Romans 11:1-6

A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 76 Chapter 11:1 – 6

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. Verse 1 “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.”
1. The Israelites are very concerned that God has forsaken His chosen Nation; God never forsakes His chosen people. Hebrews 13:5a “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
2. God had not forsaken the Israelites He has simply removed from their hands the proclaiming of His word including the gospel and put it into the hands of the churches and Gentiles.
3. God never promised to save all of Israel , He only promised to save a remnant of them.
4. How could God have forsaken His chosen Nation if Paul was saved? “…God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” We see others saved in 2 Corinthians 11:22 “Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.”
2. Verse 2 - 3 “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, (3.) Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.”

1. Paul brings us back to this word “foreknew”, this is not an Israel only word, God has not forsaken any of the people He foreknew Jew or Gentile.

a. God foreknew Israel to be His chosen Nation and God chose the Elect to be his blessed Children.

b. The only thing we can count on is that God will never forsake His beloved elect.

2. God will not forsake His people as His people has Him, God uses Elias as an example. 1 Kings 19:9-14 "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? (10.) And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for 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. (11.) And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: (12.) And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (13.) And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? (14.) And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because 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."
2. Verse 4 “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.”

1. “But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men…” – God reserved them, it was not “their choice” to be reserved it was a Divine choice and a Divine reservation.
2. Baal was a symbol of deity - This god was represented under the image of a bull, or a calf; the one denoting the Sun, the other the Moon. The prevalent worship in the time of Elijah was that of this idol.
3. They would bow their knee to it as a sign of reverence and adoration. Today it is like Catholicism bowing to the cross.
4. God caused Elijah and seven thousand others not to bow before it and to worship Him and to defend Him.
5. Judges 2:11 “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:”
3. Verse 5 “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”

1. Not just at that time but even today there is still a remnant who still serve the Lord. And Paul also verified this by using himself as an example.
2. “…there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” Again not because they choose to themselves but because of Divine intervention.
3. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”
4. The Geneva study bible says “The election of grace is not that by which men chose grace, but by which God chose us of his grace and goodness.”
5. Verse 6 “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.” – that is by no effort on their part, but because of Divine grace and mercy.