GOD HAS NOT REJECTED HIS PEOPLE

ISRAEL 'S REJECTION IS NOT TOTAL

Romans 11:16-24
King James Version (KJV)

16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

11:19-24 The Church and Present-Day Israel, PROPHECY.  While two basically different prophetic positions exist concerning Israel’s future, there is only one biblical view concerning the Christian’s attitude toward the Jewish people.

First, the Bible calls us to honor the fact that since they were the national avenue by which messianic blessing has come to mankind (9:4,5), there should be a sense of duty to "bless" all Jewry (Gen. 12:3), to "pray" with sincere passion for them (Rom. 10:1), and to be as ready to "bear witness" to any Jew as graciously and sensitively as we would to any other human being (1:16, 17).

Second, the biblical directive to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Ps. 122:6) cannot be said to have been rescinded. Even thought the text of this psalm centers on the presence of the temple in ancient Jerusalem, this prayer assignment ought not to be withdrawn. Those taking this text seriously see their prayer responsibility for "Jerusalem" to be an assignment of continuing concern for God’s providential hand of protection of protection and grace upon the nation of Israel (as distinguished from paragraph 1, which relates to Jews everywhere). It is wise for believers to avoid the presumption of passivity toward Israel, since the evidence of all history is that God has not forgotten this people (Rom. 11:23, 24)

11:17-24 Paul warns Gentiles against boastfulness (vv.17,18), pride (vv. 19-21), since they are but a wild olive tree, grafted in because of Israel’s unbelief.

In Christ,

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.com
info@biblestoriestheatre.com