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There's That IF Again |
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| Paul was showing
that God wanted to save Jews and Gentiles. The Jews had rejected Christ
and were as branches broken off. They could be grafted in again. But the
Gentiles had received Him but they were still subject to being broken off
and were warned against being highminded. "For if God spared not the
natural branches, take need lest he also spare thee not" (Romans
11:21). But that could be avoided.
Verse twenty-two tells of the goodness and severity of God. Now notice! "But toward thee, goodness, IF (emphasis, JWB) thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." The possibility of apostasy and the necessity of faithfulness could hardly be expressed more powerfully than expressed here. |
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