Paul's Epistles Part 27 – Engrafted Branches

Paul's Epistles

Part 27 – Engrafted Branches

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

We are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. In Chapter 10 we looked at Paul telling us about Righteousness. The Remnant of Israel,

Today we will take a look at Gentiles, the Engrafted Branches.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Romans 11:11-24

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!

                   I.            ISRAEL'S FALL / GENTILES RISE

a.      Israel has fallen!

                                                                         i.      Paul has taught us in Romans, that there is ONLY salvation in Jesus

                                                                      ii.      If you reject Jesus, you have no salvation

                                                                   iii.      The Law points to the need for Jesus, not a path to righteousness

                                                                     iv.      The TRUE Jews are those who have accepted Jesus

b.     God allowed this to open the door for the Gentiles

                                                                         i.      God did not make Jews reject Jesus, rather, the Truth of who Christ was had hardened their hearts

                                                                      ii.      This opened the door for the Gospel to be taken to the Gentiles

1.      Remember God's first will - 1 Timothy 2:3b-6a "...God our Savior,⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all people."

2.      Romans 1:16 " For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

c.      Israel's salvation and redeemer is coming!

                                                                         i.      As Paul states in verse 11, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?

1.      Have any of us?

2.      Jews can still turn from unbelief and accept Jesus as the savior

3.      At the second coming, the Jews who accept Jesus and the Messiah will be saved.

               II.            PAUL'S MINISTRY TO THE GENTILES

a.      To arouse my people to envy and save some of them

                                                                         i.      Paul knows not all of them will accept Jesus, but he will try to save as many as possible.

b.     Salvation is for both Jew and Gentile

                                                                         i.      Just because the Gentiles have now come to the Lord, does not mean the door is shut for the Jew, otherwise Paul would not be talking about making "his" people envy of the salvation and forgiveness the Gentiles have received from the Gospel.

c.      Gentiles are grafted in, however

                                                                         i.      Paul talks about Gentiles being grafted in place of where unbelieving Jews were "cut off" from the olive tree (Jesus).

                                                                      ii.      However, Paul says not to get too comfortable...

1.      If God is willing to cut off a natural branch for unbelief (Jews), He will surely cut off a grafted branch (Gentile).

            III.            GOD'S KINDNESS AND STERNNESS

a.      Kindness towards those with faith

                                                                         i.      God shows His kindness towards people through Grace and Forgiveness

                                                                      ii.      This is available to all who trust in Jesus

b.     Stern towards the faithless

                                                                         i.      God is stern towards those with unbelief

                                                                      ii.      The Lord awaits their prayer and surrender to Him as Lord

c.      Jew and Gentile can return by turning from unbelief

d.     Wild and Cultivated branches

                                                                         i.      So do not think the Jews cannot return to the Lord

                                                                      ii.      If a wild branch (Gentile) can be grafted into a cultivated Olive Tree (Jesus), how much easier is it for a natural branch (Jew) to be grafted back into the cultivated tree it came from.

CONCLUSION

God is showing those who have faith in Him, Kindness and Grace through forgiveness.

This is available to ALL who believe and trust in Jesus Christ, those who make Him their Lord.

Whether you are a Jew or Gentile, Jesus is the ONLY way to forgiveness and Salvation.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!