GOD'S MINORITY
Romans 11:1‑10
What about the people of Israel? Has God abandoned the nation of Israel? Does the nation of Israel have a place in the future plans of God? These are questions being asked often by the students of the Bible in our day. Anyone who attempts an answer to these questions without giving careful consideration to Romans 11 cannot give a full answer. This is an inspired consideration of these very questions.

The question came up because of the Jewish response to the Gospel. As a whole, in spite of the initial response, the nation of Israel rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Already we have considered Paul's explanation of this rejection as it relates to divine sovereignty and human responsibility. But before us in this chapter is a consideration of this rejection as it relates to the present and the future of Israel.

When I studied Romans under Dr. Curtis Vaughan in Seminary, he outlined the chapter along three lines. The rejection of Israel is partial (11:1‑10). This is the part we will consider this morning. The rejection of Israel is being over‑ruled for good (11:11‑22). The rejection of Israel is temporary (11:23‑32). In the end the Apostle actually predicts the acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Messiah by the nation of Israel.

In the part of the text we are considering this morning, the Apostle indicates that the rejection of the nation of Israel is not total, but is only partial. He then develops the doctrine of the remnant, or what I am calling God's minority. The present condition of the nation of Israel is such that even now God has a minority in the midst of the nation though the majority of the nation is hardened and blinded to the claims of Christ. There is a real note of encouragement to be found in the consideration of this doctrine of God's minority. While this is true of the nation of Israel, the same is true within Christendom as a whole. Within the larger confines of the Christian movement, much of which has no true spiritual light, there is always God's minority, His true people whom He foreknew.

GOD'S MINORITY IS PRESENT IN EVERY AGE
God has never been without a people. He has had a few close calls along the way, but He has always had His people. At one time He only had eight in His minority, but He did have Noah and his family though the whole world was given over to sin and evil. In Sodom and Gomorrah it got down to one man, but God still has His people.

In spite of the fact that the vast majority of the nation of Israel has rejected the claims of Jesus Christ, and consequently has been rejected by God Himself, there is still present within the nation of Israel a small minority that belongs to God. They have always been, and will always be there.

Paul begins the chapter with the question, "Hath God cast away his people?" His answer is an immediate rejection of the idea. His first proof that God has not totally put away the nation of Israel is his own testimony. He points to himself as being a member of a minority that has kept alive the promises of God to the nation of Israel. "For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." As long as there are physical descendents of Abraham who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Messiah, the rejection of the nation cannot be counted as complete or total.

The next line of proof is a matter of history from the Old Testament. In the day of the prophet Elijah, things looked terrible for the purpose of God. In a moment of deep discouragement Elijah became convinced that he was the only faithful soul left in all of the northern kingdom of Israel. He cried out to God against the nation concerning their killing of the prophets, and their tearing down of the altars of the Lord. His conclusion was "I am left alone, and they seek my life." When Elijah saw the rage of Jezebel, he thought that God's minority was about to be wiped out. But then God answered, "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal." Take careful notice of the language used: God has kept, He has preserved these seven thousand men for Himself. The sign that they compose God's minority is that they have refused to bow before any besides the living God.

It is always this way. Even now in the nation of Israel, there are a number of true believers. When compared with the nation as a whole, they are a true minority‑‑‑but they are still there.

There have been those moments in Christian history when things have looked dark. There have been times when it looked like true Christianity might perish from the earth, but at every point there has been a small minority through whom God has carried out His purpose.

GOD'S MINORITY 1S CHOSEN BY GRACE
How do you explain the continuance of this minority? Why is it that at every point in time, no matter how dark, God still has His minority? Grace! "Even so then at this present also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." The remnant of believing Jews that constituted God's minority within Israel was there because of God's gracious choice of them. God chose them for Himself.

This opens a new insight into history. How do you explain the unusual strength of character of an Elijah, and the seven thousand, or a Paul and his companions? Did they step out from the majority to form God's minority because they were better men, more spiritually alert, more religiously inclined? Never! They stepped out to become God's minority because of God's gracious choice. God had taken the initiative to do a work in their lives. The strength with which they braved the disapproval of the majority is an expression of God's sufficient grace.

"And if by grace, then it is no more works: otherwise grace is no more grace." This is a helpful footnote added by the Apostle. Grace and works are mutually exclusive. That which is based upon works must be a matter of merit. That which is based upon grace cannot take works into consideration. It is either grace or works, but never both. If works are brought in in any way, then grace ceases to be grace.

Whenever you encounter an Israelite who has accepted Jesus as his Messiah, and has become a disciple of the Lord Jesus, how do you explain it? Do you just consider him more enlightened than the rest of his fellow Jews? Absolutely not! You give God the praise because you know He has chosen and saved this person out of His grace. The presence of such a minority is evidence of God's grace. Did not Paul explain, "I am what I am by the grace of God.''

However this same truth is applicable to God’s entire minority. We are included among the group not on the basis of our works, but by the choice which God has exercised in grace. It is all of grace from beginning to the end.

GOD'S MINORITY IS RESPONSIVE TO GOD'S TRUTH
What is the chief characteristic of this minority which belongs to God? The thing featured by the Apostle is their openness and responsiveness to the truth of God. "What then? Israel hath not obtained it, and the rest were blinded." The majority and the minority are set over against one another. The thing that marks the majority is their blindness, or better their hardness. The word is used of that which is callused. The Apostles then proceed to quote text after text from the Old Testament which shows that the hardness of heart present in Israel was God's judicial response to their refusing to hear His Word when it came to them. When they refused to see, God made them so they could not see. When they refused to hear, God made them so they could not hear.

But the point I want us to see is the thing that marked God's minority in contrast. They did not have hard hearts. They have seeing eyes, and hearing ears. They are responsive and obedient to the truth of God. This is the chief thing that characterizes them.

As it relates to Israel, the difference is evident. The minority that God has kept for Himself obey the Gospel when they hear it. They believe that Jesus is their Messiah. They believe that His death was sufficient for their sins. They accept God's offered gift of righteousness while the majority refuses to believe.

As it relates to us Gentiles, the application is exactly the same. You can pick out God's minority by the response they have made to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who belong to the minority have believed and obeyed the Gospel. They have responded to it with a whole heart. Those who have not so responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ are not in God's company, the true minority.

This great passage should draw our attention to the God of grace who is at work in this world. Nothing is going to defeat the purpose of God. He will accomplish that which He has set out to do.

It is a solemn reminder of the seriousness of your response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is absolutely nothing but judgment and rejection ahead for those who spurn the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To be among God's own, you must obey the Gospel.

Thank God, He never forgets His own. He knows exactly how many He has. He has them numbered and placed. Are you a part of God's minority? Praise Him for the privilege! Would you like to be part of God's minority? Commit your life to Jesus as Lord and so give public confession today.