Romans 11: Gentiles Grafted In

11So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass(N) salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion[b] mean!
13Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as(O) I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and(P) thus save some of them. 15For if their rejection means(Q) the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16(R) If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17But if(S) some of the branches were broken off, and you,(T) although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root[c] of the olive tree, 18do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you(U) stand fast through faith. So(V) do not become proud, but(W) fear. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you,(X) provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise(Y) you too will be cut off. 23And(Z) even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

O:
Because of the sins committed by Jews, Gentiles were able to receive salvation
Paul wants to make his fellow Jews jealous=> saving them
if the roots are holy then so are the branches
reference of us as olive trees
we are individual olive shoots( if allowed to grow it may produce fruit)
grafted is taking one part of tree and fusing with another
we were taken and grafted into a nourishing root
shares roots with the tree itself
we dont support the roots, its the roots that support us
we were brought in from the breaking off of branches
branches were broken off because of unbelief but we stand strong through faith
Do not be proud but FEAR (ref. to grace)
God provides kindness to those who believe and have faith while is Severe to those that fall away
If those who turn away from their unbelief will be brought back into the tree
not sure about vs 15-16 and 24

I:
those who believe and have Faith in God will be taken and fused into gods family
those who turn away will be taken away from the family
we dont support ourselves, nor god. Its he(the roots) who supports us
Its not because of us that we are able to join his family but its because of his grace we are brought in.
we must Fear God knowing that he has all authority to let us go
God loves those who believe and can be harsh to those who dont/ turn away
If you fall,turn away, and come back God will always be here with open arms to reconcile you into the family

A:
Being humble and knowing that God controls our fate
Trusting and thanking the roots that provide for us
Fear yet love God
Have steadfast faith in God

Romans11:The Remnant of Israel

1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life." 4But what is God’s reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

7What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8as it is written,

"God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day."

9And David says,

"Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and bend their backs forever."

O:

Paul speaking to Israelites

Paul is a descendant of Israel

Brings up the story of Elijah

Gods Comfort is given as Grace. If Gods comfort was given on even the slightest bit of works then it wouldn't be given to us by grace at all.

reference to Israel not succeeding in seeking righteousness by law

The chosen obtained it but those that weren't had their hearts hardened

snare and trap= used to catch animals

I:

Gods Grace is given to us as a gift and not something that we can work for.We reach Righteousness by Faith, If we pursue just the law then we may become like most of the Israelites, Hearts hardened.

A:

seek Gods Righteousness through Faith

The college Lost and Found

This testimony was short yet comforting. This person was worrying what her calling was. She switched universities and majors multiple times. She was also very active in church and other activities. Yet she still didn't know or had any idea what her true calling was. through all this she wasnt calm, she was actually nervous and scared. she eventually came across Jeremiah 29

"For I know the plans i have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then your will call upon me and come and pray to me, and i will listen to you. you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

This passage reassured the Israelites of his promise. His plan however isn't dependent on us, we are weak and not perfect.

This person began to realize that the thing she was striving to find was wrong. Relying on her self to figure out Gods plan she forgets that we should be worried less about the plan and more about the creator of that plan. I think one important thing I took away from this testimony was that we needn't seek out gods plan and purpose for our lives, but rather we should seek him and learn more about him. All God calls us to do is to seek and follow him, and then everything will eventually fall into place.

The Hug

Todays testimonial really hit me. It's something that we should be doing alot, but its something that we definitely dont do. It is the persistence of giving love to others. To often we joke with our friends,walk by those who are hurt and alone and neglect showing each other love. In this testimonial one person kept perusing another's heart whom was hardened so much. Eventually by this persons effort to show love the Hardened heart slowly became soft and living again. This is what we need to do for our brothers and sisters, and for each other. We need to continue to persistently give Love just as Jesus had done for us. because without love, we are dead.

we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 John 3:14

The Anti Conflict

So This week I decided to begin a new book written by student for students. It is a Book that help encourage and students through the tough times in college.

In todays section, the persons testimony really brought up the idea that Jesus wasn't passive and encountered much conflict(Mathew 10:34).Instead of letting problems pass by He confronted them. Avoiding conflict and having shallow peace is not love, sometimes it is love that brings conflict. Even in Conflict God can be Glorified.

Proverbs 29:25

Fear of man will prove to be snare, But whoever trusts in the lord is kept safe

Romans 10:Salvation is for Everyone

⁵ For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. ⁶ But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven’ (to bring Christ down to earth). ⁷ And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” ⁸ In fact, it says,

“The message is very close at hand;
it is on your lips and in your heart.”

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: ⁹ If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. ¹¹ As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” ¹² Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. ¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

According to the old laws we are required to to fulfill all of the written commandments rather than only believing with your heart that God raised Jesus our savior from the dead. Its by believing that makes us right with god. As long as we trust in the lord we will be taken care of. This applies to Everyone, Jew or Gentile. so its by confessing with our hearts that we know we are saved.