Rom
11:13-21 (NIV) I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to
the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow
arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection
is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from
the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the
whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 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, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this:
You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then,
"Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20 Granted.
But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be
arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he
will not spare you either.
NOTE: Again, the
idea of sovereignty, "branches broken off," and free will,
"their rejection … arouse to envy … because of unbelief," stand side
by side in Paul's explanation of God's work in salvation. Rather than arguing over Calvinism and
Armenian-ism, we should accept the truth that God in his sovereignty has shown
grace to people according to his choice but that man must respond to that grace
by a free choice of his own will. I am
thankful for the mercy shown to me. I
did not deserve grace, I will never deserve God's grace.
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