Such a glorious revelation! ...and, if i may be so bold to declare: So much for Replacement Theology! Instead, let ALL OF ELOHIMS PEOPLE exclaim: BARUCH ATTAH ADONAI, MELECH HAOLAM! GENTILES (The Wild Olive Tree) ARE GRAFTED INTO THE CULTIVATED OLIVE TREE An Elucidation on ROMANS 11~~~ 16If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 17But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith Do not be conceited, but fear; 21for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either (Romans 11.16-21). Paul began his analogy of the olive tree with an example of a lump of dough. Just as a piece of dough from the lump shares the properties of the whole lump, the branches of a tree share the properties of the root. If a lump of dough is holy, a piece of the lump is holy also. If the root is holy, so too the branches. The olive tree represents the place of blessing in God’s program. The Jewish nation was under a program governed by covenants. Paul likened Israel as natural branches in a cultivated olive tree (Romans 11.24). The covenants were the “cultivation.” Gentiles, on the other hand, were wild branches. Gentiles had no covenants (Ephesians 2.11-12) and had set them aside when He called Abraham. He ended His direct dealing with Gentiles and dealt with them through the mediation of Israel. Due to unbelief (stumbling, transgression) God broke off national Israel (natural branches) from the tree. God then grafted Gentiles (wild olive tree branches) into the place of blessing. Gentiles now occupy the place of blessing previously held by Israel. Notice Paul never mentions the Church, the body of Christ, in his illustration. This place of blessing is for ALL Gentiles, not just the Church. This is an important point to apprehend and requires some reflection. In God’s covenant program, Israel occupied God’s special place of blessing. Were all Jews saved? No, most were not saved. Yet they occupied the position of blessing. In the same way, God has now placed Gentiles into his special place of blessing. Are all Gentiles saved? No, most are not saved. In the program God revealed to Israel, Gentiles could be blessed only through a relationship or association with Israel. In God’s program of the Church, the body of Christ, both Jews and Gentiles are blessed by believing the gospel of grace (1 Corinthians 15.1-4). Peter’s remarkable statement at the Council of Jerusalem confirmed this fact (cf. Acts 15.7-12). Prior to this time, such a statement would have been impossible in the Jerusalem church before the Council. We note two things: One plan operates at a time. When one begins the other ceases. While natural branches were on the tree, wild branches were not. Wild branches were grafted in only when the natural branches were broken off. Most of those blessed by God in the Old Testament program were Jews. That was the status quo for 2,000 years. Since the time of Paul, most who have been blessed by God are Gentiles–the new status quo for the past 2,000 years. In verse 17, Paul issued a warning to the wild branches (Gentiles): Warning to Gentiles: Do not boast against (κατακαυχάομαι) the natural branches (Israel). Question: Why not? Answer: Because the wild branches (Gentiles) do not support the root (God, the source of blessing)–the root supports the branches. Objection: But they (the natural branches, i.e., Israel) were broken off so that I (the wild branches–Gentiles) might be grafted in. Rebuttal: Correct–but remember–the natural branches (Israel) were removed because of unbelief. The wild branches (Gentiles) stand only by faith. Don’t be conceited but fear. If God broke off the natural branches (Israel) do you think He would not remove wild branches (Gentiles)? 22Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? (Romans 11.22-24) The kindness of God was grafting wild branches (Gentiles) into the olive tree. His severity was breaking off the natural branches (Israel) from their place of blessing. God’s kindness is experienced upon response to His kindness (faith). Paul warned that Gentiles, like Israel, only stand by faith. Both verses 22 and 23 are third class conditional sentences, “more probable future condition” (ἐὰν plus the verb in the protasis in the subjunctive mood). The “if” is assumed to be probable or true. Thus, Paul assumed Gentiles, in particular the Church, would continue in faith (v. 22), just as he assumed Israel would not continue in unbelief (v. 23) but would be regrafted into the olive tree. Paul had more to write on this matter in the following verses but suffice it to say at this point that He understood and relied upon God’s sovereignty from passages such as Zechariah 12.10, 13.5-6, and Matthew 23.37-39 to make his point. Paul ended this section with the statement in verse 24: “For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?” In this statement, “if” is a first class condition (εἰ plus the indicative) and the condition is assumed to be true. Gentiles, likened as wild olive branches, were grafted “against nature,” i.e., without covenants, into a cultivated olive tree (the place of blessing). If this was so (and it was), Paul asked how much more likely would it be that the non-wild, natural branches would be regrafted into their own tree. 25For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery–so that you will not be wise in your own estimation–that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” 27“THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” As noted above, God provided Paul with new revelation that Israel’s present condition of unbelief would end. Paul knew the Old Testament promises and the words of the Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry. But the ascended Lord had revealed to him a “secret” about Israel’s blindness. Paul revealed “this secret” (τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο) to ward off any inclination by the Church (composed chiefly of Gentiles) to be “wise in your own estimation,” i.e., the temptation to “boast against the branches” (Israel) that had been cut off. This secret was that “a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved.” The partial hardening (πώρωσις ἀπὸ μέρους) was Israel’s present condition of unbelief. It was partial because not every Jew is hardened by unbelief. Thus, the hardening affected national Israel, not individual Jews. Paul also revealed the “mystery” of how long this condition would afflict the nation. It would continue until “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (ἄχρις οὗ τὸ πλήρωμα τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰσέλθῃ). What did Paul mean by the “fullness of the Gentiles?” In light of the context of Paul’s argument, the phrase must refer to the completion of the body of Christ, the Church. No distinction in this age exists between Jew and Gentile in the body of Christ (Romans 10.12; Colossians 3.11) yet the Church is composed primarily of Gentiles. Thus, Paul employed the phrase, “fullness of the Gentiles” to refer to the Church which is composed mainly of Gentiles. God alone knows when He will complete His body. Completion will occur when the last person trusts in Christ by believing Paul’s gospel of grace (1 Corinthians 15.1-4). When the body of Christ (the Church) is complete, God will remove it from the earth. Once God removes the Church from earth He will restart His covenantal plan with national Israel. Israel’s blindness will begin to be lifted. Luke’s account in Acts 13.6-12 of Paul’s confrontation with Elymas, the Jewish the magician illustrated this event. Paul told this false prophet that he would “not see the sun for a time” (μὴ βλέπων τὸν ἥλιον ἄχρι καιροῦ). John revealed that God will use the events described in the book of Revelation to convince the Jews that Jesus is the true Messiah. For example, in the middle of the Tribulation, after 3 1/2 of the 7 years have passed, Jesus instructed the Jews to flee to the mountains when they saw the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24.15-16; Daniel 9.27, 12.11). As the Jews see the words of Scripture unfold their spiritual eyes will begin to see (1 Corinthians 1.22). Some will began to recognize that the one they had received (John 5.43) as Messiah is a pretender. At the end of the seven years (the end of Daniel’s 70th week–the Tribulation) every Jew will be saved (noted in verse 26, “all Israel will be saved”).5 When Paul stated that “all Israel” (πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ) will be saved he meant “all Israel,” i.e., every single Jew who is alive at the time. Peter had declared this same message to the nation. Peter’s address at Pentecost was to all Israel: “let all the house of Israel know” (Acts 2.36). He told them they were guilty of killing their Messiah. When they asked him what they must do Peter replied, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2.38) The word “each” is ἕκαστος which means “each” or “every.” Every Jew had to repent (cf. Acts 4.10, 13.24). Peter’s message at Pentecost was a repeat of Jesus’ teaching: 37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 38Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! 39For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’” (Matthew 23.37-38) In a future day, every single Jew will repent and verbalize (either aloud or in his heart) Jesus’ words. When these words are spoken the prophecy will be fulfilled and Jesus will return as Israel’s Messiah. Thus, “all Israel” will be saved (cf. Isaiah 66.8; Ezekiel 39.25-29).
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:24:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015