I say then, have they
stumbled that they should fall?
Certainly not!
But through their
fall, to provoke them to jealously,
Salvation has come to
the Gentiles.
Romans 11:11
Clarity
here is most necessary for we make word pictures in our minds and those
pictures may be different from one person to another; i.e., if is say tree you
may see a fir tree and I see an oak tree, we both see a tree only differently. The
words: “to provoke them to jealously,” are a translation of one Greek
word: παραζηλόω, that is, παρα = beside; and ζηλόω = to have a warmth of feeling
for or against something, and so the word παραζηλόω carries the meaning of be stimulated,
or provokes to emulation, or to be stirred up. Unfortunately in English the
word, provoke for many carries a negative meaning which in Webster’s dictionary
the word provoke carries two meanings, one, to cause one to anger, or to exasperate
someone, and two, to stimulate, or to excite someone. Which meaning do you most
often associate with this word? It does matter for which one you choose will
determine the interpretation of this verse. God is a jealous God but not in the
manner that we so often use this word, for God is so associated with His
children so that He guards them, protects, them and saves them, that is you,
and me, and all children of God. This jealousness of God is applied to us by
means of His coming to earth to pay this debt of sin we could not pay, it is a
love so deep that we cannot fully understand this His love. Although we can apply
in our lives this agape love, that is this Godly principled love. We have, not
ethnically as Hebrews, no, but as Gentiles, non–Jews we by their failures have
by God’s dispensation and economy are able to be saved: “Now if their fall
is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much
more their fullness! For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle
to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to
jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them” (Romans 11:12–14). Paul
once again uses that Greek word listed above that he is preaching, and teaching
the Gospel, to stimulate them to emulate Jesus Christ. In doing so may save some
of his own people of his race. Also those in Rome who are not Jews, and this
inspired writing extends to us in this generation and for all generations for
Gods word, His Gospel is to stir us up, to stimulate us so that we live in this
life as an image bearer of our Savior Jesus Christ. Man has in all times
defected from the truth, and by God’s Providence no matter the defection God
uses that defection to accomplish His purpose: “For if their being cast away
is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from
the dead? For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root
is holy, so are the branches” (Romans 11:15–16). God chose the Israelites
to be a holy people for His name and purpose and the root of Israel is Jesus
Christ: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the
churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star”
(Revelation 22:16). Paul makes clear to us that not all of Israel will be
given salvation, but there will be some, an elect people who by their election
come to believe upon the Root of David, Jesus Christ and are saved, but by this
truth, those who become spiritual Israel, grafted into the body of Jesus who is
the Root will also be saved: “And if some of the branches were broken off,
and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them
became a partaker of the rood and fatness of the ovive tree, do not boast
against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the
root, but the root supports you” (Romans 11:17–18). Just because Israel
failed in their worship and belief in the true God does not mean that God
allowed this so that you may be saved, no: “You will say then, ‘Branches
were broken off that I might be grafted in.’ “Well said. Because of unbelief
they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if
God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either” (Romans
11:19–21). If you are not in fear, not just afraid by have reverential
fear, a deep respect and love towards God who has saved you, you should have
this fear, for if your faith is not a converted faith, one that denies oneself
and becomes in the image of Jesus Christ, maybe, just maybe, you will not be
spared. I am not talking about losing one’s salvation, rather it may be true
that you may think that you are saved, but are not, for if you do not have a
desire to live for God, then you have not come to know the truth. Ether you are
not of the elect or you are not willing to allow the grace of God to be active
in you life and you will not be spared from the condemnation given to such of
the elect that live for themselves and not for Him. God does not cast away His
elect, His children and Paul makes this plain and clear: “And they also, if they
do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them
in again” (Romans 11:23). This grafting in and receiving the blessings of
God is dependent upon your belief or unbelief. You by the Grace of God are
grafted into the Root, not because being by nature a Hebrew, and Israelite, all
contrary to your nature, and God willing to graft back into the Root His chosen
people, then our desire should not be to please ourselves, no, this fact should
drive us to live according to God’s commandments. God speaks, and God wills,
and His spoken word is true, and His will is unchanging, therefore worship God
in your lives, live for Him in all you do and say, not simply for a
blessing(s), no, for the fact that you are already grafted in to the Root and
have all that God has promised: eternal life. Praise God!
Walk prudently when you go to
The house
of God; and
Draw near to hear rather than
To give the
sacrifice of fools.
For they do not know that they do evil.
Ecclesiastes 5:1
Fear God: Keep His Commandments
Richard L. Crumb
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