God Is Kind and Also Severe

Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. Romans 11:22

Israel as a nation has always rejected Jesus. The Bible makes it clear, though, the only way into heaven comes by believing and receiving Him. Individual Jews, nevertheless, do have hope.

Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Romans 11:11

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God’s plan of salvation began with the Jewish people who had been His chosen people all along. Through the years, though, they persecuted many of their prophets and had Jesus killed.

Therefore, they failed to proclaim the gospel message. Instead, they and the rest of the world need to receive it. Gentiles have received and they proclaim it to both Jews and Gentiles alike.

Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it. Romans 11:12

Our verse for today laid out two scenarios of the Lord. God is kind, and He first extended His kindness to the Jews. Since they didn’t accept it, He offered it to the rest of the world.

For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! Romans 11:15

Paul wants all Jews to turn to Jesus. In God’s kindness, the Jews will receive salvation if they turn from their present unbelief. But if they don’t, the second scenario kicks in.

So God is not only kind, He is also severe. Again, His severity first deals with the Jews, God’s chosen people. If they don’t accept Jesus as their Messiah it results in eternal damnation.

A Lesson in Horticulture

The Jewish people originated with the Patriarch, Abraham. The Lord promised his descendants would become a great nation. So, this holy nation began through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. Romans 11:16

In this lesson on horticulture, Paul talked about Abraham’s tree. He wanted his readers to know that some of its branches had broken off. But God has grafted in branches from a different tree.

But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off.
And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in.
So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. Romans 11:17

Maybe some of the Gentiles concluded that some of the broken-off branches just made room for them. Paul, however, straightened them out. He told them the reason the branches broke off.

Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. Romans 11:20

We serve a kind God who doesn’t want to exclude anybody. But the apostle, aware of the severity of the Lord, issued a warning that we could also break off.

We Serve the Kind of God Who Wants You to be Saved

What day did you receive your salvation? We write it in the calendar, and we should because it serves as a day of celebration. On that day, the angels in heaven celebrated your change of heart. Jesus said:

In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents. Luke 15:10

Jesus didn’t use the words, “We get saved.” He told two stories in Matthew about a sinner repenting. I’m not against using the word saved or referring to a salvation experience.

I did look through the Bible and didn’t see the words repent and save in the same context. John the Baptist came preaching repentance, and so did Jesus. Look what Jesus said about “saved.”

And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22

Why am I bringing this up? Some people feel they can’t get unsaved. And they are correct when we realize when we get saved. We can, though, become unrepentant.

So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either. Romans 11:20-21

Our actual salvation comes when Jesus returns to get us and take us to heaven. That’s why He said we should endure to the end. Peter also mentioned the hope we have in our salvation.

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 1 Peter 1:13

The Time of Judgment

In Revelation, it says Satan, the deceiver of the world, lost the battle. God threw him out of heaven with all his angels. Then John heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens.

It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. Revelation 12:10

Many people will stand or maybe bow before God and receive judgment at that time. But not those who have lived a life of repentance with their faith in Jesus.

Stop to think about why God gave us the epistles in the New Testament. They tell us how to live and maintain our walk with the Lord. Why did He include them? Because we serve a kind God.

Lord, thank you for grafting us into Abraham’s tree. Help us to live a life of repentance as we look forward to the day of salvation.