Lesson 145

Romans Chapter Eleven

The Faithfulness of God

 The Lump of Dough and the Root of the Olive Tree

 

Review:

11:16  In the section we have been examining Paul employs two metaphors to make an important point.

The first has to do with the first fruit and the lump of dough, the second with the root and the branches of an olive tree.

 

The point: With these illustrations Paul is reinforcing that fact that the stumbling, the rejection of Israel is temporary and that Israel will be restored as God's people.

 

 

In both illustrations the principle is the same: what is considered first contributes its character to what is related to it.

 

Need to remember that:

   1. The olive tree is used to refer to Israel.

  

   2. The root is Abraham and the fathers, Isaac, Jacob, David; (the Patriarchs) those to whom God reiterated His covenant promises to!

 

   3. The branches = 2 kinds:

#1. the natural branches = the progeny of Abraham Isaac and Jacob; the descendants of promise; His chosen people.

 

#2. the branches of the wild olive tree who are grafted in refer to Gentile believers of C/A.  [contrary to nature, not normal horticultural practice, other way around, 11:24. 

  

   4. Broken off natural branches unbelieving Israel  11:20

  

   5. Important principle to be maintained here; true from context of 11:16-24.

 

   6. There also needs to be noted, or kept in mind the threads of the  timeframe implied for what is referred to in the metaphor; so that we maintain the proper perspective.

 

 

 

11:17  The point  here is that the branches that were broken off picture the unbelieving portion of the twelve tribes of Israel. Because of their rejection of the Messiah, they were removed from their place of privilege as God's chosen people.

 

 

 

The Gentiles share the position of favor that had originally been given to Israel and is still held by the believing remnant of Israel.

 

 

It is also important to remember that the wild olive branch is not the church but the Gentiles viewed collectively.

 

 

When I say that the trunk of the tree refers to the line of privilege down through the centuries, what do I mean by "line of privilege"?

 

 

The nation of Israel was the first to be in this line of privilege.  They were God's chosen, earthly people.

Because of their unbelief and rejection of the Messiah, some of these branches were broken off and thus lost their position of "favorite son."

 

 

The fatness of an olive tree refers to its productivity that is, to its rich crop of olives and oil derived from them. (illustrates prosperity that flows from the relationship with God)

 

 

11:18 A warning to the Gentiles.  Read!

But the Gentiles Paul warns should not take a holier-than-thou attitude toward the Jews, or boast of any superiority.

 

The root of the tree is the source of life and nourishment for the branches;  Rem: Abraham is the father of all who believe; set the patter of salvation by faith; Rom 4:11-12; Gal 3:29

   

 

11:19  Paul anticipates here what a Gentile might say, "Jewish branches were    broken off so that I and other Gentile branches might be grafted in."

 

 

11:20  The apostle admits that the statement of vs:19 is partially true.

But it was because of the unbelief of Israel and not because the Gentiles had any special claim on God.

 

 

The only way in which the Gentiles stood by faith was that, comparatively speaking, they demonstrated more faith than the Jews did.

 

 

11:21  If God did not hesitate to cut off the natural branches from the line of privilege, those that He had chosen,  there is no reason to believe that He would spare the wild olive branches under similar circumstances, that is,  a predominance of unbelief.

 

 

If God is righteous in temporarily putting aside Israel as a whole for unbelief, He certainly could put aside the Gentiles for boasting and arrogance and unbelief.

 

 

11:22-24.  In these verses Paul summarizes his whole discussion of God's sovereign choice in temporarily setting Israel aside corporately and proclaiming righteousness by faith to all mankind.

Behold then the kindness and severity of God;

 

 

Point being made is that God is continuing His goodness towards the Gentiles depends on their continuing in His kindness.

 

 

 

Conversely for the people of Israel [v.23], if they do not continue  [evpime,nw pres. act subj. 3cc   indicates choice involved some will, some won't;  to continue, persevere, persist in what?]  in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

 

 

The Point:

At issue is not God's ability but God's decision. God sovereignly chose to put Israel aside corporately because of unbelief and to extend righteousness by faith to every-one.

 

 

Obviously, therefore, if the unbelief which caused Israel's rejection by God is removed, God is able and will graft the people of Israel (the natural branches) back into the spiritual stock to which they belong (their own olive tree).

The "olive tree" is not the church; it is the spiritual stock of Abraham; a spiritual heritage "by faith".  [connection to the root]

 

 

This passage does not teach that the national promises to Israel have been abrogated and are now being fulfilled by the church.

 

 

While believing Gentiles share in the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:3b) as Abraham's spiritual children on the basis of faith (Gal. 3:8-9), they do not permanently replace Israel as the heirs of God's covenant promises.  

[Gen. 12:2-3; 15:18-21; 17:19-21; 22:15-18; 2 Sam 7:10-17].  Only given to Israel.

 

 

 

- Not only do you have a major difference in when the Lord returns but also a major difference in answering the question what happened to all the O.T. promises made to Israel which the prophets wrote about so prolifically.

 

 

 

- What is the Tie/thread that is common to both Israel and the church? What is it?

Salvation by faith; it is that by which Abraham is the father, the pattern for believers; in other words all are connected to the root the same way, by faith.