"The Broken Branches"

“The Broken Branches”

 

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches.  If you do, consider this; you do not support the root, but the root supports you.  You will say then, “Branches were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.   Do not be arrogant, but tremble.   For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.        Romans 11:17-21

 

The Apostle Paul paints us a picture of how SALVATION came to the Gentile nations.  He talks about the cultivated and the wild olive shoot.     The BROKEN BRANCHES are representative of the UNBELIEVING ISRAEL, those who have rejected Christ.   The ROOT represents the patriarchs of Israel or Abraham, to be exact.  The wild olive shoot is the Gentile nations.  The BRANCHES were BROKEN OFF because of their UNBELIEF.  But the WILD OLIVE SHOOT was grafted into the cultivated olive ROOT (Abraham), thus the Gentiles who BELIEVE are grafted into the ROOT, Abraham, and they should NOT consider themselves to be SUPERIOR to the BROKEN BRANCHES. 

 

The Gentile nations are BLESSED to be able to SHARE in God’s AMAZING GRACE.  Their SALVATION comes from the Jews (John 4:22). And they have NO RIGHT to be BOASTFUL.  Paul warns them NOT to be ARROGANT or BOASTFUL.  Because the UNBELIEVING Gentile nations could and will be broken off at the end of the age, when the Judgment Seat comes.

 

Paul is NOT talking of the PERSONAL SALVATION of individuals, but of the NATIONS and of the PEOPLES who make up the nations.  God will NEVER SEPARATE the TRUE BELIEVERS from Christ. (Romans 8:35-39).  As TRUE BELIEVERS, we benefit from the spiritual privileges and heritage of Israel.  And SPIRITUALLY speaking, we are children of Abraham, because he is the “father of ALL BELIEVERS.” (Galatians 3:26-29). 

 

Where do you stand?  Will you be a part of a Gentile nation, which is made up of UNBELIEVERS, and will be part of a BROKE BRANCH that will be cast into EVERLASTING FIRE?  Or will you stand on your FAITH and be counted as a TRUE BELIEVER?  If you choose to REBEL against God and His ways, then you will be a part of an UNBELIEVING GENTILE NATION, and you will be JUDGED by the ALMIGHTY GOD, and sentenced to an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and become a part of His family, and spend ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL its GLORIES.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!