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Romans 11:1-10 God’s Faithful Remnant of Israel

Paul asks the question did God reject his people? And he answers it by ‘no means’ and in verse 2 he says ‘God did not reject his people’. In Chapter 11, the main theme is that Israel has not been rejected by God forever. God clearly has a plan for Israel. They are his chosen people:

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:6

In the Old Testament even when Israel rejected God, God in his grace has always provided a faithful God fearing remnant. He has never rejected his people totally – even when they deserved it!

Moses and Joshua were a faithful remnant of God fearing Jews in the nation of Israel during the Exodus.

Even in the times when Israel rejected God and were held in captivity, God in his grace provided a faithful remnant. Jews like Esther, Mordecai, Ezekiel, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. It was the faithful remnant that returned from captivity under Ezra and Nehemiah.

Paul uses the example of Elijah who was a faithful remnant, Elijah thought that he was the only God fearing Jew left,

“…Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:13-18

We see in this passage that God by his grace had reserved a faithful remnant of 7,000. As we go through the Old Testament, rather than God rejecting the Jews, which he had every right to do, God by his grace has always left a faithful remnant of Israel.

“God's character, as it is revealed in scripture, shows him to have an unwavering commitment to his people Israel despite their own rebellion against him.” Thielman, ECNT Romans

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This was exactly the same at the time of Jesus Christ, we are told in Luke about Zechariah and Elizabeth,

“Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” Luke 1:6

They - like John the Baptist - were a faithful remnant of Israel. Likewise, we are told about Simeon and Anna at the time when Jesus was taken to the temple, 8 days after his birth. We read this on Christmas Eve,

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.” Luke 2:25

“She (Anna) never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2:37-38

Paul illustrates this concept of God not rejecting his people Israel by referring to his own example, ‘I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin’. Paul is totally Jewish – through and through!

“…circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.” Philippians 3:5-6

Yet he is also a Christian. Paul is an excellent example of God’s faithfulness. God will always be reaching out to his chosen people - freely by his grace. Paul is referring to himself as a remnant. What was true in the Old Testament is also true in Paul’s time as he is writing to the believers in Rome.

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:6

We know that on the day of Pentecost, there were thousands of Jews in Jerusalem,

“Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.” Acts 2:5

After the Holy Spirit came God saved a faithful remnant of about 3000 Jewish people (Acts 2:41).

God knew that there was going to be national unbelief in Israel; it was no surprise to him. Paul is referring to God’s knowledge of this in v7-10. There was the faithful remnant i.e. the elect but 3 the other majority of the Jews were hardened. God knew that Israel were going to rebel all along. This is what he said to Moses just before he died,

“And the Lord said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.” Deuteronomy 31:16

God never gives up on his people. He is faithfully reaching out to them through his remnant. God is slow to anger and abounding in love to his people. God has not rejected his people in the Old Testament or the New Testament. By his grace, he has always left a faithful remnant. We are not going to talk about this today, but God also has a plan for his chosen people Israel in the future,

“ and in this way all Israel will be saved.” Romans 11:26

He continues to have a faithful remnant today. God is still reaching out to his people faithfully. This is purely by his grace and merciful nature. I want to show you a testimony of a Jewish women, Ronit Shreyberg. This testimony is an excellent example of God’s faithfulness to his chosen people Israel. This testimony clearly shows God’s provision of an ongoing remnant to the Jews.

Testimony Ronit Shreyberg

So what is our response to this? How does that affect us? There are 7,153,065 Jews in the USA as of 2020. There are 75,350 Jews living in Washington State (Jewish Virtual Library.org). These are God’s chosen people, his treasured possession. Some of you may know Jews personally or have Jewish friends. If God’s heart is to see his people saved, we should have a similar heart!

Be genuinely friendly Many Jewish people think religious Christians blame them for ‘killing Christ’. Jewish people need to see that we respect and love them, so whatever you do or say, do it or say it in love.

Be grateful Don’t be afraid to tell Jewish people you are grateful to them as a people because their ancestors preserved the Bible you know and love. Let them know you appreciate them because they have helped you to come to know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Furthermore, because of the New Covenant (Jer 31:31) you now also worship the Jewish Messiah!

Be careful with your terminology Some of the terms we love as Christians conjure up images of idolatry and persecution in the imaginations of Jewish people. Instead of ‘Christ’, try using ‘Messiah’; try to talk about 4

‘the Hebrew Scriptures’ instead of ‘the Old Testament’; also say ‘the Jewish people’ rather than ‘the Jews’ and ‘repent’ instead of ‘convert’.

Be Messiah-centric! It is helpful to bring up the law (of Moses) and how we all fail to keep it. We need to remind our Jewish friend that God requires absolute and unswerving obedience to his law (Dt 28:1, 58, 59) and that this is not something we can achieve on our own – this is why God sent his Messiah, Jesus!

We should point out that Jesus is the fulfilment of all that the Jewish prophets foretold: Christianity is Jewish in its origins. The following Messianic prophecies are not only helpful, surprisingly they are actually not well known by most Jewish people…

Isaiah 7:14: The Messiah would be born of a virgin

Micah 5:2: The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.

Isaiah 52:13-53:12: The Messiah is the Righteous Servant of God who would fulfil the role of High Priest by making intercession for transgressors (53:12) is also the sacrifice who, like the scapegoat on Yom Kippur (Lev 16:20-22), carries away sins (53:4,6,10,11,12) but that he would rise again from the dead (53:11).

Psalm 22:1, 6-8, 16-18: The Messiah was to be forsaken, mocked and his hands and feet were to be pierced.

Daniel 9:25, 26: The Messiah had to appear before Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed. https://www.cwi.org.uk/news/2018/7/10/blog-headline-376gb-l37hz-783ds

Summary

God has chosen Israel as his people, his ‘treasured possession’. God knew that Israel would rebel against him and reject him. Even though this happened, God has not rejected his people. He continually reaches out to them faithfully because he loves them. God has always left a faithful remnant through the Old Testament and through the New Testament for his people to listen to. God continually has a faithful remnant of Jewish people that he calls to himself. God has a plan for Israel in the future.

Discussion questions

As you consider God’s love, grace and faithfulness to his chosen people Israel, what thoughts come to mind?

God has not rejected his people the Jews and God has not rejected us. How does this make you feel? Spend time in prayer thanking him. 5