Romans 11

Sunday, 20 October 2013

For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Romans 11:21

The olive tree symbolizes much about Israel. It remains green throughout the year which pictures God’s eternal and enduring faithfulness to His covenant promises. Its fatness can be interpreted as the great privileges and honors of being Israel. No other nation has ever been so blessed; no other people have endured and prospered as they have. When cut down, the olive tree will sprout again out of the stump, just as Israel has been cut down and re-sprouted on several occasions. The symbolism of the olive and of Israel goes on in many other ways, all showing us the tie between God and this select group of people.

They are termed by Paul “the natural branches.” This is an indication that they are the select and cherished group of people who are God’s “special treasure” (Deuteronomy 7:6). Through them God displayed His glory in the parting of the sea. Through them came the Law, given at Sinai. To them was given God’s special and chosen portion of land. Through them came the oracles of God, and through Israel came the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. With all of this history, heritage, privilege, and honor one would think that Israel would be safe from judgment. But such isn’t the case. Their failures and rejections of God and His word and of His Son, led to them being broken off branches.

Because God looked upon this special group of natural branches and deemed that they were to be broken off, Paul warns the gentiles, “He may not spare you either.” If the natural branches can go, how much more easily can the unnatural branches be broken off? Paul hands the gentiles a sobering reminder of their tenuous position. We have been grafted in and we can be cut off again.

Unless one dismisses the doctrine of “eternal salvation,” the only logical conclusion is that these verses (as noted in the Romans 11:22 commentary) are speaking of Israel as a group, not as individuals. Not all Jews had or have been cut off. Rather, the majority which speaks of the whole were broken off. In like manner, Paul must be speaking then about the majority, not the individual, concerning gentiles. In other words the term “He may not spare you” is not speaking of a loss of salvation, but a loss of overall status – the primacy of the gentiles during this dispensation.

Life application: We stand in Christ because of the work of Christ. Let us not forget that He did all the work so that we may receive the many blessings of God in Christ. Be ever-thankful for the greatness of the work of Jesus!

With empty hands and a grateful heart I come before You O God. There is nothing that I have done which has allowed me to enter into Your presence. I know that only the work of my Lord brought me here. Thank You for Jesus, thank You for the cross, and thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit. I will sing Your praises for all eternity for the wonderful goodness You have bestowed upon me. Hallelujah and amen!

Saturday, 19 October 2013

Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. Romans 11:20

Paul’s pre-emptive argumentation (and what could possibly be based on the spoken sentiments of that time by some counted among the faithful) continues in today’s verse. He noted that some of the branches of the olive tree were broken off, thus allowing the gentiles to be grafted in. Surely they must be more favored than the broken off branches, right? But Paul dismisses such a notion.

“Well said” is an adverb meaning “rightly” or “true.” In essence, “Yes, they were broken off and you were grafted in; that is correct.” He is being extremely tact in his wording, granting a portion of their logic. “The thought is true, and I grant you that, but…” He will thereby make a deflection from their own thought in order to bolster the true intent of the matter. And so he continues – it was “because of unbelief they were broken off.”

These natural branches, which were born into the main root of the tree, were broken off because they failed to accept and believe in God’s provision. Having viewed these verses concerning the “branches” thus far, it needs to be questioned whether what is being discussed is concerning the process of election and salvation of individuals or rather the calling to salvation of select groups, meaning “Jew” or “Gentile.” Based on the entirety of what has been given by Paul, it must be speaking of the second view – the calling of salvation to these larger categories.

Why is this important to know? It bears heavily on the doctrine of  “replacement theology,” a concept held among older denominations and also held among cults. Older denominations believe that they have replaced Israel and are thus entitled to the entire scope of blessings and promises which were given to Old Testament Israel. Another example is the cult known as the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” who claim that a certain portion of their members are the “144,000” mentioned in the book of Revelation. However, in Revelation this group is divided by the names of the tribes of Israel.

If the type of salvation Paul is speaking of is individual rather than by group, how could they be re-grafted back into the tree (as is noted in verses 23 and 24) if the intended process of restoration is something that will come about at an unknown and distant point in the future (as is noted in verses 25 and 26)? Replacement theology overall, and the mindset of such lesser cults and sects, makes no sense when looked at in the larger context of Paul’s words here.

Using the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” for example, how could they make such a claim about being the 144,000 if they were broken off branches? They wouldn’t be a people now if the promises were future. The same is true with other replacement theology ideas. How could they claim to be a part of the “currently saved” if they were claiming to be the very branches that were broken off. Either the branches are national Israel, or they aren’t. If they are, then God has an intention for national Israel in the future. If those branches aren’t national Israel, then there is no group now in God’s favor according to the gospel because the people who claim to be Israel are the broken off branches. There is no soundness in reason concerning this passage when replacement theology is the consideration.

Rather, the gentiles, who are currently grafted in, have been so grafted because they “stand by faith.” We cannot claim superiority over the Jews. They were cast off for disbelief; we are grafted in by faith. The playing field is level and we all stand or fall by faith alone. And so Paul gives his warning to those who feel so elevated, “Do not be haughty, but fear.” He is telling us to not be smug or over-confident, but to accept our position with humility. We have been saved by God’s grace and there is nothing to boast of concerning this favor. Paul will explain this further in the verses ahead.

Life application: How were you saved? By deeds that made God happy? No. Rather, you came to God through Jesus Christ with empty hands and a rent heart. Don’t forget the mercy which was lavished upon you. Remember your salvation with humility and gratitude.

Heavenly Father, when I read the pages of Your word, I tremble at the beauty and majesty of Your plan. When all seemed hopeless, You sent Jesus. Through Him, I don’t need to know if I am “good enough” or have “done enough” to be pleasing to You. Instead, He stands in heaven’s court on my behalf – “This one is mine.” What a wonderful feeling, I am defended by Jesus! Amen.

Friday, 18 October 2013

You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Romans 11:19

Paul just told the audience not to boast against the branches and he gave the reason for it – because they are supported by the same root that the broken off branches were supported by. But in the typical way of not clearly thinking an issue through, they may propose that they are somehow better, or more favored, than the branches which had been broken off. And so Paul preempts such thinking, “You will say then…”

His introduction of this statement shows that he understands and anticipates this type of dialogue. He was trained in rabbinical studies which would have included the study in argumentation for and against a matter. One method would be to introduce a thought prior to the opponent and then to dismantle it. This would leave the thought harder to defend. Politicians are often good at such pre-emptive strikes. This is Paul’s approach here.

The argument: “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” In essence, “I have replaced that which was removed from the support of the root; therefore, they must not be worthy of that support, but I am.” This type of thinking hasn’t looked at the entire scenario. God is working in and through humanity and only He sees the end from the beginning. With the Bible complete, we have the overall plan, but we still don’t see the details. As time unfolds, the details come with it and we can more clearly see what is actually happening.

Paul, however, has been trained by the Lord (Galatians 1:15-17) and knows much of the plan in advance. Therefore, he can rightly argue against faulty views and he can instruct the church more appropriately in matters related to faith.

Life application: We have the general overview of what God intends in redemptive history, but the details are often lacking. As history reveals these details, we may need to reconsider our viewpoint. This is something that is very hard to do for several reasons, but pride of opinion is generally the root of each of them. When history caught up with the plans of the Bible and Israel was restored to her land, the thinking of the church should have changed to accommodate what had occurred, but for many there is an unwillingness to see the truth of the matter. What is coming does include Israel and therefore we need to not fight against God in the process.

O Wonderful Lord! Here comes the sun to start another day for us. There are so many possibilities ahead. Help me to live rightly in the hours to come and to set my eyes, my heart, and my focus on the eternal. Today could be my last… so let me not waste it in vain pursuit, but rather let it be used to Your glory. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thursday, 17 October 2013

…do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. Romans 11:18

It’s common for us to actually rejoice over the fall of others, especially when we have enmity towards them for whatever reason. When our political party wins, we often take as much pleasure in the loss of the other party or candidate as we do in the win we participate in. Seeing a rival sports team get smacked is a pleasure to many, even if that team is playing someone other than the team they support. It is a perverse side of humanity to revel in the downfall of others, but it is a common occurrence.

Paul had a concern that the gentiles would “boast against the branches” which were the Jews who had fallen; the branches that were “broken off” in the previous verse. They may feel justified because it was the Jews who had rejected their Lord and participated in His crucifixion. The question “How could they be so stupid?” must have been a common sentiment at the time. “We figured it out and we don’t even have your law or heritage!”

But Paul has already shown that “through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.” How could one boast over such a thing? Rather, they should have remorse and work to evangelize the very people who were now out of favor. Even more, such boasting was something that showed a complete lack of thought concerning the state of those broken off Jews as well as their own personal state. To demonstrate this, Paul reminded them that, “if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.”

The root is the spiritual heritage which established both the Jews as well as the gentiles. There is one continuous tree by which salvation is derived. The gentiles have been grafted in to this tree while the Jews were derived directly from it. Understanding this, and the fact that salvation is dependent on the spiritual heritage found in the tree, he will make the point in the coming verse that boasting is not a well thought through approach to the situation. In fact, it is contrary to sound reason.

Life application: In the church, we may feel that we are superior to the Jews who sit in their synagogues and ignore the Lord who came from them and who is the fulfillment of their Scriptures. We aren’t superior. Rather, we recognized what they missed and we received it by grace through faith. We may have access to the truth, but we are no better than they are. Instead of sitting smugly and boasting over the lost, we need to evangelize them in hopes of opening their eyes. In the case of the Jews, we should make a double effort. As the natural branches of the olive tree, their conversion to Christ can have a most important impact on the continuance of the spreading of the gospel.

Glorious Lord God, in my struggle to be a pleasing child to You, I take comfort that I am still beloved because of Jesus – even when I fail to adhere to the expectations You have laid out in Your word for me. I know that nothing can separate us again and that You will carry me through to Your heavenly throne. Forgive me when I trip or stray, and please restore me to a proper walk on the right path when I do. Amen.

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,… Romans 11:17

From the symbolism of this verse, if from nothing else, it should be evident that the church has not replaced Israel. The tree is symbolizing the faith of Abraham and the spiritual covenant blessings associated with that. If individual branches are individual believers but which represent the whole, as must be the case here, then these spiritual blessings can be given to different types of branches on the same tree.

The Bible makes it clear that there is now no distinction between Jew and gentile when in Christ. This is speaking of the benefit of being in Christ, not the individual who is in Christ. In other words, the terms “Jew” and “gentile” indicate a difference in individual. Likewise, different types of branches indicate a difference in nature.

Paul uses this symbolism to show us that “some of the branches were broken off.” From the surrounding context, this is certainly speaking of the disbelieving Jews. They failed to accept the work of God in Christ, and they were cast off as rejected branches. This has opened space for the gentiles. Paul, speaking to the gentiles in this portion of his letter, says “you.” This is only speaking of gentiles who, “being a wild olive tree” are not the same as the Jew (in individual nature, not spiritual benefit – as will be seen).

The gentile converts are not a part of the holy tree by nature. They are distinct and separate from it. However, nature when combined with wisdom in gardening allows something to occur apart from the natural order of things. Wild branches can be grafted into cultivated trees. The reason for grafting, as was discovered many millennia ago, is that certain trees are hardier than other trees. They can withstand harsher climates, defend against bugs, produce a variety of tastes within the same fruit type, etc.

The hardy spiritual tree – that of the spiritual blessings which came through Abraham, has “natural branches” from the line of promise: Isaac, Jacob, and the sons of Israel. However, at select times prior to Christ’s coming, such as the Moabite Ruth, and more especially since Christ’s advent, something unusual and wonderful has happened. Wild branches have been “grafted in among them.”

Any believing gentiles, by faith in the promises of Christ, “became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree.” So there, on the one tree of spiritual nourishment, are branches of different types and which will produce a variety of traits while being sustained by the same life-giving sap. Again, as noted above, this doesn’t show a “replacement” but an “addition.” The gentiles are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel’s spiritual blessings because these blessings flow from the holy root, not because the gentiles have replaced Israel.

Life application: Through faith in God’s provision, all are one in the Messiah. Let us thank God for the immense blessing and honor of eternal life, granted because of the work of our Lord Jesus.

Lord God, I know what mercy truly is when I think about the conduct of my life. How many times have I fallen short of Your holy standard? But despite my ways, you haven’t just snuffed me out. Instead, you have allowed me to continue… waiting patiently for me to turn and call on You. And since the day I did, I’ve continued to err in what You would expect of an obedient child. Thank You for Your patient mercy on me. Amen.