Romans 11:22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
God will respond to people based on their response to His offer of grace. This has always been the case. God’s grace is not dependent upon our response, however. God loves all people and wants all to come to repentance (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:4). Our goal is to get the offer of salvation out to all people. Paul is writing in this chapter how this message has gone out, particularly through his ministry. But the Jews rejected his message of salvation through Jesus Christ. This verse serves as a warning about this, that those who reject the gospel will experience God’s sternness and be cutoff from the people of God. To those who believe, they will experience God’s kindness and become part of the olive tree of God’s people. There are several implications of this. One is that God is just and will judge people accordingly. This is clear from chs. 1 and 2. Second, heredity is not adequate to be part of God’s people. An unbelieving Jew will face judgment, as will those who are part of a Christian family or even attend church but do not believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. This may seem radical, and it is, but it is intended to challenge people to move away from doubt and complacency to new life in Jesus Christ.
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