Romans 11:20-22

"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. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off." (Romans 11:20-22)


It's so easy to take advantage of God if we don't constantly keep in mind how lucky we are to be the 'chosen ones'. But if we read closer, it is through the downfall of God's original chosen people that we were able to 'stand by faith'. We received faith under the mercy of God, not because we were better than any other human beings out there. We were actually pitied by God, and the Israelites were casted away for our reconciliation. We are not of the firstfruit; the firstfruit, its root, and branches still lie with the Israelites. We were only 'grafted in among [the branches], and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree' (11:17). So in plain terms, we are the ones on life-support. If at any moment God decides to cut that life-support, we are as good as the abandoned branches without a root for support.

Hence, the author reminds us to 'not be haughty, but fear' (20). Who are we that God should spare us if He 'did not [even] spare the natural branches' (21)? God is fair in His severity and His goodness. The Israelites were rejected because they fell. God dealt with them as they deserved, in severity. Therefore, too keep ourselves grafted, we must 'continue in His goodness' (22). Afterall, we are the ones feeding off of the root from the firstfruit. If the Israelites, being the original chosen people of God were cut off; how much more severe will God deal with us if we were to stray away from His goodness.

Now you may say, 'God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew' (2). Yes, the cast away is temperary. 'Israel will be saved' (26) and God's chosen people will again turn to Him. Does that mean if we were cast away, it would also be temporary? We know of the restoration of Israel becaus it has been prophesied in the Bible time and again. Does the Bible in any way prophesied that the Gentiles will be restored if they were to fall? We are already under the grace of God to be able to feed off of the original root. Do we dare to ask any more from God? 'For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare [us] either' (21).

Instead of boasting of what we received from God and be haughty about what we possess, we should be thankful that we were chosen. The best way to repay God for the chance He gave us to graft into the original root is to remember His love. We should constantly remind ourselves not to take advantage of His mercy but always remember that we are chosen because of Him. That we only had a chance at life because of Him. We were the branches of a wild olive tree, never able to be a part of the original root on our own. The chance to be 'a partaker of the root' (17) is a gift given to us. We must never trample over that gift.