Reading through Romans

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentence

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.
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A reading from Romans: Romans 11:17-24 (NLT)

But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree — some of the people of Israel — have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.

“Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” Yes, but remember — those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.

Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.
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Reflection: Romans 11:17-24  (John Stott, The Message of Romans: God’s Good News for the World)

The plan of God for Jews and Gentiles: (Romans 9–11)

The dominant theme [of these three chapters] is Jewish unbelief, together with the problems which it raised…. Each chapter handles a different aspect of God’s relation to Israel, past, present and future:

1. Israel’s fall (9: 1– 33): God’s purpose of election
2. Israel’s fault (10: 1– 21): God’s dismay over her disobedience
3. Israel’s future (11: 1– 32): God’s long-term design
4. Doxology (11: 33– 36): God’s wisdom and generosity

Israel’s future: God’s long-term design (11:1–32)

The future prospect (11:11-32)

Israel… has not stumbled so as to fall beyond recovery, but rather to rise, and in that rise both to experience, and to cause Gentiles to experience, greater blessings than would have been the case if they had not fallen in the first place.

The allegory of the olive tree (17–24)

The warning to the believing Gentiles is clear. The olive has experienced both a pruning and a grafting. Some branches have been cut out of the cultivated tree. That is, some Jews have been rejected. And in their place a wild shoot has been grafted in. That is, some Gentiles have believed and been welcomed into God’s covenant people.

Do not boast over those branches. This is the warning, which Paul corroborates with a number of arguments.

First, remember your dependence on the root, for branches have no life in themselves.

Second, reflect that your stability is due to your faith alone…. Your position is decidedly vulnerable.

Third, do not be arrogant, but be afraid…. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either, for you do not naturally belong.

Fourth, constantly meditate on the character of God. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God, sternness in judgment upon those who fell, the apostate Jews, but kindness to you, believing Gentiles, who have been incorporated by his sheer grace alone, provided that you continue in his kindness.

Continuance or perseverance is the hallmark of God’s authentic children.
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My Soul’s Been Anchored In The Lord

In the Lord. My soul’s been anchored, Hallelujah, my soul’s been anchored in the Lord.

Before I’d stay in hell one day I’d sing and pray my self away. In the Lord. My soul’s been anchored, Hallelujah, in the Lord.

Gonna shout and pray and never stop until I reach the mountain top. In the Lord. My soul’s been anchored, Hallelujah, in the Lord.

Do you love him? God Almighty? Are you anchored? My soul’s been anchored in the Lord. Will you serve him? God Almighty? Are you anchored? My soul’s been anchored in the Lord. Hallelujah, will you praise him? God almighty?

Are you anchored? My soul’s been anchored in the Lord. Lord I’m anchored, Lord I love you, yes I’ll serve you, Lord I praise you. Hallelujah! My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.
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Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen