Romans 11 - Loss of salvation?

[Guest]

Does Romans 11 speak about loss of salvation?

Romans 11:11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

Paul speaks of salvation coming to the Gentiles. But what Gentiles? The offer of salvation comes to all, but it only takes effect in the individual by faith. When they become a partaker with Christ.

Rom 11:12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
Rom 11:13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
Rom 11:14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
Rom 11:15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
Rom 11:16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Is the “dough” and “root” not a reference to Christ as the One offered as firstfruits (1 Cor 15:23)? This would seem to be the case since Paul refers to both Jews and Gentiles as “branches” and not the root itself. These branches are “holy” not merely common Gentile (or Jewish) folk who may be part of a church congregation. These are people Paul states as having and standing by faith. The new covenant requires another birth, one must be born again to enter. This is why Jewish branches were broken off. They were part of the old covenant by physical means. But when faith came (Gal 3:23) with the new covenant by Christ, those who rejected Him were cut off from the people. (Acts 3:22-23).

Rom 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree

Paul refers to these Gentiles as holy (verse 16) and recipients of salvation (verse 11) and that they “now” share (since being grafted in among the “others”, the elect Jews mentioned in verse 7) in the nourishing root of the olive tree and are part of that lump made holy by the firstfruits offering.

Rom 11:18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
Rom 11:19 Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."
Rom 11:20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.

Paul states that faith is the reason one is grafted on, and unbelief is cause for being cut off. You don't become a grafted on wild olive branch just by being a Gentile, you are a Gentile grafted on the olive tree by faith.

Rom 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Rom 11:22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

Under the old covenant, one could be cut-off. Under the new covenant, Paul is saying, one can also be cut-off. If one maintains that all Gentiles are under the new covenant blessings, even if they are not true believers, then how is it that the new covenant is written this way:

Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."

Eze 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

It would seem that any partaker in the new covenant is saved, their sins forgiven and they have a new heart and Spirit. The offer is extended to all but must be received by faith, grafting them into the olive tree. However, it seems that they can be cut-off from Christ.

Comments?

[Guest]

what else can "cut off" mean? it seems pretty clear, but i am sure there are alternate explanations.

TK

[Guest]

Sean, the possibility of being cut off from the olive tree seems consistent with other Scriptures:

Hebrews 3:14 For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end...

John 15:6 If a person does not remain in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.

Colossians 1:21-23 And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel...

John 8:31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples...

Hebrews 5:9 ... and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him [continuous present]...