A commonly misunderstood concept associated with the New Covenant is that of Gentiles being grafted into the olive tree mentioned by Paul in Romans 11.
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, 18 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. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Romans 11:17–21 (NASB95)
Here are five points I will make regarding this passage.
- The only way to be attached to the olive tree is by faith.
- The “natural” branches, meaning the “natural” or biological descendants of Abraham, were broken off for failing to accept or believe in Jesus the Messiah.
- Branches from a “wild olive tree,” meaning the Gentiles, are grafted into the same tree through believing the gospel. Both the natural branches and the wild branches can only connect to the tree through faith.
- No one can graft themselves into the tree. God must do this for us.
- The purpose of this illustration is to emphasize that faith in our Lord Jesus is the only means by which anyone can be saved and become part of God’s kingdom or the true Israel, which is represented by the olive tree.
This illustration hearkens back to one of Daniel’s visions (Daniel 4) and a parable of Jesus (Mark 4:30-33) in which the kingdom of God is represented by a tree.
In God’s new covenant kingdom, it makes no difference whether one is a Jew or Gentile. All that matters is whether a person is part of the tree through believing the gospel.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6 (NASB95)
Jesus used another illustration to describe how we draw our life from being part of the vine, which clearly refers to our becoming one with him through the new birth.
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. John 15:1–6 (NASB95)
The new birth is the only way a person can be joined to the vine, become part of the body of Christ and the kingdom of God, and be reckoned to be “in Christ.”
There is simply no other way.
Jesus told Nicodemus, a Jew and a Pharisee, that anyone who wishes to become his disciple must be born again.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:3–6 (NASB95)
Here Jesus contrasted natural birth to the new birth carried out by the Spirit of God.
Every person who comes into the world does so through a natural birth process, which does not and cannot qualify anyone for the kingdom of God. This is true for both Jews and the Gentiles.
To this Jewish spiritual leader, who was regarded by most Jews to be the epitome of spirituality, our Lord said that, unless he experienced the new birth, he would have no part of God’s kingdom. What a shock this must have been to one who thought being a physical descendant of Abraham, a Jew, qualified him for the kingdom of heaven!
John the Baptist preached a similar message.
Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:8–10 (NASB95)
Failure to properly respond to the Messiah who was now on hand would result in their being “cut off” from the kingdom of God. This is what Moses had warned Israel centuries before.
“Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you. 23 ‘And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ Acts 3:22–23 (NASB95)
The new birth takes place when a person believes the gospel. It is what joins us with the Lord.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 1 Corinthians 12:13–14 (NKJV) But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)
Being “in Christ” is a supernatural consequence of the new birth. This is the only way to be “grafted” into the olive tree or become part of the vine.
In the vine illustration, we see an obvious parallel to Paul’s analogy of the olive tree. In both cases we see that existing branches that do not “abide” in or are a part of Christ by faith are removed. These branches would be considered waste and burned, which is a reference to the last judgment.
The natural offspring of Abraham, meaning biological Israelites, who do not have faith in Jesus, are removed from the vine or olive tree. This can only mean that something about the olive tree changed. Before Christ, under the Old Covenant of circumcision, natural birth made you a part of the tree. Now under the New Covenant, everything is different. Now it is a spiritual circumcision, which is part of the new birth process, that qualifies one for the kingdom of God. This is something that can be experienced by both males and females.
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. Romans 2:28–29 (NASB95)
The New Covenant changed the definition of what it means to be a Jew. It is no longer reckoned by physical descent or externals. It is entirely spiritual based on the new birth.
Being on the outside and cut off from the life in the tree or the vine (Jesus), the rejected faithless branches wither and perish and await burning. Unless faithless Jews repent and believe the gospel, they will be lost. This is also true for any non-Israelite who never had any part of the vine to begin with and were always on the outside looking in.
The New Covenant erases the distinction between Jew and Gentile. Anyone without Christ will perish at the last judgment.
The big difference between the Jews and Gentiles is that God gave to the Jews the advantage of being familiar with the Messianic promises, which should assist their coming to faith in the gospel and Jesus, who fulfilled those promises.
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. Romans 3:1–2 (NASB95)
The Jews knew that God promised to send a Messiah. In fact, in Jesus’ day, the air of expectancy was at a fever pitch. The problem was that, despite having this advantage, most Jewish people rejected their Messiah when he showed up, thus bringing on themselves a stricter judgment. The more we know, the greater our responsibility is and the stricter our judgment. (Luke 12:48, Matthew 11:23-24)
The Jews (“his own” people) did not receive him on a large scale; however, a remnant did and still does.
He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:11–13 (NASB95)
The remnant of Jews who believe the gospel and declare allegiance to Christ are born of God and enter God’s kingdom, just as are believing Gentiles.
I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.” 4 But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; Romans 11:1–7 (NASB95)
There has always been a remnant or small group of people out of the whole of humanity who have believed in God and related to him on that basis. Jesus made it clear that the difference between the remnant and the rest is a matter of God’s choice. Like it or not, and many do not, that is the way it is.
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:16 (NKJV)
And here we are back at the illustration of the vine and branches! We cannot be part of the vine outside of God’s election and the new birth. How humbling for those of us who insist on somehow trying to qualify ourselves through being good enough or smart enough!
...(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Romans 9:11–16 (NKJV)
Being a natural child of Abraham has never qualified anyone to be a part of God’s elect or kingdom. It has always been a matter of supernatural qualification.
Therefore, it is incorrect to think that being a natural descendant of Abraham makes a person somehow “special” in God’s kingdom. Such thinking is a form of racism and a residue from the Old Covenant. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
The old covenant scriptures all pointed to Christ, the only descendant or “seed” of Abraham who is truly special and different.
Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:27 (NASB95)
Becoming one with Christ through faith and the new birth qualifies both Jew and Gentile to inherit the promises and blessings of Abraham.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13–14 (NASB95)
