verse 2, We have already discussed that, “Foreknew”, is technical related to, “the elect”, but now, in the same verse, Paul, immediately opens up his next element of his teaching which is about a remnant. In Romans 9 verse 27, Paul, quoting Isaiah says, “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved“. So Romans 11 verse 2, gives us further explanation as to what God is doing. You will of course recall, or read now in 1 Kings 19. This is where Elijah is complaining that the prophets had all been killed, but God tells him that he has kept a remnant of 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Ba’al.
verse 5, “So too at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace, and if by grace it cannot be based on works. If it were then grace would no longer be grace”
There is here a line of demarcation. Grace and works, salvation and loss. This is not dependent on, “The nation”, but grace and faith. Whislst Grace separates out a group of people, it does not in itself destroy the nation, but rather sees only some saved. Here again is something awkward for those who say without reference to graceand faith that, “All Israel will be saved”. We must view all of what the Bible says. Confused Israel tried by there own zeal to obtain something which they did not. This demarcation definitely splits Israel into two groups and, in the illustration of the olive tree, breaks off and casts aside, those who are not of faith, in order that others, who had not sought or even known in the way that the zealots knew, about God, may then be grafted in.
The number of those reserved by God, in the days of Elijah, was 7,000. What I am about to say is intended as a note, but the evidence is somewhat scant, its source being in those revelatory scriptures where interpretation is diverse. So for the time being I will share just this one thought on the matter. Revelation chapter 7 is, I believe a real vision of what was happening at the formation of the Church. Of Israel there are specific numbers because thay are a chosen remnant. Like Elijah’s 7,000, we now have 144,000 who are from Israel only and are sealed before anything else happens. These are, (tous doulous tou Theou emon), “The servants of our God”. only from the twelve tribes. verse 9 , “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God,who sits on the throne,and to the Lamb.” When Paul speaks in Romans 11 verse 5, I see the specific numbers and the opening up to include every tongue and tribe and nation, now mingling, previous servants having been sealed and now no distinction between Jew and Gentile.
I want to finish this post with Romans 11 verse 7 This is very stark and pulls no punches. verse 7, “What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened”. (porosis), is the word which the Greeks used. It emblazens its own graphic imagery. Un-nourished brittle and breaks easily. ??