R. Henderson 5/6/07

1
Romans 111 6
Has Israel been rejected ? 1 I say then, God has
not rejected His people, has He? May it never be!
For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of
Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not
rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you
not know what the Scripture says in the passage
about Elijah, how he pleads with God against
Israel? 3 "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS,
THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM
LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE." 4 But what
is the divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for
Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE
KNEE TO BAAL." 5 In the same way then, there has
also come to be at the present time a remnant
according to God's gracious choice. 6 But if it
is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of
works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
2
Romans 111 - 6
1 I say then, God has not rejected His people,
has He? May it never be! For I too am an
Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe
of Benjamin. rejected - apotheo - "to thrust
away" (apo, "away," otheo, "to thrust"), in the
NT used in the Middle Voice, signifying "to
thrust from oneself, to cast off, by way of
rejection," - see Acts 727 and Acts
1346 God has not rejected (thrust away from
Himself) His people, has He ? Pauls answer -
May it never be! What reason is given by Paul
in this verse ? For I (Paul) too am an Israelite
and found favor see Phil 34-6 and Eph 38
3
Romans 111 6
2 God has not rejected His people whom He
foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture
says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads
with God against Israel? foreknew - proginosko
- "to know before" (pro, "before," ginosko, "to
know"), is used of divine knowledge and human
knowledge Christ was foreknown 1 Pet
120 Church age believers are foreknown Rom
829 What does it mean that He (God) foreknew
Israel ? see Amos 31-2 Elijah pleading with
God follows in verses 3 and 4
4
Romans 111 6
3 "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY
HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT,
AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE." 4 But what is the
divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself
SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO
BAAL."
See 1 Kings 199 -18 Elijahs summary Gods
spokesmen killed, Gods place of worship gone,
Im the last one and I
soon may be dead Where was Elijahs focus
? But God says I have kept (reserved) for Myself
see 1 Peter 14 Can we as believers have
Elijahs focus?
5
Romans 111 6
5 In the same way then, there has also come to be
at the present time a remnant according to God's
gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is
no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace
is no longer grace. has come to be - ginomai -
to become, to come into a new state of
being remnant - leimma - "that which is left"
(akin to leipo, "to leave"), "a remnant," is used
in Rom. 115, "there is a remnant," i.e., there
is a spiritual "remnant" saved by the gospel from
the midst of apostate Israel.
Vine Literally A remnant came into being in
past times with the result that there remains a
remnant up into the present time according to a
choice of grace This is by grace (unmerited
favor) not on the basis of works
6
Romans 11 v1 to v6 Summary
God has not cast away Israel !
Pauls argument Paul was an Israelite and is
living proof There has always been a remnant in
the nation of Israel There is a remnant at the
present time
from Hal Molloys Romans notes Dec. 1978
7
Romans 107 10
What is Israels state today? 7 What then? What
Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those
who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were
hardened 8 just as it is written, "GOD GAVE
THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND
EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY." 9 And
David says, "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A
TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO
THEM. 10 "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT,
AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER."
8
Romans 117 10
7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not
obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it,
and the rest were hardened
What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained -
refers back to Rom 9 10 931 but Israel,
pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive
at that law. 932 Why? Because they did not
pursue it by faith, but as though it were by
works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
933 just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN
ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE
DISAPPOINTED. 103 For not knowing about God's
righteousness and seeking to establish their
own, they did not subject themselves to the
righteousness of God. 1013 for "WHOEVER WILL
CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
1017 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing
by the word of Christ. 1021 But as for Israel
He says, "ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT
MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE."
9
Romans 117 10
7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not
obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it,
and the rest were hardened
What does it refer to ?
but those who were chosen obtained it, and the
rest were hardened How are we to view this
hardening ? See Rom 124-26 They were hardened
because they continually rejected They did not
reject because they were hardened
from Hal Molloys Romans notes Dec. 1978
10
Romans 107 10
8 just as it is written, "GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT
OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT,
DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY. see Isaiah 2910 and
Deut. 293-4 9 And David says, "LET THEIR TABLE
BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK
AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. 10 "LET THEIR EYES BE
DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS
FOREVER." see Psalms 6922-23
11
Romans 117 - 10 Summary
Israel is temporarily set aside (hardened) They
are seeking righteousness in the wrong
way However the chosen (remnant) has obtained
it The rest of Israel is hardened God foretold
this in the Old Testament He would give them a
spirit of insensibility David foretold Israels
problem David spoke against Israel
from Hal Molloys Romans notes Dec. 1978