Have You Ever Thought About Becoming Part of an Olive Tree? Why Would We Do That?
It many seem silly on the surface until you explore what that really means
Christ Will Always Be the Vine, We Will Always Be the Branches, and That’s Fine With Me
(Romans 11 part 2, verses 17-36)
You are about to read a brief excerpt from my Christian nonfiction book, “The Social Gospel Teaching Series Vol. 3: the Apostle Paul” by Rev. Paul J. Bern (c) copyright 2022 by Rev. Paul J. Bern, all rights reserved; available exclusively from this link
Last week as we left off our dissemination of the apostle Paul's letter to the 1st century church in Jerusalem, we closed out at verse 16 during the midway point of a fairly lengthy teaching concerning the differences between peoples of Jewish descent and those of the remaining Gentile nations at large. Taking up where he left off, Paul wrote, “If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap of the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, 'Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in'. Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.” (Romans 11, verses 17-21)
Paul the Apostle Uses Adoption As an Example of Becoming a True Christian
In this passage, the branches that have been “broken off” is a metaphor for non-believers. New believers from all backgrounds are what Paul calls “wild olive shoots”. They are grafted into the vine that is Christ (“I am the vine, you are the branches”) by their faith. They became a branch that is part of the olive tree that symbolizes Israel. Since Jesus walked the earth as a Jewish man, all who put their faith in Christ literally become Jewish by adoption. They become a branch of the olive tree that symbolizes Israel. And Christ is the root of that tree, with all believers becoming branches. And Paul then warns us all that if God “did not spare the natural branches (the ancestors and descendants of the Jewish nation), he will not spare you either”. All who are grafted into the olive tree that is Israel can be cut off and replaced with new believers if they do not bear fruit. This means us; end of story.
Faithfulness to Christ Is Mandatory
This is a warning from God that we are to remain faithful as Christians. Faith is something that is continuous and ongoing. Faith is defined in the Book of Hebrews as being “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”. Our faith is not something that occurs only once. Faith is something that is ongoing and continuous. It must be maintained daily by the believer if our walk with Christ is to be genuine and authentic. Being fruitful is the evidence of our faith in Christ. Everyone we meet will know that we are adopted into the family of God when we do these things. Paul then explains this within the following verses.
Part One of This Week’s Bible Verses for Study and Memorization
“Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God; sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, now much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!” (Romans 11: 22-24)
The Manifestation of Our Faith and Deeds
How do we keep from being cut off from the olive tree that is not only Israel, but the entire body of Christ? By continuing in the kindness of God while using His perfect love which is found in Christ. If we fail to do this, Paul warns, then “you also will be cut off”. The evidence of our faith can be found in how we treat other people, exemplifying the unconditional love of God through Christ. Our faith, then, depends on our kindness and empathy towards others. After all, if we “do not persist in unbelief”, we will be grafted as a new branch onto the olive tree that comprises the Bride of Christ. And this nation, unlike the Israeli people of today, will be made up of Jew and non-Jew alike, being regarded by God as equals. God sees right past the boundaries of the nations and looks straight into the heart of humankind to discern whether or not we should be a part of the family of God. Our faith in God is something that is written on our minds and our hearts, and it manifests itself by the way in which we live our lives as Christians. And now let's wrap this up for today starting from verse 25.
Part Two of This Week’s Study Verses
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has received a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved as it is written: 'the deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins'. (Isaiah 59: 20-21) As far as the Gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
“Just as you who at one time were disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. Oh, the depth of the riches and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen!” (Romans 11, verses 25-36)
God Always Keeps His Word
“Israel has received a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved...”. What was Paul writing about here? All of the nation of Israel will be saved, but only after all the Gentiles who have surrendered to Christ have been brought into the Church, that is, all of the non-Jews who are born-again believers. So even though the Jewish nation will be saved by God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see Genesis beginning with chapter 15 up to about chapter 32), the non-Jews will enter into God's kingdom first, and the Israelite nation second, due to their unbelief regarding the risen Christ as the Son of God. “As far as the Gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.”
Being Reborn By the Unconditional Love of Christ
Who are God's enemies? It is those who refuse to believe and so be saved. God's call is irrevocable, Paul wrote. I'm sure the apostle Paul was paraphrasing the teachings of Christ, who said, and I’m paraphrasing. “Anyone who comes unto to me for worship and for the forgiveness of sins will in no way be cast out”. However, this does not mean that once we are saved, that we remain in that state by default. If a born-again Christian continues to live in sin, whatever their sins might be, or if they become believers only to turn away for whatever reason, it is the same as walking away from a good job, a marriage, or any other beneficial relationship. Obviously this would not be a good idea at all. But this also disproves what some denominations teach, which is that once we are saved by Christ, we remain saved no matter what our behavior is outside the church (‘once saved, always saved’). This is a false teaching, and if any of you find yourselves in such a church, I would advise you to consider looking for a better one. “For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” We are all born sinners. That's why it is imperative that we become reborn by the unconditional salvation and love of Christ.
Continuing in God’s Kindness and Love
How about you? Are you living your life as being part of the olive tree that is greater Israel, a branch grafted in by God? It all comes down to how we treat other people. If we treat others the way we would like to be treated ourselves, we can never be cut off as an unfruitful branch of that tree. And if we maintain our faith in God through Jesus Christ our Lord by continuing in His kindness and grace, we become a part of that tree forever. Let's all begin to practice this starting today. Become a part of the Olive tree that is Christ and live your faith as a lifestyle. We must be willing to show kindness to others whether they deserve it or not, because Jesus died for us even though we didn't deserve it. This is the crux of the entire matter. If we “continue in His kindness” God will continue in His kindness for each of us. There really is no better way to live our lives for Christ.
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