Grace not Works

I find Romans 11 to be a very challenging chapter to interpret and apply.  I don’t think that I am alone in this.  The immediate context is God’s work among His people, Israel, yet Paul is writing to Gentiles about God’s work in Israel and then later in the chapter, among the Gentiles.  In the last chapter Paul has written about how, for the most part, Israel rejected Jesus. But in the first paragraph of chapter 11 we read that this rejection isn’t total.  Here are verses 1-6:  “ I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, ³ “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? ⁴ But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ⁵ Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. ⁶ And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.  But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.  Paul points out two evidences that God has not cast away Israel all together. First, he speaks of himself.  Paul was of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, yet Paul is a follower of Jesus.  Second, he quotes from the Old Testament where Elijah thought that he was the only true follower of God remaining and God reminds Elijah that there were seven thousand who followed Him.  Paul applies this to his time in saying that among Israel there is a remnant according to God’s election of grace.  He then points out the incompatibility of grace and works.  What I apply from this passage is that even in Israel, where most had not followed Christ, there was a remnant of believers, chosen by God.  Are they unique to Israel?  Perhaps.  They still must receive Christ in order to be a part of God’s family…but how that happens exactly I’m not sure.  Are there those who seem to have a more supernatural election than others?  I have no problem with that if that is the case. After all, based on Paul’s previous words, the one created has no valid argument against the Creator.  God can do whatever He wants and I am not going to question Him.  The dance between election and free will is one that I don’t fully understand. However, in today’s passage I will rejoice that God seems to have reached into the nation of Israel and chosen some to bring to Himself, in Christ.  He didn’t do that for all, but He did for some.  I’m OK with that.  I hope you are as well.