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Grafted InRomans 11:13-26August 25, 2019There have been times when the Gospel found bad reception with one group of people and was received with open arms by another.In New York City, especially in the 25 years since we moved here, has seen a great growth in churches. Most of this growth is not with long standing mainstream churches, but with African American, Latino and other ethnic churches. There is great vitality there – believe it or not.In Africa and in China there has been a great movement from non-Christian faiths to the Gospel of Jesus. In Latin America, there has been a lot of movement from nominal connection to the Roman Catholic Church to churches that are more centered on the Gospel. While all this has gone on, Europe has moved more and more away from both state and non-state churches. And in the United States, there is a strong amount of life in the Evangelical churches, while mainline and denominations continue to shrink. In addition we see more an more people who are “nones”. That is to say, when asked what religion they hold, they say None.The Church of Jesus is moving south and east. It is moving more and more into places it has not been before. That is the good news. The bad news is that much of what was considered Christian has seen a falling off of interest.Who is behind this?We turn to Paul’s description of the relationship between Israel and all the peole who are not Jewish. There Paul describes a hardness of the Jewish nation to the Gospel, and a great openness of the Gentiles. I. There is a Pattern – v. 11-1611?So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass?salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.?12?Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion?mean!13?Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as?I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry?14?in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and?thus save some of them.?15?For if their rejection means?the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead??16?If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.There is a pattern set up here I these verses that is repeated 4 times in this chapter. It goes like this. Rejection by Israel, Acceptance by Gentiles, Jealousy and Return by Israel, and blessing to the World.Israel rejected the very idea that Jesus is the MessiahThe Gentiles were open to that Good NewsPaul believed that Israel will become open Then the whole world will be opened to the gospel.This back and forth pattern is repeated in this passage. In tehse verses paul speaks of his concern for his own people. Paul was Jewish, a very observant and zealous believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He first thought that opposing Jesus was the right thing to do. Then he met Jesus and his world was turned upside down. Think of the effect of this one man’s conversion. How much of the new Testament was written by this man! How much was the Mission of the church advanced by Paul! Paul repeats this cycle four times.He looks for Israel’s inclusion in v. 11-12 He anticipates that Jealousy will lead to acceptance in vv. 13-16He discusses the idea of an Olive Tree in verses 17-24He affirms that this is the plan of God in verses 25-32This pattern is an applied truth. The truth is that God is at work in the world, among all the nations. What we see as the chaos of history is really the outworking of God’s plan. There is a pattern in the chaos.Paul in his speech in Athens explains it this way. Acts 17:26-28 26?From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.?27?God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.?28?‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’What Paul preached is very important. God is the one in charge of the nations. Does the United States decide it’s boundaries and who lives here? Does Argentina? Does Zimbabwe? No God causes nations to rise and fall. He is behind the great migrations. He does this so people will become hungry for him. Movement is part of God’s missionary plan. Sometimes he moves missionaries to the field. Sometimes he moves the mission to us!II. The Olive Tree – v. 17-24We recently visited Jerry’s home town of Napa, CA. We have been to the valley many times. Wherever you go, almost any piece of farm land has been cultivated in Grapes. Grapes are in the valley and on the hills. Grapes are in my brother and sister-in-law’s back yard. Grapes caught a disease many years ago. All the grapes cultivated for wine in the United States had to be adapted. Now the desired varietals are individually spliced onto a grape root that is native to the United States. Colombard, Merlot, Chardonay, Cabernet and so forth are carefully spliced into the roots of this American variety.Farmers have known about splicing for centuries. In Israel the people were familiar with Grape Vines and also Fig trees. Paul uses the Olive tree to explain the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles. 17?But if?some of the branches were broken off, and you,?although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root?of the olive tree,?18?do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.?19?Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”?20?That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you?stand fast through faith. So?do not become proud, but?fear.?21?For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.?22?Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you,?provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise?you too will be cut off.23?And?even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.?24?For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.National Israel is represented by the branches that were broken off of the tree. Then the Gentiles are represented by the wild branches that were spliced in. This might have temped the Gentiles toward pride. But Paul reminds them that they also could be broken off. What makes them special is not what they offer, but the root of the olive tree that nourishes them.We should not be arrogant. We should not think that we are better than others. We do not do the work of God. It is the Root that nourishes the branches, not the branches that nourish the root.Notice that Paul again offers hope. In verse 23, he says that if they do not continue in unbelief, they can be grafted back in. If God stoops so low as to graft in wild olives, would he not also re-graft the cultivated olive branches?This is again Paul looking in Hope for a future for Israel. We see that this is all about faith and unbelief. Those who are in unbelief and broken off. Those who believe are grafted in or re-grafted in.What is not said, but implied is that the cultivated branches will be more productive than the wild ones. That is to say, when Israel returns to their Messiah there will be an even greater blessing.III. God is Behind it all – v. 25-3225?Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers:?a partial hardening has come upon Israel,?until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.?26?And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,“The Deliverer will come?from Zion,????he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;27?“and this will be my?covenant with them????when I take away their sins.”28?As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are?beloved for the sake of their forefathers.?29?For the gifts and?the calling of God are irrevocable.?30?For just as?you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,?31?so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now?receive mercy.?32?For God?has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.Here we see that God is at work in this history. There is a partial hardening of Israel. Note that this is Partial. There has always been a remnant of believers. There was a remnant – what I called “left overs” last Sunday. There is a Remnant today. This persists until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. It is as if there is a harvest that is growing but not yet fully ripened. At the right time there will be a harvest.After that “All Israel will be saved.” Now some say that “Israel” now means the church. I have rejected that because of the Olive Tree illustration. God did not replace the olive tree. He kept the tree and added some and removed other branches.So I believe “All Israel” means that in the future the full measure of those from Israel who believe will be joined by the full measure of the Gentiles who believe. The Olive root will bear an abundance of cultivated and wild branches all in one tree.Paul was looking for the people of God to be great, full and multinational.Paul in Athens described the geography of Gods plan. He moved the nations from here to there. Paul in romans 11 describes the methodology of God’s plan. The gospel is sent out to the nations. Where the gospel is welcomed by faith, it takes root. As one nation or another is open or closed, so god is a work bringing in his full harvest.IV. How do we respond? – v. 33-3633?Oh, the depth of the riches and?wisdom and knowledge of God!?How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!34?“For?who has known the mind of the Lord,????or?who has been his counselor?”35?“Or?who has given a gift to him????that he might be repaid?”36?For?from him and through him and to him are all things.?To him be glory forever. Amen.The first respond is Praise. What can you say about God who is the Lord of History. He works in the chaos of the nations. What is chaos to us is not chaos to God. Are you full of praise or fear? Many people fear the movements of history. Will the United States be overcome by immigrants? Ben Franklin worried about the corrupting influence of Germans. People in the late 19th century worried about all those “square headed” Scandinavians. There was the Great Yellow Scare of the early 20th Century. After the Civil War ended slavery, it did not end Jim Crow legislation. At one time the Klan marched through Washington D. C. proudly and in the open. Now it is other groups.There is an appropriate legal response. I am not a lawyer or a politician, so I will not speak to that. There is an appropriate Christian response to immigration. It is to say, “What is God doing? How can we participate? Will we welcome our “brother from another mother” to the faith?The Second response is Humility. We are not special. Paul said to his readers. Do not think you are better than those who were rejected! Just as God broke off branches of his own chosen people, do not think that he cannot break off you wild grafted in branches.We do not make it all work. It is the root that nourishes us. And we are only attached to the root by faith.I will end with verse 22: 22?Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you,?provided you continue in his kindness. ................
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