Mike Curtiss (8 Feb 2015)
"In Humility Remember We Are Newly Graft Onto the Tree"
Hi Friends,
In all humility, I don't think the spiritual position of the evangelical
church is anything to brag about. After my intensive research into the
Jewish people, I'm reminded of John 11:11 and following
Agape,
Michael C.
Ingrafted Branches
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 savesome 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!
All Israel Will Be Saved
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and
sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a
hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26
and in this way[e] all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[f] my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”[g]
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake;
but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the
patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as
you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a
result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become
disobedient in order that they too may now[h] receive mercy as a result
of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to
disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.