Rom 9:16, 11:5 | JFB | STEP | 16. So then it is not of him that willeth —hath the inward desire nor of him that runneth —maketh active effort (compare ). Both these are indispensable to salvation, yet salvation is owing to neither, but is purely "of God that showeth mercy." See on , "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: for it is God which, out of His own good pleasure, worketh in you both to will and to do. "

Romans 9:16

16. So then it is not of him that willeth—hath the inward desire

nor of him that runneth—maketh active effort (compare 1Co 9:24, 26; Php 2:16; 3:14). Both these are indispensable to salvation, yet salvation is owing to neither, but is purely "of God that showeth mercy." See on Php 2:12, 13, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: for it is God which, out of His own good pleasure, worketh in you both to will and to do."

Romans 11:5

5. Even so at this present time—"in this present season"; this period of Israel's rejection. (See Ac 1:7, Greek).

there is—"there obtains," or "hath remained"

a remnant according to the election of grace—"As in Elijah's time the apostasy of Israel was not so universal as it seemed to be, and as he in his despondency concluded it to be, so now, the rejection of Christ by Israel is not so appalling in extent as one would be apt to think: There is now, as there was then, a faithful remnant; not however of persons naturally better than the unbelieving mass, but of persons graciously chosen to salvation." (See 1Co 4:7; 2Th 2:13). This establishes our view of the argument on Election in Ro 9:1-29, as not being an election of Gentiles in the place of Jews, and merely to religious advantages, but a sovereign choice of some of Israel itself, from among others, to believe and be saved. (See on Ro 9:6.)