Romans 11:16 - Set-apart by Him For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. Truth to Learn Like the believing Jews, we are set-apart by God for His use. Behind the Words The word “firstfruit” is from...
Romans 11:15 – Again, God’s Choice
Romans 11:15 - Again, God's Choice For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? Truth to Learn God decides whom He will chose and whom He will reject. Behind the Words “Being cast away” is a...
Romans 11:14 – It May be a Way
Romans 11:14 - It May be a Way if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. Truth to Learn Preaching the Gospel message may evoke an emotional response in others, but it also might provoke them to salvation. Behind...
Romans 11:13 – Service Honors
Romans 11:13 - Service Honors For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, Truth to Learn Service to God is a great privilege and an honor, which should humble us now and forever. Behind the Words This verse starts...
Romans 11:12 – How Rich We Are!
Romans 11:12 - How Rich We Are! Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! Truth to Learn Because of the failure of the Jews to listen to and follow God, the offer of salvation has come...
Romans 11:11 – Share the Treasure!
Romans 11:11 - Share the Treasure! I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Truth to Learn The Jews lost their “most favored” position so we could receive it. We need...
Romans 11:10 – Blind Disobedience
Romans 11:10 - Blind Disobedience Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their back always." Truth to Learn Whether blinded or obedient, we will all bow before Him. Behind the Words “Eyes” is translated from ophthalmos, which refers to the eyes either literally...
Romans 11:9 – Ensnared by Blessings
Romans 11:9 - Ensnared by Blessings And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense to them. Truth to Learn Blessings can become a trap if taken for granted. Behind the Words The word “let” is translated from a form of...
Romans 11:8 – Divine Stupidity
Romans 11:8 - Divine Stupidity Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day." Truth to Learn God is the one who enlightens or stupefies. Behind the Words The...
Romans 11:7 – Chosen or Hardened
Romans 11:7 - Chosen or Hardened What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Truth to Learn God chooses some and hardens the rest. Behind the Words “Seeks” is from epidzēteō, made up of epi, used as an...
Romans 11:6 – God Verses Works
Romans 11:6 - God Verses Works And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. Truth to Learn It is either grace or works. It...
Romans 11:5 – The Chosen Remnant
Romans 11:5 - The Chosen Remnant Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Truth to Learn We are the remnant, chosen to be God’s children, by His grace alone. Behind the Words The word translated “election” is the Greek word...
Romans 11:4 – Focus on Him
Romans 11:4 - Focus on Him But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to ba’al." Truth to Learn God wants us to keep our focus on Him, not on ourselves. Behind the Words “Divine...
Romans 11:3 – Feelings or Faith
Romans 11:3 - Feelings or Faith "LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? Truth to Learn Don’t let circumstances control your feelings, let faith do it. Behind the Words “Killed” is translated from apokteinō. This is...
Romans 11:2 – Securely Chosen
Romans 11:2 - Securely Chosen God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, Truth to Learn God does not reject or desert any of His children whom He has...
Romans 11:1 – We Preach, He Enlightens
Romans 11:1 - We Preach, He Enlightens I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Truth to Learn We are to preach the gospel to everyone, whether they will believe or...
Romans 10:21 – Patient and Merciful God
Romans 10:21 - Patient and Merciful God But to Israel he says: "All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people." Truth to Learn God continues to reach out to even the most stubborn and rebellious sinner. Behind the Words The words “stretched out”...
Romans 10:20 – Bold Proclamation
Romans 10:20 - Bold Proclamation But Isaiah is very bold and says: "I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me." Truth to Learn Be bold in proclaiming the truth! Behind the Words The Greek word translated...
Romans 10:19 – Action, not Anger
Romans 10:19 - Action, not Anger But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation." Truth to Learn God’s gentle prodding is to provoke us to...
Romans 10:18 – Worldwide Music
Romans 10:18 - Worldwide Music But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." Truth to Learn The Gospel message continues to be proclaimed worldwide. Behind the Words “Have they not heard”...
Romans 10:17 – Hear to Eternity
Romans 10:17 - Hear to Eternity So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Truth to Learn Faith comes as a result of hearing the Gospel message which originated from the utterance of God. Behind the Words The word translated “so” is the Greek word...
Romans 10:16 – Who’s the Fool?
Romans 10:16 - Who's the Fool? But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "LORD, who has believed our report?" Truth to Learn Many people will not listen to or believe the Gospel message. Behind the Words “Obeyed” is from the Greek word hupakouō, which is make...
Romans 10:15 – Evangelists in Full Bloom
Romans 10:15 - Evangelists in Full Bloom And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" Truth to Learn Those who preach the gospel are seen...
Romans 10:14 – You’re the Preacher
Romans 10:14 - You're the Preacher How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Truth to Learn The responsibility of sharing the Gospel message...
Romans 10:13 – Admission, Submission, and Appeal
Romans 10:13 - Admission, Submission, and Appeal For "Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." Truth to Learn Admission, submission, and appeal are all important aspects of our salvation. Behind the Words The words “calls upon” are translated from the Greek word epikaleō, which we looked...
Romans 10:12 – Everyone’s the Same
Romans 10:12 - Everyone's the Same For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. Truth to Learn God doesn’t care who your ancestors are. He will respond to your call for salvation. Behind the Words...
Romans 10:11 – Unashamed Christians
Romans 10:11 - Unashamed Christians For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." Truth to Learn There is no shame in being called a Christian, and there is no shame in sharing the glorious news of salvation through faith. Behind the Words The word...
Romans 10:10 – Heart and Mouth Connection
Romans 10:10 - Heart and Mouth Connection For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Truth to Learn True belief and confession go hand in hand. Meaning Explained According to this verse and the previous one, the things required for salvation...
Romans 10:9 – Resurrected Lord
Romans 10:9 - Resurrected Lord that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Truth to Learn Christ must be both your Master and your risen Savior. Behind the Words “Confess” is...
Romans 10:8 – Proclaiming the Word of Faith
Romans 10:8 - Proclaiming the Word of Faith But what does it say? “the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): Truth to Learn The gospel proclamation centers on faith, not works. Behind the Words “Word” is...
Romans 10:7 – Risen Christ
Romans 10:7 - Risen Christ or, " “Who will descend into the abyss?” " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). Truth to Learn Jesus Christ is God and He is risen from the dead! Behind the Words The word translated “abyss” is the Greek word abussos, from...