The Fourth Sunday in Lent (NTA)

Romans 11:11-24

¹¹ So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. ¹² Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry ¹⁴ in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? ¹⁶ If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. ¹⁹ Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. ²² Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. ²³ And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

The acceptance of the truth is life from death. You are dead in your trespasses. You can not do anything in and of yourself. You are a branch to a tree. This is a very interesting illustration. Because a branch does not do anything, unless it is attached to the tree. Attached to the tree it grows. Attached to the tree it helps the tree. But broken off it does nothing.

You can do nothing apart from Christ. You are a sinful human being. You have fallen short of the glory of God. You have died in your sin. You have torn yourself away from the true tree. We do this through our deeds of darkness, and our iniquity. 

It is Christ who dies in your place. He dies for your transgressions. The Holy Spirit calls you by the Gospel and claims your to be part of Christ's tree. God the Father feeds you, and strengthens you through his Holy Word. Through all things God forgives and renews you, over and over again grafting you back into his tree.