Bullet Point Bible

God Has Not Rejected Israel: The Remnant

¹ So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.² God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew! Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?³ "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left and they are seeking my life! "⁴ But what was the divine response to him? " I have kept for myself 7,000 peoplewho have not bent the knee to Baal ."⁵ So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.⁶ And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.⁷ What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was diligently seeking, but the elect obtained it. The rest were hardened,⁸ as it is written,⁸ " God gave them a spirit of stupor,⁸ eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear ,⁸ to this very day. "⁹ And David says,⁹ " Let their table become a snare and trap,⁹ a stumbling block and a retribution for them;¹⁰ let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see,¹⁰ and make their backs bend continually. "

Paul emphatically denies that God has permanently rejected the Jewish people (Romans 11:1).
Paul uses himself (an Israelite, descendant of Abraham, tribe of Benjamin) as initial evidence against Israel's total rejection (Romans 11:1).
God's foreknowledge is linked to His faithfulness; He knew His people beforehand and hasn't cast them off (Romans 11:2).
The example of Elijah highlights that even in times of great apostasy, God preserves a faithful remnant (Romans 11:2-4).
God's response to Elijah (1 Kings 19:18) shows His sovereign action in preserving faithfulness (Romans 11:4).
This historical precedent applies to Paul's time: a "remnant chosen by grace" exists among Jews who believe in Christ (Romans 11:5).
The remnant's existence is purely by God's grace, not based on their works or merit, reinforcing Paul's core theme (Romans 11:6).
While the elect (the remnant) obtained righteousness, the majority of Israel were "hardened" (Greek: *epōrōthēsan*), indicating spiritual insensitivity (Romans 11:7).
Paul cites Old Testament passages (Isaiah 29:10; Deuteronomy 29:4; Psalm 69:22-23) to show this hardening is consistent with scriptural patterns of Israel's response to God (Romans 11:8-10).
The hardening is presented as both a consequence of Israel's rejection and a divine judgment (Romans 11:8).

Gentile Inclusion and Israel's Stumbling

¹¹ I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.¹² Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring?¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,¹⁴ if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.¹⁵ For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?¹⁶ If the first portion of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches.

Paul clarifies that Israel's stumbling over Christ is not final or irreversible (Romans 11:11).
A key purpose of salvation extending to the Gentiles is to provoke Israel to jealousy, ultimately leading some back to God (Romans 11:11, 14).
Israel's "transgression" (rejecting the Messiah) paradoxically resulted in "riches for the world" (salvation offered widely to Gentiles) (Romans 11:12).
Paul anticipates an even greater blessing for the world when Israel experiences "full inclusion" (their future restoration) (Romans 11:12).
Paul directly addresses Gentile believers, emphasizing his specific calling as their apostle (Romans 11:13).
His ministry to Gentiles has a secondary goal: the salvation of his own Jewish people ("my people") (Romans 11:14).
The contrast between Israel's current "rejection" (resulting in world reconciliation) and future "acceptance" highlights the magnitude of their restoration, described hyperbolically as "life from the dead" (Romans 11:15).
The metaphors of "first part of the dough" (firstfruits) and "root" likely refer to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) or the faithful remnant, implying a connection and potential holiness for the whole nation (the "batch" or "branches") (Romans 11:16).
This section establishes that God is using Israel's temporary setback for a wider purpose (Gentile salvation) which, in turn, is meant to influence Israel's future.

The Olive Tree: Gentiles Grafted In

¹⁷ Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root,¹⁸ do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.¹⁹ Then you will say, "The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."²⁰ Granted! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear!²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.²² Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God-harshness toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.²³ And even they-if they do not continue in their unbelief-will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.²⁴ For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?

Paul uses the allegory of an olive tree to illustrate the relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers.
The cultivated olive tree represents God's people, rooted in the patriarchs and God's covenant promises.
The "branches broken off" are Israelites who rejected Christ through unbelief (Romans 11:17, 20).
Gentile believers are "wild olive shoots" grafted into this tree, sharing in its spiritual nourishment ("richness of the root") (Romans 11:17).
This grafting is "contrary to nature," emphasizing it's purely God's gracious act (Romans 11:24).
Paul warns Gentile believers against arrogance ("do not boast") towards the broken-off Jewish branches (Romans 11:18).
Gentiles stand only by faith, not inherent merit, and should therefore "fear" – maintain reverent humility and faithfulness (Romans 11:20).
God's ability to remove the "natural branches" serves as a warning: Gentile standing is conditional on continued faith ("continue in his kindness") (Romans 11:21-22).
God demonstrates both "kindness" (to believing Gentiles) and "severity" (to unbelieving Jews) (Romans 11:22).
Crucially, Paul affirms God's power and willingness to graft the natural branches (Israel) back in if they turn from unbelief to faith (Romans 11:23).
The argument culminates: If God can graft wild branches contrary to nature, He can certainly restore the natural branches to their own tree (Romans 11:24).

The Mystery Revealed: All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵ For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.²⁶ And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:²⁶ " The Deliverer will come out of Zion;²⁶ he will remove ungodliness from Jacob .²⁷ And this is my covenant with them,²⁷ when I take away their sins. "²⁸ In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.²⁹ For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.³⁰ Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience,³¹ so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.³² For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.

Paul reveals a "mystery" (a previously hidden truth now revealed by God) to prevent Gentile conceit (Romans 11:25).
The mystery involves Israel's "partial hardening," which is temporary, lasting "until the full number of the Gentiles has come in" (Romans 11:25).
"Full number" (Greek: *plērōma*) refers to the completion of God's plan for Gentile salvation.
After this period of Gentile inclusion, "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26). "All Israel" likely refers to the nation corporately, signifying a large-scale future turning to Christ, not necessarily every single individual.
Paul supports this with OT prophecy (Isaiah 59:20-21; Jeremiah 31:33-34), linking Israel's salvation to the coming Deliverer and God's covenant faithfulness (Romans 11:26-27).
Israel currently stands in a paradoxical position: "enemies" concerning the gospel's immediate reception (benefiting Gentiles), yet "dearly loved" concerning God's election and promises to the patriarchs (Romans 11:28).
God's "gifts" (promises, blessings) and "call" (election of Israel) are "irrevocable" – He will not go back on His covenant commitments (Romans 11:29). This is a cornerstone of Paul's argument for Israel's future.
Paul draws a parallel: Gentiles received mercy through Israel's disobedience; now Israel will receive mercy through the mercy shown to Gentiles (Romans 11:30-31).
God's overarching plan involves demonstrating the universal reality of disobedience ("consigned all people to disobedience") to ultimately display His universal offer of mercy (Romans 11:32).

Doxology: To God Be the Glory

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways!³⁴ For who has known the mind of the Lord,³⁴ or who has been his counselor?³⁵ Or who has first given to God,³⁵ that Godneeds to repay him?³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.

Overwhelmed by the complexity and grace of God's plan for Jews and Gentiles, Paul bursts into a doxology (praise to God).
He marvels at the "depth" of God's attributes: riches (of grace/mercy), wisdom (in His plan), and knowledge (His understanding) (Romans 11:33).
God's judgments (decisions, ways of acting) are "unsearchable," and His ways (paths, methods) are "fathomless" (beyond human comprehension) (Romans 11:33).
Paul uses rhetorical questions from the Old Testament (Isaiah 40:13; Job 41:11) to emphasize God's absolute sovereignty and self-sufficiency (Romans 11:34-35).
No one can fully understand God's mind, advise Him, or place Him in debt (Romans 11:34-35).
The doxology culminates by affirming God as the source ("from him"), sustainer ("through him"), and goal ("to him") of all creation and history (Romans 11:36).
This profound statement of God's sovereignty and purpose concludes Paul's argument about God's plan for Israel and the Gentiles.
The final "Amen" affirms the truth and fittingness of this praise.
This doxology serves as a humble acknowledgment that while God reveals aspects of His plan, its full depth remains beyond human grasp, prompting worship rather than full comprehension.

The Bullet Point Bible

Romans 11