ROMANS 11:1-8

Sunday Morning:  October 22, 2006

Text:  Romans 11:1-8  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.  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,  3  Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.  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.  5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  6  And if by grace, then 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.  7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded  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.

GOD HAS NOT PUSHED AWAY HIS ELECT

Romans 11:1  I say then, Hath God cast away [push away from] his people (whom he foreknew v.2)? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite (of the election), of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

WHO ARE ISRAELITES

Romans 9:4  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, …

PAUL OBTAINED MERCY

1 Timothy 1:16  … I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe [present active] on him to life everlasting [agelasting].

GOD DID NOT PUSH AWAY THE REMNANT

Romans 11:2-3  God hath not cast away [pushed away] his people which (whom) he foreknew. Wot [know] ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he (in ignorance) maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,  3  Lord, they (Israel, v.7) have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

THE LORD TOOK THE KINGDOM FROM THEM

Matthew 21:42-43  Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?  43  Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

GOD KEPT FOR HIMSELF

Romans 11:4    But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved [kept] to myself seven thousand men (the election, by application), who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

CHOSEN IN CHRIST

Ephesians 1:4  According as he (God the Father, v.2) hath chosen [eklegw, call out for himself, middle voice] us in him (Christ, v.3) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

HAVING PREDESTINATED US

Ephesians 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children [placing as a son, sing.] (the image of His Son) by [dia, by means of] Jesus Christ to himself (Father, v.3), according to the good pleasure of his will,

GOD’S PURPOSE IN THE FAMILY

Romans 8:29-30  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren (whom he foreknew).  30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

THE PURPOSE IS MILLENNIAL

Ephesians 3:10-11  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church [ekklhsia, called out (election)] the manifold wisdom of (our sovereign) God,  11  According to the eternal [agelasting] purpose which he purposed (in the called out) in Christ Jesus our Lord:

AS THEN, EVEN NOW

Romans 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant (seven thousand, by application) according to the election of grace [power (to accomplish His purpose)].

FELIX PLEASED THE JEWS

Acts 24:27  But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure [cariv, grace, favor], left Paul bound.

THE JEWS AGAINST PAUL

Acts 25:3  And desired favor [grace] against him (Paul), that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

GRACE FOR THE FAMILY

2 Timothy 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace [cariv, pleasure, favor], which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world [times] [ages, modifying times] began,

ELECTION IS NOT A REWARD

Romans 11:6  And if (the election be) by grace [cariv, pleasure, favor], then is it no more of works: otherwise grace [cariv, pleasure, favor] is no more grace [cariv, pleasure, favor]. But if it be of works (God is in debt to us), then is it no more grace [cariv, pleasure, favor]: otherwise work is no more work.

VERSE 6 PUT ANOTHER WAY

Romans 11:6 (nasb) But if it (the election) is by grace [cariv, God’s sovereign power], it is no longer on the basis of works (God owes it as pay), otherwise grace is no longer grace [cariv, God’s sovereign power]. (God would be in debt)

ELECTION IS GOD CHOOSING

Romans 9:11  (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works (requiring reward), but of him (that is sovereign)  that calleth;)

ISRAEL HARDENED

Romans 11:7-8  What then? Israel (the non-elect) hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded [hardened, a kind of stone]  8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber [stupor], eyes that they should not [mh, may not] see, and ears that they should not [mh, may not] hear;) unto this day.

ISRAEL COULD NOT BELIEVE

John 12:39-40  Therefore they could not believe [present active], because that Esaias said again,  40  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted (turned around), and I should heal (the living not the dead) them.

UNTIL

Romans 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

GENTILES NOW

1 Peter 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.