Choosing To Be Grafted

Today’s Bible Reading:  Proverbs 13-15; Romans 11

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: God’s Grace & Wrath

SCRIPTURE:  Romans 11:22-23

²² Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. ²³ And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. (Rom 11:22-23 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

In Romans 11 the Apostle Paul is again addressing the contrasts between Jews and Gentiles. Using the metaphor of an olive tree, he describes unbelieving Jews as branches that have been cut off and believing Gentiles as branches that have been grafted in. Of particular interest in this metaphor is that Paul states that the cut off branches could still be grafted back in and that the grafted branches could later be cut off. This assertion calls into question the doctrine of eternal security.  

APPLICATION:                                        

This passage lends credence to the Arminianism doctrine of free will. That we are saved only by God’s grace and not by works is indisputable; but it is also within our purview to decide whether or not we will believe. The consequences of those decisions have eternal life or death significance.

PRAYER:

Thank You Lord that Your grace and Your wrath—Your perfectly just judgments—are always in precise balance. Thank You for the assurance that I have been grafted in through Christ. Amen.  –AP