Consider The Goodness And Severity Of God

Romans 11:19-23, 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, John 15:1,2

"You will say then, 'Branches were broken off that I (Gentile believers) may be grafted in.' "

Well said. Because of unbelief, they (unbelieving Israel) were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the GOODNESS and SEVERITY of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness. Otherwise YOU ALSO WILL BE CUT OFF. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again."


"Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with MOST of them God was not well pleased for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness."


"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away (breaks off); and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."


The story of unbelieving Israel is documented throughout the scriptures. Before the Christ, Israel was disobedient to God. Although "baptized into Moses in the cloud and the sea", most defied God's prophet to them and, subsequently, were broken off as branches of the olive tree, which is a representation of God's kingdom on earth.


Those who have received the salvation of God through Jesus Christ have been baptized into Christ and should understand that means "into His death".  Just as unbelieving Israel, if they were to discontinue their unbelief would be grafted in again to the olive tree, so should we new testament believers be not haughty but fear God. Pruning and casting off (or breaking off) are both done with a knife. Make sure you are on right side of the knife by "being even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble"(2 Peter 1:10). Neither will you be broken off!