Theory: God has rejected the Jews.
To reject this theory we would need to show a single example where it was not true.
The opening verses of our lesson today from Romans 11 take this challenge. Paul poses the question and then uses himself as the defining example that the theory is wrong. If God rejected the Jews and Paul is a Jew then Paul must have been rejected. But this is not the case, therefore, God has not rejected the Jews.
Paul goes on to point out that not only has God not rejected the Jews but God is trustworthy and faithful in His promises. Through many times of rampant sin and turning away from God, God exiled His chosen people. There were also times of other cleansing of sinfulness through everything ranging from conquering armies to plagues and even the ground opening up to swallow the tents of people. However, through it all, God has always retained a remnant, a select group of people who, not because of their amazing ability to follow the law more closely than anyone else but simply because of God’s plan, His mercy and His grace, that they were held back or set apart from the rest of the nation.
Since the day sin has entered the world, God has always retained and maintained a small group of people to stand apart and rebel against the sinful ways of the world. These small groups do not conform to the ways of the world or fall to the pressure to become like everyone else, but instead they are protected and held apart. From the world’s view these believers are the rebels.
God has never given up on His creation. The size of His rebel alliance has grown and shrunk at different times in the past. During Noah’s time it shrunk to 8 people on a boat. During the time of Elijah, he thought he was the last one, but God had preserved 6,999 others. In Revelation we learn of a time when there will be 2 witnesses, but even then, God’s rebel alliance is maintained.
To which group do you want to belong? Do you want to conform to the ways of the world and be like everyone else? As you look around, how is that working out for others? Would you rather be part of the remnant, God’s Rebel Alliance? Would you rather be part of a small group that believes and holds together to fight evil and spread the good news or be another gear in the evil empire that is this sinful world?
My Answers:
3.
Theorem: God rejected them, Proof as false: Paul is a jew and God did not reject Him. God told Elijah that God had reserved a remnant for Himself
4.
A remnant is a scrap or remaining piece of fabric when all else is used. God chose and preserved a remnant for Himself and for His purposes
5.
They were not chosen because they were the best Jews, but because God had grace on them and set them apart for His holy purposes
The Notes are Good 