Salvation's Response: Humility
6/25/25 Bible Thought (Romans 11)
In Romans 11, the apostle Paul brings his comments on Israel (Ch. 9-11) to a close.
Although at the present Paul had great anguish over his people (Rom. 9:1-3) and his heart’s desire was that they be saved (Rom. 10:1) he likewise recognized that God wasn’t finished with them yet—this is the crux of chapter 11. God hasn’t altogether rejected every Jew. Not at all! Paul himself was Jewish (Rom. 11:1).
But again, the issue was that, “not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel” (Rom. 9:6). Being a true Israelite was a matter of faith in God, rather than ethnic heritage. As such, “God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew” (Rom. 11:2).
God had called a specific family that became a specific nation and people group, and through them came the Messiah (Rom. 9:4-5). God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable (Rom. 11:29).
What God established wasn’t about to be cast aside because God is a faithful, promise-keeping God. This is who He is and part of His nature. On page after page of the Bible He is presented as a God who both makes and keeps His promises. Even when His people failed Him perpetually, He remained steadfastly faithful through it all.
As such, the Israelites wouldn’t be entirely cast off. Rather, their disbelief in the Messiah opened the door for the Gentile inclusion:
“So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous” (Rom. 11:11).
As Paul unpacks the inclusion of the Gentiles, the goal of his writing is for us to revel in the mystery of the grace and mercy of God rather than to be boastful. To the Gentiles who were grafted in (first specifically in Rome) they have no occasion to boast against the Jews who rejected the Messiah.
For truly, salvation is a gift of grace and not works, “so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:9).
Salvation should humble us as we recognize it was a gift that was given, not a wage that was earned. It was the product of the incredible lovingkindness of our God who owed us nothing but eternal judgment.
So, how could I boast, save in the cross of Christ? (Gal. 6:14).
As Paul Washer has famously said, “You bring nothing to the table as regards your salvation except the sin that made in necessary.” Being grafted into the people of God and being His redeemed ought to never make us proud in any sense.
Rather than the Pharisee who thanks God that he’s not like others, we ought to keep the perspective of the tax collector: “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Lk. 18:13).
As someone once quipped, “Evangelism is one beggar showing another where to get bread.” Apart from the gracious intervention of God we’d all remain eternally distant from Him. Salvation is due to His work and His credit and we’re merely recipients of grace.
Let us then join with Paul and marvel at the mind-boggling mercy of God:
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ 35 ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ 36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:33-36).