Author: iolaHC

I am an Artwork in progress

The Higher Powers

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Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 

‘Every soul be subject unto the higher powers’ ten duties of citizens: To be subject to civil government (13:1; Tit. 3:1; 1Pet. 2:13-17); to obey civil rules (13:3; Pro. 24:21); to do good (13:4; Tit. 3:1); to pay taxes (13:1-7; Mat. 22:17-21); to render dues to all people (13:7); to honour civil rulers (13:1-7; Ex. 22:28; Acts 23:5; 1Pet. 2:13-17); to pray for civil rulers (1Tim. 2:1-2); to obey civil laws (13:1-7; Ezra 7:26); not cursing rulers (Eccl. 10:20); to work for peace, not rioting and unrest (12:18). Please remember that current governments are also the rulers of the darkness of this world (Eph. 6:12) and must only be obeyed in civil matters and morals according to the greater good of all on Godly standards. Make sure to prove all things and hold fast to that which is good and abstain from all appearances of evil (1Thess. 5:21-22).

‘Power’ human governments [Greek: exousia] delegated authority. All authorities are ordained [Greek: tasso] appointed or determined of God. That is, in God’s plan He has determined that human governments shall exist to help Him carry on moral government and enforce moral laws. They are appointed by God, but He is not responsible for their acts. If they get out of line of this eternal plan, which they do, He will judge them.

Human governments, therefore, are not founded upon the arbitrary will of God, but upon the needs of humanity in securing their highest good. If in a small family, law and penalties are needed, how much more are they needed in communities, states, and nations? Their purpose was to execute criminals and enforce law and order among people (13:1-6; 1Pet. 2:13-17; Gen. 9:6; Isa. 11:4-9; 65:20; Dan. 2:21; 4:17-25; 5:21). Governments were instituted to govern by force and to punish, not only local and individual criminals but also universal and national criminals. This includes the execution of war to put down criminal nations as well as criminal individuals (13:1-5; 1Pet. 2:13-17; Dan. 2:21; 4:17-25; 5:21). There is no doubt that war is an evil one. It is the greatest catastrophe that can befall human beings. It brings death and destruction, merciless slaughter and butchery, disease and starvation, poverty and ruin in its wake. One has only to think of the havoc that was wrought in various countries, in order to estimate the destructive effects of war. There are, doubtless, people who consider war as something grand and heroic and regard it as something that brings out the best man. But this does not in any way alter the fact that war is a terrible dreadful calamity. The loss of human life is not the only evil consequence of war: many families are left destitute of the support and guidance of their natural heads and are thrown upon an unpitying world in a state of helplessness. The moral effects of war are also most deplorable. Men employed as soldiers commonly become exceedingly profane, and reckless of their conduct. All ongoing wars today are being fought in the name of justice, but it is all about making money and controlling resources. Going to war, or even just by maintaining a superior military force, the companies supplying troops, handling logistics, manufacturing weapons, and developing technology are making hundreds of billions of dollars per year. All paid for by taxes and through taking on the additional national debt.

Condescend to Men of Low Estate

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Romans 12:16-21 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, said the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shall heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 

‘Be of the same mind one toward another’ – live in harmony and of one accord. ‘Mind not high things’ – do not be unlawfully ambitious to be rich and powerful. Do not shun the poor, courting great men.

‘Condescend to men of low estate’ – associate with humble and godly people going through life with as little show and parade as possible.

‘Be not wise in your own conceits’ – do not be conceited and vain. Proverbs 3:7-8 warn us to be not wise in our own eyes, we must fear the LORD, and depart from evil so that we can be in perfect health.

‘Recompense to no man evil for evil’ – never pay back evil for evil to any man. ‘Provide things honest in the sight of all men’ – do not live beyond your means.

‘If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men’ As far as it depends on you, live at peace with all people. That does not mean we compromise to accept and allow others’ sins and evil communications in our lives (1Cor. 15:33; Jas. 3:13; 1Pet. 15, 18; 2:12).

‘Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves’ – let others inflict vengeance. ‘But rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, said the Lord.’ By the law of sowing and reaping all will be judge according to what they do unto others (Gal. 6:7-8).

‘Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shall heap coals of fire on his head.’ Quoted from Proverbs 25:21-22. In view of the fact that God was good to you when you were His enemy (5:7-8), you should likewise treat your enemies with goodness. You will thus make them feel a burning sense of shame and by this action, they can be convicted of their sins (John 16:7-11).

‘Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good’ – never let evil get the better of you; get the better of evil by doing good. Seven duties are noted to enemies: To love them (Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:27); to bless them (Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:28); to do good to them (Matt. 5:44); to pray for them (Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:28); to lend in doing good to them (Luke 6:34-36); to be kind to them (Luke 6:35-36); to be merciful to them (Luke 6:36).

Bless and Curse Not

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Romans 12:9-15 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 

‘Dissimulation’ [Greek: anupokritos] undisguised, a real thing (2Cor. 6:6; 2Tim. 1:5; 1Pet. 1:22). Three blessings of true love: A pure heart (Matt. 5:8); a good conscience; a faith unfeigned or sincere (1Tim. 1:5).

‘Abhor that which is evil’ – hate, detest and loathe all evil.

‘Cleave to that which is good’ – be cemented or glued to the good.

‘Affectioned one to another with brotherly love’ love with brotherly affection. ‘Honour preferring one another’ – be forward to honour others.

‘Slothful in business’ – never be lazy, slothful, and careless with your work or anything or anyone concerning your work. Whatever you do, do all things for God’s glory (1Cor. 10:31).

‘Fervent in spirit’ – maintain zeal to the boiling point.

‘Serving the Lord’ – put your life into service for God whether or not you receive personal gain and applause.

‘Rejoicing in hope’ – let your hope be a joy to you. ‘Patient in tribulation’ – show patience in all your troubles. ‘Continuing instant in prayer’ – live in fervent prayer to God.

‘Distributing to the necessity of saints’ contribution to needy saints. ‘Given to hospitality’ – practice hospitality without socializing (1Cor. 5:9-13; 1Jn. 2:15-17; 2Jn. 1:10-11).

‘Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not’ – bless your habitual persecutors and don’t allow anger, bitterness or revenge to cloud your mind and your actions to sin as well (Eph. 4:26-27, 29-32).

‘Rejoice with them that do rejoice’ – take a lively interest in blessings and prosperity of others without grudging.

‘Weep with them that weep’ – show genuine compassion for others.

According to the Grace

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Romans 12:3-8 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching; Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 

‘Unto me’ – this refers to Paul’s apostleship by the grace of God (1:5; Eph. 3:8).

‘Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith] Not to be conceited and self-important, but to take a sane view of himself.

‘So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another’ Paul here compares the body of Christ to a human body (1Cor. 12:12-28).

‘Gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us’ – this refers to the spiritual gifts of 1Cor. 12:4-11, 27-31. They are given and to be exercised according to grace and the measures of faith (12:3, 6).

‘Whether prophecy’ – this gift is that of speaking to people to edify and exhort them (1Cor. 14:3-6).

‘Ministry’ [Greek: diakonia] service rendered by a diakonos, a deacon, one who executes the command of another. It is used of: Servants of kings (Matt. 22:13); servants at feasts (John 2:5, 9); ministers or officers of civil governments (13:4); men and women servants of congregations (Matt. 23:11; Mark 9:35; Rom. 16:1); deacons or business elders and distinct from bishops or teaching elders (Php. 1:1; 1Tim. 3:10-13; Acts 6:1-7); Jesus Christ as a minister to the Jews in the work of preaching, teaching and healing (15:8; Gal. 2:17; Matt. 4:23-24; 9:35; Acts 10:38); ministers of congregations (Matt. 20:26; Mark 10:43); teachers of the gospel (1Cor. 3:5; 2Cor. 3:6; Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23, 25; 1Thess. 3:2); ministers of Christ and of God (John 12:26; 2Cor. 6:4-10; 11:23; Eph. 6:21; Col. 1:7; 4:7; 1Tim. 4:6); also used of ministers of satan to counterfeit the work of true ministers and to deceive (2Cor. 11:15)

‘Teaches’ – the teacher [Greek: didaskalos] was an instructor of others (Acts 13:1).

‘Exhorts’ [Greek: parakaleo] to call aside; make an appeal to by way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, or instruction (Acts 4:36; Heb. 10:25). ‘Gives’ refers to the rich that give help to others (2Cor. 8:2; 9:11-13). ‘Simplicity’ [Greek: haplotes] Do not give with outward show or pride. (2Cor. 1:12; 8:2; 9:11, 13; 11:3; Eph. 6:5; Col. 3:22).

‘Rules’ [Greek: proistemi] to stand before, that is, (in rank) to preside, or (by implication) to practise: – maintain, be over, rule. ‘He that shows mercy, with cheerfulness’ – those who work with the sick and work for charity must be cheerful and sympathetic.

A Living Sacrifice

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Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

‘Beseech’ [Greek: parakaleo] to call aside; make an appeal in view of certain facts. Here it is an appeal in view of the wonderful doctrines of Romans 1-8 and of God’s dispensational dealings with Jews and Gentiles in Romans 9-11. Paul comes now to the practical application of the gospel to people (Romans 12:1-15:7).

‘Mercies’ [Greek: oiktirmos] tender compassions. ‘Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God’ – people are now to bring themselves to God instead of sacrifices to the altar as of old. They are now to be wholly the Lord’s as were the former sacrifices.

‘Living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God’ – fifteen commands about the body: yield it to God (Rom. 11:1; 6:13-20); make it living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1); make it holy (Rom. 12:1; 1Cor. 3:17); make it accepted of God (Rom. 12:1); make it full of light (Matt. 6:22); reckon it dead to sin (Rom. 6:11); reckon it alive to God (Rom. 6:11); refuse its slavery to sin (Rom. 6:12); mortify its deeds (Rom. 8:13); refuse to defile it (1Cor. 3:17); make it fit temple of Holy Spirit (1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:13-20); make it free from fornication and only for the Lord (1Cor. 6:13-20); glorify God in it (1Cor. 6:20); keep it in control (1Cor. 9:27); put off its sins (Col. 2:11).

‘Reasonable service’ – rational worship, because performed with the heart, mind, and soul of intelligent beings, and is in contrast to the worship of idols of Romans 1:25.

‘Be not conformed to this world; but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’ Note the two commands of this verse.

‘Conformed’ [Greek: suschematizo] to conform to another’s example. We have a choice to follow in Jesus’ footsteps as given to us according to 1Peter 2:21-23, or the things that make up the world system of evil and rebellion against God. Men must not love the world system or the things in it, love of God and love of these things are not compatible. ‘World’ [Greek: aion] age. Do not pattern after this age or to the times.

‘Transformed’ [Greek: metamorphoo] transformed or transfigured by a supernatural change, as in Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2; Romans 12:2 and 2Corinthians 3:18. This change is by a renewing of the mind or spirit (Tit. 3:5; cp. 2Cor. 4:16; Col. 3:10; Heb. 6:6; Eph. 4:23). The whole course of life must now flow in a different direction (2Cor. 5:17-18). Be renewed in the attitude of your mind by renouncing its vanity (Eph. 4:17), its darkness and blindness (Eph. 4:18) and learning of Christ (Eph. 4:20-21).

‘That you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’ Six things that constitute the acceptable and perfect will of God: Present your bodies a living sacrifice to God (12:1; 1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:20); make the body holy (12:1; 2Cor. 7:1); make self acceptable to God; render reasonable service (12:1); be not conformed to the world; be transformed from the world (12:2).

‘Perfect’ [Greek: teleios] that which has reached its end; nothing more to complete it.

Concerning the Gospel

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Romans 11:28-36 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as you in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has been his counsellor? Or who has first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 

‘As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes’ – they are enemies of the gospel, but beloved for the fathers’ sakes. They have been chosen of God to fulfil His plan and they will yet do so. The gifts and callings of God to Israelites still hold good, but they must first come to repentance and fulfil righteousness before being blessed.

‘For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance’ – this not only applies to the gifts and callings of Israel, but to any individual whom God calls or gives a gift. God does not change His mind as if He made a mistake. People may fail Him so that He cannot fulfil such callings with them, but when, if ever, they come back to repentance God holds them to the original obligation to obey Him.

‘For as you in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief …’ Romans 11:30-31 say that as surely as the Jews were once in the kingdom and the Gentiles were not; as surely as the Gentiles are now in the kingdom and the Jews are not; so surely the Jews will be brought back to God and into the kingdom again (Zech. 12:10-13:1).

‘For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all’ this verse concludes the same as Romans 3:19-20, 3:23 and Galatians 3:22-23. The conclusion is that all have sinned (1:18-3:18, 23). All are guilty before God (3:19-20). The law cannot justify anyone (3:20). The law only condemns (3:20). God has provided redemption by faith in Jesus Christ (3:21-26). All boasting is excluded and man is helpless to save himself (3:27). People are justified only by accepting God’s plan of redemption (3:28).

‘Recompensed’ [Greek: antapodidomi] repay. God pays His debts to His creatures.

Israel Shall Be Saved

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Romans 11:26-27 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 

‘All Israel shall be saved’ – this refers to the whole nation that will be alive in Palestine when Christ comes (Zech. 12:10-13:1; 14:1-15; Matt. 24:39; Isa. 66:7-8). It is at that time that all the rest of Israel will be gathered (Isa. 11:1-12; 66:19-21; Matt. 24:31).

‘There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob’ – quoted from Isaiah 27:9; 59:20-21. By this judgment upon His people the iniquity of Jacob will be purged; the proof of such cleansing from sin will be when Israel is caused by God to throw down the stones of the altar and the groves, and throw away the images.

Those that will turn from transgression in Israel in that day (at Christ’s second coming), will be the one-third of the nation who will come through the tribulation alive, the two-thirds being killed (Zech. 13:9). They will be the ones to say, ‘blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord’ (Matt. 23:39) – the ones that will be born again in a day and make the nucleus around which the others from all the tribes will be gathered in the Millennium (Isa. 11:10-12). They are the “all Israel” of Romans 11:25-29, and the Judah of Zechariah 14:14.

‘Turn away ungodliness from Jacob’ – no one in Israel or among the Gentiles will be saved and blessed by God in the eternal program until he turns from sin. This is the reason Israel is now scattered among the nations, and why God has not been able to fulfil His everlasting covenants with them. He can never do so until they turn from sin to Him and holy living (cp. Matt. 18:3; John 3:3-5).

Five things Christ will do at the Second Coming: He will come to Zion – Jerusalem (no other place on earth, Isaiah 59:20 and Zechariah 14:4). He will come to them that turn from sin in Jacob or Israel (Isa. 59:20; Zech. 12:10-13:1; 14:1-5, 14; Rom. 11:25-29). He will make a new covenant with them in that day (Isa. 42:6; 49:8; 55:3; 57:8; 59:21; 61:8; Jer. 31:31; Heb. 10:16). He will pour out the Holy Spirit upon them (Isa. 32:15; 34:16; 44:3; 59:21; Joel 2:28-32; Zech. 12:10-13:1). He will put the words of God in their mouths and in the mouths of eternal generations to come (Isa. 59:21).

This Mystery

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Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 

‘Ignorant of this mystery’ six things Paul did not want people to be ignorant of (1:13; 11:25; 1Cor. 10:1; 12:1; 2Cor. 1:8; 1Thess. 4:13).

‘Mystery’ [Greek: musterion] something previously hidden, but now fully revealed. In the New Testament it always means any doctrine that has not, in former times, been made fully known to people. It is found 27 times in the New Testament and not once in the Old Testament. Eighteen mysteries of are noted in Scripture: The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God (Matt. 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10); Israel’s blindness (Rom. 11:25); salvation in Christ (Rom. 16:25); the wisdom of God (1Cor. 2:7); the doctrines of God (1Cor. 4:1; Col. 2:2; 1Tim. 3:16); the gospel (Eph. 6:19); gift of knowledge (1Cor. 13:2); speaking in tongues (1Cor. 14:2); the rapture of Christians (1Cor. 15:23, 51-58; John 14:1-3; 1Thess. 4:13-16); God’s will (Eph. 1:9); the body of Christ (Eph. 3:1-9; 5:32); Christ in people (Col. 1:26-27); doctrines of Christ (Col. 4:3); the spirit of lawlessness (2Thess. 2:7); faith of the gospel (1Tim. 3:9); the seven candlesticks (Rev. 1:20); God’s delay in casting out of satan (Rev. 10:7; 12:7-17) and mystery Babylon (Rev. 17:5, 7).

‘Blindness in part is happened to Israel’ this is the 2nd New Testament prophecy in Romans (11:25-27) that is unfulfilled. The revealed secret here is of the blindness of Israel until Christ comes when she will be restored (11:25-29; Isa. 66:7-8; Zech. 12:10-13:1; 14:1-21).

‘The fullness of the Gentiles be come in’ – the same as the times of the Gentiles. Jerusalem, still partly in Gentile hands, will be liberated from them and will become the Jewish capital for a short time, until the middle of Daniel’s 70th week. Then the Antichrist will break his 7-year covenant with Israel and enter Palestine. He will take over Jerusalem and the future Jewish temple as his capital building and start the beast worship (Dan. 9:27; 11:4-45; 12:7; Matt. 24:15-21; 2Thess. 2:1-12; Rev. 13:1-18; 14:9-11; 15:2-4; 20:4-6). Jerusalem will then be in Gentile hands for 42 months, finally being liberated at the second coming of Christ (Rev. 11:1-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5; 19:11-21; Zech. 14:1-21; 2Thess. 2:8-12). The times of the Gentiles will then end. These times refer to Israel’s history from being a nation in Egypt to the second coming of Christ when she will be oppressed, more or less, by the Gentiles. It began with the Egyptian bondage, not with the overthrow of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. This is clear from the fact that the Jews were oppressed under Egypt and Assyria more than 1,500 years, off and on, before Nebuchadnezzar. What would these oppressions be but “the times of the Gentiles?” Revelation 17:8-17 also proves that there have been and will be 8 great world empires oppressing Israel in the times of the Gentiles.

From this verse, we can see that this could not mean that Gentiles will no longer be saved, because God will continue to save Jews and Gentiles even through the tribulation period (Acts 2:16-21; Rev. 7:1-17; 15:2-4; 20:4-6). The fullness of the Gentiles will end at the second coming and the national conversion of Israel (11:25-29; Isa. 66:7-8; Zech. 12:10-13:1; 14:1-21). The times of the Gentiles end then also (Zech. 14:1-21; Matt. 25:31-46; Luke 21:24; Rev. 11:1-2).

Branches

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Romans 11:18-24 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bear not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou stand by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shall be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 

‘Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bear not the root, but the root thee’ – the Gentiles here are warned not to boast of their being accepted by God in the place of the Jews (11:18-19), but to fear lest they also fall and not be spared (11:20-22).

‘If thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shall be cut off’ – this is always the condition of eternal life. If God promises here to cut off those who do not remain in His goodness, then He is obligated to do so (2:11). The conditions of eternal life are: Come to Christ (John 6:37, 44, 45, 65); know God and Christ (John 17:2-3); cause no offense (Matt. 18:8-9); forsake all (Matt. 19:27-29; Mark 10:28-30); overcome sin (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21); live free from sin (Rom. 5:21; 6:16-23; 8:1-13; Tit. 2:11-14); fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on it (1Tim. 6:12, 19); be sober and hope to the end for it (Tit. 1:2; 3:7; 1Pet. 1:5, 9, 13); endure temptations (Jas. 1:12); love everybody (1Jn. 3:14-15); keep yourself in the love of God, looking for eternal life (Jude 1:20-24); be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10; Heb. 12:14-15); believe and obey the gospel (John 3:15-19, 36; 4:14; 5:24; 6:40, 47, 54; 2Cor. 5:17; Rom. 1:5); be born again, hear Christ, and follow Him (John 3:1-36; 10:27-29).

‘If they abide not still in unbelief’ – this is always the condition of renewal in God and in His faith and grace.

‘Again’ – The word “again” means “once more; anew; afresh.” Anything could not be done again if it had not been done before. Seven things that people can do again: Be revived again (Ps. 85:6); return to God again (Jer. 3:1; Ezek. 33:14); turn from sin again (Jer. 25:5; Ezek. 18:27); be grafted into the olive tree again (11:23); be taught again (Heb. 5:12); be made over again (Jer. 18:4); be born again (John 3:3-7; 1Pet. 1:3, 23; Gal. 4:19; Jas. 5:19-20).

Seven things that people should not do again: Turn from righteousness (Ezek. 3:20); build sinful things (Gal. 2:18); desire to be in bondage (Gal. 4:9); be entangled in Mosaic Law (Gal. 5:1); continue sinning and repenting (Heb. 6:1); turn back to folly (Psa_85:8); be entangled in sin (2Pet. 2:20-22).

‘Contrary to nature into a good olive tree’ a fruitless branch grafted to a good tree is contrary to custom.

‘How much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?’ It being contrary to custom to graft unfruitful branches into a good and fruitful tree, how much more will it be natural to graft branches into their own fruitful tree?

The Reconciling of the World

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Romans 11:12-17 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were graffed in among them, and with them partakes of the root and fatness of the olive tree 

‘Riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness.’ If, in consequence of their rebellion, the riches of God’s grace has to come to the Gentile world, how much more will the world be blessed when Israel comes to her fullness of blessing again.

‘Emulation’ same word translated “jealousy” in Romans 11:11. If I might by some means provoke some Jews to seek their share of the gospel.

‘For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?’ If the rejection of Israel and the turning to Gentiles caused all the world to have the immediate opportunity of being saved, how much more will many in the world be blessed when the whole nation of Israel is saved in one day (11:15, 25-29; Isa. 66:7-8; Zech. 12:10-13:1; 14:1-5, 14, 16-21).

‘Firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches’ “The firstfruit” refers to the first Jews blessed in the gospel and “the lump” to the whole nation that will be blessed and become holy in the end (11:16, 25-29; Isa. 66:7-8; Zech. 12:10-13:1; 14:1-21). “The root and fatness of the olive tree” refers to Christ and God’s blessings of the Abrahamic and New Covenant. “The branches” are the Israelites, like true Christians are the branches in the vine of John 15:1-8.

‘And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were graffed in among them, and with them partakes of the root and fatness of the olive tree’ Israel is here pictured as branches of an olive tree and the Gentiles as a wild olive tree, or the oleaster which bears no fruit. Some are broken off because of unbelief and Gentiles take their place to partake of Israel’s blessings.