seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Romans 11:11 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 think there are some people who will be used by both sides of the good and evil argument. Look at Paul, for example. Paul was a good Jew. He sat on the Sanhedrin. He strove to keep the Temple Holy. No doubt when Paul heard that Jesus had upended the vender's tables and caused a real kerfuffle, Paul was outraged. No doubt when Paul heard that Jesus was talking about the Temple as a temporary structure that could be torn down and rebuilt, Paul was outraged. Paul was a good Jew who had no tolerance for insubordination in the Temple. God set the rules. Man couldn't change them. Anyone who thought they could just come in the Temple, all smart and stuff, and then cause such a commotion, should be admonished. Paul certainly could not condone a man who claimed to the Messiah. God would certainly have addressed that before sending this destructive human! I think Paul was delighted to see that troublemaker, Jesus, sent to the Cross.
According to Paul, and those Paul hung out with, the humans who were going around claiming Jesus to be some kind of miracle worker, had to be silenced. They were just spreading hate against God. They were going to cause Rome to punish Israel. Stephen was one of them. Paul was there. Paul cheered them on as they murdered Stephen. Paul was probably very proud of himself and his buddies. They murdered a man who would turn the other cheek.
But in these verses, Paul says God can use a man like him. Paul says just because he's a Jew by blood, he gets no relief. He doesn't get a ticket to Heaven. But... if Paul, the same guy that held the coats, became useful to God.... say being arrested and taken to Nero.... then God would be happy to use him. God knew Paul had some redeeming value. So, God allowed Jesus to knock him down, blind him, make him listen, and give him an assignment. Paul had to Believe then.
You can be part of the family. That's what all the hubbub about the tree and grafting is. God is the Root. God and His Son are the trunk. All the Believers are the branches. If God wants to use an acorn to build a pine tree, then God can do it. If God wants to put a murderous scoundrel in front of Ceasar to tell him about Jesus... then God can do it.
God made an example of Paul. He changed him. How many of you said to yourselves, "but he was 'Saul' when he held the coats and he's 'Paul' since he met Jesus"? God made an example of Paul.
If you don't think you belong in the family of God.... think about it again.... did you take part in murdering God's messenger?
Are you any worse than Paul?
