"The Remnant and the Rest"

Rejected?

Since the majority of Israel has rejected the righteousness of God by disbelief in the Son of God...

Has God rejected Israel all together, as a whole? Paul’s answer is no, because of the remnant.

If God rejected Israel as a whole, then no Israelites would be saved. No Israelite would believe.

Who is the Remnant? (vv. 1-6)

Paul is the perfect example (v. 1).

He was Israelites who was just, and therefore would enjoy the blessings of the people of God.

God did not reject Paul, so God has not rejected Israel as a whole.

The idea of the remnant was not new (vv. 2-4).

There was a remnant in Elijah’s day (v. 2).

In context (Romans 9:27 and Israel’s unbelief up to this point), “foreknew” is national Israel.

Genesis 18:17–19 “The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen [footnote - “known”; ] him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.””

Amos 3:2 ““You only have I known [NASB has “chosen” with a footnote of “known”; NIV has “chosen”] of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

Paul quotes from 1 Kings 19:10 & 14 where Elijah is discouraged (vv. 2-3).

Then he quotes from 1 Kings 19:18 to give God’s encouragement (v. 4).

The point is that even in Elijah’s day, though it seemed that most were against God, some were still for God.

God has been preserving Israel with a small part of Israel (remnant).

Then Paul says that continues to be true (vv. 5-6)

Here, Paul tells us how God continues to preserve them (v. 5).

“Chosen by grace” - He saves them (Romans 8:28–30; Romans 9:11)

The remnant are those Israelite who have been saved like anyone is saved.

Paul elaborates on there being no mix of merit in grace (v. 6).

Who is not the remnant? (vv. 7-10)

Paul refers to three categories of people (v. 7).

Israel, Elect, and the Rest

What makes the difference - seeking and obtaining 9:30-10:4)

Then Paul highlights the rest.

Hardened - causing the rebellious to rebel (as in the case of Pharoah, Romans 9:17–18).

Paul quotes from Isaiah 29:10 & Deuteronomy 29:4 (v. 8) as examples of God causing people to have mental resistance.

Paul quotes from Psalm 69:22-23 (vv. 9-10) which is a request for God to work in this way.

Paul is applying all that he has already taught about God’s election and God’s hardening to the remnant and the rest.

Israel can be seen as an example of God’s compassion in election and God’s holiness in hardening.

This is evidence that God has not rejected Israel as a whole.

Paul has likened believing Gentiles to believing Jews; here he likens believing Jews to believing Gentiles.

Application

Benediction:

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 19:1–18