Chapter # 11 Paragraph # 4 Study # 4
February 17, 2019
Humble, Texas
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• I. The "Parameters" of Our Understanding of the "Certain Condition".
  • A. The parameters established in our context.
    • 1. Paul is adamant about the fact that God will not, and can not, "cut off" any who are "His people" (11:2).
      • a. This category of "His people" has already been defined in chapter nine.
        • 1) They are defined as what he called "the children of promise" in 9:8.
        • 2) They are defined as what he called "those whom God calls in 9:11, a group who fit into God's purposes as "the elect" whose "election" was not based in any way upon "works" (performance issues, as 9:11 makes abundantly clear).
        • 3) They are defined as what he called "vessels of mercy whom He had ordained unto glory" in 9:23.
        • 4) They are defined as what he called "not of Jews only, but also of Gentiles" in 9:24.
        • 5) They are defined as what he called "those who obtained the righteousness of faith" (9:30) as opposed to "those which followed after the law of righteousness" (9:31) and rejected "faith" in preference for "works of law" (9:32).
      • b. These "definitions" are reinforced in chapter ten.
        • 1) The issue of 9:30-32 is further developed in 10:2-11.
        • 2) The issue of 9:24 is reinforced in 10:12.
        • 3) The issue of 9:11 is given its "human side" in 10:12-13.
      • c. The "big" issue of the "My People" category is given in 11:4 as "apostasy", in the form of "bowing the knee to Baal", countered by God's "election of grace" (God prevents "apostasy" in those whom He has "elected"; interestingly not "particular behaviors").
    • 2. Paul reinforced his prior adamant declaration by declaring the fact that God does not allow "stumbling" to result in "falling" in 11:11.
      • a. Even though Paul is adamant about the impossibilities of God "thrusting away" His people (11:1) and His permitting of the "stumble" to result in a "fall" (11:11), he clearly admitted that there were some who "appeared to be" His people whom He did/does "thrust away" and whom He does "permit to fall".
      • b. Paul's rationale in this "appearance" is that we must clearly understand that there is a definitive difference between what it means for God to "thrust away" and "permit to fall".
        • 1) For God to "thrust away" His people, He would have to "un-foreknow" them (11:2).
          • a) Paul's terms here are of "individuals" ("...for I am an Israelite, out of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin...").
          • b) Thus, God does not "foreknow" "groups" (8:29-30 says the "foreknown" are "predestined", and the "predestined" are "called", and the "called" are "justified", and the "justified" are "glorified").
        • 2) For God to "allow the stumble to result in a fall", God would have to abandon His long range plan to bring the world under the dominion of His "Lord and Christ".
          • a) Paul's terms here are of "nations" (11:11-12), not "individuals".
          • b) Thus, the issues are different because the first is focused upon "individuals" and the second is focused upon "nations" that are to be included in Messiah's kingdom.
      • c. And this raises the question of whether the "tree/branches" fall into the "individual" or the "national" categories.
        • 1) The answer appears to be "both" (just as 11:1 addresses one and 11:11 addresses the other).
        • 2) On the "individual" side of the coin is the "singular number" used in the command in and in the "you" in 11:18 and in the following argument in 11:19-22.
        • 3) But on the "national" side of the coin is the "plural number" used in 11:23-32 where he addresses the long range plan of God to include "nations" so that "all Israel" might be ultimately saved.
  • B. A parameter established outside of our near context.
    • 1. At issue in Paul's argument are the concepts of "unbelief" and "faith" (11:20) as the determining factors.
      • a. Underneath this "issue" is the "problem" of "boasting against" (11:18).
      • b. Another "problem" underneath this "issue" is that of "being highminded" (11:20).
      • c. And a third "problem" underneath this "issue" is "fearlessness" in the face of God's "severity" (11:20-22) because of "unbelief".
    • 2. In Luke 22:31-34 Jesus pointedly declared that "boastfulness" will lead to a "failure of faith" if Jesus does not intervene.
      • a. In John 17:9 Jesus pointedly told the Father that His "prayer intervention" was restricted to "them which Thou has given Me" (reinforced in 17:11).
      • b. In Hebrews 7:25 Jesus' "prayer intervention" is restricted to "those who come to God by Him" and it results in "salvation to the uttermost".
    • 3. In multiple places in the New Testament people are warned about this "fearlessness" in the face of the massive contradiction between a "profession of faith" and "boasting against" those who do not believe.
      • a. Philippians 2:12 enjoins both "fear" and "trembling".
      • b. 2 Corinthians 13:5 enjoins "self-examination" as to whether one is "in the faith" or "reprobate".
      • c. 1 Corinthians 15:2 requires "keeping the Gospel in memory" so that "faith" is not "vain".
      • d. 2 Peter 1:10 reveals the "bottom line".
        • 1) The "called" and "elected" are secure beyond measure.
        • 2) But the list has not been passed around so men see their names on it.
        • 3) The problem is not with the constancy of God, but the inconstancy of men.
• II. Paul's Approach to This "Certain Condition".
  • A. The "problem" is a "faith" in the Gospel of Grace that allows "boastfulness": a polar-opposite contradiction (Romans 3:27).
    • 1. The reality is that the two "faiths" involved in Grace and Works exist within all of us in the interim between the initial "faith" in Grace and the settling of that "faith" into a mindset.
    • 2. It is during this interim that "branches" are liable to being cut out of the tree.
    • 3. At some point, one of the "inner faiths" has to be finally rejected, and that decision will build during the interim unto the crisis point of acceptance/rejection.
  • B. The "solution" Paul gives is the succinct declaration of 11:18.
    • 1. YOU do not sustain the Root: you did not come to faith out of yourself, nor will you continue in it of yourself (Jesus said this in John 15:16, and 19).
    • 2. The ROOT sustains you: Jesus' High Priestly ministry of intercessory prayer for the elect is what sustains the elect.