Subject: once saved, always saved-Bible location |
Bible Note: Dear Cheri, I think we need to understand, that the natural branches weren’t simply cut off to make “room” for the gentiles, but because of their “unbelief”. Unbelief on our part will result in the same. That’s the warning isn’t it? However, God’s elect will never be permanently cut off. As with the natural braches removed God can graft them back in. Romans 11:23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. Matthew Henry puts this into perspective that might be easier to understand. By God’s grace we are brought in and by His strength we stand: “Grace is given, not to make us proud, but to make us thankful. The law of faith excludes all boasting either of ourselves or against others. “Do not say (Rom_11:19): They were broken off that I might be grafted in; that is, do not think that thou didst merit more at the hand of God than they, or didst stand higher in his favour.” “But remember, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Though thou art grafted in, thou art still but a branch borne by the root; nay, and an engrafted branch, brought into the good olive contrary to nature (Rom_11:24), not free-born, but by an act of grace enfranchised and naturalized.”… …“By what means thou standest: By faith, which is a depending grace, and fetches in strength from heaven. Thou dost not stand in any strength of thy own, of which thou mightest be confident: thou art no more than the free grace of God makes thee, and his grace is his own, which he gives or withholds at pleasure. That which ruined them was unbelief, and by faith thou standest; therefore thou hast no faster hold than they had, thou standest on no firmer foundation than they did.” [2.] “On what terms (Rom_11:22): Towards thee goodness, if thou continue in his goodness, that is, continue in a dependence upon and compliance with the free grace of God, the want of which it was that ruined the Jews - if thou be careful to keep up thine interest in the divine favour, by being continually careful to please God and fearful of offending him.” The sum of our duty, the condition of our happiness, is to keep ourselves in the love of God. Fear the Lord and his goodness. Hos_3:5.” – Matthew Henry Stand in His grace, WOS |