Romans 11:1

Romans 11:1 says, I 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.  Paul was clarifying that God had not cast away the Jews, His chosen people to bring His message to the world.  Paul told them that God should forbid that such a thought would even exist. Then, Paul reminded them that he was an Israelite, born a seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  These facts neither brought him salvation nor prevented him from receiving salvation.  Our earthly heritage today is the same.  There is no one today who is saved nor denied salvation by who they were born to or where they were born.  Verse two adds, God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,   Paul was speaking to the Jews, God's chosen people, and once again he asked if they knew the scripture.  We today, as followers of Christ, need to ensure that whatever we teach is based on the scripture, God's written word to us.  When we search the scripture, the Holy Spirit will guide us to its truth.  Paul reminded them of a time in their history when Elijah made intercession against the Israelites with God. Verse three continues, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.  Paul was reminding them that this was not the first time they had rebelled against God.  Elijah, in his day, said that he alone was faithful to God. There were many people born physically into the nation of Israel, but they were not spiritually Israelites, which was the key.  They were killing the prophets of God and tearing down His altars, His places of worship.  If they were somehow saved simply by being born physically as a defendant of Abraham, this would not have mattered. Elijah said he alone was left to serve God and they sought his life. My brother recently reminded me that this is what today is called the Elijah complex.  We start to feel that we alone are serving God and the world is out to silence us.  Verse four states, But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.  Paul reminded them that God told Elijah that he was not alone. God had preserved a remnant of seven thousand.  I do not believe that this means God picked seven thousand at random and made them faithful, but instead that he knew the hearts of seven thousand were still true to Him.  Even though I live in what is called a Christian nation, and everything that is happening seems to work against God's will, there will always be a remnant as long as we await Christ's return.  We don't need an Elijah complex, either as an individual or a nation.  Verse five adds, Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  Paul said there was a remnant then, and we can be sure that is true today, by the grace of God.   Verse six continues, And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.  Here I believe Paul is telling us that salvation cannot be by works and grace at the same time.  If we can earn our salvation by our own actions, then grace, salvation through Christ, would not be necessary.  Since we cannot earn salvation by our works, by God's grace, He provided the only way to salvation.