Romans 11:23: And Even They, If They Do Not Continue In Their Unbelief, Will Be Grafted In

Romans 11:23
[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. (ESV)

Paul is speaking in this verse of the people of Israel. In the Old Testament we find God beginning a covenant relationship with Abraham. Abraham's descendants are the Jews, the people of Israel. In previous verses Paul has spoken of a tree with the root being Abraham. The descendants were to be the branches on that tree. Some, by their unbelief were branches that were broken off.

Paul is saying here that the Jews have not been given a death sentence. If they are a branch that is cut off because of unbelief there is a remedy; belief! God has always had a remnant of people in every generation who have placed their faith in him. We can get very discouraged, thinking that there is no one left on earth who is following the Lord. We would be wrong.

Perhaps you have known someone who has an unbelieving son or daughter. The parent prays daily for their wayward child. The child may wait until the funeral of the praying parent, but eventually places their faith in Christ. I am thankful that God does not turn away any sinner who comes to him in full repentance.

How about the Jews of today? Is there hope for them? Of course! There are many Jews who have come to belief in Jesus Christ as their promised Messiah. As Paul says, "God has the power to graft them in again." The important thing to realize is that there will be no grafting in of anybody unless there is repentance and faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ for salvation.

Do you know someone who is lost in unbelief? Do not give up on them. God is able. He is able to graft them into the same tree of faith as every other believer. The way is through Christ. Keep praying.

Comments

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [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. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

Search This Blog