What does "the elect obtained it" teach about God's grace and mercy? Setting the Scene Romans 11:7: “What then? What Israel was seeking, it has not obtained, but the elect obtained it. The rest were hardened.” • Israel as a nation earnestly pursued right standing with God through law-keeping (Romans 10:2–3). • Paul contrasts two groups: Israel as a whole failing to obtain righteousness, and “the elect” who do obtain it. • The issue is not effort but grace; God grants what human striving cannot secure. Who Are “The Elect”? • Those God graciously chooses to receive salvation (Ephesians 1:4–5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). • Defined by faith in Christ, not ethnicity or personal merit (Romans 9:24; Galatians 3:28–29). • Their election fulfills God’s ancient promise that a remnant would believe (Isaiah 10:22; Romans 9:27). Grace Highlighted in the Word “Obtained” • “Obtained” (Greek: epitygchánō) signals a gift reached, not a wage earned (cf. Romans 4:4–5). • Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved… not by works, so that no one may boast.” • God’s grace secures the end of the search: the righteousness Israel sought but could not achieve is delivered freely to the elect. Mercy Displayed in Divine Choice • Romans 9:15-16: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy… it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” • Titus 3:5: “He saved us, not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy.” • Election showcases mercy because God passes over deserving judgment and grants life (1 Peter 2:9-10). Why Hardening Matters • “The rest were hardened” underscores that grace is never owed; it is astonishingly free (Romans 11:8). • Hardening (like Pharaoh’s in Exodus) magnifies mercy toward the elect, revealing that any softened heart is a miracle of divine compassion. • Yet hardening is partial and temporary; God still plans mercy for Israel (Romans 11:25-32). Living Under Grace and Mercy Today • Confidence: Salvation rests on God’s initiative, so it is secure (John 10:28-29). • Humility: We contribute nothing but our need; boasting is excluded (1 Corinthians 1:31). • Compassionate evangelism: The same mercy that reached us moves us to share Christ, trusting God to open hearts (Acts 13:48). • Worship: Praise flows when we grasp that “the elect obtained it” solely because “His mercies never fail” (Lamentations 3:22-23). |
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