Romans 11:5

3 ^a“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?

4 But what does the divine response say to him? ^a“I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

5 ^aEven so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6 And ^aif by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.¹ But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

7 What then? ^aIsrael has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were ^bblinded.

8 Just as it is written:
^a“God has given them a spirit of stupor,
^bEyes that they should not see
And ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.”

9 And David says:
^a“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.”

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
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What Does Romans 11:5 Mean?

Romans 11:5

This spiritual remnant is what several New Testament writers term "the elect," those who have been called and chosen by God through grace. These "elect" have received what Israel did not: spiritual redemption, salvation, a relationship with God, and so forth.

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
The Remnant

Romans 11:2-5

What is important to us here is the principle Paul extracts from the incident. The words "even so then" draw our attention to God's calling and election.

In Elijah's day, Israel was almost totally idolatrous. The prophet challenged Israel, saying "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but Baal, then follow him" (I Kings 18:21). He contested the 450 priests of Baal, and he counted Jezebel, Israel's queen, as a personal enemy. Elijah became discouraged, feeling totally alone in fighting these battles. To encourage him, God tells him He had divinely preserved seven thousand men from idolatry, bringing them to the knowledge of the true God. He had done this, not because they were special, but solely by His influence and agency. Elijah was not even aware of them!

In like manner—even so—there is today a remnant according to the election of grace that God has reserved for Himself, not because they are special, but solely by His influence and agency. There is no indication anywhere that God chose us because we already had faith or any other redeeming quality that forced His hand to call us.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Sovereignty of God: Part Seven

Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Romans 11:5:

Matthew 13:31-33
Matthew 20:16
John 6:44
Romans 5:2

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What Does Romans 11:5 Mean?

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