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Hoyte Nelson's Poems/ Reflections & Biblical Essays
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Essay The Old Olive TreeThe
Apostle Paul gives us a graphic picture of our Christian roots in the old
“Olive tree” as the foundation of our faith as recorded in the book of
Romans (11: 17-23): “But if some of the branches were broken off, (speaking of
Israel), and you (Gentiles), were grafted in among
them and became partakers with them
of the rich root of the olive tree.... And they also, if
they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able
to graft them in again.” (by the hearing of faith through the gospel) In Romans
chapters 9-11 contains some of the most vital truths in what could be called,
“the greatest,” and in part the “saddest” story ever told. Volumes have
been written concerning the subject which I am addressing; therefore, that which
I have to contribute may not be new, but to the people to whom I address this
article, it will likely be new; that is, the members of my own family. It is to
them that I dedicate this article. Remember, the
story begins with a man called Abraham, about whom it is said, “He believed
God and it was credited unto Him for righteousness” (Galatians 3: 6). The
question is, what did he believe? The answer is, he believed the “promise”
that God had given him; that is, that through his offspring the families
of the earth would be blessed.” We know today that this promise was
fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Gal 3: 29 says, “And if you belong to Christ, then
you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.” This brings us to
the sad part of the story, the Old
Olive Tree. Paul, in Romans 9: 3 says, “For I could wish myself were accursed,
separated from Christ, for my
brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” Why such a burden? Might it have
been because his people Israel, as a nation, had been rejected. (2 Kings 17:
18-23 “So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight,
and none was left except the tribe of Judah….” [And Judah also, in time,
rejected the Messiah, and thus the prophecy: “The Lord said, ‘I will remove
Judah also from my sight, as I have removed Israel. And I will cast off
Jerusalem, this city which I have chosen, and the Temple of which I said, My
name shall be there]” (2 Kings 23: 27). In Romans 9: 27,
Paul writes, “And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, ‘Though the number of
the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant (only a small
part) that will be saved.’” And in verse 32 Paul gives an answer, “because
they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works, they stumbled
over the stumbling stone,” (which is Christ). Jesus Himself said, “And I say
unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and recline at the table
with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of
the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; in that place there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8: 11, 12). Though there is
much more that could be written about Israel’s rejection, as a nation, as it
relates to the Olive Tree, the good news is that now, we believing Gentiles,
along with the “remnant” of Israel, has become the “Israel of God.”
(Gal. 6: 16b), and the sad news is this, “and they sought it not by faith, but
as it was by the works of the law; they stumbled as the stumbling Stone. There
is, in the book of Galatians, (Chapter 3: 16), this confirmation: “Now the
promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, and to seeds,
as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is
Christ.” For you are all (both Jew and Gentile) the children of God through
faith in Christ Jesus.” Verse 29, “And if you belong to Christ, then you
are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to “promise.” In the reference
to the Olive Tree, Paul makes a vital point as recorded in the eleventh chapter
of Romans. He recalls that some of the limbs were broken off, and others were
grafting into the olive tree. These are the Gentiles; thus, the believing
remnant of Israel, and the believing Gentile, are now made one as the old olive
tree. The story continues in Romans 11: 25,26) where it is said, “for I do not
want you, brethren to be uninformed of this mystery, (The mystery that was
“hid” [kept secret] from the prophets and angels of old) is this: The
Gentiles would be one in Christ with the Jews as the body of Christ, called
“The Church” would now proclaim this gospel.
(Ephesians 3: 3-11, 21) The Apostle Paul wrote, “lest you be wise in
your own estimation that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until
the fullness of the Gentiles has come
in; (Into the sheepfold as one with the Jews), and thus all Israel
will be saved...." (Romans 11: 25,26). This phrase, “all Israel” is
not referring to the Nation of
Israel, for God rejected them a long time ago (2 Kings 17: 18-23). The Apostle
is speaking of the Olive Tree, which now includes both Jew and the Gentile as
one body in Christ. And so it is that Israel, as nation, is rejected, but as the
church, the true Israel is now manifested to the glory of God. And so, all
Israel will be saved, made up of the [believing] remnant of Jacob and the
multitudes of believers from the Gentle nations of the world. I repeat, this
new “Israel” has the same roots, and is built upon the same promises given
to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Paul explained this in Romans 9:6-8: “But it is
not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are
Israel; neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants,
but through Isaac your descendants will be named. That is, it is not the
children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the
promise are regarded as descendants.” (What a revelation) Paul says, in verse
24 “even us, whom He also called, not of the Jews only, but from the
Gentiles.” Then he reminds us of this prophesy from Isaiah, “Isaiah cries
out concerning Israel, Though the number be...as the sand of the sea, it is the
remnant that will be saved” (Romans 9: 27). Therefore, the
promise, given to Abraham, was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The Apostle, as
recorded in Galatians 3: 8, says, “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham,
saying, “All the nations shall be blessed in you.” In verse 29 he continues,
“And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs
according to Promise.” So blessed are we, who once were
called “Gentiles in the flesh...uncircumcised... “But
Now in Christ Jesus you who were formerly
afar off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He himself is our peace, who made both (Jew and Gentile)
into one, and broken the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His
flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that
in Himself He might make the two (Jew and Gentile) into one new man, thus
establishing peace.” (Ephesians 2: 11,15). Again, reading from Paul’s letter
to the Galatians, said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), there is
neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all
one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s
offspring, heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3: 28,29). |