IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

A Remnant Chosen by Grace

Date: Jun. 18, 2023

Passage

Romans 11:1-12 (ESV)

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written,

  “God gave them a spirit of stupor,
    eyes that would not see
    and ears that would not hear,
  down to this very day.”

And David says,

  “Let their table become a snare and a trap,
    a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10   let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
    and bend their backs forever.”

11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 11:5

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

Israel rejected the Christ, but God did not reject the people of Israel. As an Israelite, Paul accepted Jesus and he served God's mission on behalf of all Israel. God has always worked through a remnant of faithful people—not through the unbelieving majority. In his time, Elijah felt like the only person worshiping God while everyone else worshiped Baal. God told him that he was not alone. God's remnant was there. When Paul felt he was alone, he was reminded of the grace of God, which has never failed to sustain a remnant of believers.

God hardened the people of Israel. He gave them a spirit of stupor and blindness. But even though they rejected God’s Messiah, he did not reject them forever in return. God used Israel’s transgression to bring salvation to the Gentiles. God hoped to make Israel jealous enough to repent and return. If the world was blessed by Israel's failure, how much more will it be blessed when they come to Christ.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, help me to be mindful of your grace and live in hope.

One Word: One Word: Live as a remnant

Daily Bread

Jacob’s Blessings and Prophecies

Genesis 49:1-28

Key Verse: 49:10

  The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
    nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
  until tribute comes to him;
    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Read More

Intro Daily