Key Verse: "Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:" - Romans 11:20 KJV
Paul has just explained that there is a remnant of Israel according to God's grace. Now he turns his attention particularly toward the Gentile believers and gives them a warning against spiritual pride. He uses the picture of an olive tree. Some of the natural branches were broken off because of unbelief, and wild olive branches, the Gentiles, were grafted in.
Paul says: “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;” Romans 11:17
The picture is one of being brought into something we did not create and did not earn. That is grace.
You Were Grafted In
Paul wants the Gentile believers to understand something very important: They have no reason to boast.
- They did not replace the olive tree.
- They replaced the unbelieving branches.
- They did not make themselves worthy of being included.
- They were brought in by God's grace.
Paul warns: “Boast not against the branches.” Romans 11:18 And then he gives the reason: “For thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.” Romans 11:18
That is a powerful statement. The branch does not sustain the root. The root sustains the branch. Everything the believer has spiritually comes from God.
- Our salvation comes from Him.
- Our righteousness comes from Him.
- Our strength comes from Him.
- Our hope comes from Him.
- Our standing before God comes through Jesus Christ.
There is simply no room for spiritual pride.
It Is Not About Being Better
Paul anticipates the argument: “Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.” Romans 11:19
But Paul answers: “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.” Romans 11:20
Notice those words: “thou standest by faith.”
- Not by superiority.
- Not by human achievement.
- Not by intelligence.
- Not because the Gentiles were somehow better than Israel.
They stood by faith. And Paul immediately says: “Be not highminded, but fear:” Romans 11:20
This is not a call to live in terror of God. It is a call to reverence Him and recognize our complete dependence upon Him.
God's Goodness and Severity
Paul then gives us a statement that contains two truths we must hold together: “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God…” Romans 11:22
God is good.
- His grace is abundant.
- His mercy is beyond our understanding.
- But God is also holy and righteous.
- Sin matters.
- Unbelief matters.
We should never treat God's grace as though it gives us permission to become careless about our relationship with Him, or permission to sin.
Paul continues: “On them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:22
The proper response to God's goodness is not pride.
- It is gratitude.
- It is humility.
- It is continued faith.
God's Mercy Is Greater Than We Imagine
Paul does not end this section by emphasizing human failure.
He points again toward God's mercy. “And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.” Romans 11:23
Think about that. “God is able.” The same God who grafted in the wild branches is able to graft in the natural branches again.
God's mercy is not limited by our expectations.
- Where we see failure, God can restore.
- Where we see rejection, God can bring repentance.
- Where we see a broken branch, God can graft it in again.
That does not make unbelief insignificant. Rather, it magnifies the mercy and power of God.
Summary
The olive tree reminds us that none of us has room to boast before God. Everything we have received has come through grace. Think about your own salvation.
- You didn't create the gospel.
- You didn't design the plan of redemption.
- You didn't provide the sacrifice.
- You didn't raise Jesus from the dead.
God did. You simply received what He provided by faith. That should produce humility.
The longer we walk with Christ, the more deeply we should understand how dependent we are upon Him.
Jesus said: “Without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5 Nothing.
- Not some things.
- Not the difficult things only.
- Nothing.
Our strength is found in Him.
Don't Look Down, Look Up
One of the dangers in the Christian life is beginning to look at other people and think: “At least I'm not like them.”
But grace should produce a very different response: “Lord, thank You for saving me.” The ground at the foot of the cross is level.
- We all come as sinners.
- We all need mercy.
- We all need forgiveness.
- And we all stand because of Christ.
Paul's warning against being “high-minded” is therefore extremely practical. Never allow your spiritual knowledge, years in church, good works, or understanding of Scripture to become a reason for looking down upon someone else.
The more grace we understand, the more gracious we should become.
Life Application
Today, take a moment to thank God for His grace.
- Thank Him that you were grafted in.
- Thank Him that you stand by faith.
- Thank Him that your salvation rests upon Christ rather than your own goodness.
And when you encounter someone who is struggling spiritually, don't approach them with superiority. Approach them with compassion. You know what it means to need grace.
- Remember where you came from.
- Remember who saved you.
- Remember who sustains you.
And remember Paul's warning: “Be not highminded, but fear.” Romans 11:20
- Let God's goodness make you humble rather than proud.
- Let His mercy toward you make you merciful toward others.
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your amazing grace. Thank You that I did not have to earn my way into Your family, but that You made a way for me through Jesus Christ. Keep me humble and grateful.
Never let me become proud of what You have done in my life. Help me remember that I stand by faith and that everything good in me comes from You. Give me compassion for those who are struggling and help me never look down on anyone.
Teach me to appreciate both Your goodness and Your holiness. Keep me close to You, trusting Your grace every day.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
