Romans 11:17-24 Arrogance, the cancer of religion

Romans 11:17-24

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

Background

Do you see yourself as wiser and spiritually more superior than people of other religions? If you do, like most of us, we have a real problem: arrogance. Paul reminds the Gentile believers not to be proud and arrogant towards their Jewish brothers. Arrogance is what causes the demise of the Jews, and the Gentile believers must be careful not to repeat the same mistake the Jews made, else they will also be cut off. The Jews lost their salvation because of their arrogance and unbelief, but they will be restored should they repent. Their arrogance opens the door to hypocrisy, injustice and the lust of the flesh; arrogance despises God’s Laws, and cuts off the grace of God from their lives. God is not bias in the way He treats the Jews and Gentiles, believers and non-believers. For those who obeys His ways, He treats with kindness, but to those who disobey, He treats with severity.

Observation

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.

The Gentile Christians are beginning to demonstrate the very same attitudes that cause the Jew to lose their salvation. The original branches (the Jews) were broken off because of their arrogance; they are prideful and complacent having been given a special status before God. The Gentile Christians (wild olive) although being raw to the things of the Spirit seemed to experience all the miraculous things the Jews experienced. They grew arrogant towards the Jews despising them as legalistic, being steep in tradition and missing the point; they judge the Jews’ belief system as works devoid of faith. Yet, the Gentile Christians find themselves in the same danger of losing the virtues that got them saved in the first place, which is humility and the fear of God.

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.

Here is a warning to Gentile believers that if the original branches were broken off because of unbelief, and the wild olive branches grafted in their place. God who did not spare the original branches will likewise not spare the branches that are grafted in. In other words, if the Jews who because of their unbelief lose their salvation, fear lest the Gentile believers reap the same consequence.

Here is a clash not only of religious ideologies, but of values system. The Jews in unbelief persisted in their self-serving agenda, being prideful, unjust and devoid of mercy. The Gentiles, on the other hand, receive salvation because they acknowledge God as Lord and depended on Him for salvation; which is counted as faith. But if the Gentile believers were to degenerate in their values system and persist in self-serving ways, they too will lose their salvation like the Jews did.

Many modern day believers thought they possess the right belief system to salvation, have judged the Jews harshly; in the process, they become hypocrites by being arrogant and doing the very things the Jews did. Many were deceived into thinking that the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion have secured them a place in God’s Kingdom while revelling in the kingdom of darkness; they were physically in church, but their heart is always somewhere else.

22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

Paul presents two definite outcomes in each person’s life: kindness and severity of God. For those who persist in their own ways, God will continue to deal harshly with them. But for those who acknowledge God as Lord and being grateful for His gift of salvation, God will deal kindly with them. God deals with each person in an unbiased manner regardless of their race, religious background or social status. A person’s salvation can be lost and it can also be restored according the posture of one’s heart towards God. The Jews can be grafted back into the vine if they repent from their ways: if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. God’s love for His people is everlasting and His door is always open, waiting for all to turn back to Him.

Truth

1.    Beware of the cancer of pride and arrogance. Pride and arrogance is the one effective weapon that could cut us off from God’s saving grace. The devil cannot rob us of our salvation but through our own pride and arrogance, we can. Arrogance expresses itself in a form of ingratitude towards those who has in time past supported us. We begin to criticize those who have imparted a part of themselves into our growth. Paul warns the Gentile believers not to be arrogant: do not be arrogant toward the branches (the Jews); but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root (the Jews), but the root supports you. Instead, we should always pray and support those who has helped us even though they may be imperfect. Do you speak against the company that feeds you or the manager who is above you? Do you criticize your church pastor or cell leader who supports you?

2.    God deals with all people according to one set of common principles. God is not bias where He treats some more favorably than others; He raises and debases individuals not according to their social status and capability but according to their heart. Hence, all are judged on a common principle. Paul says to the Gentile believers, “Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.” Whenever God debases a person, do not be arrogant but fear lest you repeat the mistakes made by him. But if he repents, God will restore him to favor just as before. At all times, we must seek to honor God, not to seek the demise of another but pray for one another. Believers and non-believers alike are not competing against one another, but against an absolute standard that God has set for each one of us.

Applications

1.    Do you sometimes think of yourself as wiser and more morally upright than non-believers? Learn to observe and discern not according to people’s religion or outward appearance but according to their heart. Write down a list virtues that could be found in some non-believers that have contributed much to your life and to the nation.

2.    Do you despise other churches because you felt the impact and teachings of your church is more superior?

3.    Learn to see people not through the eyes of religion but through a common values system of love, humility, sacrifice, honesty and loyalty.

Dear God, reveal to me the areas of my heart that needed transformation. As I humble myself, use the people around me to speak wisdom and encouragement so that I may grow. Forgive me for speaking words that are not helpful that cast doubts over others. Forgive me for putting up a front so that I may appear polish before others. Forgive me for judging others based on their religion and outward appearance. I recognize the purpose and the calling of each church is different and should complement and not compete with one another. Give me the wisdom to discern the ways of righteousness. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.