The Book of Romans, Part 26 – Gentiles Grafted In

[Study Aired February 13, 2024]

Rom 11:11 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. 
Rom 11:12 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?
Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 
Rom 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 
Rom 11:15 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? 
Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 
Rom 11:17 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; 
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 
Rom 11:22 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. 
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 
Rom 11:24 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? 

In these verses, the apostle Paul addresses the Gentile believers, reminding them of the profound mystery of God’s plan. He begins by asking a rhetorical question: “Have they stumbled that they should fall?” Paul emphatically responds, “God forbid!” Instead, through the fall of Israel, salvation has come to the Gentiles, with the purpose of provoking the Jews to jealousy.

Paul emphasizes the importance of recognizing the role of both Jews and Gentiles in God’s plan of redemption. He illustrates this by using the metaphor of an olive tree, where the natural branches represent the Jews, and the wild olive tree represents the Gentiles. Some branches (the Jews) have been broken off due to unbelief, while others (the Gentiles) have been grafted in by faith.

Yet, Paul cautions against arrogance among the Gentiles. They should not boast against the natural branches, for they stand only by faith. Paul reminds them of the severity and goodness of God: severity toward those who fell into unbelief, but goodness toward those who continue in faith.

Ultimately, Paul affirms God’s ability to graft the natural branches back into the olive tree if they do not persist in unbelief. He highlights the incredible depth of God’s mercy and the fulfillment of His promises.

Paul continues his preaching of Christ’s doctrines. The process of changing from the old man to the new man; the same theme is throughout Acts and Paul’s writings.

Act 13:16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 

Act 13:38-49 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [Christ] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 

Rom 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Gal 3:21-29 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Eph 2:11-13 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Eph 3:1-7  For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Once again Paul declares the mystery, the things of the spirit. Let’s go through the verses of tonight’s study.

Rom 11:11 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. 
Rom 11:12 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? 
Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 
Rom 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 

Paul’s desire is to provoke his “kinsmen of the flesh” to jealousy so they will change their mind and see that Christ is come as their savior. God’s plan is that they become castaways so that the Gentiles can now take their place so all can be saved.

Rom 11:15 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? 
Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 
Rom 11:17 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; 
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear: 
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 
Rom 11:22 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. 
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 
Rom 11:24 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? 

In Romans 11:11-24, the apostle Paul addresses the Gentile believers, emphasizing the profound mystery of God’s plan for salvation. He begins by affirming that the stumbling of Israel did not lead to their complete downfall but instead opened the door for salvation to come to the Gentiles. This was intended to provoke the Jews to jealousy.

Paul uses the imagery of an olive tree to illustrate the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in God’s plan. He warns against arrogance among the Gentiles and reminds them of the severity and goodness of God. While some branches (representing the Jews) have been broken off due to unbelief, Gentiles have been grafted in by faith. However, Gentiles must not boast, but rather fear God’s judgment if they do not continue in faith.

Paul stresses that God is able to and will graft the natural branches back into the olive tree when their unbelief is done away with. He highlights the depth of God’s mercy and the fulfillment of His promises.