WHEN GRACE IS NO MORE GRACE

Romans 11:2-6 God hath not cast away His people, which He foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias, how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, and digged down Thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life? But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

In the preceding chapter of this letter to the Roman Christians, Paul's message may have indicated that, in New Testament times, the Gentile people came into God's favor, and, as a nation, the Jewish people had been rejected by Him. As he begins this chapter, Paul assures them that this is not the case. He asks the question, Hath God cast away his people? To which he immediately answers, God forbid. For I am also an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. He clarifies any misunderstanding that may exist by using himself as an example of a Jew finding favor with God through His grace. Paul gives further assurance of this as he begins the lesson text.

Here he writes that God hath not cast away His people, which He foreknew. Further emphasis is made by referring to the prophet, Elijah, who, when he recognized their overall spiritual condition, assumed that all Israel had fallen from God's grace due to the idol worship brought to the Jewish nation through the influence of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. Elijah was convinced that he alone was faithful to God. And, because of his faithfulness, he feared they were trying to take his life. God corrected Elijah's misunderstanding by telling him that there were seven thousand men of Israel that had remained faithful who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal (See 1 Kings 19:1-18).

Paul uses this example to convince the Christians in Rome that, as in the times of King Ahab and Jezebel, the same was true at the time he wrote this letter. There was then, as now, a remnant of Jewish people that remained faithful to God and obedient to His will. All of this was by the election of grace (God's grace). In times past, if the heavenly Father God wrought vengeance on an entire nation, it was because the entire nation was vile in His sight, and totally rejected Him as their Creator and their God. However, God did not then, nor did He in the day of the apostle Paul, nor does He now, condemn an entire people for the sins some, whether most or only a few in number. If only one person is righteous in God's sight, and all other members of his family, tribe, or nation are totally given to evil, indeed, that person will enjoy, through the grace of God, eternal salvation in heaven. That is God's promise to mankind.

This, too, we are assured. The salvation of each and every person will come through God's grace. It cannot be earned by one's own deeds or merit. It is God's gift to His faithful children - their reward for obedience to His will. Paul told the Christians at Ephesus, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8-9). The most a person can do toward their own salvation is to hear, believe, and obey His calling, repent of past sins, believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior, be baptized into His body which is His church, and live an obedient life thereafter. These acts, which are commanded by God, are all that men and women can do to work out their own salvation. These acts are, indeed, necessary for our salvation, but it is God's grace by which we hope to gain eternal salvation. Our heavenly Father, Paul wrote to Timothy, hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9). Grace would no more be grace when, by the works of mankind, we have the ability to save ourselves in eternity. This can never take place!

Of this be assured, that God doesn't abandon His obedient children, rather the world abandons Him through disobedience. God is calling. Hear Him, believe Him, accept His Son, Jesus Christ as your Savior, and live an obedient life. Give God's grace a chance. It's the only hope you have for eternal salvation.