Feb 6, 2011

Roman 11 & 12
As we continue our trip through Romans, we encounter a change in Paul’s preaching. Throughout the first eleven chapters, Paul gives a theological perspective as he explained the relationship between man’s sinful nature and the need for placing complete faith in Jesus Christ. Paul next made the case that because of God’s gift of Jesus, the law was insufficient in bringing salvation. He continued to preach that man was unable to be saved through his own religiosity, good deeds and heritage. In viewing chap 11, Paul completed his point by emphasizing the balance between mercy and blessing. He indicated that many Jews rebelled from God’s gift, due to placing faith in themselves and rituals. Because of these actions, Gentiles were now able to receive the blessing of his grace through Jesus. Paul illustrated this through using an analogy of a tree. As God is the root system, Abraham is the tree and the Jewish people were the branches. Because some refused the gift of salvation through Jesus, those branches were broken away and Gentiles, from a different tree, were able to be grafted on as they placed their faith in Christ.
If we briefly look at this word “grafted” which means to be spliced or embedded, it gives an image of oneness. In our daily walk, how joined are we to Jesus? Do we become thicker and sprout other branches as we absorb the nutrient of Christ or do we dwindle and become brittle?
In viewing Chapter 12, Paul took the principle of needing Christ and developing a relationship with God and began to make it applicable to daily living. I will not even begin to break down line by line, because this chapter is so important in our daily walk. I will point out that Paul is consistent with Jesus’ response in Matt 22:37-39. As he states love your God first and love your neighbor second; Paul first tells everyone to devote themselves entirely to God. He calls believers to be living and holy sacrifices to God. Paul also calls on believers to love everyone around them. To use gifts God has given us to serve out of love not prestige. What have you done to live your life according to Chap. 12.