Who is Israel-13

Remnant is that what remains after a seamtress uses most of her material on her project. It is the smaller scraps or unusable remains. A spiritual remnant is what is left after the unbelievers are removed. It is always smaller than the whole, from which it is taken. Now this gets worse as the remnant is often self-deceived in their own world and their own understanding of their position with God. This is a tragedy of immense deceit.

Romans 11:1  I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 11:2  God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 

This passage clearly takes place in Israel and pertains to those who have rejected God.

11:3  "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE." 

This clearly shows that these false Israelites, are not neutral to God but enemies of God.

11:4  But what is the divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL." 

Seven thousand out of millions is a very small percentage. How could it have gotten so bad? All of the miracles, all of God’s gifts, all of God’s servants crying out to them?

11:5  In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. 

11:6  But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 11:7  What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 

If you harden your heart, God may harden it permanently!

Rom 11:8  just as it is written, "GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY." 11:9  And David says, "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. 11:10  "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER."

We have seen these verses before, but they are still very chilling. God has blinded them in disbelief, yet He holds each one personally accountable to Him. They will be judged and condemned to Hell. This creates many questions, but the one thing we cannot question is God’s justice.

We will look at this remnant more next Saturday.