Romans 11:4 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.

We do not talk about it very much but perhaps we should. Here God makes reference to men that have bent the knee in subjection to His authority, as God and Lord of their lives. Those others have bent the knee to another god. That god is powerless to save them.

God is the God of all creation and all are His whether they know it or not. This violation of the first commandment, thou shall have no gods before me, is rebellion. The other day I said that a remnant is undefined in size but here God has identified the size of this remnant. Seven thousand is the size of this remnant. This is the remnant of the law.

⁵ Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Then there is this “other” remnant. It is of grace and not of the law and it is not defined. These are those that have bent the knee in faith. It is a bending of the knee none the less, just for a different reason.

The seven thousand bent the knee because the law was just. The remnant of grace bent the knee because Christ is just. What Christ did in obedience of faith, to die for our sins, put Him at the right hand throne of God. His rule, His reign, His Lordship, His Kingdom and those who accept Jesus Christ by faith have bent the knee.

He is righteous, merciful, gracious, loving and understanding. All admirable traits of our loving Savior.

If you have bent the knee you are not in rebellion any longer.

Now how do you act considering what it means to bend the knee?

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Aren’t we cleaver, we intellectuals. We take our favorites verses quote them with conviction and expect everyone to understand us. It is plain, it is simple, anyone can get it. Except we don’t send the message in context that way. Verse were placed in context and not meant to be snippets.

¹⁵ And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

These are the two verses prior to 17.

¹⁸ But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

¹⁹ But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

²⁰ But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

These are the verses that follow. They define the intent of faith, that faith does not stand alone merely because you know where to find it. It has purpose, design, intent, it serves the will of God because it is from God.

It is meant to show people the God they did not know in ways they do not expect and we, a  foolish people, will show them God by faith in Christ. If we think otherwise, then what is faith without works?

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

God wills you to have faith that demonstrates His glory, Jesus Christ, in you. What faith is without Christ?