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 With
this center-cut we conclude our digest of the Roman Letter. The
introduction and chapters 1-5, are in Vol. 14, No. 3; chapters
6-10, are in Vol. 14, No. 4. If you did not receive these issues
they are available upon request. The lengthy parenthetic
explanation, this column, was deemed necessary to make Rom. 11:
clear to readers who do not know Old Testament history. We urge
you to use complete text side by side with this digest.
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Has
God utterly rejected physical Israel? No indeed! Do not be
pessimistic as was Elijah. The preserved remnant, promised by
Isaiah and others, will be saved through God's grace. But it
must be by grace, and not by meriting works. God's grace is
expressed in Christ, the Deliverer; and those who trust in Him
are the "elect" according to (by) grace.
(God
's promises to Abraham were both physical and spiritual. "I
will make of thee a great nation"-- and, "in thy seed
shall all nations be blessed." Physical descendents of
Abraham became a great nation, a chosen" people through
whom Christ would come. But when lie came (the "seed"
by whom all nations were to be blessed), then the physical phase
of the promise had served its purpose. Now the "cultivated
olive tree" takes on a spiritual significance. Jews and
Gentiles who are faithful to Christ are spiritual Israel,
"chosen" ones, according to the election of grace.
Gen. 11: 1-3, Isa. 1:9, 10:20-23, 11:1011, 42:1, 49:5-6, Joel
2:32, Matt. 12: 17-21, Acts 13:23, 32-39, Gal .3:16-29 6:16, 1
Pet. 2:5, 9-10).
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God
has used the rebellion of Israel, and their crucifixion of His
Son, to offer redemption to all nations. Perhaps the Jews may be
provoked to jealousy (in a good sense), and some of them saved;
for if God can use their rejection of Christ to a good end, how
much more their acceptance of Him.
Branches
of the cultivated (Jewish) olive tree were cut off, because of
their unbelief. Branches of the wild (Gentile) olive tree were
grafted into the tree of promise, partaking of the spiritual
phase of the Abrahamic "root," because they trusted in
Jesus Christ. But Gentiles should not be high-minded. If they do
not continue faithful to Christ they too will be cut out. And if
those cutout Jews will accept Christ, they will be grafted into
t h e tree of promise again. This tree is not nationalistic It
consists of all who will accept, and continue faithfully to
follow Jesus Christ. "Fullness" is realized in Christ
on the basis of faith.
Israel's
salvation is no longer a physical or nationalistic matter. In
the manner described (individuals trusting in Christ) the
salvation offered to Jews is the same as that offered to
Gentiles, viz., salvation from sin. Jews and Gentiles should not
look upon one another as enemies, but as lost souls, equally in
need of the mercies of God. Oh, how wonderful are the ways of
the Lord!
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Brethren,
we should present ourselves as living sacrifices to God. We
should not be puffed up, but we should use whatever talent or
gift (continued, next page)
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