Skip to main content

Romans 11:5-6: So Too At The Present Time There Is A Remnant, Chosen By Grace


Romans 11:5–6
[5] So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. [6] But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. (ESV)

God always has a remnant. In every generation there are a people set apart for God's glory. As Paul showed us in the previous verses Israel had a remnant of people who had not bowed their knee to false idols. God had to reassure the great prophet Elijah about this remnant. In verse 5 of our text Paul speaks of a remnant. He prefaces his words about the remnant by saying, "at the present time."

Paul is saying that there continues to be a remnant of those who belong to God, but clearly something has changed. What is the difference? Grace. In the past those who were followers of God were known by their works. They were seeking to obey God's Law. They lived by the Law. This new remnant of believers is set apart by grace.

Paul was preaching to people who had placed their faith in Jesus Christ. No longer would they look to the Law for salvation. They knew that their works would not be sufficient for their salvation. Only the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross would be able to save them. This was true for Jews and Gentiles alike. If there were to be a Jewish remnant it would have to be on the basis of grace.

I love how Paul re-emphasizes that if it is by grace, then it is naturally no longer by works. This sounds extremely obvious, but we have to realize that the Jewish faith was so firmly attached to righteousness by works that this idea of grace was a shock to the system. They would constantly need to be reminded to place their faith in Jesus' work and not their own works.

Just like the Jews of Paul's day, we all are tempted to place merit in our own efforts. Ask the Lord to help you to look to him alone for your righteousness. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

James 2:18: I Will Show You My Faith By My Works

James 2:18 [18] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV) There are certain things in life that go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Double stuff Oreo cookies and milk. Faith and works. James raises the point that someone might argue that faith and works can be separated. "One will say, "You have faith and I have works." Is it ok for works to be separated from faith? James is making the argument that faith and works are not to be separated. James is saying to the one who has faith only, with no works, that he wants them to see his faith by his works. In other words, if you are going to claim to have faith, but have no works, you have no evidence of faith. If I am to believe that a person has genuine faith I can only see that by their works. Faith brings action. There are so many people to claim to have some kind of faith, yet when it comes down to it, their