This message is an edited version of a sermon given at Loving God Fellowship. Copyright © 2007 Loving God Fellowship, Inc. http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org . You are encouraged to share this message with those you know that are hungry for God’s Word.
Remnant Chosen by Grace
Good News of God
By Greg Johnson
August 29, 2007
Have you ever felt that you were all alone? Have you ever been to the point that you even felt like God has left you or rejected you? That you could never live up to His standards, or you could never accomplish the things that you feel He has called you to do? Or maybe you thought you were in the battle all by yourself and was receiving no support from any other follower of Christ.
I point you to God’s Word for encouragement and strength for your journey. Please know that as a Christ follower, you are part of a remnant chosen by grace! God’s Word says (Romans 11:1-6 NIV) "I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. {2} God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah--how he appealed to God against Israel: {3} "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"? {4} And what was God’s answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." {5} So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. {6} And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace."
You will find encouragement from three words found in Romans 11:5 - remnant, chosen and grace. Let’s focus on these.
Remnant
Please know that all throughout the Bible, God always secures to Himself and works through a remnant. There has never been nor will there ever be a time when God does not have a remnant of followers. Please know that there also has never been a time when a whole nation followed God wholeheartedly. But, there has always been a remnant.
The Apostle Paul uses Elijah as an example of how we sometimes may feel. He felt he was the only one left that was faithful to God, but God revealed to Elijah that He had reserved for Himself 7,000 that were faithfully serving Him.
As a Christ follower, you are part of the remnant that God has reserved for Himself today. You are special to Him. He has not nor will He ever forsake you. He does not dwell on your mistakes and your past disobedience. Instead, He counts your faith as righteousness and He has clothed you in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. You have been purchased through His blood and baptized into His Body by the Holy Spirit. No, you are not forsaken Christ follower. God has reserved you for Himself.
Chosen
The Greek term used for chosen in verse 5 is ekolgen. It’s the same term used in the Gospels when Jesus chose the twelve. It is important for Christ followers today to realize that they have been chosen. You did not pick God to be on your team. God picked you to be on His team. There is a big difference.
Jesus taught that no one could come to God except through Him and that no one could come to Him unless God drew them. God Himself has picked you to be a Christ follower. You have been enlisted to be on His team and to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ in the fullness of the Holy Spirit! As a Christ follower, you are part of the chosen.
Grace
The sweetness of all of this is that it is by God’s grace. There is nothing you can do to make yourself a part of the remnant that God has reserved for Himself. It’s not about keeping the Old Testament law. It’s not about religion. It’s not about dos and don’ts. It’s all about God’s grace; His unmerited favor toward us.
As a Christ follower, you are a part of the present time remnant that God has chosen and reserved for Himself by His grace. Give Him praise! When it all sinks in, that is all that is left; pure praise to the One that has picked us for His team. The next time you are feeling gloomy and all alone, just remember God’s Word in Romans 11:5. You are part of the remnant chosen by grace!
Know that you are loved,
Greg Johnson
Founding Pastor
Loving God Fellowship
http://www.GAJohnson.org
Loving God Fellowship is an interdenominational Christ following fellowship with a revolutionary new church plant in Salem, Oregon, and a worldwide Internet church community @ http://www.LGFinternetChurch.org .
