Paul's Epistles Part 26 – The Remnant of Israel

Paul's Epistles

Part 26 – The Remnant of Israel

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

We are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. In Chapter 10 we looked at Paul telling us about Righteousness.

Today we will take a look at The Remnant of Israel.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Romans 11:1-10

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. ² God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 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”? ⁴ And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ⁵ So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. ⁶ And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

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, ⁸ as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
    eyes that could not see
    and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.”

⁹ And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,
    a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
¹⁰ May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
    and their backs be bent forever.”

                   I.            THE REMNANT

a.      Did God reject the Israelites?

                                                                         i.      No.

                                                                      ii.      Paul explains he is an Israelite, seed of Abraham, from the Tribe of Benjamin

                                                                   iii.      It isn't God rejecting the Israelites, rather, they reject Him

                                                                     iv.      Just as Paul once did

b.     Predestined remnant

                                                                         i.      However, Paul explains God has 'predestined' a remnant

                                                                      ii.      Not as Calvinism teaches, rather the number of those who remained true was revealed, not "who".

c.      Chosen by Grace

                                                                         i.      These were "reserved", because they did not reject God and bow to Baal.

                                                                      ii.      Showing us that TRUE faith ALWAYS has an attachment of SPIRITUAL ACTION.

                                                                   iii.      What the scripture refers to as "Doers of the Word"

               II.            REBELLION AND UNBELIEF

a.      Salvation by Grace alone

                                                                         i.      Because they did not turn on God, and worship false idols, they received God's Grace.

                                                                      ii.      Salvation by Grace, not merit.

b.     The elect obtained it

                                                                         i.      Why were they "the elect"?

                                                                      ii.      Because they remained faithful to God.

                                                                   iii.      These were those who did not try to obtain salvation through works.

c.      The rest received what they wanted

                                                                         i.      Because some turned to Baal, rejected God, or tried to obtain Salvation by works, they strived to remain blind and deaf to the Truth, which was plainly given to them.

                                                                      ii.      So God allowed them to receive what they worked for...a spirit of slumber (stupor).

                                                                   iii.      Deaf and blind to plain truth.

                                                                     iv.      Which continues to this day.

1.      Because the problem will not correct itself!

2.      Sin can only be defeated by turning to Christ.

            III.            THE SNARE AND TRAP

a.      Their table made a snare, a trap & stumbling block

                                                                         i.      So the blessings God gave them meant to lead them and provide for them, becomes a trap because they reject God.

b.     Their blessings became retribution

                                                                         i.      Such as the land God promised the Israelites

1.      Promised to Abraham in Genesis 15

2.      Renewed to Isaac & then Jacob in Genesis 28

3.      The land given to the descendants of Moses after they left captivity in Egypt in Deuteronomy 1:8

                                                                      ii.      What has the blessing and promise of God become for those who have rejected Him?

c.      They strived to be blind and deaf, so they received

                                                                         i.      And as Paul states in scripture, he too was once blinded by his zealous trek for the God he thought he knew.

                                                                      ii.      But it was not until he came to Jesus Christ, that his eyes and ears were open to the truth.

Paul has explained, in scripture today that, God in no way rejected, or turned His back on the Israelites, rather, they rejected Him, and if any would return, they would be accepted by Grace, not merit.

For the ones who rebelled and did not believe, they did not receive Grace and Salvation, rather, the very things God blessed them with in life, became their snare. Their blessings became a trap and stumbling block which caused them to continue to be blind and deaf to the very truth, even when plainly presented.

And will continue from generation to generation, and can only be broke by the acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah. As with Paul, who uses himself as an example of how one who is an Israelite, unless he come to Christ, is forever lost.

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