love in our lives. If we try to make God “owe” us, we’ve lost the plot. All of
our work with that attitude is worthless before God (it is no longer work).
Obedience through love is good work.
3.
What did the elect obtain? What did Israel fail to
obtain? Why did it fail to obtain it?
(7-10) The elect obtained God’s grace through manifest humility….exercising a heart
of faith, professing the NEED for Jesus. As has been explained in chapter nine:
Pursuing the law, “Israel has not attained to the law of righteousness.” As Paul has already explained, righteousness
is not found in law, but in faith/grace. Paul just keeps circling back to this
main point.
4.
How do the two quotations prove Paul’s point? (8-10) Deut. 29:4 – The context is that even though Israel
witnessed God’s power, they still did not understand Him. Ps. 69:22-23 – David looks
to God to exact vengeance on his enemies. Their victory over David is illustrated
as a “table” or feast…something desirable. They thought they had won. In
reality, because it was not of God, it was a failure, or stumbling block.
Paul is saying, you should know God better, you’ve been taught about him all
you lives, but you still don’t understand Him. You think you HAVE God cornered,
and by that arrogance you actually have nothing.
Additional:
Grace G5485 χάρις charis khar'-ece From G5463;
graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act
Note
the parallels:
Killed
the prophets | Killed Jesus
Demolished
your Altars | Corruption of the Temple/Law
Paul
is still delivering some tough love to his brothers.
