Subject: “Do not boast against the branches” Romans 11:18
16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,
18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Romans 11:16-18
1. What are firstfruits?
a) The first ripened fruits
b) The rest of the harvest awaits
c) The firstfruits signal the potential full harvest
2. If the firstfruit is holy
a) The lump (the whole) is also holy
b) The root is holy
c) The branches are holy
d) Meaning:
i) The firstfruits would be the disciples of the Lord
ii) The first Church was Jewish
iii) There is yet a harvest to be realised
3. Branches broken off
a) The Jews who rejected (Acts 13)
b) The Gentiles were grafted in (Acts 13)
4. Wild olive tree
a) A reference to the Gentiles
b) They are grafted in (Acts 13)
c) They are partakers:
i) Of the root
ii) Of the fatness of the olive tree (the Lord Jesus)
5. Do not boast
a) Admonition given to the Gentiles
b) They are not to despise the Jews
c) They have no reason to be anti-Semitic
6. The root
a) It sustains all the branches
b) Original branch
c) Grafted branch
ONENESS IN THE CHURCH
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Ephesians 4:1-6
1. Oneness is enjoined
2. Oneness is to be carefully preserved
3. There are many reasons why we must maintain Oneness
OUR CHALLENGE
1. To battle anti-Semitism
2. To promote oneness
3. To guard oneness in the church prayerfully and diligently