I. The Word: Romans 11:6-10
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. 7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written:
“God has given them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes that they should not see
And ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.”
9 And David says:
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
A stumbling block and a recompense to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,
And bow down their back always.”
II. Study Questions
1. Who were the “elect” according to Paul?
2. Why is Paul defending the Israelites?
3. What is the role of the Gentiles for Israel (nation and people)?
Justification by Faith is one of the central messages of Romans. One of my favorite theologians B. B. Warfield defined Justification by faith as:
“Justification by faith means, that is to say, that we look to Christ and to Him alone for salvation, and come to God pleading Christ’s death and righteousness as the ground of our hope to be received into his favor. Justification by Faith is nothing other than obtaining everlasting life by believing Christ.”
Paul does not stop emphasizing this important truth even when he is defending his brethren (Israelites). He reemphasizes justification by faith as the key mistake of the Jews who believed that their works would secure their salvation, while rejecting the Son of God. That being said, there were Jews who fully believed that Jesus was the Messiah, as Paul said in previous verses.
Paul’s point throughout Romans 11 is this: if God has rejected Israel, why did God save him (Paul)? If God has rejected Israel, why did he save Jews (a remnant)? This is Paul’s main argument to those who believed that God was finished with Israel. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, a jew, from the tribe of Benjamin defended Israelites, including those who did not believe in Jesus. Why?
Let’s think this way. Do you have unbelieving family members that you are praying for? How about a close friend? Would you ever give up praying for them or believing for their salvation? I hope your answer is “Certainly not,” as apostle Paul repeatedly said in conjunction with God’s rejection of Israel. Israelites, even though they have rejected Jesus, were Paul’s kinsmen, those who believed in the covenant, tradition and the law. This reveals heart of the apostle Paul, that his hope for Israel is that one day, they will see the One whom they pierced:
“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10, NKJV)
So what is our role as Gentile believers? Pray. Pray that God will open the eyes of the spiritual blindness of the Jewish people, that they may see our wonderful Savior. JY
City Life Starter 
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