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Do Not Be Proud but Fear - Romans 11:20
Do Not Be Proud but Fear - Romans 11:20
We have been saved from the wrath of God by the propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus whereby we are forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, made alive, and adopted as God's children. The Jews who did not believe / submit / obey (Rom. 10:3, 16) were broken off of the tree of blessing. We who are gentiles have been grafted into THEIR tree of blessing and now we stand fast through faith.
It is imperative that we stand fast through faith and continue in our walk of faith, "otherwise we too will be cut off" (vs. 22).
"Once-lost-always-lost" is never taught in the Bible. Even though some disbelieved when they first heard the gospel, there was always hope IF they did not continue in their unbelief (23). Unbelievers CAN become believers. The reason Paul said to 'fear' in vs. 20 is that believers CAN ALSO become unbelievers. It was believers that were warned that if they lived according to the flesh they would die (8:13). It was believers that were asked: "Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16)
Neither the probability of apostasy nor the impossibility of apostasy is true; there is the possibility of apostasy. It is this possibility that prompted the warnings concerning our faith.
We stand fast through faith (Rom. 11:20), but "let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1Cor. 10:12). We can make shipwreck of our faith (1Tim. 1:19). We can have our faith overthrown (2Tim. 2:16-18). Some will even cast off their faith (1Tim. 5:11-12). Others will depart from the faith (1Tim. 4:1); err concerning the faith (1Tim. 6:20-21), and even deny the faith (1 Tim. 5:1).
I am convinced that most believers will hold on and stand fast, but I am also convinced that some will fall. Which will it be for you?
Hugh DeLong
