August 16, 2024 — Suggested Reading: Romans 11:13 – 36

“Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead! If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.” Romans 11:13-24

“Note then the kindness and the severity of God; severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” (Romans 11:22) There is no room for boasting, Paul says, for G-d is a G-d of everlasting kindness, but also a G-d of judgment. Stand in awe, Paul says, of a G-d who has no qualms about breaking off branches and grafting on other branches. This is a G-d of whom we should stand in awe, and to whom we should offer prayer, praise and thanksgiving daily.

So where do we stand on being part of the tree of faith, but grafted on through faith – do we stand alone? There is nothing that we can do but trust – trust builds faith — trust in a G-d who comes running for the one who finally comes to themselves, realizing that they do not “deserve” anything, and begs the Father for forgiveness; as opposed to the one who believes they deserve grace simply because they have done “nothing” not to deserve it — and should receive it because of their place in the “family”. We are only branches – supported by the root – which is the redemption that comes through Jesus Christ. When we are rooted in Christ, then our faith will surely grow through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Dave

August 15, 2024 — Suggested Reading: Romans 11:1 – 12

“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” But what is the divine reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” Romans 11:1-6

What Paul does in the chapters of Romans 9:1 – 11:36 is to proceed through a four stage progression of the initial rejection of Christ by most Jews except for a remnant who do believe, through to the final stage where, upon seeing the acceptance of the Gospel by the Gentiles, the Jews will be aroused to jealousy, then repentance, belief and salvation. Thus, what appeared to be a failure of the divine plan actually results in in a greater fulfillment of it for both Jews and Gentiles. It seems that Paul’s final argument is that Israel will be saved – in fact he says all Israel will be saved. What does all Israel mean? That will be another argument for another time — but if Israel, as a whole, is the chosen race, the people with whom G-d made a covenant, then it seems the Israelites are and continue to be G-d’s chosen people.

Another interesting comment by Paul is that G-d has hardened the heart of Israel, just like G-d tells Isaiah that the people’s eyes, ears, and minds will also be hardened and closed off to Isaiah’s preaching. How do you feel about this fact that G-d hardens the heart of some intentionally? As I have lived my life, I have encountered some people who have hardened (or who have had hardened for them) the walls of their hearts against the Word of G-d. Does G-d eventually soften the same hearts? Did G-d soften the heart of Pharaoh when the people finally fled Egypt? How does this effect your ideas of evangelism when it seems that much of our efforts to reach people with the good news of the gospel may just fall upon deaf ears?

Pastor Dave