Romans 11:19-22 - 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
Message: God's kindness leads us to repentance. Those that fall away receive the severity of God.
Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome.
What the Lord is Saying:
Up to this point
I have been walking through text that is talking about the grafting in of the Gentiles because the Jewish people turned to their own way of righteousness rather than accepting the righteousness which is by faith. Paul communicates very directly how God's grace means that people are chosen by God based upon His choosing. Because of this, we never are to be arrogant or prideful about our faith in Christ. We haven't done anything special to deserve it. Yet, through all of this I am to be a witness and proclaim the message of the gospel continually in my life.
Broken branches - 19,20
Remember, branches (the Jewish nation) have been broken so that I might be grafted in. It is prophetic that the Gentile people have been grafted in, brought in to the family of God. However, we are not be conceited. Conceited is somewhat similar to pride, talked about in Romans 11:18. To be conceited is to have an excessively conceited view point of one's abilities or appearance. The focus is not to be on me. But, I am to live in Godly fear. Fear is to have reverential awe of God. Either way, my focus is not to be on my abilities, but instead to be on God and what He has done.
Set aside for having pride - 21
This is an interesting verse because Paul shows that the Jews were set aside or not grafted in because of their unbelief and then he says that the Gentiles could find themselves in the same predicament because of their pride or self-conceited attitude.
Kindness and Severity Contrasted - 22
We know earlier that God's kindness leads us to repentance (2:4). The problem with people is they fall away, and God is severe with them. God's kindness however lea2ds to repentance. God chooses people through His kindness. People reject God. Interesting contrast. It's not that God chooses some to hell, but rather they fall from Him and He gives them hell, yet in the reverse He chooses some with His kindness. It is always an interesting contrast.
Promise: God prunes branches.
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