To begin this post I will again repeat the last line of the last post. I do this because of the importance of keeping scriptures in order and alignment of thought. That means picking things back up with verse 10 of Romans 11, where we find this as stated in the Mirror Study Bible. Then we shall look at a parable of the tree and its branches of John 15:1-7 as explained to Paul by the LORD while he sat under His teaching while Paul was in the wilderness.
Romans 11:10 "This is the penalty of their disbelief; eyes that constantly fail to focus on the fact that Christ took their burdens and now their backs are still bending to the point of breaking under the strain of their own burdens."
Romans 11:11-16 "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches." (KJV)
Romans 11:11-16 "So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches." (ESV)
Romans 11:11-16 "Does this mean that the Jews are beyond redemption? is their stumbling permanent? No! May it never be too late for them. Their failure emphasized the inclusion of the Gentile nations. May it only prove to be their wake-up call. If their stumbling enriches the rest of the worlds nations and their lack empowers the Gentiles, how much more significant will their realizing their completeness be? In my capacity as a representative of the Good News to the Gentiles, I will speak in such a way that the clarity of my conclusion will provoke my own flesh-and-blood family to jealousy. I know that my words will rescue many of them. The Gentile nations realized their inclusion in Christ in a sense at the expense of the Jews; to now also embrace the Jews in the welcome of GOD is to raise them from the dead. The seed sets the pace; it sanctifies what the sprouts form it. Seed produces after its kind. If the invisible root is holy so are the visible branches." (The Mirror)
Romans 11:17-24 "And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? (KJV)
Romans 11:17-24 "But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then 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 fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were 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, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree." (ESV)
Romans 11:17-24 "And if some of the original branches were broken off, and you Gentiles like a wild olive tree were to be grafted in to partake of the same nourishing fatness of the roots, then these is no cause for boasting against the ignorance of the Jews because you are now suddenly better off than they are. Remember, the roots sustain the branches, and not the other way around! There is no point in thinking that in order to accommodate you, GOD had to first break off the Jewish branches. For their unbelief was their loss; your faith is your gain. GOD could do them no favors just because they were the natural branches; neither does GOD now owe you any special privileges. Both GOD's goodness as well as his decisiveness are based on his integrity; unbelief is not tolerated, not in them, neither will it be tolerated in you. His favor is not to be taken for granted; instead, continue to embrace and appreciate his goodness with gratitude. The moment Israel turns from their unbelief, GOD is ready to immediately graft them back into the tree. You were cut out of the unfruitful olive tree and were grafted into the stock of the original tree. How much more will these natural branches be grafted again into their original identity." (The Mirror)
There we got through this thought without having to look at word meanings for true and correctness of understanding. In our next post the LORD willing, we shall delve into the mystery of Israel's salvation.
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