GOD'S REMNANT

Passage: Romans 11:1-6

Key verse: 5

NIV

The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!(A) I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,(B) from the tribe of Benjamin.(C) 2 God did not reject his people,(D) whom he foreknew.(E) Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”[a]?(F) 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[b](G) 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant(H) chosen by grace.(I) 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;(J) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 11:3 1 Kings 19:10,14
  2. Romans 11:4 1 Kings 19:18
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask, then, (A)has God rejected his people? By no means! For (B)I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,[a] a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 (C)God has not rejected his people whom he (D)foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 (E)“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God's reply to him? (F)“I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is (G)a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 (H)But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 11:1 Or one of the offspring of Abraham
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. A remnant of one (1-3)

When Israel rejected God's Messiah, they rejected God's purpose for themselves. Did this mean that God and Israel completely failed? No. Paul was an Israelite. He accepted God's Messiah and God's mission on behalf of all Israel. God has always worked through a remnant of faithful people--not through the unbelieving majority. In the time of Elijah, Baal worship almost inundated the land, because the pagan queen Jezebel supported the priests of Baal. But one man, Elijah, stood on God's side. God told him that he was not alone. God's remnant was there.

2. A remnant chosen by grace (4-6)

A remnant is the small piece of cloth left over when the whole bolt has been used up. God's people are never a majority. He works even in the darkest time to keep spiritual life alive, and by his grace, he chooses a remnant through whom to work.

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to stand on your side and be a part of your remnant people.

One Word: A remnant chosen by grace