Christian humility
"And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you."
-Romans 11:17-18
Romans 11 is a powerful chapter. Specifically in verses 16-36, we find a timely message about God's goodness and severity in light of His plan of redemption for both Jews and Gentiles. When we see "goodness" and "severity", what is being referred to are God's eternal, unchanging characteristics of grace/mercy/benevolence (goodness) and His rigor/stiffness/finality (severity). God is equally both and perfectly displays each characteristic. His actions of goodness toward us, as well as His actions of severity are always performed righteously.
In terms of the above passage, when we consider the goodness and severity of God in His act to redeem the lost and bring them to salvation, we should be driven to humility. Notice what Paul has shared here - he's using the common biblical reference of an olive tree to picture true Israel. They are the natural olive tree with the natural branches. Through centuries of unbelief and disobedience, many Israelites have reached the point of no return, where their hearts were/have been judicially and Divinely hardened by God Himself (Rom. 11:1-15). It is these unbelieving, hardened Israelites (natural branches) who have been "broken off."
As that has taken place over time and into today, the Gospel was taken to the Gentiles - a primary ministry and calling of Paul. The Gentiles, anyone not an ethnic Jew, are referred to as the wild branches from the wild olive tree which are grafted into the natural olive tree through faith.
True Israel is made up of true believers, both Jew and Gentile. Therefore, the natural olive tree is true Israel. Believing Israelites are the natural branches who remain and the believing Gentiles are the wild olive branches who are grafted in. Both have their place in the true olive tree by faith in Christ alone.
So, what is the message given to us (believing Gentiles) in Rom. 11:16-21? Don't allow your salvation to lead you to arrogance, namely towards the Jewish people who aren't saved. In a more general sense: Don't allow the grace you have been shown in your salvation to drive you to see yourself as better than or "holier than thou" compared to lost people. If anything, Christians are to be marked by humble, gracious, loving attitudes. When we come across the lost in our world, which is a given, we are not to stick our noses in the air, judge them, and dismiss them. We are to love them, tell them about Jesus, and do so with humility and grace. The only judging and policing we as Christians are permitted to exercise are against ourselves and within the Church body - this is known as Church discipline. We are not to judge or police the lost - they are lost, they will naturally be living as lost people. They are out of our biblical jurisdiction when it comes to discipline and judging.
Therefore, let us as Christians be careful that we do not allow our salvation to become a hindrance to the love we show to the lost world. We speak the truth in love, we stand for the truth in peace, and we share the truth in humility.
-Romans 11:17-18
Romans 11 is a powerful chapter. Specifically in verses 16-36, we find a timely message about God's goodness and severity in light of His plan of redemption for both Jews and Gentiles. When we see "goodness" and "severity", what is being referred to are God's eternal, unchanging characteristics of grace/mercy/benevolence (goodness) and His rigor/stiffness/finality (severity). God is equally both and perfectly displays each characteristic. His actions of goodness toward us, as well as His actions of severity are always performed righteously.
In terms of the above passage, when we consider the goodness and severity of God in His act to redeem the lost and bring them to salvation, we should be driven to humility. Notice what Paul has shared here - he's using the common biblical reference of an olive tree to picture true Israel. They are the natural olive tree with the natural branches. Through centuries of unbelief and disobedience, many Israelites have reached the point of no return, where their hearts were/have been judicially and Divinely hardened by God Himself (Rom. 11:1-15). It is these unbelieving, hardened Israelites (natural branches) who have been "broken off."
As that has taken place over time and into today, the Gospel was taken to the Gentiles - a primary ministry and calling of Paul. The Gentiles, anyone not an ethnic Jew, are referred to as the wild branches from the wild olive tree which are grafted into the natural olive tree through faith.
True Israel is made up of true believers, both Jew and Gentile. Therefore, the natural olive tree is true Israel. Believing Israelites are the natural branches who remain and the believing Gentiles are the wild olive branches who are grafted in. Both have their place in the true olive tree by faith in Christ alone.
So, what is the message given to us (believing Gentiles) in Rom. 11:16-21? Don't allow your salvation to lead you to arrogance, namely towards the Jewish people who aren't saved. In a more general sense: Don't allow the grace you have been shown in your salvation to drive you to see yourself as better than or "holier than thou" compared to lost people. If anything, Christians are to be marked by humble, gracious, loving attitudes. When we come across the lost in our world, which is a given, we are not to stick our noses in the air, judge them, and dismiss them. We are to love them, tell them about Jesus, and do so with humility and grace. The only judging and policing we as Christians are permitted to exercise are against ourselves and within the Church body - this is known as Church discipline. We are not to judge or police the lost - they are lost, they will naturally be living as lost people. They are out of our biblical jurisdiction when it comes to discipline and judging.
Therefore, let us as Christians be careful that we do not allow our salvation to become a hindrance to the love we show to the lost world. We speak the truth in love, we stand for the truth in peace, and we share the truth in humility.
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