Grafted in vs. 16-24

• The root supports the branches… vs. 16-18
  • To help explain God’s plan for Israel – Paul gives us the example of the Olive tree…
  • There are two Olive trees – God’s Olive tree – those who are saved – going to heaven…
  • The Wild Olive tree – those who are not saved – they are destined for hell…
  • 1^st – God’s Olive Tree…
    • Israel is the promised nation of God – His chosen people – they are God’s ‘Olive tree’…
    • The ‘Root’ of Israel – Abraham / Moses / the Law of God / the Prophets – is good…
    • But we have to separate Israel as a nation – from individual Jews….
    • If one of the individual branches – an individual Jew – was not healthy – bad fruit…
    • They were broken off – removed from God’s ‘Olive tree’…
    • If a mango tree has a piece of rotten fruit – it does not mean the whole tree is bad….
  • 2^nd – The wild olive tree…
    • The gentiles are not God’s nation – not His people – they are a ‘wild olive tree’…
    • Yet God took some of the branches from that ‘wild olive tree’ and grafted them in…
    • (Grafted in – used 4 times in Romans 11 – on here in the NT)…
    • He made them part of His ‘Olive tree’ – partners with the original braches (Jews)…
    • So these ‘wild braches’ now receive life – blessings – from the root of ‘Gods Olive tree’…
  • Therefore we should not boast…
    • We have all been grafted into the Nation of Israel – we’ve became God’s chosen people…
    • While its true the Jews ‘branches’ were broken off – so we could be ‘grafted’ in…
    • We should not boast against Israel – thinking we are better than they are…
    • A branch does not support the root of a tree – the root supports the branches!
    • We stand upon the God’s Word – written by Abraham / Moses / the Prophets / Apostles
    • We do not support them (the root) – they support us!

• How to be a part of God’s Olive tree… vs. 19-24
  • The key is faith & unbelief…
    • If an individual Jew refused to believe in Jesus – he was ‘broken off’ God’s Olive tree…
    • And when we believed in Jesus – we were grafted in because of our faith in Jesus…
    • So the key to being part of God’s tree – is abiding in Jesus by faith…
    • John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
    • It is only as we spend time with – hold onto Jesus – that we are truly alive – bear fruit…
    • That is why it is so important to get into God’s Word / prayer / fellowship…
    • * Psalms 1:2-3 – “His delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
    • When we are firmly planted in God’s word – spend time with Jesus…
    • We will find we are doing what God wants – and we will be blessed – good fruit!
  • Consider the Goodness and Severity if God…
    • We will receive the goodness of God – as long as we continue to abide in Him…
      • But since God was willing to break off the ‘original branches’ – the Jews…
      • He will also be willing to break off us – if we do not continue to live by faith…
      • John 15:2 – “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away…”
      • A branch apart from a tree dies – just as apart from Jesus we die spiritually…
      • There is no middle ground in the Christian walk – we are either growing in Jesus…
      • Or we are slowly dying – caught up in the care of this world…
      • If you plug a light into bamboo – nothing happens – only a socket has power…
      • In the same way we often try and plug our lives into the world…
      • Then we wonder why we have no power – why we are always in the dark
      • It is only when we plug into Jesus – that the light comes on!
    • In the same way some Jews were cut off because of their unbelief…
      • But if God can graft in a ‘wild Olive branch’ (gentile) into His ‘Olive tree’…
      • How much more can one of the ‘original branches’ be grafted back into His tree!
      • If a Jew chooses to believe in Jesus – God is more than willing to accept him!
      • If we are in that place where we feel like we are withering up – no fruit – no power…
      • It is as simple as repenting of our sin – and turn back/plug into Jesus…

All of Israel will be saved… vs. 25-32

• The Mystery of God… vs. 25
  • Do not be ignorant of the mystery of God…
    • Mystery – not something hidden that can’t be known – something God has revealed…
    • In particular the mystery of God’s plan for Israel – God was far from done with them
  • God’s watch …
    • Israel as a nation (not as individuals) has been blinded – dulled of understanding…
      • * II Corinthians 3:14 – “But the people’s minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.”
      • That is why even today – the Jews as a nation do not understand God’s Word…
      • Only about 10,000 of the 6 million Jews in Israel believe in Jesus
      • There are those who think that Jews cannot believe in Jesus – not true…
      • It is not that individual Jews cannot be saved – just that the nation is not yet saved…
      • If any Jew does believe in Jesus – the veil/blindness is removed – they are saved!
    • In Daniel 9:24-27 – God gives a prophecy concerning Israel…
      • God makes Israel His watch – and God has set His watch to count down 490 years…
      • At the end of those 490 years God is going to establish His kingdom here on earth!
      • God’s watch started ticking down on March 14^th, 445B.C. – Nehemiah 2:1-8
      • After 483 (69×7) years – or 173,880 days – you come to…
      • April 6^th, 32A.D – ‘Palm Sunday’ – the day Jesus proclaimed Himself the Messiah!
      • At which point God’s watch stopped and waited – it’s been stopped for 2000 years!
      • This time is called the ‘church age’ – began with Jesus Crucifixion – will continue…
  • Until the fullness of the Gentiles…
    • The idea is there are a set number of people who will receive Jesus as their savior…
      • No one but God knows the number – or who will be the last gentile to be saved…
      • But when the ‘Last Gentile’ to believe – receives Jesus – the rapture of the church!
      • I Thessalonians 4:17 – “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
      • You never know who might be holding the rapture up – the last one to receive Jesus…
      • All the more reason to tell anyone – everyone about Jesus…
    • The Rapture of the church – marks the beginning of the end…
      • God’s watch will restart when the Anti-Christ makes a peace treaty with Israel…
      • The thought is in the aftermath of the rapture (1 billion people disappear)…
      • And after the Magog invasion (God destroys armies of Russia and the Arabs)…
      • The world will be in chaos – one man will step up offering peace & safety…
      • It is thought he will make peace by offering to rebuild the 3^rd Temple for Israel…
      • The Jews have everything ready to rebuild the temple – waiting for their messiah
      • The Anti-Christ will be received as the Jewish Messiah – rebuilding the Temple…
      • Thus starting the last 7 years on God’s watch – the 7 years of Tribulation

• Restoration of Israel… vs. 26-32
  • It is after the 7 years of tribulation – when Jesus returns – Revelation 19:11
    • All of the Jews will see Jesus – realize He is their Messiah – and believe…
    • Zechariah 12:10 – “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son.”
    • There will no longer be a need to tell anyone about Jesus – they will already know…
    • * Jeremiah 31:34 – “‘They will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their family, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will already know me,’ says the LORD. ‘And I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins.’”
    • God will save the whole nations of Israel – all of them will receive Jesus!
  • Because the gifts and calling of God…
    • God does not make mistakes – He does not change His mind – and He chose Israel…
      • A comforting thought – there has been many a day I questioned God…
      • Lord are you sure you want to use me – I make an awful lot of mistakes…
      • But God does not make any mistakes – and He chose us to follow Him!
    • The plan comes full circle…
      • The Jews were enemies of the Gospel – so it could go out into the whole world…
      • But they were chosen by God – cause of God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob…
      • So just as the gentiles who were far from God – saved by the Jews rejection of God…
      • So the Jews who are now far from God – will be saved by seeing God’s grace in us…

The wisdom of God… vs. 33-36

Some things we may now understand – but we acknowledge God says they are true!

The depth and the riches…

Paul concludes by expressing the unsearchable wisdom of knowledge of God…

Of Him and to Him and through Him – are all things…

Who has been His counselor – told God how to best handle a problem…

Who has ever given to God – who did not first receive from God…

Isaiah 55:8-9 – “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD.  ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Some things we just will not understand till we get to heaven…

Try and explain the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit…

Try and explain how God choose you – but you also choose God…

Try to fully comprehend God’s incredible plan to reach both Jews & Gentiles!