"Wild By Nature"

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Romans 11:16-24 (KJV)

16. For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18. Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graff them in again.
24. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

All churches have their problems. The church in Rome during Paul's day was no exception. There seems to have been some racial tension within the church between Jewish believers (a relatively small number) and Gentile believers (the majority). Why?

1. The Jews rejected the Messiah and demanded He be crucified.
2. Persecution of the early Christians came at the hand of the Jews.
3. The Jews as a whole continue to reject the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God's favor to Abram is a beautiful portrait of God's grace to the believer in Christ.

1. We are "dead in trespasses and sins" (as Abram was dead to child-bearing).
2. God produces for us (spiritual life) as He produced for Abram physical life (Isaac).
3. Abram's faith in the work of God obtained for him a right standing (righteousness) with God, just as our faith in God's work through His Son brings us righteousness from God. This is what is called "the righteousness of God by faith" (Romans 3:22).

1. You were wild by nature (vs. 17,25).
   (a). Dead to God's blessings; (b) Unfruitful in life; (c) Headed for the firebrand pit.
2. Yet, you were wanted by Another (v.18).
   You were chosen by God, grafted into the blessings of Abraham. You received from God His righteousness. He reached down and gave you life and made you His child. Why? "According to the good pleasure of His will" (Ephesians 1:5).
3. Now, you are warned by an Apostle (v.21).
   Don't be haughty and arrogant toward the Jewish people. Yes, they are blind. Yes, they are cut off from the blessings of Abraham. But if God spared not the natural descendants of Abraham, He very well may one day not choose to spare the Gentiles.
4. Finally, be warmed by an announcement (v.25).
   There is coming a great revival of faith in Christ among the Jewish people. This is prophesied by Paul in at least five verses in Romans 11 (vs. 12, 15, 24, 26, 28). As we have seen, there is disagreement over when this will happen (or happened), but the truth is clear -- God is not through with the Jew. "Do not boast against them." "God is able to take away their blindness and their hardness and turn them to the Lord; he can by his mighty power work faith in them and bring them to Christ." John Gill