Grafted In

Romans 11:11–26 (NKJV)

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Romans 11:11-15

Paul is not convinced that the nation of Israel is doomed. Instead, he sees their failure as a means whereby the Gentiles could be brought into the body of Christ, the Kingdom of God. He sees Israel as a blessing, not to be forsaken, but rather praised for their role in bringing salvation to the world. If they, then turn to Christ, their acceptance of Him will lead to even more opportunity to bring life to those dead in sin!

16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

Romans 11:16-26

Paul reminds the reader that Israel led the way in faith in God. They came from the root, and they–as branches–ceased to believe in the fullness of God’s plan found in Jesus Christ. In their unbelief, they were cut out of the vine, and wild branches, from the Gentiles, were grafted in to the cultivated olive tree. The blindness from which the Israelites suffered is temporary, and they will one day believe and be saved, for the prophets have told this. The Deliverer will come and turn them from their sin. This entire passage speaks to the volatility of favor. Sin tests favor, and continued sin stops favor, but grace can overcome that sin when the sinner believes and receives that grace. Don’t think that longevity or past performance will keep you from facing the judgment for your sin. Instead, faith in God and His glorious grace will bring you to the place of blessing again. Don’t lie on the ground and die after you have been pruned from the tree. Believe in Christ, rise up, and live. Your failure may make room for another, but there is always room in the tree for you if you believe in faith.

Artwork from https://joyellewills.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/grafting.jpg