Chapter # 11 Paragraph # 4 Study # 5
February 24, 2019
Humble, Texas
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Thesis: The persistence of Paul's "objector" indicates a second perceived basis for smug delight.
Introduction: In our last study we considered Paul's declaration that no one who "believes" the Gospel has any basis for smugly delighting in a sense of superiority over those who were "broken off" of the tree consisting of the outcomes of God's promises to "Abram" and "Abraham". In that study we saw that Paul flatly declared that the "branches" do not sustain the "root"; it is the "root" that sustains the "branches". This is an agricultural analogy that is designed to establish the fact that it is not the "human side" of the Gospel proclamation that determines the makeup of the "tree" in terms of its "branches". It is, in a very real sense, the very same truth that Jesus declared in John 15:16 with the words, "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you...". In the Greek text, the "not" is emphatic and the "but" is strongly contrastive. It is not that Jesus is denying the fact that the disciples did choose Him; He is simply relegating their "choice" to a place where it cannot be used as a "basis for boasting". It is much like the condition of the man who, having been thrown off a cliff, is "falling". He is falling, but he really cannot claim that it is something over which he has some control and can claim as "his" doing.
Now, in our present study, we are going to follow along as Paul responds to a kind of "doubling down" by his "objector".
- I. Paul's "Assumption" That He Has Not "Slain the Dragon".
- A. His "Therefore, you will say..." indicates that he is going further to address the objector's smug delight in the "difference" between himself and the branches that have been broken off.
- B. This pursuit of the same "problem" as was introduced in 11:18 as an on-going, present reality ("Stop boasting against the branches that were broken off...") is a clear indicator that he does not think his "you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you" will suffice to "stop" the "boasting".
- 1. This means that the impetus for "boasting" is extremely deeply rooted in the depravity into which man fell.
- 2. It also means that the forcefulness of that impetus is not significantly altered by the initial "faith" that is exercised by those who embrace the Gospel (Luke 8:13 says "they receive the word with joy" though afterwards they cease to believe).
- a. This does not mean that they did not "really" believe.
- b. What it means is that their "real" faith did not encompass sufficient territory to be able to "stand" when they were "sifted" (a superficial grasp of a critical aspect of the Gospel will invariably lead to a confrontation of some sort that lifts that critical matter into a sharp focus so that it can be addressed).
- c. It also means that, though their "real" faith got them "connected" to the "root", their continued participation in that "root of the fatness of the tree" does not depend upon what they initially "believed", but in what they "believe" once their superficiality has been confronted by reality.
- II. So, What Is The Form of the Dragon That Has Been Able to Escape Paul's Initial Declaration That It is the Root That Sustains the Branch?
- A. What the "objector" claims in order to be able to persist in his/her smug delight.
- 1. Branches were, "with force", broken off in order that I might be grafted in.
- 2. This must, therefore, mean that I have some form of "superiority" over those branches whom I have replaced.
- B. How Paul counters.
- 1. Since the "objector" insists (he is continuing in his "highmindedness" as Paul's grammar indicates) that "his" side of the promise/faith aspects of the Gospel allow him to "exult" over those "fallen" branches, Paul accepts this field of play (the human side of the Gospel).
- 2. Thus, he zeroes in on that "human side", which is everywhere identified as "faith".
- a. In this point of focus, Paul declares that it was "unbelief" that resulted in the breaking off of the branches (and ignores the flawed logic of a tree that cannot sustain but a certain number of branches so that some have to be removed before others can be added).
- b. Simultaneously he declares that it was "faith" that "established" the "objector" in the tree.
- 3. Then, he doubled down on the "unbelief/faith" issue.
- a. Having already presented the absolute incongruity of a "law of faith" and "boasting" in 3:27, Paul has taken his stand in regard to his "objector".
- 1) In the current "debate" the "objector" has put forth a "difference" between himself and the discarded branches.
- 2) However, he did not recognize that his definition of the "difference" was completely contrary to "faith in grace".
- a) His argument is that it was his "moral superiority" that caused God to graft him into the place where the discarded branch had been (this is the only basis for any sense of smug delight).
- b) But, in the superficiality of his grasp of the Gospel, he overlooked two major pieces. i. First is Deuteronomy 9:6 as an initial declaration of "an election of grace" (the divine
- side of the promise/faith message) as it is reinforced by 11:5-6 in view of 10:21.
- ii. Second is Romans 3:22-23 as an already established incongruity between "faith" and "boasting".
- b. Now Paul forces the issue.
- 1) He accepts the reality of the "objector's" faith, but he now challenges his departure from it.
- a) He says "you have taken your stand" in the tree by faith.
- b) But he also declares that both "boastfulness against the branches" and persistent "high-mindedness" is now a direct contradiction to that faith.
- 2) This means that Paul is now directly contradicting the "objector's" definition of "the difference".
- a) To the "objector", the difference was his "moral superiority" as a "better performer".
- b) To Paul, the difference is his "faith" in the truth.
- 3) Now Paul is forcing the issue of just what it is that the "objector" "now believes".
- a) A superficial "faith" is sufficient with God to "attach" one to the "root" (else how would anyone develop in faith?).
- b) But, any doubling down on "boasting" means that what must be believed is presently being rejected so that the human rejection of what must be believed can be/will be a basis for divine rejection.
- C. The Objector's Dilemma.
- 1. The "dragon" is the deeply embedded determination to retain something that will allow for boasting.
- 2. The "boasting" has been shown to be diametrically opposite to "faith".
- 3. Now the "objector" must decide between his false pride and God's amazing grace: the consequences are enormously significant.