If the Gentiles continue in unbelief, they will be cut off from the place of blessing they currently hold, just as Israel was, and God will then turn back to Israel.
Les shows that the Gentile world has already done what Israel did—walked underfoot the opportunity of blessing and said 'thanks, but no thanks.' The olive tree passage he reads makes unbelief the reason branches are broken off, and Romans 11:22 states plainly that the branch that does not continue in God's goodness will be cut off. Israel's fall was not permanent; once the Gentile age is complete, God will come back to the Jew and fulfill His promises to Israel.
Romans 11:22 — This verse plainly states that the Gentile branch will be cut off if it does not continue in God's goodness—the exact consequence asked in the question.
The olive tree passage in Romans 11 is the Bible's own answer. Israel's natural branches were broken off, and the believing Gentile is grafted in as a wild olive branch among them (Romans 11:17). How they stand is by faith, not by any racial or religious privilege: "Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear" (Romans 11:20). The warning is then made explicit: "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee" (Romans 11:21). Verse 22 states the consequence in the plainest terms: "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."
Les shows that God put the Gentile world into the place of blessing that Israel lost. The Gentile world, however, has done the same thing Israel did: it has walked the opportunity underfoot and said 'thanks, but no thanks' (Clip0). After pointing to that repeated rejection, Les reads the olive tree passage where unbelief is what breaks branches off and warns against the Gentile's boast (Clip0). He also stresses that Israel's fall was not permanent: through Israel's fall salvation came to the Gentile world, and God will one day turn back to Israel, because Israel's 'fulness' is still ahead (Clips 4, 5, 6, 7). So the consequence Les pictures is the loss of the Gentile's present place of favor and the resuming of God's dealing with Israel.
Les says the Gentile world has done the same thing Israel did. It has walked God's offer underfoot, cast it aside, and said 'thanks, but no thanks.' He observes that even people who are invited to Bible classes often respond, 'I'm not into that kind of stuff,' so they are not taking advantage of the tremendous opportunity they have.
Because Israel rejected her Messiah and King, Israel fell from her place of preeminence. That fall opened the windows of heaven to the Gentiles, whose forefathers were idolatrous pagans. Les says salvation has come to the Gentiles through Israel's fall, and that this was intended to provoke Israel to jealousy.
Les says God is not finished with the Jew. Israel's branches may be broken off for a time, and Israel is presently in spiritual blindness, but their 'fulness' is still ahead. Through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles; how much more will their fullness bring to the world. God will come back to Israel and fulfill the program He set aside.
The olive tree passage that Les reads in class says the broken-off branches were broken off because of unbelief. The wild Gentile branch stands by faith, and the warning in the same context is 'Be not highminded, but fear.' Scripture then plainly states: if the Gentile does not continue in God's goodness, 'thou also shalt be cut off' (Romans 11:20-22).
Gentile Rejection of Opportunity
Les points out that the Gentile world has responded to its place of blessing just as Israel did, then takes the class to the olive tree passage to show that unbelief is what causes branches to be broken off.
Israel's Rejection Opened the Door
Les teaches that God turned to the Gentiles because Israel rejected the Messiah, which is how the Gentile world received its opportunity in the first place.
Gentile Salvation During Israel's Blindness
Les explains that the present outpouring of grace makes Gentiles children of God by faith alone, while Israel remains blinded—setting up the temporary Gentile age.
Israel's Temporary Set-Aside
Les shows that Israel's rejection caused the kingdom promises to be postponed, and Israel will still have a future day, but God is now dealing with the Gentiles.
Israel's Future Fullness
Les teaches that the fall of Israel brought riches to the Gentile world, and that Israel's fullness will be an even greater blessing—so God will return to the Jew.
Salvation to the Gentiles Through Israel's Fall
Les uses Romans 11:11-12 to show that Gentile salvation came through Israel's fall and that Israel's fullness is still ahead.
God Is Not Finished With Israel
Les points out that God turned to the Gentiles with salvation through Christ's finished work, but warns against thinking God is through with the Jew.
Provoking Israel to Jealousy
Les teaches that God opened the grace door to the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy.
Romans 11:11: I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Les reads this in Clip5 to explain why the Gentile world has the gospel.
Romans 11:12: 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?
The verse Les cites to show Israel's future fullness will be even greater than the blessing now given to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:17: And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Describes the Gentile as a wild olive branch grafted into the root of the Abrahamic promises while Israel's branches are broken off.
Romans 11:20: Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Identifies unbelief as the cause of the breaking off and warns the Gentile not to be proud.
Romans 11:21: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Makes explicit that if God did not spare the natural branches, the grafted branch can also be cut off.
Romans 11:22: 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.
States the consequence of not continuing in God's goodness: the branch will be cut off.
Yes. The olive tree passage in Romans 11 warns that the Gentile branch stands by faith and is not to be high-minded. If the Gentile does not continue in God's goodness, the Bible says 'thou also shalt be cut off.' Les points out that the Gentile world has already treated the opportunity the way Israel did.
Because Israel rejected her Messiah and King, Israel fell from her place of preeminence and went into spiritual blindness. Through Israel's fall, salvation came to the Gentiles. God opened the windows of heaven to the Gentile masses, who were formerly pagan, with a gospel of faith plus nothing.
Yes. Les stresses that God is not through with the Jew. Israel's 'fulness' is still ahead, and after the Gentiles have received the riches of grace, God will come back to Israel and fulfill His program with her.
Watch the Teaching: Wild Olive Tree Grafted In — What Romans 11 Says About Gentiles