Romans 11:1
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. 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.
God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew, even though the nation rejected His Son. Paul offers his own identity as proof of this, that he himself is an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. The context explains that God preserved a faithful remnant by grace. As in the days of Elijah, when Elijah complained that Israel had killed the prophets and thrown down the altars and he alone was left, God answered that He had reserved to Himself seven thousand men who had not bowed the knee to Baal, and even so at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Israel as a nation stumbled and fell and failed, but that did not make it impossible for them to rise again. There remained among them a goodly remnant to be saved. This was seen at the Saviour's advent in faithful men and women who received John the Baptist, studied the prophecies of the Messiah, recognized Jesus of Nazareth, and formed the early Christian church.
God did not reject the seed of Abraham even though Israel according to the flesh failed the high destiny to which He called them, failed in unbelief to become the light of the world, despised His mercy, and forfeited their blessings as His chosen people. The glorious purposes He undertook to accomplish through Israel were still to be fulfilled. All who through Christ become children of faith are counted as Abraham's seed and inheritors of the covenant promises, called like Abraham to guard and make known to the world the law of God and the gospel of His Son. The light of the gospel shining through the disciples of Jesus to those sitting in darkness, with thousands from Gentile lands flocking to its brightness, is the increase and prosperity of Israel.
The verse anchors a work for the Jews outlined in the chapter that must not be ignored. The Jews are to be given every opportunity to come to the light, and this work requires special wisdom guided by God's wisdom and righteousness to clear the King's highway. Because God has not cast away the Jews, they are not to be despised, for the Lord has mighty men among them who will proclaim the truth with power. The chapter gives hope that many of Israel's descendants will be grafted into Christ, which applies to caring for Jewish converts who accept Christ and may be cut off from their people.