In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace. - Romans 11:5
Though Paul considered himself an apostle to those who were not of Jewish descent (i.e., Gentiles), his heart remained burdened for those who were. He desperately wanted to see many more of his people group receive Jesus as their Messiah, but instead they were often the source of his most violent resistance.
Paul knew that this negative response would be viewed by many Gentile believers as God's rejection of the Jews and, of course, he also knew that history even seemed to support such a notion. Yet, the apostle reminded his readers then (and reminds us still today) that God is always faithful. Among the Jewish people there remains a believing remnant. It was so in the desperate days of Elijah, it was so in the face of persistent first-century resistance, and it remains so today.
The wonderful fact is that God's preservation of a remnant has even broader missional implications, for in due time Jesus will also redeem someone from every people group on earth (Rev. 7:14). There will be a remnant chosen by grace from them as well! It is this promised remnant that continues to serve as evidentiary proof of His indestructible promise and the guarantee of a victory assured.
Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him. - God's promise to Elijah as he fled from a murderous Jezebel (1 Kings 19:18)
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