A Remnant Chosen by Grace (Romans 10:16-11:12)
John Parker, 16th October 2016Part of the Study of Romans series, preached at a Fordham Sunday Service service
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10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
10:18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
10:19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."
10:20 And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."
10:21 But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people."
11:1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
11:2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah--how he appealed to God against Israel:
11:3 "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me" ?
11:4 And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
11:5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
11:7 What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
11:8 as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day."
11:9 And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
11:10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."
11:11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
11:12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
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