God Hasn’t Changed The Rules

Romans 11:16-24

I am sure most people have seen or heard that insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. There is a considerable amount of truth to the statement. The basic principle upon which all science is founded is that the same conditions will always produce the same results. A different result implies that some condition was different.

In Romans 1:16, Paul stated that the requirements for salvation were the same for everyone. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” No distinction is made between races. “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him,” according to Romans 10:12. Galatians 3:28 eliminates any distinction on the basis of financial standing or gender. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Discrimination or distinction because of customs, or culture or skin color are invalid according to Colossians 3:11. “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” The same rules apply to everyone.

In cooking, if one samples a little of a batch of dough and it is good, it is safe to assume the rest is good as well. If a tree has a good root, it will support good branches. Paul says, “For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.” in Romans 11:16.

Sometimes even branches on a good tree fail to grow or break off. It is possible to graft in branches from another tree of the same kind, even though the fruit may be somewhat different. The grafted in branches become a part of the original tree and receive nourishment and support from it. While the tree receives some help from the new branch, the original root supplies all of the branch’s needs.

“And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” (Romans 11:17-21)

The Jews, the natural branches, were broken off because they tried to obtain salvation through their own efforts, as Romans 10:3 tells us. “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” If Gentiles do the same thing they can only expect the same results. As Galatians 5:4 states, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

“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 shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” (Romans 11:22-24)

We find a very similar situation when God delivered Israel from Egypt, and both Hebrews and I Corinthians compare it to the present situation. All of Israel followed Moses out of Egypt, but in just a little while many wanted to go back. They all had and followed the Law, and experienced the same things, yet the majority died in the wilderness because they refused to go into the promised land. Hebrews 3:16-19 describes the reasons.

“For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:16-19)

It appears that most were caught up in the emotions and movement of the crowd, rather than having real faith. They did what they were told and listened when Moses told what God told them, never really believed. Hebrews 4:1-2 Expresses the same concern about people in churches. “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

This mental assent and belief without real faith is a major concern throughout both Galatians and Hebrews. It is not about losing one’s salvation, but about never having that real faith. Keeping the law or some other set of standards win neither save us nor keep us saved. In Galatians 3:11-12 we find that keeping the law is not faith. “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.” As a result, Colossians 2:20-22 asks, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?”

Many of the Galatian church members were depending on their keeping the law for their sanctification and holiness. Galatians 3:1-3 challenges the practice. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

If, like the Galatians, we begin to depend on some moral code such as the law to sanctify and justify us, we need to understand what Paul told the Galatians in Galatians 5:4. “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” As Hebrews 10:38 points out, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. “