The Olive Tree

Romans 11: 16-24 

If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 

Now the illustration is going from bread dough to an olive tree.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 

This refers to Israel's rejection opening up the Gospel to be preached to the Gentiles. (This continues yesterday's message.) It's like a different branch is grafted into the place where the natural branch was broken.

do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 

Remember that you are only saved by admitting that you don't deserve it, and that Christ saved you. He is the root that supports the tree in this illustration.

You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 
Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. So not be conceited, but fear; 

Because you're saved and they're not doesn't make you any better than them, so don't think that way. Guard your heart to be careful. 

for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 

God is still God and He will save the repentant who turns to Him, whether Jew or Gentile. And will still condemn the one who refuses His gracious gift, whether Jew or Gentile.

Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 

God is just and will give His kindness to those who turn to Him, and will also turn away from those who turn away from Him. Some point to this verse and say, "See, once you're saved, you can be lost again!" But they're taking it out of context. This is an illustration of a tree. 

Branches of trees can be broken and grafted, and much progress has been made in the study of Botany, in learning how God designed these living things to operate. 

But it's only an illustration here, to show God's gracious mercy to us who have put our faith in Jesus' payment for our debt, and God's severe justice to those who prefer to obey their own ideas instead of turning to God. He gave us a free will to choose, and He will not interfere with it. 

But those who are born into His family cannot be unborn again, but can lose fellowship with the Father for a time. They may lose all their rewards, and even be taken out of the Earthly picture if they're damaging God's reputation (I Corinthians 11: 30), but they will still be saved, yet so as through fire (I Corinthians 3: 15).

And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 

Continuing with his illustration, he contends that if the Jews turn around and believe in their Messiah, then they can still be saved. 

For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 

This only makes sense. This is again saying that if Israel's rejection means salvation for the Gentiles, then what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (Romans 11: 15) using the illustration of a tree. 

Every Earthly illustration of the Kingdom of God will eventually break down at some point, because God's Kingdom is so far beyond this Earth. That's why we cannot base our doctrines on mere illustrations, but on the whole body of Scripture. 

When we're dealing with trees, we can break off and graft in many kinds of branches repeatedly. This is Botany. An Earthly study. Paul is using this as an illustration of God's mercy to us, who are Gentiles, and were forbidden in the Old Testament Tabernacle. So he compares us to the branches of a wild olive tree, being grafted into a cultivated olive tree, now that we have access to the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 4: 16). 

But Jews are of the genealogy of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, so they are compared to the natural branches of the cultivated (cared for) olive tree. 

When the Jews refuse to recognize their Messiah, then they are "taken out" and "broken off" the cultivated "tree," but if they open their eyes to see and seek the Lord, then they can be "grafted back in" to the cared-for population, the "cultivated olive tree." 

We Gentiles are to appreciate God's kindness to us in allowing us access to His very Throne, and not think that He chose us over His chosen people, but in addition to them, all of us, both Gentiles and Jews, His own sons and daughters. 

O my Father, the magnitude of Your generosity to us, to give us the privileges of being Your own family! No matter if we are Jews or Gentiles, educated or barbarian, noble or savage; we are all given the same opportunity to turn to You as God over all, and put our faith in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! 

And we all, as Your sons and daughters, will live with You, in Your Heaven, eating from Your Tree of Life and drinking from Your River of the Water of Life (Revelation 22: 1-2), worshiping You continually, working for You as Your kings and queens, sitting in the Throne of Christ as He sits in Your Throne, governing all the Universes that You have and will create as Your Kingdom of God! (Hebrews 12:2; Matthew 19: 28).

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, our Lord God Almighty, King of the Universe, to the eternal glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!