Topic: The Remnant
Reading: Romans 11:1-6
Introduction and Overview
Romans 10 ended with God holding His hands out to Israel who were at the time a :disobedient and contrary people.” As a nation they were supposed to be the chosen people of God. But as a nation they continued to go astray in their hearts and disobey His words, choosing the ways of the world and surrounding pagan nations rather than choosing God.
But not all of the people were that way. In general, the nation went astray, but within the nation were the remnant of those who would obey God and followed in the ways of the Lord. There was a remnant who refused to follow the rest of the nation who were headed for destruction. Instead they chose to follow God and find life and truth.
So too, today there is a remnant who are seeking the truth of Jesus Christ. They have been chosen to be part of the selected people of God and to make up the lack that was found in the rest of Israel who rejected God. The remnant have been chosen by grace, not by works of law. And better still for us today, is they are chosen from all nations and all peoples across the face of the earth. When we accept the grace of God and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, we too are chosen as part of the remnant who will be saved.
Key points from reading:
- God has not rejected His people who turn to Him in obedience
- God is in control, even when we think we are alone in this world
- The renant we are part of is chosen by grace, not through works
Discussion:
- Scripture: Romans 11:1
- In Romans 10 we saw that Israel were rejected by God because of disobedience. They refused to listen to God’s word and follow Him. They were contrary and disobedient, led astray by their priests and leaders and rejected God.
- The Israelites may have seemed religious by doing the works of the law, but their was no respect, fear, or obedience in their hearts. They tithed, they fasted, they offered the sacrifices, they didn’t eat certain foods or wear certain materials, all according to the law. But they also didn’t change their hearts towards God and others. They put on a show of religion, but did not live it. In essence, they were exactly as Jesus described in various places, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23)
- But as the verse in Romans 11:1 tells us, not all of the Jews were like that. Paul speaks about himself and how he was a Jew by birth. Yes, he started down the path of the rest of the Jews, but it is evident that he was truly seeking God and the right way to live, even when he was living as a Pharisee before he was called so dramatically on the road to Damascus. Paul was turned around and chosen by grace to be part of the remnant, and he must certainly have been seeking God as he trained as a Pharisee. It says of him that he was well advanced beyond others of his age because he was so zealous for God and the ways of his fathers. Then God turned him around to show him the better way in Jesus Christ.
- Scripture: Romans 11:2-3
- God knows those who are His and who will or will not answer the call. He knows the hearts of every person on this earth. And while that may sound as though we have no say in the matter, that is not true. God gives us a free choice to choose to be part of the remnant that find life, or to reject His call. In fact every person on earth will receive the call of God in some way and have to choose to do what is right, or to reject the right path.
- And we don’t know who God is calling or who He has His hand upon at any point in time. As we see in this verse, Elijah, who was one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament, thought that all of Israel had rejected God. He thought all the people of Israel had left God and followed the priests of Baal.
- And the evidence Elijah quoted could testify to that being true. The leaders and people of Israel had killed the prophets, destroyed the altars of the Lord and were chasing after Elijah to put him to death too. The evidence would attest to his feelings of despair and the evil of Israel.
- Scripture: Romans 11:4
- But then we see the response from God. God could see what Elijah could not. God could see the hearts of the people and knew who it was that had turned away from the Lord, and who it was that were still seeking the truth and following the ways of God. God answered Elijah saying, “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Ba’al.”
- Seven thousand men who were not following the priests of Baal. God knows the hearts of all people and He knew that these men would follow His truth.
- We are in the same place as Elijah was then. We do not know what God is doing with people, even those who seem so solidly opposed to God as to appear irredeemable to us. But then we must recall that God called Paul, who was going to Damascus to imprison and condemn the early Christians, when he was visited by the vision of Jesus and turned around to become one of the most significant of the apostles. God used Paul to essentially write a large chunk of the New Testament and to explain the details and workings of the New Covenant so that we today could learn and know Jesus Christ.
- Scripture: Romans 11:5-6
- Today, there is a remnant chosen by grace, just as there was in the time of Elijah, and the times of Paul. There are many people in the world who claim to be Christians, but the way they live their lives are far from Christ. And even in some churches, whether they be large denominational churches, evangelical churches, or right down to local small churches and house churches, there are those who continue to choose to follow error. And there is a lot of error in the teachings of the modern church.
- The word of God and salvation is not based upon works. It is the same today as it was in both New Testament and Old Testament times. Works do not lead to righteousness or salvation. We are saved by grace and faith in God and in Jesus Christ. No amount of works or following the precepts of the law will lead to salvation, without the attending faith and obedience to the word of God at the same time.
- This is why this section of scripture talks about the remnant who are saved by grace. The vast majority of Israel in early days fell away from the grace of God because of disobedience. Likewise many people in the Christian church today have fallen away from grace because they are seeking salvation through false teachings and works of law.
- But God has left us with all we need to know to find the truth. He has given us the Bibe and if we study the words of Jesus and the workings of the New Covenant, God has promised that He will reveal the truth. As the scripture says: Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8) So, seek, ask, knock and find the truth so that you too are part of the remnant who will be saved, and not part of the masses that will be lost.
Key Takeaways:
- Many people in the early days of the church ailed to find the truth and walked in error. But God still offers salvation to all who seek it.
- Even though many may hear the word, it is only a remnant who will listen and find the way of life.
- God has promised to help those who come to Him seeking the truth so that they can find the truth. He will show you when you come to Him rather than listening to error in other places.
Prayer Points
- Pray and ask God for His revelation of the truth to you so that you can understand and grow in His truth. And seek the insights that lead to salvation and righteousness so that you can be part of the remnant who will be saved.