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?

Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

Nothing defines the size of a remnant. Once in Isaiah the remnant was called small but even then, the size was not defined. If we go back to first use issues to help us understand how God intends a word to be understood, it was in Exodus 26:12 in which the curtains of the tabernacle were being cut to a pattern. The remnant was that portion that did not fit the pattern. It was to be hung on the backside of the tabernacle. Make of that what you will.

If I were to purchase a whole bolt of cloth some twenty-five yards in length and by design or pattern, cut out a nine inch square in the corner to make a handkerchief, the rest of the bolt would then be called a remnant. Size does not matter. The excess that is not used to complete the pattern, is a remnant.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

A peculiar people, those who do not fit the pattern, excess, remnant, size undetermined yet designated to serve a purpose, to hang on the backside of the tabernacle.

We really should reshape our thinking about the word remnant and stop thinking of it as a small useless thing.