Romans 11:1-10
Insight…??!! Last week I posted a brief item on predestination, admitting that I knew little about the topic. That post was in reference to Romans 8:29:30, For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. However, a partial verse in today’s reading may offer insight into that particular predestination item: God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. (v. 2a) It looks like God’s “foreknowing” is with respect to the Israelite people. That is, they were his chosen people, from Abraham forward. So everyone born into Abraham’s line is one of those whom He foreknew. So going back to 8:29-30 we can now see that the Israelites whom He foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son… And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. It appears that these predestination items refer to the Israelites. It was His intent that they were all called, then justified and glorified. But not all accepted the call – only the “remnant” in Paul’s time. Insight?
As for that remnant, it’s why Paul refers back to Elijah, and from that Elijah item he reasons out the following verse: So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. (v. 5) It’s glorious how the Old Testament and New Testament confirm each other. Yeah, GLORY!
Slava Bohu!
I too picked up on v. 4 about the remnant, Elijah’s Hebrew true believers, then v. 5 about Paul’s contemporary Jews. And we also are part of a remnant of Christ believers chosen by grace, living in humble gratitude, not by pride in claims about our religious heritage.