“boast over those (cut off) branches” because they do not “sup- port the root” of the olive tree but rather that the “root supports them.” (Te details of this are a really a separate subject.) Suffice to say that our connection to our Jewish roots is a matter of great significance. Ten once more he admonishes them and declares very emphatically “do not be arrogant, but afraid.” (Also details for a separate column.) Te relevance of this admonition is understood in the com-
plete sentence which declares that they/we are not to boast over those other branches or against those other branches. Bible com- mentator Leon Morris suggests that “it is not so much an attitude of ‘I am wonderful’ of which Paul is complaining as ‘I am more wonderful than you’’’ (italics added) (Morris, Leon. 1988. Te Epistle to the Romans. William B. Eerdmans. 1988, p. 414). John Stott, Bible commentator, teacher and pastor, puts forth a concise but useful summary of what Paul was intending to con- vey in the exhortation. Four things Gentile believers in Jesus must never forget are: 1. You must remember your dependence on the root, for the branches have no life in themselves (v. 18).
2. You must reflect that your stability in the Messiah is due to faith alone. You may protest that “Branches were broken off so that I could be graſted in” (v. 19). Tis is formally true, but it is not the whole story. “Tey were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith” (v. 20). So your position
is decidedly vulnerable.
3. You must not forget what happened to unbelieving Israel, which belonged naturally to the olive tree. If God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either v. 21, for you do not naturally belong to the olive tree.
4. You must constantly meditate on the character of God. Con- sider the kindness and sternness of God. In sternness judge- ment fell on those Jews who did not believe in their Messiah, and kindness to the Gentiles who did believe in the Messiah. Tat said, it did relate to whether or not they continued in his kindness (v. 22). In conclusion, concerning Jew or Gentile, Stott insists that “Not that those who truly belong to him (God) will ever be rejected, but that continuance or perse- verance is the hall-mark of God’s authentic children” (Stott, John. 1994. Romans: God's Good News for the World. InterVar- sity Press. p. 300–301). Te very existence of such a strong exhortation, admonition
or rebuke present in Paul’s teaching on the relationship between Israel and the Church ought to be cause for our serious contem- plation on the severity of such a possibility. All the arguments for believing that the Church has replaced
Israel in the agenda of God are truly unsustainable when consider- ing these, and the countless other Scriptures that teach otherwise, especially when under the microscope of the historical, grammati- cal, literal interpretation of Scripture.
Gentile believers are not to “boast over those (cut off) branches” because they do not “support the root” of the olive tree but rather that the “root supports them.”
“Dedicated to calling whole-life, whole-world disciples, Urbana is an eye-opening global missions conference, a sacred space for college and graduate students, faculty, and church leaders to hear God’s call.” Discern Your Place in God’s Global Mission is the theme for Urbana 18 to be held in St. Louis, Dec. 27-31. FEBC encourages our college and graduate students to attend this triennial missions event sponsored by InterVarsity (
urbana.org). You can
choose from 200 seminars to attend and be exposed to over 260 Christian organizations. As an incentive to participate, the FEBC Commission on Global Partnerships will match assistance from a student’s home church up to $200. Request an application form from
info@febcministries.org.
Fellowship Focus, November/December 2018 17
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