I [Paul] ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel?

“Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”

And what was God’s answer to him?

“I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” (Romans 11:1-5)

As God did then preserve seven thousand, God is selecting a remaining portion, or subset, a remnant, of Jewish people, the initial Disciples and the first Christians born anew at Pentecost:

So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:1-6)

Of course, not all Jews accepted Jesus. Some believed, many had eyes and hearts that were stubbornly shut and hardened. And yes, it is by the grace of God that any one has their eyes and heart open to Him. As we saw with Pharaoh at the time of Moses (~15th century BC), we see God at work and in control at the time of Elijah (~ 9th century BC) and King David (~11th century BC):

What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, as it is written:

Grafted Olive Branches to the Olive Tree
Again, Paul makes the point that his fellow Jews did not stumble beyond recovery. But not without emphasizing that their stumble brings richness and blessings to the non-Jews, the rest of the world.

Much to their jealous chagrin.

Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! (Romans 11:11-12)

He directs warning comments to the Gentiles lest they, though a wild olive shoot grafted in among the others, become arrogant and feel superior to the unbelieving Jews, who he is dedicated to saving by stirring up their envy:

I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. (Romans 11:13-18)

If they do, they need to remember that they were brought in because the Jews rejected the Gospel of Christ. They have been added in, or grafted into the root.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. (Romans 11:19-21)

Better yet to simply consider the grace and blessings of God who saves all peoples, Jews and Gentiles, provide they believe. All the more natural for Jews to be grafted back into their own olive tree!

Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree! (Romans 11:22-24)

It’s All About Repentance and the Saving Faith in Jesus
So, yes, Paul is saying that his people in his day, and going forward, have a chance to be saved – in this way. That is, via being grafted back to the root after falling off in disbelief. Just as the Gentiles are allowed to be grafted into the natural rool via their belief in Jesus.

Just to be clear, there is no talk here of a restored Jewish nation, or a rebuilt Jewish temple. There is no reference to 1948, when a secularized Jewish nation was politically established rather than out of any rejuvenated obedience or holy reconciliation to their God.

As noted in previous posts on ROMANS 9, post-Jesus, God’s Israel is no longer based on land and borders, but by the Spirit of God internally received by anyone, Jew or Gentile.

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

Israel sinned, so that the Gentiles were allowed access to salvation. This fulfils the promise to Abraham that through his descendants would be a blessing to all the nations. But God loves the Jews and they can still come back to God through salvation in Jesus. But the door is via Christ – everyone is bound over to disobedience and only in faith can they be saved and receive God’s mercy.

Paul finishes with a short hymn of praise, like a doxology. God is an unfathomable mystery with unsearchable judgments. From Him flow all things; to Him be the glory forever and ever.

Do you understand that the remnant are the righteous who believed among the Israelites?
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Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! – Romans 11:11