1. R. Henderson 5/6/07 Lesson # 80 1 Romans 11:1 – 6 Has Israel been rejected ? 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. 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? 3 "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE." 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." 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

2. R. Henderson 5/6/07 Lesson # 80 2 Romans 11:1 - 6 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. rejected - apōtheō - "to thrust away" (apo, "away," otheo, "to thrust"), in the NT used in the Middle Voice, signifying "to thrust from oneself, to cast off, by way of rejection," - see Acts 7:27 and Acts 13:46 God has not rejected (thrust away from Himself) His people, has He ? Paul’s answer - May it never be! What reason is given by Paul in this verse ? For I (Paul) too am an Israelite and found favor see Phil 3:4-6 and Eph 3:8 aorist, indicative, middle

3. R. Henderson 5/6/07 Lesson # 80 3 Romans 11:1 – 6 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? foreknew - proginōskō - "to know before" (pro, "before," ginōskō, "to know"), is used of divine knowledge and human knowledge … Christ was foreknown 1 Pet 1:20 Church age believers are foreknown Rom 8:29 What does it mean that He (God) foreknew Israel ? see Amos 3:1-2 Elijah pleading with God follows in verses 3 and 4 aorist, indicative, active

4. R. Henderson 5/6/07 Lesson # 80 4 Romans 11:1 – 6 3 "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE." 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." See 1 Kings 19:9 -18 Elijah’s summary: God’s spokesmen killed, God’s place of worship gone, I’m the last one and I soon may be dead Where was Elijah’s focus ? But God says I have kept (reserved) for Myself – see 1 Peter 1:4 Can we as believers have Elijah’s focus?

5. R. Henderson 5/6/07 Lesson # 80 5 Romans 11:1 – 6 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. has come to be - ginomai - to become, to come into a new state of being remnant - leimma - "that which is left" (akin to leipō, "to leave"), "a remnant," is used in Rom. 11:5, "there is a remnant," i.e., there is a spiritual "remnant" saved by the gospel from the midst of apostate Israel. Vine Literally: A remnant came into being in past times with the result that there remains a remnant up into the present time according to a choice of grace This is by grace (unmerited favor) – not on the basis of works perfect, indicative, active

6. R. Henderson 5/6/07 Lesson # 80 6 Romans 11 v:1 to v:6 Summary God has not cast away Israel ! * Paul’s argument Paul was an Israelite and is living proof There has always been a remnant in the nation of Israel There is a remnant at the present time * from Hal Molloy’s Romans notes Dec. 1978

7. R. Henderson 5/6/07 Lesson # 80 7 What is Israel’s state today? 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 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." 9 And David says, "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. 10 "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER." Romans 10:7 – 10

8. R. Henderson 5/6/07 Lesson # 80 8 Romans 11:7 – 10 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained - refers back to Rom 9 & 10 9:31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. 9:32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 9:33 just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.“ 10:3 For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 10:21 But as for Israel He says, "ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE."

9. R. Henderson 5/6/07 Lesson # 80 9 Romans 11:7 – 10 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; How are we to view this hardening ? See Rom 1:24-26 They were hardened because they continually rejected * They did not reject because they were hardened aorist, indicative, active aorist, indicative, passive What does “it” refer to ? * from Hal Molloy’s Romans notes Dec. 1978

10. R. Henderson 5/6/07 Lesson # 80 10 Romans 10:7 – 10 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.“ see Isaiah 29:10 and Deut. 29:3-4 9 And David says, "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. 10 "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER." see Psalms 69:22-23

11. R. Henderson 5/6/07 Lesson # 80 11 Romans 11:7 - 10 Summary Israel is temporarily set aside (hardened)* They are seeking righteousness in the wrong way However the chosen (remnant) has obtained it The rest of Israel is hardened God foretold this in the Old Testament He would give them a spirit of insensibility David foretold Israel’s problem David spoke against Israel * from Hal Molloy’s Romans notes Dec. 1978