A REMNANT JEW IN TIME OF GRACE
EXPOSITION IN ROMANS 11 (Part-1)
By: Bishop Albert Gran
Romans 11King James Version (KJV)
11 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.
2 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.
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.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
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 it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Romans 11 is one most fascinating chapter which contains Paul's recent directives regarding the status and condition of the nation Israel. It Is God's most recent revelation in the time called "But Now" to delineate with Paul what seems to be a doctrine purports along Israel's current standing in the dispensation of grace.
In verse 1, Paul stated a remark that being a Benjamite (as his particular tribe) he then avail the privileged blessing of God's care by including him in the heavenly provision of God's most recent plan in this dispensation of grace.
11 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
It is to reiterate the fact that in our recent dispensation of grace, any Jew regardless of tribe could also have access of blessedness same as Paul the apostle to the Gentiles had obtained. However, it is in the condition wherein the "mystery truth" is in view and no longer the "nation-emphasized" view of obtaining blessings which is the Abrahamic covenant "I will bless----I will curse" principle.
2 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.
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.
We have to be very clear that the essence through which Paul declared the issues of election to Israel has no emphasis to mean the prophecy about them was fulfilled in the time of Paul when wrote these things about Israel in respect to God's election with them. It has an illustration stating similar condition under the dispensation of grace that Israel could also obtain salvation by the grace of God if they would hearken to Paul's "my gospel".
Again, Paul made it clear that although he spoke these things concerning the nation of Israel as God's elect, yet he spoke about their election of grace after their fall. It means to say that it's no longer in view of getting saved through the truth of circumcision and or by being servant of the law according to the law and the prophets, but their becoming remnant speaks in wise concerning what they avail in the time when Paul had received a new revelation and set him a pattern as a Jew who is saved by grace without works. They were called remnant according to the election of grace.
Again, Paul made it clear that although he spoke these things concerning the nation of Israel as God's elect, yet he spoke about their election of grace after their fall. It means to say that it's no longer in view of getting saved through the truth of circumcision and or by being servant of the law according to the law and the prophets, but their becoming remnant speaks in wise concerning what they avail in the time when Paul had received a new revelation and set him a pattern as a Jew who is saved by grace without works. They were called remnant according to the election of grace.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
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 it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Paul here proved the fact that IN THIS PRESENT TIME, Israel could still avail the salvation after their NATIONAL FALL. It's a measure to consider what reigns today and the gospel in view is that which was preached by the apostle Paul for all lost sinners in this world including the Jews. There is no nation so special by God today and thus, he made all men place in a conclusion to be all in unbelief and need so great salvation from God.
When a Bible teacher teaches you that Paul is talking about the nation Israel which is still in view in Paul's epistles and that there's neither changed happened in God's dealing, then they had taught a false notion about God's plan with Paul.
Israel had been a recipient of God's grace today trough the mystery truth which was made secret by the sons of men in time past.
It's only the grace of God which is no more of works that made today's Israel spared for the wonderful and blissful fate in the ages to come in the heavenly.
When you look after a remnant Jew in our time, it's he who was saved by the grace of God.
Grace and Peace...
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