Friday, 10 April 2026

Romans part 161 - One in Messiah 50

Tweet

Romans 11:19-21 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." True enough. They were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear - for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.

"Hey Paul! That sounds like a threat. Haven't you heard of 'Once Saved, Always Saved?'" I believe Paul had heard of "Once Saved Always Saved," he just didn't believe it. John, Jacob (aka James), Peter and even Paul, himself, all agree that a believer can fall away from the faith. Paul is saying, "... If God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you."

Paul is writing to the believers in Rome ... Romans 1:7a To all those in Rome, loved by God, called to be kedoshim. So, what did all these pillars of the faith have to say about losing your salvation? John wrote this ... 1 John 1:7a But if we walk in the light ... That's a conditional statement. (I hate to quote myself, but I must.) You can't live like hell and expect to get to heaven.

Peter also wrote about salvation conditionally ... 2 Peter 2:20 For if - after escaping the world's pollutions through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah - they again become entangled in these things and are overcome, the end for them has become worse than the beginning.

Do you need another scriptural proof text? Jacob had this to say about those who "stray from the truth." He actually calls such a person "a sinner." Jacob 5:19-20 My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that the one who turns a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

The conclusion with which we are left is that disobedience puts both natural branches and grafted in branches at risk of being removed. Yeshua, in His own words, says as much. John 15:2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He trims so that it may bear more fruit.

Each of us, who follow Yeshua, have an assignment to bring forth a harvest of the fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5:2-23 But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - against such things there is no law.

Such sweet fruit. Bless the Lord. Shalom shalom.