Tag: Romans

Morning Musing: Romans 11:19-22

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“Then you will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but beware, because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you—if you remain in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

Recently we talked about a parable Jesus told in Matthew 22 where a king hosted a wedding banquet for his son. The first set of guests composed of his longtime friends didn’t want to come, so he had his servants invite everyone else they could find. Paul was quoting from that idea to explain how the Gospel was offered to the Gentiles. Later in that same parable, one of these second-invitation guests showed up at the party, but is not dressed properly. What happens to him is something Paul has in mind in this next part of his thoughts on the place of the church in light of the Jews’ rejection of the Gospel. Let’s take a look.

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Morning Musing: Romans 11:17-18

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“Now if some of the branches were broken off,  and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree, do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

The relationship between Christians and Jews over the last 2,000 years has been complicated. While at least a sizable percentage of evangelical Christians today are very supportive of the nation of Israel, professed followers of Jesus have at other times been the chief persecutors of Jewish people. Such behavior and prejudice finds no support in the Scriptures at all, but Paul seemed to anticipate at least a belittling attitude toward his genetic people on behalf of his spiritual people. Let’s take the next few days and walk through his argument against such thinking starting with the illogical nature of spiritual arrogance.

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Digging in Deeper: Romans 10:9

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“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

No, you’re not seeing double. It’s been a few weeks now, but we did indeed talk about Romans 10:9 recently, and we are going to do it again today. But as I thought about a verse that speaks right to the heart of something that happened this past week, there’s really not another that gets as close as this verse does. A public figure this week expressed his hope of salvation. That doesn’t happen very often generally. It especially doesn’t happen very often with a public figure of this nature. And because the media tends to react (some might say, “overreact”) to just about everything this particular public figure says, the whole country was talking about salvation for a couple of days this week. President Trump started it. Let’s add our thoughts on the matter today.

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Morning Musing: Romans 11:13-16

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“Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if I might somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them. For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? Now if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

Have you ever benefited from an opportunity that someone else missed? I was waiting for a table at a busy restaurant with limited seating the other day. While I was sitting there the hostess called for two different groups who weren’t there anymore. She scratched both names off the list and ours moved up. We wound up not having to wait nearly as long as we thought. Just before we were seated, though, one of them came back to see if they could still get a table. They could, but it was going to mean starting over at the bottom of the long list. Paul says Israel’s missing out on God’s kingdom because of their rejection of Jesus gave this kind of an opportunity to the rest of the world. Let’s take a look at what he’s saying here.

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Digging in Deeper: Romans 11:11-12

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“I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!” (CSB – Read the chapter)

Have you ever missed out on something? I went to a week long youth camp with my church every year from seventh grade to after my freshman year of college except one. I had conflicting plans that one summer, but all I heard about for months afterward was how awesome that camp had been. I’ll admit: I was a bit jealous of the group that went. Israel (the geopolitical people) missed out on the kingdom of God when they rejected Jesus as Messiah. Starting here and for the next several verses, Paul explores this idea and what it means for everyone else, especially those who were not part of Israel. Let’s take a look at this with him.

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