Those Who Obtain Salvation and Those Who Do Not
As the Apostle Paul answered the question about the Jews and their rejection of Jesus Messiah (Rom 9–11), we learn the utter tragedy of unbelief. For example, Adam and Eve heard the Word of God warning them of the consequences of disobedience (acting on unbelief). As the covenant children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Israelites were also taught to trust the promises of Yahweh; but they, too, chose disobedience in unbelief.
Going the way of sin has both a blinding and hardening effect on a sinner (Jn 12:40). Thus, sinners tend to go from bad to worse. Only the Holy Spirit’s restraint on evil’s advance prevents our world from being worse than it already is in fact.
Our interest in Romans 9–11 is salvation. Because sin has immediate and eternal consequences, man needs to be delivered. He needs to be right with God. There has always only been one right way into a position of righteousness (right standing with God). It is by grace and through faith in the Word of God (Jn 1:1, 14; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Eph 2:8–9).
The error of the Jews, save for a remnant, has always been the pursuit of righteousness in the wrong way. Instead of trusting in the promises of Yahweh, they attempted to secure right standing by their own works (Rom 10:1–5). They trusted in themselves and their performance at keeping the Law of Moses. They, of course, have failed and do fail to attain and maintain the standard.
In Romans 11:7–10, we learn that the majority of ethnic Israel did not obtain what they were so earnestly pursuing. It was the chosen remnant, who were not looking for salvation, who received it by God’s grace (Rom 11:5–6; Eph 2:8–9).
Grace is a work of God; and by it, the whole group of God’s elect are saved (Rom 11:7). Those who are the recipients of grace receive something they do not deserve. It is the favor of God, which is not warranted, but is bestowed according to God’s free will, which flows from His eternal good pleasure. There is absolutely nothing in us that tips the scales in our favor; nor is there anything we do to persuade God to have mercy on us.
Mercy means we do not receive what we do deserve. All the sons of Adam deserve eternal punishment in the fiery hell of the lake of fire (Mt 25:41. 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15). Those who do not receive mercy and grace do receive a righteous judgment from a righteous Judge (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5).
In displaying the attributes of God to both groups, the elect and the reprobate, God is assured the glory due Him because all His ways are right. From eternity past, God’s plan has always been the gracious salvation of the chosen remnant and the righteous damnation of the reprobate. He has prepared both groups for their eternal end (Rom 9:22–23).
Throughout scripture we see God using means to blind people from seeing and believing the Gospel being preached to them (Mt 11:25–27; Jn 10:26; 12:40; 2 Cor 3:14; Heb 3:7). The devil is a prime agent in this task of blinding minds and hardening hearts (2 Cor 4:4). Just as Yahweh sent an evil spirit to King Saul to torment him (1 Sam 16:14–23), so God actively hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Ex 9:7, 12; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:8). Let us remember that God has made the wicked for the day of evil (Prv 16:4).
Sin hardens the human heart; and unless the Holy Spirit takes out the heart of stone, there is no escape from the ravages of sin. Isaiah recorded that God sends a spirit of stupor to those who do not belong to Him (Is 29:10; Rom 11:8). This is why they do not trust in the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 10:26). Both Moses and Isaiah also reported the failure of the eyes and the ears of unbelievers to receive what God freely gives to His beloved (Dt 29:4; Is 6:9).
Faith comes by hearing (Rom 10:17); but unless our Lord opens the ears of the spiritually deaf, they remain that way. Those who walk in the light and see where they are going, have received their spiritual sight from the Lord (Jn 9). Those who remain blind to the things of God have no ability to change their disposition. Salvation belongs to God (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1), not man.
My dear reader, I have reflected enough on Romans 11:7–10 for you to report your receipt or rejection of the truth about God’s dealings with both groups. Examine yourself. Are you frustrated, even angry, with the knowledge of the sovereignty of God in salvation? Or, do you humbly bow in awe and deepest appreciation for God’s mercy, grace, and love bestowed on you?
Let us continue as the Apostle Paul consults with David in Psalm 69:22–23 (Romans 11:9–10). In this imprecatory Psalm, David has a very high view of the glory of God and a very low view of those who resist God and His Christ. Psalm 69 is both imprecatory and Messianic. An imprecatory prayer is concerned for the glory of God, over and against the arrogant pride of men.
David observed the affluence of the wicked (see also Psalm 73). Knowing that God gives everything to everyone of us. As it pertains to material distribution, the rich tend to forget God and their wealth becomes a snare (Prv 30:8) It becomes a trap. One must be careful with what God has entrusted to him or her. All must give an account of what God owns (Ps 14:1; 2 Cor 5:10); and how it has been stewarded by him.
One imagines that God has blessed him with riches because he is a “good person” who has done many “good works.” For this, he believes God has rewarded him with more of the world’s stuff. This is the stumbling block that the Jews repeatedly fell over and were broken. Their wealth was exactly what kept them from seeing their need for a Savior. They were cursed, not blessed.
All of these matters remain with us, today. The majority of Jews and Gentiles are endeavoring to win God’s favor through self-styled, works-based religion that ignores Christ Jesus as Lord of all. One might inquire what we must do to open the eyes of the spiritually blind or soften the heart of the unbeliever? The answer is in our text. It is God alone who gives faith (Gal 3:22; Phil 1:29), as a gift of His grace (Eph 2:8–9), to whomever He has chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4–5). Without the faith He gives us, it is impossible to please Him (Heb 11:6).
We have the assurance of His Word, that the Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19), and we have the promise of the Good Shepherd that He will lose none of His own who belong to Him, having been bought for a price with His precious blood (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 6:20; 7:23; 1 Pet 1:19).
We must ever remember that we who love the Lord Jesus Christ, do so only because He first loved us (1 Jn 4:19). The others do not love God at all because He did not set His love upon them (Jn 5:42). In love, He predestined His chosen remnant. In love, God sent His only begotten Son to save His people from all over the world (not just Jews); and He demonstrated His love toward us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, the chosen remnant (Mt 1:21; Jn 3:16; Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:3).
Finally, we obtained so great a salvation, including imputed righteousness, when we were not pursuing it (Rom 3:10–12). Grace came and found us and caused us to be born again of the Spirit (1 Pet 1:3), who took up permanent residence in our hearts by His own will and good pleasure (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11).
Our boast, today, and from this day forward, is Christ alone, the sole Savior of sanctified sinners, recognized as saints only by His doing (1 Cor 1:30).
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
June 13, 2025
Romans 11:7–10
