I am going to read to you the words that are to be found in Paul's Epistle to the Romans

in chapter 11, reading from verse 16 to verse 22, from verse 16 to verse 22 in the 11th chapter

of Paul's Epistle to the Romans. For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy, and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

And if some of the branches be broken off, and then being a wild olive tree, were it 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 will 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 high-minded, but fear. For if God spared

not the natural branches, take heed, lest he also spare not thee.

Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God,

on them which fell severity, but on thee, but toward thee, goodness,

if thou continue in his goodness.

Otherwise, thou also shall be cut off.

Now, we've been engaged for two or three Friday evenings in examining in particular

verses 18 to 22.

But I read from the beginning of verse 16 16 in order that we might have the full statement

in our minds as we come to consider this, the particular aspect of this statement that I'm

anxious to put before you this evening. I've suggested that the best way of dividing this statement

from the beginning of verse 18 to the end of verse 22

is first and foremost, of course, to deal with pure matters of exposition which we've done.

Then secondly, I said we must extract the teaching or the doctrine.

And, well, to the best of our ability, we've also done that.

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