Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Romans 11

In this chapter, Paul explains how the Gentiles were brought into the family of God. In the Old Testament times, the Jews were God's chosen people and very few Gentiles became a part of God's family. However, the Jews rejected God and turned their backs on Him. So, God extended the opportunity of salvation to all mankind. Many Gentiles were accepting salvation and joining the new church of God. As Paul illustrates it here, they were wild olive branches that were grafted into the good olive tree. The original branches were cut off because they did not bear fruit. However, Paul warns the Gentiles (the wild olive branches) not to boast against the branches that were cut off. If they boasted, they to might be cut off. We, as Gentiles, have been blessed because of the Jews' unbelief. However, we should desire that they might be saved. They are still God's chosen people and we should be reaching out to them in any way possible. We should also be thanking God that He has made a provision for us to be saved.

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