1. The Remnant
Often when we study the Old Testament and the New Testament the primary point we teach on is the DIFFERENCE between the covenants and laws. There was the law of moses – which has been upgraded and now we live under the law of Christ. There was a covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, a covenant that was renewed with David – and we talk about how this is FULFILLED in Jesus Christ.
And typically, this is sufficient to establish WHY Gentiles are now part of God’s kingdom and WHY we follow the commands of the NT instead of the OT.
But more than just a TRANSITION FROM the Old Law to the New Law – GOD wants us to understand how this impacts THE ISRAELITES – those people who by their very DNA are ethnic descendants of Jacob (aka Israel). To explain this part of the transition from Old to New – God uses the key term “the remnant”
We need to look into this not only because it is a significant Bible concept…but also because when we study this.
*Helps Us Understand How We Fit Into God’s Kingdom –To Increase Our Appreciation For the “Faithful Root” of Old Testament Heroes & The Humility We Should Have About Being Called Into God’s Family.
1.) The Remnant Demonstrates God’s Faithfulness To His People
2.) Demonstrates God’s Reliability In His Promises
3.) Demonstrates God’s Sovergeinty In Executing Such An Intricate Plan
4.) Demonstrates The Importance of Hearing & Believing The Gospel
The Central Passage for understanding this concept comes from Romans 9-11

2. Since Salvation Is In Jesus Christ & We Are Now Free From The Law of Moses… Does That Mean God Has Rejected or Abandoned Israel?
Let me just summerize Chapter 6, 7, and 8 ….
Paul has declared in Rom 1:16 that salvation comes by the power of the gospel and he goes about explaining this as part of God’s master plan…In ch 6 we learn about our freedom from sin. In ch 7 we learn about our freedom from the law of moses…in chapter 8 we learn about the wonderful life in the SPIRIT.
All of this sounds good – but there is one big objection to this that all of Paul’s jewish audience would be thinking to themselves – WAIT JUST A MINUTE – those blessings were promised to the descendant of Abraham! What is going on? Has God rejected Israel? Has God failed to keep His promises? How can this GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST be consistent with the well-known PROMISES TO ABRAHAM, ISSAC, & JACOB!?
Point: If you are going to stand up and claim that the one true God of the Scriptures is at work here – then you’ve got to show me how Israel fits into this picture!! Paul’s answer is in understanding the idea of a REMNANT. He addresses this in Chapter 9 – 11.
Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to eternal life through the knowledge….

3. History of The Remnant Isaiah: God Will Save A Remnant.
Jeremiah: A Portion of the Remnant Will Perish In Egypt For Rejecting God.
Ezekiel: Please, Preserve The Remnant.
Micah & Others: The Remnant Will Be Revived!
While Many Israelites Perished In Rebellion, “The Remnant” Describes The Faithful Israelites Who Were Saved & Restored.
Genesis 45:7 – “a remnant in the earth…”
ISAIAH – Speaking to Hezekiah….2 Kings 19:30-36
Isaiah 10:20-22
Jeremiah 42:2,19 and Jeremiah 44:12 - Egypt
Ezekiel 5:10 – “Scatter” and 11:13 “end?”
Micah 2:12 “gather the remnant…” 5:8,
REVIVED: God is not done with the Israelites yet… He still has great blessing planned for them. He is going to keep His promises, in fact, He is re-affirming His promise – Good Things are coming for those who are faithful descendants!

4. God’s Promises Have Always Been Contingent On More Than Biological Heritage.
Key Verse: Romans 9:6 (Also Galatians 3:29)
God Fulfilled His Promise Thru Isaac, Not Ishmael.
God Fulfilled His Promise Thru Jacob, Not Esau.
Even The Prophets Revealed That A Limited Sub-set of the Israelites Would Receive The Full Blessings of The Promise.
Romans 9:6 – point – they are measuring ISRAEL incorrectly. Not all biological descendants are God’s Israel. Israel are not those who share common DNA – but those that share COMMON FAITH – like the FAITH of Abraham!
Ishmael and Esau both went on to become great nations and both were given opportunity to be eternally saved – but they were NOT SELECTED as God’s instruments of bringing the Messiah into the world. That priviledge went to their brothers.

5. Paul’s Jewish Kinsmen Are Not Left Out…
Romans 9:30-33
Because The Law Leads To Christ
10:4
Because The Law Emphasizes Salvation Through Faith. FAITH, not ethnicity, is the deciding factor.
10:8-16
Because The Salvation of the Gentiles Should Stir Israelites To Immediate Action.
10:19-21

6. Israelites Who Respond To The Gospel Are The Remnant Today
Paul Uses Himself As A Prime Example
Romans 11:1
Paul Reminds Us That God Preserves More Than Appearances May Suggest
Romans 11:2-4
Unmistakable Declaration: “In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time, a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.” (Romans 11:5)

7. Like A Masterfully Cultivated Tree, We Share In The Holy Root.
Gentiles Are Grafted Into The Spiritual Family Tree. Vs 17-18
Anyone, Including Ethnic Israelites, Can Be Removed For Unbelief. Vs 19-22
God Is Eager To Graft The Remnant In Again. Vs 20-26
Vs 26 – All “with saving faith” will be saved – thus all Israel will be saved. This is the way he has been using the term ever since chapter 9.
Vs ** This plan seems strange to us – but it is more evidence of God’s awesome nature and eternal plan to make HIS MERCY and SALVATION available to all people.

8. The Remnant
As we said at the beginning of this lesson. Learning about the remnant *Helps Us Understand How We Fit Into God’s Kingdom –To Increase Our Appreciation For the “Faithful Root” of Old Testament Heroes & The Humility We Should Have About Being Called Into God’s Family.
1.) The Remnant Demonstrates God’s Faithfulness To His People
2.) Demonstrates God’s Reliability In His Promises
3.) Demonstrates God’s Sovergeinty In Executing Such An Intricate Plan
4.) Demonstrates The Importance of Hearing & Believing The Gospel
Are you here tonight and would like to be part of the FAMILY of God – whoever you are, God has made it possible, if you will come to HIM IN FAITH.
Repent of your sins.
Confess Jesus as our Savior
Be immersed in Baptism for your sins to be washed away.