Paul's letter to the Romans
A letter of the all sufficient love of God
Romans 11 - ASV
1. I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
It is not even right and permissible to speak ill of God.
God is good by reason and by reality.
2. God did not cast off his people which he foreknew. Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he pleadeth with God against Israel:
God knew His people before they came to existence.
A reminder of importance and steadfastness of scriptures. Its historical record is trustworthy.
3. Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
A portraiture of the wickedness of Israelites, a reflection of the hostility of the world.
4. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
The answers of God is unexpected. God is in control.
5. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
The election is based on grace.
We are chosen by God straightly not on our own merit. We did not work for grace. Our election is not based on our works.
God is our sovereign Lord.
6. But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
The "if" draws us to examine the issue.
Grace does not work(go hand in hand) with works.
You do not need donation/gifts if you can and have earned it.
Have you earned eternal life? Is it yours?
Have you saved yourselves?
Have you prevented falling into sin? Did you sin at all?
Why if works can help? When is works not enough/sufficient?
Why half half, if you can rely on works?
7. What then? that which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened:
Israel(Jacob) did not obtain salvation through works.
He and all others obtained salvation through election; the initiation of God. Other men were hardened because of election.
8. according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.
God is in control.
People act the way they are allowed to act.
God will bring in His harvest at the time of fruition.
9. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:
All are to the glory of the Most High. All shall take place at their proper time.
10. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their back always.
You are what you desired. You receive the consequence of your thought and deeds.
Humble yourselves.
11. I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
12. Now if their fall, is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
13. But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;
God is reaching out to all people.
Israelites do not resent bringing salvation to all people.
14. if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them.
May the chosen people turn to their true Lord while His mercy reaches all other people.
Repent and be forgiven.
15. For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
The certainty is life from the dead, for anyone who would turn to the Lord.
God has left out the sins of the repented ones.
16. And if the firstfruit is holy, so is the lump: and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
God has set apart His chosen people.
All His chosen ones will be saved by the end.
17. But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree;
18. glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.
19. Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20. Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21. for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee.
22. Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
The fear of the Lord is beginning of wisdom.
Work out your salvation in fear and trembling.
23. And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
Believe and be grafted in. Believe not and be cut out.
There is time in the hand of God.
24. For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
God is able. He is in control.
Sinning Israel is cut out for a while. The Lord has not forsaken them completely.
25. For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;
The mystery is revealed by the will of God. No need for unnecessary guess work.
The hardening in part is the mercy of God. Not all people of Israel will reject God until the last moment. It is possible for part of Israel to come to the Lord during the time of the Gentiles.
26. and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
The true people of God shall be saved. Even the deliverer came from Zion.
The ungodliness of the chosen shall be turned away.
Those who are of sin will remain unsaved.
27. And this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins.
The true complete covenant is yet to be fulfilled. God will turn to His chosen people Israel again.
28. As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sake.
God allows them to be enemies so as to place emphasise on the gospel to the gentiles.
The chosen people have become a spectacle to the world.
God has not forsaken them, His beloved.
The gentiles are not better people. It is just that God has planned to turn His mercy towards the gentile world for a time. There is no room for boasting. All events are within His control.
29. For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of.
It is all so possible to resist and reject the gifts and calling of God.
People even refuse to turn from their own sins/trespasses.
30. For as ye in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,
The truth of God's revelation proved in human history, from our own memories.
The mercy of God is emphasised in the midst of gentiles while the chosen people/race exercise their disobedience.
31. even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy.
32. For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.
33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
His decision is beyond our coverage.
He initiated all. We could not catch up to them all.
34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor?
Who has worked the work of God?
35. or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Works? Did you produce for Him first?
What is that you have done above sin/rebellion/disobedience?
Did He not first commanded you to obey? He initiated that which is to be done?
What had He loss that you gave back to Him before it is required?
36. For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.
All about Him. All linked to Him.
All belongs to Him.
All praises and attributes ought to be directed to Him. All good results are produced/worked out by Him. Return to the source.
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