Romans 11:17-24
Research and personal experience shows that many who turn away from Jesus do so because of the church’s arrogance. Since no one wakes up in the morning and decides to be arrogant, most arrogant people probably don’t realize they’re arrogant. This means we all need to examine ourselves.
This passage contains many mysteries, few of which we’ll address here; because Paul’s main idea in these verses isn’t to explain mysteries but to command Christians to be humble. The vehicle for his admonition is an extended metaphor: the olive tree.
If an olive tree caretaker saw his tree grow unfruitful, he would prune away all the dead branches and graft in a wild olive branch, which would in turn invigorate the whole tree. Since I don’t know anyone who cares for olive trees, let’s transfer the metaphor into a more familiar subject: church.
Imagine your pastor combing through the membership list and kicking out all the unfruitful people. Anyone who isn’t growing in Christlikeness and producing the fruit of the Spirit is gone and a handful of wild, new believers from crazy, sinful backgrounds are bused in. This is something like what Paul describes in these verses. God has pruned away the dead Jewish branches and grafted in the wild Gentile branches.
This situation might have tempted the Gentiles to become arrogant and to, literally, boast loudly over the Jews. To help them stand strong in the face of this temptation, Paul offers three cures for salvation-based arrogance: 1) something to remember, 2) something to fear and 3) something to consider.
Remember (v.17-18)
Remember that you don’t support the root; the root supports you. What root? John 15:1-11 explains that Jesus is the root apart from which no branch can live. We don’t support Jesus, Jesus supports us. We are like a drowning man hauled in by a life guard. We did nothing but splash around in our own sin. He came in and saved us. We did not originate our salvation. We received it from Jesus and we continue to receive everything we need from Jesus. Therefore, we have nothing to boast about.
Fear (v.19-21)
Fear God because the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is not degrees of sin, but degrees of belief. Salvation is out of our hands. We are at his mercy, so don’t be proud as though you’re in charge.
Consider (v.22-24)
Consider the kindness and severity of God. Those who do not continue in his kindness taste his severity. The word translated severity here means sharpness. Consider how sharp God’s pruning shears are and remain humble.
An important question emerges as we read these verses: does this mean a Christian can lose his salvation? In a word, no. Let’s let Matthew 7:21-23 shed some light on this:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
There are many branches growing together in the church. Some are dead and some are fruitful. One day, God will prune away the dead ones (the ones that do not remain in his kindness); but in the meantime, we remain together (see Matthew 3 too). It is not that God will prune away unproductive Christians. He will prune away the deceived non-Christians who cling to the tree.
In other words, the example I gave above of your pastor kicking out all the unfruitful church members will happen one day. Only it will be Jesus, not the pastor, doing the pruning.
Discussion Starters
- How was your week? Share the highs and lows together.
- What was the most striking aspect of this passage?
- Has anyone looked down on you for religious reasons? Have you witnessed this happen to others? Share your experiences with Christian arrogance.
- What is the nourishing root in verse 17? (See John 15:1-11)
- Do verses 21-22 teach that a Christian can lose salvation? Discuss in light of the following: Matthew 7:21-23; John 15:8; Romans 8:30; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9; Philippians 1:6; and 1 John 2:19.
- How have you experienced or seen the kindness of God?
- How have you experienced of seen the severity of God?
- Pray together. Be sure to ask God to help you grow in humility.
