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11
The remnant
1 So now I say, God did not reject His people, did He? Of course not! Why I myself am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin!* Observe that Paul knew what tribe he belonged to; this at the beginning of the Christian era. If God would save Paul, then He is still saving Jews (and God knows what tribe they are from, even if they no longer do). 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel saying: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life!”† See 1 Kings 19:10,14. 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men‡ The term here refers specifically to males. who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”§ See 1 Kings 19:18. Evidently Elijah knew nothing about them, and perhaps each of them also thought he was the only one. I see a practical application here: I must never assume that what God is doing to and through me is the whole show, or even a major part of it. Now, much more than in Elijah's day, God is doing all sorts of interesting things all over the world! 5 Even so then at this present time, there is a remnant according to an election by grace. 6 Now if by grace, it is no longer from works; otherwise the grace is no longer grace. But if from works, it is no longer grace; otherwise the work is no longer work.* “But if from works, it is no longer grace; otherwise the work is no longer work” is omitted by 3.5% of the Greek manuscripts, to be followed by NIV, NASB, TEV, LB, etc.—an inferior proceeding.
7 What then? What Israel is seeking, this it did not obtain; but the election† ‘Election’ acts as a mass noun, including all the elected individuals. did obtain it, while the rest were dulled. 8 Just as it is written:
“God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that were not to see and ears that were not to hear, to this very day.”‡ See Deuteronomy 29:4 and Isaiah 29:10.
9 And David says:
“Let their table be made into a snare and into a trap,
into a stumbling block and into a retribution to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened so as not to see,
and their back always be bowed down.”§ See Psalm 69:22-23.
The restoration
11 So now I say, surely they have not stumbled so as to fall [and stay fallen]? Of course not! Rather, through their transgression the salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss riches for the nations, how much more their fulfillment!
13 So I am speaking to you Gentiles (inasmuch as I am ‘apostle to the Gentiles’, I magnify my ministry), 14 if somehow I can provoke my own people* Literally, ‘flesh’. to jealousy and save some of them. 15 For if their being rejected means reconciliation for the world, what will their restoration be but life from the dead? 16 Now if the ‘firstfruit’ is holy, so is the whole batch; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Grafted olive branches
17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, while you, being a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them, and with them have become a partaker of the root and the rich sap of the cultivated olive, 18 do not boast against those branches (since if you do boast—it is not you who support the root but the root you). 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Granted. Because of unbelief they were broken off, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear! 21 Because if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps He will not spare you either! 22 So consider the kindness and severity of God: upon those who fell, severity; but toward you, kindness, if you continue in that kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.† Here is a plain statement. ‘Continuing’ wins, and it is something that is up to us. 23 And even they, if they do not persist in the unbelief, will be grafted back in, because God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of a wild by nature olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?‡ One is reminded of Ezekiel 18, the whole chapter—if you have not read it for a while, I suggest you refresh your memory.
Hardening
25 Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant of this ‘mystery’§ This term is used of information that God has not yet made generally available, not about something mysterious. (so that you not be conceited): hardening has come upon Israel in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, just as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
and He will turn ungodliness away from Jacob;* ‘Jacob’ is Jacob, not the Church!
27 this is my covenant with them,
when I take away their sins.”† See Isaiah 59:20-21 and 27:9. When will this happen? Presumably at the beginning of the millennial Messianic Kingdom. The conversion of the last Gentile will be followed by the Rapture. All the Israelites that enter the Kingdom will be saved (all rebels will have been executed).
28 On the one hand, regarding the Gospel, they are enemies because of you; on the other, regarding the election, they are beloved on account of the forefathers. 29 Because God's gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.‡ That is, God does not take them back; what we do with them is another story. 30 For just as you also were once disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy through their disobedience, 31 so also these have now been disobedient that through the mercy shown to you they also may be shown mercy. 32 Yes, God has given everyone over to disobedience so that He might show mercy to all.§ A bitter pill, but apart from God's mercy we do not obey Him.
Doxology
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of God's wisdom and knowledge!
How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!* This is the ‘answer’ for all of us who would like to understand just how election works, and so on. God is too big, and we are too small!
34 Because “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been His counselor?”† See Isaiah 40:13 and Jeremiah 23:18.
35 Or “Who has ever given to Him and has to be repaid?”‡ See Job 41:11.
36 Because from Him and through Him and to Him
are all things.§ Everything said and done, God is the Owner of the universe.
To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

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*11:1 Observe that Paul knew what tribe he belonged to; this at the beginning of the Christian era. If God would save Paul, then He is still saving Jews (and God knows what tribe they are from, even if they no longer do).

†11:3 See 1 Kings 19:10,14.

‡11:4 The term here refers specifically to males.

§11:4 See 1 Kings 19:18. Evidently Elijah knew nothing about them, and perhaps each of them also thought he was the only one. I see a practical application here: I must never assume that what God is doing to and through me is the whole show, or even a major part of it. Now, much more than in Elijah's day, God is doing all sorts of interesting things all over the world!

*11:6 “But if from works, it is no longer grace; otherwise the work is no longer work” is omitted by 3.5% of the Greek manuscripts, to be followed by NIV, NASB, TEV, LB, etc.—an inferior proceeding.

†11:7 ‘Election’ acts as a mass noun, including all the elected individuals.

‡11:8 See Deuteronomy 29:4 and Isaiah 29:10.

§11:10 See Psalm 69:22-23.

*11:14 Literally, ‘flesh’.

†11:22 Here is a plain statement. ‘Continuing’ wins, and it is something that is up to us.

‡11:24 One is reminded of Ezekiel 18, the whole chapter—if you have not read it for a while, I suggest you refresh your memory.

§11:25 This term is used of information that God has not yet made generally available, not about something mysterious.

*11:26 ‘Jacob’ is Jacob, not the Church!

†11:27 See Isaiah 59:20-21 and 27:9. When will this happen? Presumably at the beginning of the millennial Messianic Kingdom. The conversion of the last Gentile will be followed by the Rapture. All the Israelites that enter the Kingdom will be saved (all rebels will have been executed).

‡11:29 That is, God does not take them back; what we do with them is another story.

§11:32 A bitter pill, but apart from God's mercy we do not obey Him.

*11:33 This is the ‘answer’ for all of us who would like to understand just how election works, and so on. God is too big, and we are too small!

†11:34 See Isaiah 40:13 and Jeremiah 23:18.

‡11:35 See Job 41:11.

§11:36 Everything said and done, God is the Owner of the universe.

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD