Romans 11:11-24 “Kindness”

Let’s read Romans 11:11-16

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.

The first time I saw Donna I knew she was something special. So I pursued her throwing out all the charm a fourteen-year-old boy could have and because it worked, Donna and I started dating. Donna said she knew I was “the one,” but to be perfectly honest this fourteen year old kid was not ready for everything like that kind of relationship. So, from the age of fourteen to sixteen we were on again, off again.

Now, to use Paul’s word, that’s when I stumbled. Did I stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Donna and I would come back together at sixteen and been together ever since.

Again, being honest the one thing that brought me back to her was jealousy. Those times we were separated I saw her out living life hanging out with other people and having fun and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like because I wanted to be a part of her life. I wanted it to be us together.

This example about our life is exactly what Paul is talking about here in this part of the lesson. Because the Jewish people rejected Him (stumbled over Jesus Christ), God started “hanging out” with the gentiles giving them everything He wanted to give the Israelites. God will bless the gentiles through faith in Jesus Christ with the gift of salvation through the Holy Spirit so as to make the Jewish people jealous.

Paul says his mission was to bring the Word of Jesus Christ, the gospel message, to the Gentiles. This message will help bring some Jewish people to believe in Jesus Christ.

I share this………God’s rejection of unbelieving Israel is partial and temporary. God uses the inclusion of Gentiles to spark spiritual curiosity and desire in Jewish people. Paul uses two Old Testament metaphors—the "firstfruits"  and the "root" to show that God’s covenant connection to Israel remains intact.

Here’s the way I understand this…..the “Root” is what God originally planted and what everything else grows from. The “firstfruits” are God’s chosen people.

Compare it to an oak tree that God planted. As it generates branches that grows from the root. But along with the tree, moss and ferns grow on the tree giving everything life from the tree. The branches (Jewish people) are a part of the original tree; the moss and ferns are the gentiles are to grow and live with the tree.

Let’s read Romans 11:17-22

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.

I share this…………pressed olive oil was a major component of daily food, used for cooking, baking, and mixing with grain. Pure olive oil fueled clay lamps, providing essential light for homes and burning continuously in the Tabernacle and Temple. The oil served as a base for medicinal ointments, skin softeners, and cleansing treatments. Hard, durable olive wood was utilized for carving, tools, and the construction of furniture and architectural elements (such as the cherubim and doors inside the Temple). Therefore, olive trees were an important of the everyday Jewish person’s life.

Let me show you the importance God placed on the olive tree.

Read Genesis 8:11 When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.

The first living thing given to Noah after the flood was an olive branch.

I share this……… An olive tree has an average lifespan of 300 to 600 years. While the trees lived for hundreds of years, individual branches eventually stopped producing olives. When that happened, branches from younger trees were grafted in to restore productivity. Paul’s point is that the old, unproductive branches (Israel), were broken off and branches from a wild olive tree (Gentiles), were grafted in. Once grafted in, Gentiles partake of the richness of God’s covenant blessings as the spiritual heirs of Abraham.

Read John 15:5-8 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Here Jesus is using grapevine branches, much like the olive tree branches. In both instances we must stay connected to Jesus Christ through faith in order to be productive and produce fruit. That fruit is found in……………..

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Those, Jews or gentiles, who accept God’s gracious offer of salvation through faith in Jesus Christy experience His goodness. Those who reject Christ will experience His harshness, thrown into the fire and burned.

Let’s read Romans 11:23-24

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 read this…… “Evidently some Gentile believers were tempted to think that there was no future for Israel. She had rejected the gospel and it had now passed to the Gentiles; Israel was finished, rejected, cast off. God had chosen them instead. It is this kind of pride that Paul is opposing.”

I share this…………everyone makes mistakes or stumbles which is a normal part of the human experience. A stumble does not result in total destruction. Stumbling is an opportunity to seek help and mercy rather than final condemnation.

God has a plan of salvation that does not come from being a Jew or Gentile, being perfect or accomplished through works.

Read Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

It is because of God’s “Kindness” that we are saved through Faith in Jesus Christ.