Christian Transformation

Being Transformed

Christianity Oasis provides this Christian Transformation lesson on being transformed into Natural Branches bringing forth truth, understanding and peace.


Daily Bread Devotional Bible Study
The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans
Chapter 11


Christian Transformation Adventure

Being Transformed - Natural Branches Journey

Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Daily Bread study program. This is our very intriguing Christian Transformation Bible study taking a look into the Being transformed into Natural Branches meaning and procedure. The absolutely awesome Christian Transformation and being transformed message will truly bring a smile to the lips and heart and shine the LIGHT of Truth upon your be-YOU-tiful Christian walk path.

Christian Transformation Lesson
Being Transformed Into Natural Branches Path

Happy to have you back again to share more Daily Bread. In the last chapter of Paul's letter, he was expressing his hope for the people of Israel to see the light of Jesus. He explained how they were very passionate for God, but that those who fail to recognize Jesus as the Son of God, would lose the promise.

There are many religions that teach that Jesus is not the Son of God, that don't believe in the Holy Trinity, or that say that Jesus was just a prophet, yet they claim they believe in God. Friends, Jesus is part of God, so if you don't believe in Jesus, you're denying part of God. How do you think your Father feels about that? Add to that, the part about how He sent Jesus to suffer so that we could be forgiven for our sins and live forever with Him for the simple price of having Faith in Him, and that should make it easy to understand how denying Jesus would be a righteous reason for God to deny anyone who didn't believe in His precious Son.

This is a rather lengthy chapter, so I'll try and make it as clear as possible within the text itself, and not so much ad-libbing so that you can complete it in a reasonable amount of time. Now let's continue with what Paul was saying.

Christian Transformation Truth
Being Transformed Into Natural Branches Method

Romans 11:1-6

1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people [the Israelites]? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not [Don't you know] what the scripture saith of Elias [Elijah]? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. [1 Kings 19:10]
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. [1 Kings 19:18]
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant [small amount remaining] according to the election of Grace [who God has chosen - the 'elect'ion].
6 And if by Grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise Grace is no more Grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more Grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Remember we talked about this earlier in Paul's letter, that God didn't leave Israel such a countless amount of people, because of what might happen. We used the Tower of Babel as an example. So, you just found out now, that the remnant was once as little as seven thousand people.

What is a Christian Transformation
Being Transformed Into Natural Branches by the Lord

Romans 11:7-12

7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election [seven thousand] hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. [Isaiah 29:10]
9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. [Psalms 69:22-23]
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall [Is salvation hopeless for them]? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 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?

Christian Transformation Explained
Being Transformed Into Natural Branches Blessing

What does this mean? Well, if the Jewish people see that the Gentiles are inheriting what was once promised to them, it will make them jealous, and hopefully cause them to accept Jesus as their Savior in order to regain the promise.

Romans 11:13-15

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
15 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?

Let's take a little intermission from Paul's letter for a moment, to have a little Daily Bread Crumb. Do you know what grafting is? To graft is to connect something that wasn't originally connected. Let's talk about a tree for example, because Paul is going to be using a tree in his analogy in a moment, of how the Gentiles have become connected to the Lord. If a branch is broken from a tree, you can make a clean cut at the break, then another branch can be cut off a different tree, at the same angle, and fitted onto the broken spot, then attached together. Sap will then flow through to the new branch, and it will become part of the tree. In Paul's example, the Gentiles are wild olive trees, and the Israelites are good olive trees.

Romans 11:16-25

16 For if the firstfruit be Holy [God's first fruits are the Israelites, or the olive trees], the lump [the entire tree] is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 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;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off [rejected], that I might be grafted [fitted] in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches [the Jewish people], take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 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.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 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?
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness [hardness, stubbornness] in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in [until the Time of the Gentiles is complete].

The Time of the Gentiles began at the time of Jesus and will continue until His return.

Christian Transformation Teaching
Being Transformed Into Natural Branches Proof

Romans 11:26

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:

Plenty of Scripture to confirm this:

Psalms 14:7 - Isaiah 59:20-21 - Isaiah 27:9

Romans 11:27-28

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. [Deuteronomy 7:8]

Christian Tranformation Shared By Paul
Gift of Being Transformed Into Natural Branches

Romans 11:29-36

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God [during the Time of the Jewish people], yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief [in Jesus]:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.
33 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!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor [Who can give God advice]?
35 Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? [Job 41:11]
36 For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Christian Transformation Conclusion
Being Transformed Into Natural Branches Summary

Paul certainly knows his Scripture, doesn't he? Unsearchable is a perfect word that Paul used to describe God's judgments. He's fair and just, to everyone. Even though He says, I choose who I want, and I don't choose who I don't want, you'll always find that He's righteous and true. How many times has He been gracious to you? Be sure and thank Him.

You know, a lot of times there are scripture passages given that verify what's being discussed in Daily Bread. It might be a great idea, if you only have a certain amount of time each day to devote to Daily Bread, you could keep some sticky notes by your computer and jot down the scripture passages, then later on, look them up. It's a good refresher for what you read earlier in the day and it will enhance your understanding too. These studies are so helpful and enriching and the more you learn, the more interesting the Bible becomes. Try it!

When we come back, we'll have more of Paul's letter to the Romans, so hurry back, and we'll share more Daily Bread.