Gentiles Now Included
Romans 11:11-24
📖 Scripture
11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry
14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.
15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,
18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”
20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
📝 Scripture Summary
Israel’s stumble has resulted in salvation coming to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. If Israel’s rejection brings reconciliation, their acceptance will bring life. Paul compares Israel to branches broken off an olive tree and Gentiles to wild branches grafted in. He warns Gentiles not to boast but to continue in God’s kindness, or they too will be cut off.
📌 Memory Verse
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
– Romans 11:33
🔎 Reflection
Our Failures and Inclusion (11:11–15)
After explaining Israel’s failure to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord, Paul says that, because of Israel’s transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Paul is proud to minister to the Gentiles, but he also hopes to provoke envy in the Israelites and save some of them. He ponders the great riches that can come with the full inclusion of His people finally accepting the gospel. Let us be encouraged! As God’s people today, our stumbles, struggles, and spiritual stupors cannot stop His powerful love that is capable of saving and sanctifying anyone He chooses. May we remember Israel in our prayers, and remember Christ’s sacrifice, not just for one nation, but for all of His people around the world.
In what ways are you like Israel and the Gentiles described in this passage? Confess to God your trespasses against Him and ask how you might help bring the gospel to those around you.
Do Not Be Arrogant (11:16–24)
Paul offers two analogies—dough and an olive tree—to illustrate that God’s original promises to Israel’s forefathers also apply to their descendants and to show the salvation process for both Israel and the Gentiles. Paul reminds the Gentile believers that it is not by works that they are saved but by the sovereign grace of God. Thus, they should not be arrogant against Israel for their failures. We, too, should not be prideful in comparing ourselves to the world’s unrighteousness. We did not earn our way to God. It is Jesus Christ who earned our salvation for us. Therefore, let us be kind and compassionate to everyone as we do our part to help bring His salvation to the world.
Reflect on God’s character in granting His salvation to you. How can you show the kindness of God to those who have not yet received His salvation?
🌟 Today’s Inspiration
“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.”
– John Newton
🙏 Prayer
Heavenly Father, You love Your chosen people, both Jews and Gentiles. As You spread salvation to all of Your people, help me to do my part to bring the good news to them. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
🖋 Essay
Our Decision or God’s Decision?
Have you ever felt the tension between God’s sovereign plan and our free will? By choosing to love and obey Jesus, we are saved by His work on the cross. However, God only saves the elect. In other words, if you are not chosen to be saved, then you are not saved. How does this work? Pastor Donald Grey Barnhouse once shared an illustration to help make sense of this mysterious dilemma.
Imagine you are standing before a divine door. Above it, you see a text that reads “Whosoever will may come.” The message is that God desires every human being to experience eternal life. Therefore, He offers the gospel invitation universally. On the other side of the door, if you were to step through and look back, you would see another text above that read “Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.”
Phillip Graham Ryken in his book The Message of Salvation explains that election is easier to understand after becoming a Christian, when we know we have been chosen in Christ. We realize that this decision was made by God in eternity past. As we share the gospel with others, we do not need to be concerned about which person is or is not a part of God’s chosen people. We can be like the first message above the divine door, speaking about Jesus Christ to everyone, letting them know that He came to earth and sacrificed Himself out of God’s great love for them.
Written by John Pai