Romans 11:1-9

 

Rom 11:1 (KJV)
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.

Here Paul is asking a great question has God forsaken His people? Now for the proper understanding of this chapter, we must define who “His people” are. Now many make the claim that this is speaking of national Israel of modern times. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God is no longer dealing with one nation but the entire world. 1948 seems to have been an iconic year for many Christians. However, it must be noted that modern Israel is not a biblical state but it is a Talmudic state and it does not run itself according to the Scriptures. That nation is a nation in unbelief and it will remain that way until the Lord returns, except for a small remnant of God’s Elect within its borders, just like in every other country.

When God speaks of His people, He is not speaking of the entire population of Israel. Keep in mind people like Ahab, Korah, Dathan, Nabal, and many others who opposed God and His prophets. When God sent prophets to Israel and Judah, they were all rejected and some of them were killed by murdering Israelites. These are not the people of God. The “His people” are those whom God has chosen from the foundations of the world for salvation. (Mat 1:21 KJV) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

(Luke 1:76-77 KJV) And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; {77} To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

The mission of John the Baptist was to bring the knowledge of salvation to “his people” and if you notice the next phrase, “by remission of their sins.” Who are the ones who receive remission of their sins? Only those whom God has chosen for salvation. Not everyone in ancient Israel was a child of God as the majority of them died in unbelief. (Heb 4:6 KJV) Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: There were children of God in ancient Israel but they were in the minority as they are today. So when Paul asks the question about God casting off His people, the answer is no because His people are those whom God saved in ancient Israel. God did not cast off His people with the unbelievers because they were saved. For today’s understanding, we must realize that God is stating that He is speaking of those whom He has or will save.

Rom 11:2 (KJV)
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,

Now this verse factors something else into the equation which gives us specific information about who “his people” are. Notice it states that his people are those whom He foreknew. When did God foreknow his people? It was when He named us and wrote our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. (Rev 13:8 KJV) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Just because Elijah, in 1 Kings 19:10-18, denounces Israel for forsaking the covenant with God, this did not mean that God was going to forsake His redeemed people within Israel. Eventually both Israel and Judah went into captivity but His redeemed within them were not forsaken.

Rom 11:3 (KJV)
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

This is the indictment that Elijah brought against Israel. It looked to Elijah like everyone in Israel had succumbed to the false religion of Baal. However, Elijah could not read the hearts of the people. It looked to Elijah as if all of Israel had become apostate and that he alone was left of the true faith. What Elijah saw was a major portion of the Israelites going after Baal.

Rom 11:4 (KJV)
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.

God assured him that he was not the only one left. God had a remnant of true believers in Israel who did not go after the false religion of Baal. It is like today when we look at many churches. It seems that the false gospels have completely overtaken them but God will leave a remnant of churches and believers faithful to Him. (Heb 13:5 KJV) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. One of the ways that the Lord will not forsake us is that He will allow many Christians to remain faithful so those of like mind will not be alone in this wilderness of sin.

Rom 11:5 (KJV)
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Paul now speaks to the fact that in the time he was living that there were those who were saved through grace. Even though many had allowed themselves to be carried away with false teachings, there was a remnant in Israel at that time just like there was when Elijah was alive. It is this remnant that we see as God not forsaking. In Elijah’s time, we saw that the “seven thousand” were “his people” whom He did not forsake. Even in modern Israel, there are many who are becoming saved, right in the midst of the prevailing false religion of Judaism, which is not founded upon the Hebrew Scriptures. This is just like many people in different countries are becoming saved in the midst of prevailing false religions.

Rom 11:6 (KJV)
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.

Here Paul points out the great differences between grace and works. He continues the thoughts from verse 5 that at present there is a remnant who is saved by grace. The works-grace battle has been going on for thousands of years but the bottom line is that works can never save anyone. What is presented here is an either/or situation. Either you are under a covenant of works as Israel was for many years or you are saved and under the covenant of Grace which means you have become saved. You are part of the seven thousand. However, if you insist on trying to keep the law, then you will not be under grace. The Judaizers which followed Paul had tried to get the people to keep the law while under grace. They added that and claimed that keeping the law of Moses was a necessary part of salvation and without it, one could not be saved.

Rom 11:7 (KJV)
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

This is a very pivotal verse in this discussion. Israel had attempted to please God by keeping the law and resting in the fact that they were the privileged nation to receive the law of God. However, God tells us here that all of Israel did not obtain what it had vehemently sought but only those who were the Elect of God within Israel received salvation and God had blinded the rest of them. So within ancient Israel, God had His Elect and those who were not Elect. Those who were not Elect were blinded to the truth of the Gospel. This is called Limited Atonement. This same situation takes place in every country around the world. Those who are the Elect of God will be part of the believing remnant while the rest will be blinded. This is the plan of God and must be embraced and not explained away with man’s thoughts.

(John 12:39-40 KJV) Therefore they could not believe, 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, and I should heal them.

(Isa 6:9-10 KJV) And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. {10} Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Rom 11:8 (KJV)
(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.

Here is a verse which is hated by those who hate God’s salvation plan. Yes that’s right, anyone who explains away these plain verses on limited atonement, hates the plan of God and attempts to restructure it according to their desires. Notice this verse says that God is the one who did not give some spiritual ears and eyes to see and hear the true Gospel. That blindness continued right into Paul’s day and that blindness is easy to see as we read the history of Israel in the Scriptures. This is why God connects the apostasy in Elijah’s time with the fact that He had a remnant of faithful called the seven thousand. God was letting us know that even during the times of the heaviest apostasy, there were those who were faithful to God. (Mat 24:24 KJV) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. The Matthew verse teaches us that the Elect of God will never be so deceived that they cannot become saved. God’s grace can penetrate the deepest apostasy and bring one of His own to salvation. This is why the Elect of God cannot be deceived to the point of being unable to be saved.

Rom 11:9 (KJV)
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:

(Psa 69:22-23 KJV) Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. {23} Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. In Psalm 69, David is remarking about the unsaved in Israel. The table, represents the sinners who are setting up a feast and David is saying that their good times should be turned into sorrow because of their hatred for him, being God’s servant. The table does not necessarily only represent a feast of food but it can represent any type of preparation of sinners for some type of sin. Whenever anyone makes plans against a servant of God, they are in essence, making those plans against God Himself. (Acts 22:8 KJV) And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. Paul did not personally persecute Jesus but because he persecuted His followers, Jesus told him that he was ultimately persecuting Him. This is the great snare or trap which the unbeliever falls in. David even asks God to recompense their own evil back to them. One can never fight against God and think they can win, this is a great deception.