Romans 11: No Special Guarantees

Epistle of Paul to the Romans, Chapter 11

and Revelations 2.

Implications for churches: 

* individual churches can fail (be "broken off" / lampstand removed) e.g. due to arrogance or lack of the fear of God.

* wayward churches are called to repent (and be "grafted" in again to the root)
* the root precedes the churches; e.g. the root is that root of the Olive Tree that is Israel: God (Christ).

* the principle of unity is covenantal and pertains to belief.

Romans 11:17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in ¹³  the richness of the olive root, 11:18 do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 11:19 Then you will say, “The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 11:20 Granted! ¹⁴  They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear! 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. 11:22 Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God – harshness toward those who have fallen, but ¹⁵  God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; ¹⁶  otherwise you also will be cut off. 11:23 And even they – if they do not continue in their unbelief – will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 11:24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?

Revelations 2:5 Therefore, remember from what high state ¹³  you have fallen and repent! Do ¹⁴  the deeds you did at the first; ¹⁵  if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – that is, if you do not repent. ¹⁶

Useful reading: http://turretinfan.blogspot.com/2011/02/solo-scriptura-sola-scriptura-and.html