Romans 11:1-7 (KJV)

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.
2. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,
3. Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
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.
5. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

When the Bible uses the word election, it is referring to God's choice to save sinners. It is a choice that is both unconditional (not based on any foreseen faith or merit) and certain.

1. Everyone despises the gospel of Jesus Christ and cannot trust God (10:21).
   You would think that of all the people in the world, the Jews would be ready for the message of the Messiah. The Messiah was born of them, lived among them, and died in front of them. Yet with the gospel stretched out before them, they rejected it! This is always the final result -- immediate rejection without eternal election. Why? "The things of God are folly to him; he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned" (I Corinthians 2:14). Man is too evil to see the glory of God.
2. But God is love and chooses to deliver many sinners from His wrath (11:1- 2).
   Even though God is just and because of this He could pour out His wrath on us all for our corruption and refusal to believe His Word and obey His commandments. He has chosen to save His people -- a specific number that He has reserved for Himself. The Bible calls these people "those whom God foreknew" (v.2). Foreknowledge means "to love with an everlasting love." God says of His people "I have loved thee with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). "Adam knew his wife Even and she conceived" (Genesis 4:1). Jesus says in that day of judgment, "Depart from me, I never knew you" (Matthew 7:23). To know is to love. To foreknow is to love before hand.
3. God is able to deliver completely those whom He chooses to love (11:3-4).
   Elijah complains against Israel (not for them), and then says, "God, I alone am left." God responds, "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men" (v.4). Notice, God is the one doing the reserving. God builds His church. He gives life to His people.
4. Those God chooses to love are sinners whom He changes into saints (11:3- 4).
   God does not save seven thousand men because they did not bow their knee to Baal. He saved seven thousand men whose hearts were just like everybody else's hearts and by His love and grace caused them to not bow their knee to Baal like all others. "Man is not converted because he wills to be, but he wills to be converted because he is elected by God to be converted" Augustine. As the Apostle Paul said, "It is God in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
5. This election of grace is the sole basis of your eternal salvation (11:5-7).
   The Jews sought after righteousness (Romans 9:30-31) but did not obtain it. The Gentiles obtained the very thing the Jews sought because of "the election" of God.