Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 11:1-6.

 

“¹  I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be!  For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

 

²  God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.  Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

 

³  “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”

 

⁴  But what is the divine response to him?  “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

 

⁵  In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.”  Romans 11:1-6. 

 

⁶  But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

 

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God saved for Himself “SEVEN THOUSAND MEN” at the time of Elijah.  God saved for Himself out of Israel “a remnant according to God’s gracious choice”  at the time Paul wrote Romans.  God still saves for Himself His Elect today.

 

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.  

 

This is grace.  But, it certainly is not “common grace”.