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Romans 11 English Standard Version (ESV)

Gentiles Grafted In

¹¹ 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. ¹² 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!

¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry ¹⁴ in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? ¹⁶ If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ 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, ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ Then 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 fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. ²² 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. ²³ 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. ²⁴ 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.

REFLECTION

• Farmers in Bible times grafted cultivated olive tree branches onto wild olive trees in order to improve the quality of the olive fruits. Paul pictured God, grafting wild Gentile branches onto cultivated Israel’s roots – an act of amazing grace. And Paul is warning the Gentile Christians not to develop an air of superiority over Jews. Gentiles are in God’s grace only by virtue of a miracle – God’s miracle of “grafting” them into the salvation tree.
• This image is a reminder. The natural branches lost their place because they failed to understand grace. We dare not lose sight of the fact that salvation is a gift of God, a demonstration of pure grace.
• Arrogance is always an enemy of grace. The arrogant person assumes that there is some virtue or quality in himself that wins God’s approval. The fact is that there is nothing in any man or woman that merits praise. We are all sinners. We all fall so short that all we can rightly do is fall humbly to our knees.
• If you notice the slightest hint of arrogance in your attitude, be afraid. You are rushing headlong away from grace and away from God.

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that You make me more humble and gentle, kneeling before You daily and giving all thanks and praise to You. May I see Your glory in all things and never be separated from Your grace throughout my life. You are the true vine, and we are the branches. Apart from You, we can do nothing, and we will wither and be thrown into the fire. You have promised us that if we remain in You, You will also remain in us, and we will bear much fruit, fulfilling the Father’s will in our lives. Lord, I deeply understand that my salvation does not depend on my actions but on the vast salvation You have accomplished for all mankind. You are the way, the truth, and the life. I can only find meaning in my life by closely following You and abiding in You. Please enable me to bear much fruit, to exhibit good deeds that align with the faith of salvation, and to bring joy to Your heart, receiving Your reward. Amen!

HYMN

Refiners Fire – youtu.be/SQclw7Ptxwc