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The Goodness and Severity of God (Romans 11:22) Paul uses the illustration of a grafter to show God’s blessings and judgment upon others. |
The Goodness and Severity of God (Romans 11:22)
Paul uses the illustration of a grafter to show God’s blessings and judgment upon others.
- The severity of God was shown in those cut off. The Jews had been cutoff because of unbelief (11:20); Paul lamented this fact (9:1-3), but knew that it was because they did not seek God in faith (9:31-33). They were zealous but attempted to establish their own righteousness (10:1-4) and rejected God (10:21). So God had done in the past (Heb. 3:19, 4:2) and will do in the last day (Matt. 7:21-23; 2 Thess. 1:8-9; Rev. 20:15).
- The goodness of God was shown in those grafted in. Paul notes that while the natural branches (Jews) had been cutoff, the unnatural (Gentiles) had been grafted in. (11:17). God’s blessings would be on those who followed Him in faith according to His word (9:8, 24-25; 10:6-13; 14-17). Indeed God has shown great blessings on those “grafted” in His Son (John 15:1, 4, 8-11; Mark 16:16; Eph. 1:3; Rom. 8:18; John 14:1-3; Rev. 21:3-4).
- What will we know—goodness or severity? Paul’s point was to show that all could know the blessings of being “grafted” in Christ; the Gentile could be cut off and the Jew could be grafted in (11:20-21, 22-24) each had a choice (10:11-13)! But there was only the one plan (Eph. 2:14; 3:3-7, 10-11); if the Jew was to be saved, it would be just as the Gentile obtained it, obedient faith (11:26-27).
With such a thought, Paul praises and marvels at the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God (11:33-36)!
