The Fear Of God Is The Beginning Of Wisdom

Today we are looking at what Paul had to say about the fact that part of the people of Israel have rejected the Messiah Jesus and have been as it were like branches cut off from the "holy olive tree" which refers to Jesus. This gave way to God bringing in gentiles and grafting them into the true tree of Israel, by faith.

Paul warns us that we gentiles can also be cut off. Many of Jacob's descendants are believing in Jesus the Messiah and a day is coming when great tribulation and destruction will fall on Israel. God will open their eyes and those who are alive will believe in Jesus the Messiah on that day.  

Meanwhile, are you taking seriously the warnings of Paul? Brothers and sisters we have not finished the race yet. You will not hear warnings from the ear tickling preachers of our day, but Paul says very clearly in verse 22:

• "Consider, then, the kindness and severity of God: his severity toward those who fell, but God’s kindness toward you—if you continue receiving his kindness."

Romans 11 ISV

11And so I ask, “They have not stumbled so as to fall, have they?” Of course not! On the contrary, because of their stumbling, salvation has come to the gentiles to make the Jewsi jealous. 12Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their fall means riches for the gentiles, how much more will their full participation mean!

13I am speaking to you gentiles. Because I am an apostle to the gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14in the hope that I can make my peoplej jealous and save some of them. 15For if their rejection results in reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance bring but life from the dead? 16If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

17Now if some of the branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, 18do not boast about being better thank the otherl branches. If you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19Then you will say, “Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted in.”

20That’s right! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you remain only because of faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid!m 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly will not spare you, either.

22Consider, then, the kindness and severity of God: his severity toward those who fell, but God’s kindness toward you—if you continue receiving his kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off. 23If the Jewsn do not persist in their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, because God is able to graft them in. 24After all, if you were cut off from what is naturally a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier it will be for these natural branches to be grafted back into their own olive tree!

25For I want to let you know about this secret, brothers, so that you will not claim to be wiser than you are: Stubbornness has come to part of Israel until the full number of the gentiles comes to faith.o26In this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion;

he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

26

27This is my covenant with them

when I take away their sins.”p

• Psalm 111 "Psalm 111 ISV  "10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; sound understanding belongs to those who practice it. Praise of Godf endures forever."