Sunday, August 21, 2016 Lesson Text: Romans 11:11-24 King James Version (KJV) I. GOD S DESIRE FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL (Romans 11:11-12) 11. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? II. GOD S EXHORTATION TO GENTILE BELIEVERS (Romans 11:13-24) 13. For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14. If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which
are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16. For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18. Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. 20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be
grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? New International Version (NIV) I. GOD S DESIRE FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL (Romans 11:11-12) 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!
II. GOD S EXHORTATION TO GENTILE BELIEVERS (Romans 11:13-24) 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 firstfruitsis 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 othersand 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! PRACTICAL POINTS: 1. God s plans or promises cannot be stopped or changed because of man s disobedience (Romans 11:11-12). 2. Sometimes it takes seeing others enjoying God s blessings for us to realize the value of what He has in store for us (Romans 11:13-15).
3. The greatest gift we can leave for future generations is a life of holiness and faith in God (Romans 11:16). 4. Just because God has saved us, we have no right to feel superior to those who have yet to believe (Romans 11:17-18). 5. There is no room for spiritual pride in the believer s life (Romans 11:19-21). 6. God is good, but He can be very sever when He judges sin (Romans 11:22-24). ***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press***