D. Israel’s Remnant (11:1-10)

God has not rejected Israel. Paul, himself an Israelite, is saved and is engaged in God’s work. Just as in the days of Elijah, God has a remnant who are faithful to him. Israel sought righteous standing before God, but they did not obtain it. Only the elect obtain that righteousness.

Some understand the elect as those arbitrarily chosen by God for salvation (Murray, 2:71-72). The rest of the Israelites are rejected. This interpretation, however, contradicts 9:1-4; 10:21; and 11:20, where Paul explicitly states their unbelief as the reason for their rejection. The correct understanding of election is this: God collectively elected Israel. This was God’s act of pure grace, not because of their works. However, the majority of them became unfaithful and missed out on God’s blessings. Those who remained faithful received the blessings and became the elect. The hearts of the others were hardened in the same sense that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened (see comment on 9:18).