Romans 11:11-24 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Romans 11:11-24. Let’s go!
Romans 11:11-24 (NIV)
11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry
14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.
15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,
18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”
20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
On verses 11-24: Occasionally you will meet people who say they used to follow Jesus but do so no longer. Some of these people may have been Christians earlier than you. They may even have played a part in your coming to faith. But for whatever reason, they have stopped following Jesus. What should your attitude be towards such people?
Paul answers that question in Romans 11:11-24.
First, don’t be arrogant. Don’t say, “well, obviously the fact that they left and I’m still here shows that I’m better than them.” Paul says in verse 18, “do not consider yourself superior to them”. Later in verse 20 he says, “Do not be arrogant, but tremble.”
Instead of looking down on those who have left the faith, have a humble attitude, recognizing that more than anything it is God’s grace that allows you to stand with Him by faith to this day. “Tremble” by recognizing that if it were not for God’s grace, we could have fallen away as well. Let’s keep depending on the Holy Spirit and be careful not to make the same mistakes others may have made.
Second, don’t be discouraged. Don’t think, “If those people fell away, maybe it’s just a matter of time before I do as well.” God’s grace is stronger than our weakness. He will do everything in His power to hang on to you and to keep you rooted and growing in Him. As Paul alludes to verse 23, it takes a persistent unbelief in God, an ongoing rejection of God’s work in your life for you to be cut off from Christ. So hang on to Jesus and trust that His grace is more than enough for you.
Finally, pray for them. In verse 14 Paul says that in his heart he hopes that his fellow Jews who rejected Christ would somehow come back to Him. In verse 23, Paul is saying that as long as they are alive there is still the hope that one day they would turn back to Jesus. Likewise, instead of looking down on those who have left the faith, always carry the hope that one day those who have left Christ will return.
Instead of looking down on those who have left Christ or fearing you’ll experience the same fate as them, thank God that He used (and in a way is still using) those people in your life to bring you to Him. When someone you know rejects Christ after following Him for a while, let it be a reminder that God alone is God all the while showing that He alone is God and no one is perfect except for Him.
Thank You Father that for as long as a person has breath in our lungs, there is still the chance that they will turn back to You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
