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SSS4 : Epistle to the Romans : Lesson 67

29 July 2018

MIXED METAPHORS

1. Firstfruit (Romans 11:16a)

2. Lump (clay/ dough) (Romans 11:16b)

THE IMAGERY OF FIRSTFRUIT

1. The firstfruit

a) All the Disciples were Jews
b) All the Apostles were from Israel
c) They were “holy”
i) Declared “saints”
ii) Made “holy”
d) But the harvest imagery was left incomplete

2. The lump

a) Usually a reference to clay
b) Or dough
c) If the lump is holy, then the object made would be “holy” too

THE IMAGERY OF A TREE APPLIED TO ISRAEL

1. Root of tree

a) If it is holy
b) Declared “holy” by God

2. Branches

a) They would be holy as well
b) The imagery is more fully applied

BRANCHES BROKEN OFF

1. Israel as an olive tree

a) Roots
b) Tree

2. Branches

a) Broken off (Romans 11:17)
b) Gentiles grafted in (Romans 11:17)
c) Gentiles are able to partake of the richness of the original olive tree

WARNING TO ALL GENTILE BELIEVERS

1. Do not boast against the branches (Romans 10:18)

2. The branches do not support the root

3. The root supports the branches

ADMONITION GIVEN TO GENTILE BELIEVERS

1. Retort of Gentile believers

a) But the original branches were broken off
b) Gentile believers were engrafted successfully (Romans 11:19)

2. True

a) There should not be haughtiness
b) But reverence (fear of God) (Romans 11:20)