A Remnant According to Grace
A Sermon on the Remnant from Romans 11:1-6
Originally preached Oct. 16, 1964
Scripture
1I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he …
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Romans 11:1-6 titled “A Remnant According to Grace,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues his exposition of the apostle Paul's answer to his rhetorical question "Has God rejected His people?" (Rom 10:1). The apostle, after having discussed the first proof that God has not rejected His people - the case of his own conversion - now turns to a second example from history; the case of Elijah. During the reign of wicked King Ahab and Jezebel, Elijah fears he is the only faithful one left in Israel and that all hope for God’s church is lost. Elijah cries out to God in alarm asking why it seems as though God has forsaken him and Israel. God responds by telling him that he has not forsaken him or Israel but that He has saved seven thousand for himself. Another instance Dr. Jones brings out in his sermon is when God brought Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah before he destroyed it. Some conclusions that Dr. Lloyd-Jones draws from this passage is that “we must learn to face every situation in life in a Scriptural manner.” Secondly, Dr. Jones also brings out the idea that we should never get involved too personally in such matters of the church; we must not sulk under our Juniper tree like Elijah and “let the devil persuade you that the church is yours. The church isn’t yours, but it is God’s.” Lastly, Dr. Lloyd-Jones persuades us to remember that even if the whole world is against us, we must not go along with the crowd, no matter the numbers. Thus, God’s purposes are sure and we must not worry. God will always keep His remnant.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is addressing whether God has rejected Israel in Romans 11:1-6.
- Paul asks rhetorically if God has rejected His people. Paul answers "God forbid" or "May it never be!"
- Paul cites himself as proof - he is an Israelite of Abraham and Benjamin, yet he is saved. So God has not rejected His people.
- God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. God knew His people in a special way.
- Don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleaded with God against Israel?
- Elijah said "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I alone am left, and they are trying to kill me."
- But what was God's answer to Elijah? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
- So too at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
- And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
- The rejection of Israel is not total. There is a remnant according to God's gracious choice.
- The remnant shows that God has not rejected His people as a whole. The remnant is part of the whole.
- It is God who preserves the remnant. He has "reserved" them and "elected" them by His grace.
- Grace means undeserved favor shown to the undeserving. It is all of God, not of man's works.
- If it is by grace, it is not by works; otherwise grace would not be grace. We are saved in spite of ourselves.
- The remnant is the result of God's sovereign choice and grace, not man's choice or works.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.