Broken Off Because of Unbelief Romans 11:20

Paul the apostle asked the people in Rome, “ if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree;”, and he added, “Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you.” He continued, “You will say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty of Romans, Paul instructed the people in Rome, “because of unbelief they were broken off” where we read:

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear:

The verse begins, “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith..” Paul began with the word, “well” which means “beautifully, finely, excellently, rightly, so that there shall be no room for blame, honorably and truly”; “because of unbelief” or “for the reason of unfaithfulness, being faithless and in want and weakness of faith” “they were broken off” which refers to “Israel being cut off”, “and you” which refers to Paul's reading believers in Rome “stand” or “cause to be put in place, set, made firm and established” “by faith” which means “through and by means of the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things and the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ”. Paul shared how it was a “beautiful” thing for Israel to be “cut off” and the Gentiles to be “grafted” into faith in Jesus Christ.

The verse continues, “ Be not high-minded, but fear:”. Paul warned and instructed with the words, “be not high-minded” or “do not be arrogant and proud” “but fear” which means “nevertheless, not withstanding, rather and moreover be frightened and struck with amazement”. Paul cautioned the believing readers in Rome not to be “proud” but “in awe and amazed” by the opportunity provided to them.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how there was a great advantage provided to the Gentiles when the people of “Israel” rejected Jesus as their Messiah. The remainder of the world was given opportunity to receive the “gospel of Jesus Christ”, and many of them received Him as “Savior and Lord”. Paul's warning to the Gentiles in Rome was not to be of a “boastful mind” but rather be “in awe and grateful” to be “saved”. God's “good news” is available to everyone, and those who are wise shall turn to Him through His Son Jesus today.

Next time Paul tells his readers in Rome what happens, “if God spared not the natural branches”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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