Romans 11:1-10

Text

Romans 11:1-10. I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Romans 11:2 God did not cast off his people which he foreknew. Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he pleadeth with God against Israel: Romans 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. Romans 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: Otherwise grace is no more grace. Romans 11:7 What then? That which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened: Romans 11:8 according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day. Romans 11:9 And David saith,

Let their table be made a snare, and a trap,
And a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:

Romans 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see,

And bow thou down their back always.

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 11:1-10

465.

The question of the first verse is not easy to understand. God has cast off his people. The last chapter demonstrated that. Why, then, does Paul ask the question here? Note Paul's answer.

466.

Paul was an Israelite, but was not cast off. What should this teach the Jews?

467.

In what sense could we say God has not cast off his people?

468.

How did the foreknowledge of God enter into his decision not to reject Israel entirely?

469.

The attitude of Elijah was the same as someone else'S. Who was it?

470.

The remnant according to the election of grace refers to whom?

471.

Who does the voting in this election?

472.

The election of those among Israel was on a basis of God's choice and their faith. Explain how this shows the grace of God.

473.

Verse seven is most difficult of understanding until it is related to the actual circumstances of the obtaining and rejecting of salvation by the Jews. Refer to an example in the book of Acts and explain.

474.

Remember now as you attempt to understand Romans 11:8-10 the example you have just worked out. The spirit of stupor, eyes that should not see, etc., are caused by God, but in what manner?

475.

As best you can, explain the figure David uses. (Romans 11:9-10)

Paraphrase

Romans 11:1-10. I ask then, Do you from these prophecies infer that God hath cast off his people for ever? By no means, For even I am one of the ancient people of God, a descendant of Abraham, and sprung of the tribe of Benjamin: Yet I am not cast off; I am still one of God's people, by believing in Christ.

Romans 11:2 God hath at no time cast off the whole of the Jewish nation whom he formerly chose. In the greatest national defections, there were always some who continued faithful to God. Know ye not what the scripture saith was spoken to Elijah, when he complained to God against the Israelites as having all followed idols, saying,

Romans 11:3 Lord, -The children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life to take it away.-' 1 Kings 19:10.

Romans 11:4 Elijah imagined that the whole nation had been guilty of idolatry. But what saith the answer of God to him? I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal; 1 Kings 19:18.

Romans 11:5 So then, even at this present time, there is a remnant, who, by believing on Jesus, continue to be the people of God still, according to an election by favor.

Romans 11:6 And if this election to be the church of God is by favor, it cannot have happened on account of works performed, otherwise favor is no more favor: but if it be on account of works meriting it, there is no more favor in it, otherwise work is no more work: it merits nothing.

Romans 11:7 What then is the sum of my discourse? Why this: The honor of continuing to be the people of God, which the Jewish nation earnestly seeketh, that it hath not obtained, having rejected Jesus; but the elected remnant hath obtained that honor, and the rest are blinded.

Romans 11:8 Blindness hath ever been the disease of the Jews, as appears from what is written: -The Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep.-'-'Hear ye indeed, but understand not; see ye indeed, but perceive not;-' which stupidity and blindness hath continued with the Jews to this present day.

Romans 11:9 And to show the causes and consequences of that spiritual blindness, David saith of Messiah's enemies, -Let their table become a snare to them, and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap,-' (Psalms 69:22.), and a stumbling-block, and a punishment to them.

Romans 11:10 -Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not, and make their loins continually to shake:-' In consequence of their sensuality, their understanding shall be darkened, and as a punishment they shall be made slaves.

Summary

God has not wholly rejected Israel, as the case of Paul itself would prove. To suppose them wholly rejected is to repeat the error of Elijah. That prophet imagined that all God's prophets, except himself, had been killed. But God let him know that seven thousand still remained true to him. In like manner, there is now a large remnant of Israel who have not been rejected. This remnant is a chosen remnant, the choice proceeding from a principle of favor, and not from works or perfect obedience. Had the choice proceeded from perfect obedience, it could not have been from favor, for favor and perfect obedience mutually exclude each other. Israel sought to be retained as God's people, but failed through unbelief. The chosen, however, have been retained because they sought the honor by belief in Christ. The rejected Jews have grown hard in heart and feeling, as well as dull in perceptionall of which has happened in accordance with predictions of their prophets.

Comment

5.

This Rejection Neither Total Nor Final. Romans 11:1-36

Introductory Remarks.

We come now to the final section in the study of God's rejection of Israel, and also to the closing chapter of the doctrinal portion of the book. The last two Chapter s have been concerned with but one subject: the rejection of the Jews. In the eleventh chapter Paul is still discussing their rejection, but he here demonstrates that it was neither total nor final. This thought would help the Jews to realize that God had not rejected them unconditionally, nor was their rejection without hope of restoration.

a. Their Rejection Not Total. Romans 11:1-10

275.

What was the underlying reason for Israel's rejection?

276.

What particular phase of Israel's rejection is discussed in the eleventh chapter?

277.

What subject is discussed in the first ten verses of chapter 11?

(1) Reasons for concluding that their rejection was not total. Romans 11:1-5

In verse one the question is raised: I say then, did God cast off his people? That is, did God cast off his people en masse? Did he cast them from him as a nation? The answer comes immediately in the negative: God forbid. This thought of total rejection is not to be entertained for a moment. One good reason for repudiating this idea is found in the fact that Paul was an Israelite. Indeed, he was of the seed of Abraham and of the tribe of Benjamin. Was Paul rejected? No, God had not rejected him; he had rather dealt with him in a special way. Jehovah had abundantly shown to Paul that he was in his favor. The conclusion then to Paul's case is that God has not cast off or rejected his people completely, for Paul could not have stood in God's favor if this were true. Romans 11:1

The first part of verse two is the conclusion to the case of Paul. But what is the meaning of the words: whom he foreknew? We take the position that Paul is speaking of the nation of Israel, of the special favor they enjoyed, that of all the nations of the history God knew or recognized the Jews. In other words, we might say, God has not rejected his people whom he has known for so long. He will not with one sweep of divine wrath reject the people he has known and loved over all these centuries. Romans 11:2 a

An illustration is now given of the true condition of Israel. Was it possible that God had totally forsaken Israel? That was what Elijah thought, for the scriptures tell us how he pleaded with God respecting Israel because they had killed all the prophets, they had digged down thine altars. Elijah believed Israel to be forsaken of God. The only faithful one left in the nation was Elijah, and his life was in danger. But this complaint was made in ignorance, for the Lord made it known that there were yet seven thousand men who had not bowed the knee to Baal. The application of this illustration is made in verse five: Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. In other words, although a vast segment of Israel was cast off through their rejection of Christ, yet there were those here and there who had accepted him, and together they served to make up the remnant. This remnant is referred to as being a remnant according to the election of grace. What is the import of this?

The same subject has appeared before in our study, and there we discovered that the election of certain individuals to become participators in God's grace was dependent upon their own choice, not upon the arbitrary election of God. So, then, we can say that this remnant was made up of those Jews who heard of the grace of God through Jesus Christ and chose to accept him. Thus they became God's remnant. God chose to elect all those who would choose to accept the grace extended through his son. Romans 11:2 b - Romans 11:5

278.

What is the thought of the question raised in Romans 11:1? How is it answered?

279.

What is the meaning of the phrase whom he foreknew?

280.

What illustration is given to answer the objection? How does it answer it?

281.

Who is the remnant and how is it saved according to the election of grace?

(2) The Reason for Their Rejection. Romans 11:6-10

The words, election of grace, suggest the thought that is developed in Romans 11:6 through Romans 11:10. Israel was rejected because they rejected the grace of God. Paul deems the thought of election by grace worthy of an extended explanation since this was the reason for the rejection of Israel. Notice his comments upon this subject.

(a) Acceptance by God is by grace; it cannot be by works, for works exclude grace, just as grace excludes works. Romans 11:6

(b) This acceptance Israel sought but did not find; the elect alone obtained acceptance. Romans 11:7 a.

(c) All but the elect (those who chose the grace of God through Christ) were hardened, even as it was prophesied: God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear unto this very day. David also spoke about this condition when he said: Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them: and bow thou down their back always. Romans 11:7 b - Romans 11:10

How were the rest hardened? One look at the occasion of hardening will answer this question. The statement is made that the elect obtained acceptance. How did they obtain it? By accepting Christ. And what happened to those who heard but did not accept? The answer in the words of the apostle was simply, they were hardened. How did it come about? Through their own rejection, choosing rather to obey Satan and his suggestions than the grace of God.
But how can the words of the prophets be understood? God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear. If we will keep before us the circumstances of this action, we will encounter little difficulty in understanding them. Let us remember that Paul was speaking of the Jewish rejection of the gospel and Jesus as the Messiah.

282.

Why is the thought of election by grace discussed here?

283.

Give two points in the discussion of salvation by grace.

284.

How were the rest hardened?

285.

How can it be said that God gave them a spirit of stupor?

When we consider the refusal of the Jews to accept the plain evidence before them, we can understand that the spirit of stupor was brought about by their own stubbornness, and not by an arbitrary act on the part of Jehovah. The spirit of stupor was the result of a continual refusal to heed the truth. As in the case of Pharaoh, God provided in his love the means of convincing man of the truth at hand, but man perverted these provisions and the result was even as Isaiah and David prophesied.

It has ever been the nature of God to give man abundant opportunity to do his will, but when man rejects this opportunity, then God cannot and will not project himself into the realm of man's free choice. Man is then left to receive the recompense of his wrong choice. David's descriptive words in Romans 11:9-10 tell of the dire results of rejecting Christ. These words have had and are now having their fulfillment in the lives of the Jews who have rejected their Messiah.