Romans: God Always Saves a Remnant

What we have studied so far in Romans:

In 2023, we studied:

- Chapter 1: Paul’s Call to Preach the Gospel and the Corrupted Heart of Man
- Chapter 2: Man Is without Excuse
- The Seven Ways God Justly Judges:
- Chapter 3: Paul’s False Arguments Debunked

In 2024, we looked at:

- Chapter 4: Faith of Abraham
- Chapter 5: Being Justified by Faith
- Chapter 6: Newness of Life
- Chapter 7: New Law for us
- Chapter 8: Walk in the Spirit

In 2025, we started looking at the following chapters in Romans:

- Chapter 9: Those Who Are Called & God’s Sovereignty
- Chapter 10: Preaching the Word of Faith

This month and then following into 2026, we will be examining Paul’s teaching about grace as found in Romans, Chapter 11.

Chapter 11: God Always Saves a Remnant

1. Grace Reserves a Remnant
2. Israel provokes Gentiles to Grace
3. Being Grafted into the Branch
4. A Mystery: Blindness in Israel
5. Our Unsearchable God!

What is a Remnant?

From the American Dictionary of the English Language: ” . . . Residue ; that which is left after the separation, removal or destruction of a part. . . . That which remains after a part is done, performed, told or passed.”

It is leftovers or remainders – whether of daily food (Ruth 2:14, 18), food at the Passover (Leviticus 7:16-18), anointing oil (Leviticus 14:17), or even and especially people who survive a major disaster or have been preserved by God for His pleasure and purpose. As used in the Bible, it refers to a group of people who remain loyal to God after or during a time of hardship. There is special meaning to the remnant of believers that will exist in the last days when earth is at its worst right before Christ’s second coming.

The Bible is clear on this point. God always reserves for Himself a remnant of loyal believers during difficult, harsh, troubled times, and times of judgement. Let’s look at what Paul is saying – these are acts of grace on God’s part.

Grace Reserves a Remnant

Romans 11:1-6:

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is not more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

What is a remnant? We know about remnants most likely from cloth or material left over from a project. The scraps and cuttings are what we could not use in the making of that dress, or article of clothing, or curtain, etc. Some of these scraps Dad might take into the shop or garage for work rags. I use certain scraps for applying stain and oils on wood projects. Some are good for oil rags, for tool cleanup, or spills, etc. Almost all of these are considered disposable after several usages and are thrown away.

Some remnants can be saved and turned into smaller projects like pot holders or patchwork quilts.

God sees a remnant differently than we generally do because He sees a remnant as a special portion of a whole to be saved and preserved where the whole must be discarded. This is a hard saying and a difficult lesson to accept. The whole has become decayed, and only a few, a remnant, remain healthy or upright. The word and concept of a remnant occurs ninety-two times in the Bible (E-sword).

The first remnant in the Bible could be said to be Noah and his family and a select number of animals. They are saved through the flood as all the rest of humanity and the animal kingdom are destroyed so that God can start over with an upright family line.

The number of times that God has preserved for Himself a remnant gives rise to a principle in Scripture, the principle of the remnant. The principle is simple enough. Whenever God’s people stray from Him and won’t turn back and repent of their wicked ways, God will punish and often prune the bad fruit and sick branches, but preserve a remnant to be further cultivated so that the remaining members can grow, replenish, prosper, and bear much fruit.

With this background, Paul is addressing the concept of the remnant against the argument that God casts away all of Judaism and turned instead to the Gentiles to offer salvation. Please be clear on this point. The argument is an either/or binary argument. God has rejected the Jews and forsaken them and turned wholly to the Gentiles for salvation. Paul is going to address this idea as absolutely false and couldn’t be further from the truth.

Verse 1 Notes: “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”

When we look back at some of the previous chapters in Romans, specifically Chapter 9 and the last several verses (18-21), we might get the impression that God has wholly rejected the Jews.

What am I saying? That the gospel has most likely been preached in some form or fashion to the whole world.

Romans 10:16-21: “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”

Isaiah 65:1-3: “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;”

Remember that Paul is writing to the Church at Rome which is made up of both Jews and Gentiles, and such a conclusion would be very disconcerting to the Jewish members. So Paul, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, decides to remind them of the remnant principle.

Paul uses that super negative again that is translated, “God Forbid!” – may it never be so.

For starters then, Paul reminds them that he, himself, is a Jew and a prominent one at that. In a way, Paul is saying that you can’t get more Jewish than Paul! And if Paul is saved, and the Jews in Rome are saved, then, indeed, God has not cast off all the Jews.

Verse 2 Notes: “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession of God against Israel, saying.”

There’s that nasty word again, “foreknew”. God did not cast away His people that He foreknew. Pro-ginosko (Strong’s G4267): compound Greek word composed of pro (Strong’s G4253): before, above, in front of, before; and ginosko (Strong’s G1097): knowledge, perceive, understand. To know beforehand. This can mean foreordained or simply foreknew. What matters is that God knows who will be saved and had for Himself a preserved remnant that He knew about.

God’s foreknowledge includes the cross: Acts 2:22-24: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”

1 Peter 1:18-21: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”

To further this point, Paul uses another remnant example of Elijah found in 1 Kings.

Verse 3-4 Notes: “Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.”

1 Kings 19:9-18:

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Able-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Verse 5-6 Notes: “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.“

Isaiah 10:20-21: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall not more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.”

Lot was an example of a remnant saved from destruction (Genesis 19).

Jeremiah 23:2-3: “Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.”

Election of Grace (Seven Principles)

Before I discuss theses principles, I wish to remind you that our sovereign God has also elected to give mankind a free will. So many reject God despite His open invitation to be forgiven and received into the kingdom. Nevertheless, the concept of election is clearly taught in the Bible and cannot be ignored and dismissed.

If you need to, think of it this way: once we have decided to accept Jesus with our own free will, we realized that God was calling and wooing us all along; and now that we are saved, we are elected to our position by God.

1. The election of individuals to office or to honor and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also, were the apostles.

2. There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews:

Deuteronomy 7:6: “For thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”

Romans 9:4: “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;”

3. But in addition, there is an election of individuals to eternal life:

2 Thessalonians 2:13: “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

Ephesians 1:4-6: “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

1 Peter 1:2: “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

John 13:18: “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.“

4. The basis of election to salvation is the good pleasure of God:

Ephesians 1:11: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”

Matthew 11:25-26: “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.”

John 15:16-19: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name; he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (Romans 9:16, 21).

5. It is God’s sovereign grace that leads to faith and repentance:

Romans 11:5-6: “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more.”

Ephesians 1:3-6: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

6. All that pertain to salvation; the means as well as the end, are of God. Faith and repentance and all other graces are the exercises for a regenerated soul; and regeneration is God’s work, a “new creature.”

Ephesians 2:5-10: “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

2 Thessalonians 2:13: “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

2 Timothy 2:25: “In meekness instruction those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”

1 Corinthians 1:29-31: “That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

7. We are elected to the part of the following: “to salvation”, “to the adoption of sons”, “to be holy and without blame before Him in love”, and “to the praise of God’s grace”.

2 Thessalonians 2:13: “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

Galatians 4:4-7: “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son unto your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Ephesians 1:4-6: “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

Ephesians 1:11-12: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

I know that this subject bothers many Christians. But consider, aren’t you happy that you are part of a remnant that God’s foreknowledge called to eternal salvation by His grace, for His pleasure, and His glory that we should serve Him? I am. Without His calling me to salvation, I doubt that I would be saved today since the Scriptures clearly teaches that the heart of man is only desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).

May God Bless you!

Maranatha!

Bro. Joe

References

Meyer, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation.

Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1890)

Webster, Noah. Noah Webster’s First Edition of an American Dictionary of the English Language Facsimile Fifth Edition. San Francisco, CA now at Chesapeake Bay, VA: The Foundation for American Christian Education. 1987. (Original work published 1828)

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