Ingrafted Branches – Romans 11:11-36
11 So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.12 Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry 14 in order to make my own people jealous, and thus 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 first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.
17 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, 18 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. 19 You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 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. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. 22 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. 23 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. 24 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.
All Israel Will Be Saved
25 So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written,
“Out of Zion will come the Deliverer;
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 “And this is my covenant with them,
when I take away their sins.”
28 As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him,
to receive a gift in return?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
What does the Passage Say?
V. 11-15 Paul says that the promise of the covenant is still opened to the Israelites. Even though they have turned away from the covenant, he believes that when they come back, it will be a glorious moment.
“Ironically when they(Israelites) walked out, they left the door open and the outsiders (Gentiles) walked in. … If their (Israelites) falling out initiated this worldwide coming together, their recovery is going to set off something even better: mass homecoming” (v. 11, 13-14 The Message).
V. 16-24 Paul is also warning the Gentiles. He continues to encourage the Gentiles, who received this Grace, to be humble so the Israelites will see their joy and come back to the promise. He says, “The only reason you’re on the tree is because your graft ‘took’ when you believed, and because you’re connected to that belief-nurturing root. So don’t get cocky and strut your branch. Be humbly mindful of the root that keeps you lithe and green” (v. 19-20 The Message).
V. 25-36 Paul says that we are all disobedient and in need of mercy. It is only by that Grace; we are saved. The grace is what brought us here. He is saying, ‘don’t forget how you were disconnected, but now connected.’
What does this mean to us?
As I am reading these chapters, I keep on reflecting on how these words of Paul can be a direct message to the mainline churches, who are experiencing a steep decline. By any chance, are we like the Israelites, who God chose but eventually became cocky about their election? By any chance, do we consider ourselves superior to other people, who we think didn’t get it? By any chance, do we see evidence of God moving the lampstand from our churches? (Revelation 2:5)
Paul continues to warn the church, do not boast about your salvation. It is only through the Grace we are where we are. Do we have the humility to accept that we are disobedient, even after our salvation, and in need of that Grace every day?
Lord, we ask you not to move the lampstand from our churches. We ask that we will humble ourselves to your will, and your will only. Use us for your glory. In Christ Name, Amen.
What are your thoughts?
Click to subscribe to our Daily Devotion.
You will receive a devotion in your inbox every morning.