The Arrogance of the Gospel - Wesley Storks

  In Romans 11:17-24, we find an interesting piece of scripture. In these verses, Paul is warning the Gentiles in Rome not to be arrogant or to think too much of themselves now that they have the gospel, and have gained salvation through Christ. Their warning was that they should not fall into the same trapped mindset that the Jews did concerning Christ. The Jews referenced in this passage had become arrogant in that they put their faith in their ability to keep the Law so well that they had forgotten about the importance of the Messiah (Romans 9:30-33). They had become arrogant in themselves, and their own abilities, and their own way of life by the Law that they had neglected to see Christ for who He was because they were blinded by their own selfish Perception of keeping the Law. What can we learn from these verses I wonder? I encourage you to turn to this short passage in your Bible, as we find out together. 

Verses 17-21:

  In verses 17-21, Paul tells the Gentiles metaphorically that they shouldn't be arrogant towards the "branches" (The Jews) that have been cut off from the nourishing Root. They were broken off because of their unbelief in Christ (vs.20). Since they were broken off, it provided a means for everyone to be able to know Christ, and that the Gentiles would be able to be grafted in as part of the Root to be nourished by it. Even though these Jews were broken off, this was no reason for the Gentiles to behave arrogantly towards them because they have gained salvation, and these Jews have been cut off. That's the same sort of arrogance that had gotten these particular Jews cut off in the first place (Vs.21). Arrogance in the fact that they had the Law, and the Gentiles didn't; therefore, since they believed they were saved by their ability to keep the Law, and not by Christ, they thought they had salvation and the Gentiles did not. The warning here is to not fall into the same self-centered trap that had gotten these Jews cut off in the first place because their minds should be set on the nourishing Root instead of the dead branches. 

Verses 22-24:

  These next verses encourage the Gentiles to take note of the kindness and severity of God. To first note His severity to those who have fallen, but His kindness to them should they choose to continue in that course. He then reminds them that the gospel is still for everyone, even for those Jews that had been cut off. If they were to choose to repent, and be obedient to The Lord, they would most certainly be accepted. If God was capable of grafting in the Gentiles who didn't naturally grow with the Root, He is more than capable of restoring the branches that naturally grow with the Root. It all came down to their decision to believe or disbelieve which would in turn result in a change of course or action on their behalf that would either align them with the will of God, or set them contrary to it. The focus should never be on the fact that they are lost, but rather that everyone is lost without their connection to the Root - Christ.

Application:

  Are we so different in our thinking sometimes? We have gained salvation, and we know the truth, but do we ever flaunt it arrogantly? Do we ever become caught up in taking too much pride in the fact that we have the gospel? How many times have we had a condescending thought about something not lining up exactly with God's word, or someone who doesn't yet know the truth in some matters? How many times have we considered the Biblical pattern of salvation, and then immediately stomp on and shoot down anything that resembles anything other than the truth?

  I'm not saying that we shouldn't be proud to know salvation in Christ, or that we shouldn't take a confident stand for the truth. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be bold with our efforts to take the gospel to a lost and dying world, but I am saying that we should check our motives and our attitudes lest we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Our focus should never be on the fact that other people are lost, but rather that EVERYONE is lost without Christ. The fact that people are lost without Christ is no haughty matter, but rather a heartbreaking one. Our encouragement now is to not be arrogant that we have the gospel, but that we should have hearts that break when we look at the tragedy of unbelief. To be ever thankful to God for His mercy, and ever loving towards those who do not know Christ, because aren't they the ones who need Him the most?