Rom 11:15 | KingComments | STEP | . The rejection of Israel meant the offer of atonement could go out to the world – to the nations, to the Gentiles. In 2 Corinthians 5 it says: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” ( ). This does not say the whole world was reconciled to God; it is only true for those who acknowledge the necessity of Christ’s work of atonement for themselves. There is no such thing as a universal reconciliation – that everyone, even the devil, will be saved. This idea is often justified by saying that God is a God of love, but don’t let yourself be fooled by this. The Bible speaks clearly enough of an everlasting judgment ( ). This verse in Romans 11 is about the place before God of both Israel and the world. At the moment, God is not publicly dealing with Israel as a nation. When Israel will be again accepted, this will be “life from the dead”. A description of this is found in Ezekiel 37 ( ). . God desires to have a people on earth to give testimony of Him and proclaim His virtues – these are all His outstanding features. In the past, Israel failed to give a testimony of the only true God, and even today they don’t do so. At the present time, this testimony should be given by Christians. But is professing Christianity doing a better job? The portion from Romans 11:16 onward, is important. It teaches you to understand something of God’s dealing with professing Christianity. Both from Israel and from Christianity, God expected a testimony to be given of Him in this world. Through the picture of the olive tree and its branches, Paul shows what came of that. In we first read about the “first piece” or “first fruit” and the “lump”. The first fruit are the first fruits collected from the harvest. They are holy , which means separated to the Lord. From these first fruits, for example the first grains of wheat, dough is made. This dough would automatically be holy as well. This thought holds as well for a tree’s roots and branches. These two examples of the ‘first fruit’ and ‘lump’ and the ‘root’ and ‘branches’ speak of the fact that where the origin is holy, anything springing from this origin is also holy. . Next we see a wild olive tree of which branches are broken off to be grafted into the good, cultivated olive tree in . In this way the branches of the wild olive tree could partake of the root and the fatness of the good olive tree. In addition, from the good olive tree, branches have been broken off. This was done to make room for the branches that had been broken off from the wild olive tree. By how Paul speaks of the branches, it is clear this is figurative language speaking of people. Let’s go back now to . The root represents the origin from which something grows and becomes visible on earth. In the following picture then arises: 1. Some branches (= the unbelieving part of the people of Israel) are broken off (= being put aside by God). 2. Other branches remain (= the faithful remnant). 3. In the place of the branches that are broken off, branches of the wild olive tree (= the believers from among the Gentiles) have been grafted in. 4. As a result these Gentiles – who used to have no right to anything – could partake of the root and the fatness of the olive tree (= could partake of the promises and blessing that belonged to Abraham and his posterity). It is important to realize that the subject here is God’s testimony on earth and how God judges it. Both Israel and Christianity are responsible for the testimony they show of God. God couldn’t maintain Israel as His witness. Christianity has replaced Israel as God’s witness on earth. But do Christians perform their task any better than Israel? This is what we will see in the next section. Now read Romans 11:15-17 again. Reflection: In which way can you proclaim God’s virtues (see ).

‏ Romans 11:15

God’s Testimony on Earth

Rom 11:15. The rejection of Israel meant the offer of atonement could go out to the world – to the nations, to the Gentiles. In 2 Corinthians 5 it says: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2Cor 5:19). This does not say the whole world was reconciled to God; it is only true for those who acknowledge the necessity of Christ’s work of atonement for themselves.

There is no such thing as a universal reconciliation – that everyone, even the devil, will be saved. This idea is often justified by saying that God is a God of love, but don’t let yourself be fooled by this. The Bible speaks clearly enough of an everlasting judgment (Rev 20:11-15).

This verse in Romans 11 is about the place before God of both Israel and the world. At the moment, God is not publicly dealing with Israel as a nation. When Israel will be again accepted, this will be “life from the dead”. A description of this is found in Ezekiel 37 (Eze 37:1-14).

Rom 11:16. God desires to have a people on earth to give testimony of Him and proclaim His virtues – these are all His outstanding features. In the past, Israel failed to give a testimony of the only true God, and even today they don’t do so. At the present time, this testimony should be given by Christians. But is professing Christianity doing a better job?

The portion from Romans 11:16 onward, is important. It teaches you to understand something of God’s dealing with professing Christianity. Both from Israel and from Christianity, God expected a testimony to be given of Him in this world.

Through the picture of the olive tree and its branches, Paul shows what came of that. In Rom 11:16 we first read about the “first piece” or “first fruit” and the “lump”. The first fruit are the first fruits collected from the harvest. They are holy, which means separated to the Lord. From these first fruits, for example the first grains of wheat, dough is made. This dough would automatically be holy as well. This thought holds as well for a tree’s roots and branches. These two examples of the ‘first fruit’ and ‘lump’ and the ‘root’ and ‘branches’ speak of the fact that where the origin is holy, anything springing from this origin is also holy.

Rom 11:17. Next we see a wild olive tree of which branches are broken off to be grafted into the good, cultivated olive tree in Rom 11:24. In this way the branches of the wild olive tree could partake of the root and the fatness of the good olive tree. In addition, from the good olive tree, branches have been broken off. This was done to make room for the branches that had been broken off from the wild olive tree. By how Paul speaks of the branches, it is clear this is figurative language speaking of people.

Let’s go back now to Rom 11:16. The root represents the origin from which something grows and becomes visible on earth. In Rom 11:17 the following picture then arises:

1. Some branches (= the unbelieving part of the people of Israel) are broken off (= being put aside by God).

2. Other branches remain (= the faithful remnant).

3. In the place of the branches that are broken off, branches of the wild olive tree (= the believers from among the Gentiles) have been grafted in.

4. As a result these Gentiles – who used to have no right to anything – could partake of the root and the fatness of the olive tree (= could partake of the promises and blessing that belonged to Abraham and his posterity).

It is important to realize that the subject here is God’s testimony on earth and how God judges it. Both Israel and Christianity are responsible for the testimony they show of God. God couldn’t maintain Israel as His witness. Christianity has replaced Israel as God’s witness on earth. But do Christians perform their task any better than Israel? This is what we will see in the next section.

Now read Romans 11:15-17 again.

Reflection: In which way can you proclaim God’s virtues (see 1Pet 2:9).