Video Notes: 

• God is preserving a remnant of Israel just like He did with Elijah.
• In Elijah’s time Israel had turned from God. They were unresponsive and contradictory, just like many were in Paul’s day.
• The remnant preserved didn’t earn their status, it was by God’s choice according to grace, not works. The language here indicates the remnant has come to be and continues to exist.
• Many in Israel (according to lineage) failed to obtain what it was seeking, righteousness, because they tried to do so by their works and rejected the righteousness by faith. The elect (Israel by lineage who believed in Jesus), the remnant whom God graciously chose from before the foundation of the world, did obtain that righteousness by faith.
• The rest of Israel who rejected Jesus were hardened, but what does that mean?
  • First, the text implies that it is God doing the hardening.
  • The text, however, does not imply that the hardening, done by God, was done from the beginning of time as is indicated about the mercy for those God chose.
  • Here, as with so much in Romans, we need to be careful to keep the context of what is being said. Romans has already made it clear that God’s Word hasn’t failed, God’s Word went out and so the people heard it, and that they knew what that word was, but did not receive it in faith. They rejected it. Romans has also made it clear that God wants all of His chosen people of Israel to be saved and we have seen in Romans that the hardening God does is in response to the hardening people have already done in rejecting God (usually repeatedly).
  • So, this sense of hardening is God solidifying the people in the unbelief they did in actively resisting the Gospel.
• Deuteronomy 29:4 and Isaiah 29:10
• Psalm 69:22 – Even the good things become a trap and they remain in slavery.
• This hardening need not persist. Vs 11 They tripped over the stumbling block (Jesus), but need not remain fallen.
• The passage continues to say how because of the Jews’ rejection of the Gospel, the Gospel has gone out to the Gentiles leading to the salvation of many and fulfilling God’s promise to bring outsiders in. (Acts 13:44-45). Paul also says how he hopes the Gospel’s effect on the Gentiles will cause the Jews to become envious and turn back to God.
• The prodigal son.