Grafted In

Everyone Has to be Grafted in Romans 11:23-26

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;  that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

A Righteous Nation. Much is said of the unbelief of the children of Israel; but there were times when they as an entire nation had faith to a marked degree. One instance will suffice at present. "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days." Heb. 11:30. Thirteen times the whole host marched round the city, seemingly to no purpose, without a murmur. Such faith showed that they were then a righteous nation,  in close union with God; because, "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1. Then their name truly indicated their character; they were Israelites indeed. They were walking "in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham."

Severed Branches. But they did not keep the faith. "We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." Heb. 3:14. This they did not do, and so they became "without Christ,"  "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel." Eph. 2:12. In Romans 11:17 the apostle asks, What "if some of the branches be broken off?" etc., not meaning, however, to imply that some were not broken off, as we learn from what follows. For he says, "Because of unbelief they were broken off" (verse 20), and again, "God hath concluded them all in unbelief" (verse 32), thus showing that all were broken off. So we find the people who were "beloved for the fathers' sakes" (verse 28) and who had at one time in their history been "children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26) reduced through their unbelief to the level of those who had never known God.

Grafted Branches. All the branches of the olive tree Israel were broken off through unbelief. To supply their places God took branches from the wild olive tree the Gentiles and grafted them on. This grafting was "contrary to nature" (verse 24), since it was wholly a work of grace. If it had been according to nature, then the branches would have borne natural fruit, and there would be no gain from the grafting, since the natural fruit was bad. See Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 2:1, 2. But a miracle was wrought by grace, and the branches that were grafted in partook of the nature of the root. The fruit of the grafted-in branches is no more natural, but that of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22, 23.

A Reunion. We must remember that God did not cast off his people. They fell away through unbelief. "They also,  if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in; for God is able to graff them in again." Vs. 23. The Jew has as good a chance as the Gentile. "There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." Rom. 10:12. Christ came "that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross," and "through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." Eph. 2:16, 18.

No Change of Plan. Let us not forget that in thus grafting in the Gentiles to take the place of rebellious Israel,  there has been no change in God's plan. It was all included in the original promise to Abraham. "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before [beforehand] the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." Gal. 3:7, 8.

In the beginning God made Adam, the father of the human race. Adam was the son of God (Luke 3:38); therefore all his descendants are by right God's people. He did not cast them off because they sinned. His love embraced the world (John 3:16), and it did not contract in the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The only advantage of Israel was that they had the privilege of carrying the glorious gospel to the Gentiles, for whom it was always designed as much as for them.

Visiting the Gentiles. The Gentiles, as well as the descendants of Jacob, were from the beginning intended to become Israel. This was shown at the conference in Jerusalem. Peter told how he had been divinely sent to preach the gospel to them, and that God put no difference between them and the Jews. Then James said:  "Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up; that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." Acts 15:14-18. See also Amos

9:11-15.

Amo 9:11  In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: 

Amo 9:12  That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. 

Amo 9:13  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. 

Amo 9:14  And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 

Amo 9:15  And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God. 

Mortal Remnant,

 The Remnant.  The remaining of the true. What is leftover. When you get a remnant piece of carpet it is a small piece of carpet leftover from the larger. To have a remnant left is to have a small bit left. God has a remnant, a small group of people that are still His out of what was once a larger group.  

Yes, at one time, Elijah, one of God's chosen prophets thought he alone remained of God's people. God told him otherwise. 

God will have a remnant group of people, so even if you feel as if you are standing alone in the truth that has been revealed to you, know that you are not alone. You may not be grouped with the others who belong to God. You may not have a partner or a whole bunch of others that believe the truth as it is revealed to you, that does not mean there are not others out there. 

We don’t know the path we are to follow. It may be a solitary path especially towards the end of days because so few will be that find that narrow path. The question is raised…

Luk 18:8…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Those are Jesus' words. 

Mat_7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

These too are Jesus' words.

We know Jesus will find faith on earth because of this…

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

Not all will sleep death's sleep.

All will be changed.

The mortal - still living- will put on immortality.

The dead (corruptible) - will put on incorruption- restored to everlasting incorruptible life. 

The mortal- right now- these are all the remnant, mortals who belong to God.

If we remain living we will be the remnant left when Christ returns and we will be given immortality- never to taste death.

God has a remnant, He does. May we be among the remnant by the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever! Amen!

******* (Excerpt)

The Remnant. 

In the illustration from Elijah's time, we learn something further about the matter of acceptance and rejection. It seemed then as though all Israel had departed from the Lord, but there were seven thousand men who had not acknowledged Baal. "Even so at this present moment there is a remnant according to the election of grace." The grace of God appears to all men, and is extended to all. Those who accept the grace are the elect, no matter of what tribe or nation they are. Although the plan of salvation embraces all the world, it is a sad fact that but few of any people or generation will accept it. "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved."

The Olive Tree. While there are single expressions in the eleventh chapter of Romans that are difficult to understand, the chapter as a whole is very simple. Under the figure of an olive tree, the people of God are represented, and by the figure of grafting, the relation of all men to God is shown. Before going into the particulars of this illustration, we must for a moment consider the Commonwealth of Israel.

In the second chapter of Ephesians we learn that as Gentiles, the Ephesians had been "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel," "having no hope, and without God in the world." That is, those who are not of the commonwealth of Israel are without God; or, those who are without God are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.

Now Christ is the only manifestation of God to man, and "he came unto his own, and his own received him not."  John 1:11. Therefore the mass of the Jewish nation were without God, just as surely as the heathen were, and consequently were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. 

The same chapter of Ephesians tells us that Christ came to reconcile both Jews and Gentiles unto God, showing that both were separate from him. Still further in the same chapter we learn that the commonwealth of Israel is the "household of God," and is composed of saints,  those who are reconciled to God. Only such are not "strangers and foreigners" from Israel.

The Origin of Israel. The name originated that night when Jacob wrestled with the Lord, and finally by his faith obtained the blessing that he sought. He could not gain anything whatever by his physical strength; indeed,  one touch by the Lord was sufficient to make him utterly helpless; but it was when, in his utter helplessness, he cast himself in simple faith on the Lord, that he gained the victory, and was named Israel prince of God. This title was applied to all his descendants, although it strictly belonged only to those who had living faith in God, just as we use the term "Christian" of those who are in "the church," with no thought of asserting that they really know the Lord.

Mortal Remnant.

The Remnant.  The remaining of the true. What is leftover. When you get a remnant piece of carpet it is a small piece of carpet leftover from the larger. To have a remnant left is to have a small bit left. God has a remnant, a small group of people that are still His out of what was once a larger group.  

Yes, at one time, Elijah, one of God's chosen prophets thought he alone remained of God's people. God told him otherwise. 

God will have a remnant group of people, so even if you feel as if you are standing alone in the truth that has been revealed to you, know that you are not alone. You may not be grouped with the others who belong to God. You may not have a partner or a whole bunch of others that believe the truth as it is revealed to you, that does not mean there are not others out there. 

We don’t know the path we are to follow. It may be a solitary path especially towards the end of days because so few will be that find that narrow path. The question is raised…

Luk 18:8…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Those are Jesus' words. 

Mat_7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

These too are Jesus' words.

We know Jesus will find faith on earth because of this…

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

Not all will sleep death's sleep.

All will be changed.

The mortal - still living- will put on immortality.

The dead (corruptible) - will put on incorruption- restored to everlasting incorruptible life. 

The mortal- right now- these are all the remnant, mortals who belong to God.

If we remain living we will be the remnant left when Christ returns and we will be given immortality- never to taste death.

God has a remnant, He does. May we be among the remnant by the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever! Amen!

******* (Excerpt)

The Remnant. 

In the illustration from Elijah's time, we learn something further about the matter of acceptance and rejection. It seemed then as though all Israel had departed from the Lord, but there were seven thousand men who had not acknowledged Baal. "Even so at this present moment there is a remnant according to the election of grace." The grace of God appears to all men, and is extended to all. Those who accept the grace are the elect, no matter of what tribe or nation they are. Although the plan of salvation embraces all the world, it is a sad fact that but few of any people or generation will accept it. "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved."

The Olive Tree. While there are single expressions in the eleventh chapter of Romans that are difficult to understand, the chapter as a whole is very simple. Under the figure of an olive tree, the people of God are represented, and by the figure of grafting, the relation of all men to God is shown. Before going into the particulars of this illustration, we must for a moment consider the Commonwealth of Israel.

In the second chapter of Ephesians we learn that as Gentiles, the Ephesians had been "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel," "having no hope, and without God in the world." That is, those who are not of the commonwealth of Israel are without God; or, those who are without God are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.

Now Christ is the only manifestation of God to man, and "he came unto his own, and his own received him not."  John 1:11. Therefore the mass of the Jewish nation were without God, just as surely as the heathen were, and consequently were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. 

The same chapter of Ephesians tells us that Christ came to reconcile both Jews and Gentiles unto God, showing that both were separate from him. Still further in the same chapter we learn that the commonwealth of Israel is the "household of God," and is composed of saints,  those who are reconciled to God. Only such are not "strangers and foreigners" from Israel.

The Origin of Israel. The name originated that night when Jacob wrestled with the Lord, and finally by his faith obtained the blessing that he sought. He could not gain anything whatever by his physical strength; indeed,  one touch by the Lord was sufficient to make him utterly helpless; but it was when, in his utter helplessness, he cast himself in simple faith on the Lord, that he gained the victory, and was named Israel prince of God. This title was applied to all his descendants, although it strictly belonged only to those who had living faith in God, just as we use the term "Christian" of those who are in "the church," with no thought of asserting that they really know the Lord.

Will They Accept Him?

 Articles on Romans

by E. J. Waggoner

Chapter 11

 The eleventh chapter of Romans closes up the special discussion of Israel. 

In each of these three chapters we are plainly shown that the Gentiles, if they believe, have an equal share with the Jews, and that the latter forfeit all the privileges of the people of God through unbelief. Nothing could show more plainly than do these chapters that all men are on a level, and that the promises of God are to all who believe, irrespective of birth or nation.

Ro. 11-

1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets,  and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10 let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 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. 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? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:  14 if by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 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.

Not a Castaway. The apostle Paul knew that God had not cast off his people, the lineal descendants of Abraham, and his proof was the fact that he himself was accepted with God. If the Jewish nation [people] had been cast off by the Lord, then there would have been no hope for Paul, because he was "an Hebrew of the Hebrews." The words "God forbid" mislead some people. The idea obtains that Paul was praying that the Lord would not cast off his people, lest he also should be cast away. Instead of "God forbid," read, "by no means."  Then all is clear. Thus: "I say then, Hath God cast away his people? By no means." How do you prove that?  Why, "I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin."

Who Are Rejected? Although God had not cast away his people, they were in a bad way. The fact that God had not cast them off, did not prove that they would be saved. Paul intimated that there was danger that even he,  after he had preached to others, might be a castaway. 1 Cor. 9:27. The case, however, lay wholly in his own hands. There was no danger that God would cast him away against his will. 

 

We have the words of the Lord,  "Him that cometh to me I will in nowise cast out." John 6:37. And all may come; for he says also that "whosoever will" may come. God casts no one off; but if they utterly reject him, then, since he forces no one, he has no alternative but to leave them to themselves.

"Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; . . . therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,  and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them." Prov. 1:24-32.

God stretches forth his hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people (Rom. 10:21), and they have it in their own power to say if they will be saved. God accepts everybody; the only question is, Will they accept him?

Call Upon the Name of the Lord.

 Whosoever Shall Call.

The Gospel to All. 

The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth verses show the steps necessary for salvation. 

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 

Rom 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 

First,  men must call upon the Lord. But in order to call upon him, they must believe in him. But they can not hear without someone being sent. But preachers have been sent, yet all have not believed and obeyed, although they have all heard.

What have they all heard? They have all heard the word of God. In proof of this, the apostle says that faith comes by hearing the word of God, and adds: "Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." All in the world have heard, and there is no excuse for unbelief on the part of any. Read again Romans 1:16-20.

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 

Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse

Glorious Preachers. 

The gospel of Christ is "the glorious gospel." It shines its way into the heart. See 2 Corinthians 4:4.

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

 So it is fitting that those who preach it should be arrayed in glory. The sun, moon, and stars are the beautiful "preachers" whose words have gone to the ends of the world. They preach the glorious gospel of Christ. They are a continual example of the right way to preach the gospel they shine forth the glory of God.

So the apostle says to us who have heard and believed the word, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Pet. 2:9. 

The gospel is the revelation of God to men. "God is light," therefore the proclaiming of the gospel consists in showing forth his light. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 5:16.

We Choose.

Belief.

We choose what we believe. When something becomes a fact we call those who deny the fact crazy. If I believe the sky is entirely emerald green I would be called crazy because it's been deemed factual that the sky has never been entirely emerald green. However, if my eyes have altered things so that all my color perceptions are off, I'm no longer considered crazy, just impaired by something that alters my ability to perceive the facts of colors. If I see all other colors normally but still insist the sky is entirely emerald green, then I will be deem crazy, hallucinatory, something wrong inside my brain. If I insist on believing in my green sky to the exclusion of all others saying otherwise, it's my choice, isn't it? Crazy or not, I'm choosing what I believe. I could stipulate to the facts that no one else see the green sky so I must have a problem, but I could also pretend not to see the green sky and tell people I see the sky the same as they do. I could choose to say something other than what I believe to be truth for me.

We choose what we believe. 

I know I've personally come face to face with people who refuse to comprehend truth because they want to hold fast to their own perception of truth, and it's very frustrating to have two people believing the truth to be different things. Logic dictates that often in situations there is only a truth and an untruth. And when we choose to believe our own truth, we may have to accept the fact the other chooses to believe what to us is not truth, but to them it is truth.  

Truths and untruths and we choose our own beliefs based on what we believe to be truth. 

If my truth is belief in my Savior, I will build upon the foundation of that truth. Others may not have the Savior as their truth and they will build upon the foundation of another truth.  My Savior, my Foundation tells me to love all without exception. My truth does not believe in any forcing of those truths upon another. My truth tells me to love those who believe differently from me, because I have no way of knowing if others are still on their journey to the truth, and their path different from mine. Love the basic humanity we all share, love the knowledge that all are free to choose, but that all do not choose together. Love that as long as life exists the choice may be possible, and God alone knows the truth of all people, more than we will ever know.

We choose our truths, our beliefs, our foundations, our principles, our standards, our morals, our way of living. We choose, no other chooses for us. 

I choose Love, I choose God. I pray for forgiveness for every single moment of my life I've not chosen love, that I've not chosen God. I make supplication to my God to do for me ALL I cannot do, to be for me all things, for I am nothing without Him. I choose to believe my God will hear my supplication, my prayer and I thank Him! All glory to Him, all through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, now and forever! Amen.

*******

Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 

Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 

Not Ashamed. 

The root of the word "believe" indicates a foundation, something upon which one can build. To believe on Jesus is to build upon him. He is the tried Stone, the sure Foundation, the Rock. Isa. 28:16.  

Isa 28:16  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 

Whosoever builds upon him will not be obliged to flee in confusion when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow and beat upon his house; for he is the Rock of Ages.

No Difference. 

The keynote of the gospel call is "whosoever." "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.  "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." No distinction is made; "for there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek."

Read again the second and third chapters of Romans, and the fourth also. Indeed, the whole book of Romans gives a death-blow to that wicked idea that God is partial, and that he favors some people more than others. The idea that God has special blessings for one nation of earth that he has not for others, no matter whether that one nation be called Jews, Israelites, Anglo-Saxons, Englishmen, or anything else, is a direct denial of the gospel of the grace of God.

Believing That For Which He Was Raised.