Romans 11: Remnants and Grafting

Remnants and Grafting

In Romans 11:1-10, I was thrown off. Maybe I'm tired, but this whole chapter isn't one I can just read and make sense of based on my knowledge and understanding of the word. But when I came to the parts i didn't understand, I had two options: search for help or give up. In searching I used Dave Guzik's commentary, a video/audio selection from Chuck Smith and another video by Stephen Anderson, all on Romans 11. 

It starts off with a reflection of Elijah talking to God and god says that He has kept 7000 men who have not bowed a knee to Baal (a demon). That showed right there that since God kept 7000 for Himself that did not worship the demon, then there was a remnant (left over/remainder) that was saved by grace. This is the opposite of how the Jews were thinking during this time with a focus on works. This thinking still exists today with many thinking if they are good people and do good things, they will get into Heaven. But we have to remember what is stated in Romans 11:6, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." Those that did not seek after God had their hearts hardened so that they could not receive the Word. 

The second part of the chapter discusses the heavenly riches that the gentiles were able to receive due to the rejection of Jesus by the Jews. Had the Jews not rejected Jesus then the Gentiles may not have had as much of an opportunity to receive and hear the story of Christ (Romans 11:11-12). Paul warns people not to be prideful or boastful in the grace they have received (Romans 11:17-24).

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Romans 4: Works vs. Faith

Works vs. Faith

There was a belief that works provided salvation more so than faith. But as Paul has explained in Romans 4, by Abraham's example, his actions (such as circumcision) came from his faith in God. People (Pharisees and religious leaders) had things twisted. Paul explains to them that it was not Abraham's circumcision that made him faithful to God, but his faith in God is what led to him to be circumcised.

The same goes with us. It is not our works that will save us and give us salvation. We are blessed to have Jesus save us from the death of our sins so that we could be redeemed to God (Romans 4:7-8), before him people had to have faith in God as is. God had not sent Jesus yet so Abraham could not follow Jesus as the disciples could or as you and I can. But that still did not keep Abraham from having faith in God who came to later in human form as Jesus.

You can go to church every day of the week. You can feed every homeless person. You can care for every orphan and widow and  visit the sick, but without faith in God those works do not symbolize anything about the Kingdom of Heaven. As we will read later in James 2:26, faith without works is dead as the body is dead apart from the spirit.

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