Grafted into the good olive tree

Pray that the Lord would help us and bless us as we turn together to his precious and holy word of truth for our instruction. The word that's upon my spirit, you'll find in Romans chapter 11 and the last verse, where we read, for of him, this is of Jesus, and through him, through Jesus, and to him, to Jesus, are all things.

In whom be glory forever, amen. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen. What this is talking about, very briefly, is that we are all originated from God, and the life that we now live as Christians is through Jesus Christ, and the life that we live is a life with a destination to him.

And I want to look at that with regards to this chapter, which the chapter is talking about Jews and Gentiles. But here, in this conclusion, we see that, and from about verse 32 onwards, we see that there isn't a great deal of difference between Jews and Gentiles in the way that they are going to have to be saved. It has to be by grace. It isn't by birth. It isn't by ticking boxes in our lives. It is by grace. because as it says there in verse 32, God has concluded them all in unbelief, Jews and Gentiles, so that he might have mercy upon all. All those that are gonna be saved, whether Jews or Gentiles, or any other nation for that matter, are gonna be saved by mercy, that he might have mercy upon all.

And what I want to look at in this chapter is it seems to me that this is a picture here of the human race. We have the human race depicted in what seems to be two trees. And I'm going to think of the first tree as the family tree of the whole of the human race.

And that is of him, the whole human race originates from God. We read in Luke chapter 4, I think it is, which was that Jesus Christ is descended from Adam, which was the son of God. He was originated, created by God. The human race is of God, just like the whole world is, but particularly the human race. And I want to look at this human race as like this big tree, a family tree. that is the family tree here on earth, originated and created by our heavenly father.

You've got Adam and Eve there down at the bottom, if you like. You've got Noah, and then you've got the branches of Shem and Ham and Japheth. And that whole human race is branched off in a huge tree, if you like, from them. And all of us are cousins in Noah. It doesn't matter. I know they talk a lot about all the differences in humanity in today's world, but we're all cousins in Noah. But it's made up. This tree is made up. The family tree of the whole population of mankind here upon Earth is made up of branches that are dying. Branches that are dying.

It doesn't matter how long people live, they die. We have an account in Genesis chapter four of a lot of people. Genesis chapter five, I mean, of a lot of people that lived to huge ages. And we come to the end of Adam lived so many years and he died. Seth lived for 912 years and he died. Enos, he lived 905 years, and he died. All of them were branches of this family tree that I'm thinking of here, and all of them have come into this world, and all of them have ultimately died. The branches of this tree are dying branches.

And yet we read in this family tree that there was a blessing given right at the very, very beginning that in Genesis chapter four, that there would be a seed of a woman, an offspring of a woman that would bruise the head of Satan and so on. And there would be a seed of a woman that would be a blessing. a seed of blessing, a branch, if you like, of blessing. And so there was a seed of blessing down through the ages, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Shem, Abraham, and we come to Abraham, and God says, I, He takes personal responsibility. I am going to bless you. I am going to make you a blessing. Here is going to be a branch where there is going to be a blessing. The blessing was going to be sourced from God, the blessing was going to be done by God, and the blessing was going to be received by Abraham.

It was of him, for of him we read. It is of God. And these people were going to be called his people. He called him my people. People with a spiritual supply of good. And it was a spiritual supply that all of them that had this spiritual supply were people that lived by faith. They were believing God is good and that he would do great things for them in the future. There would be a way of salvation. There would be a blessing that God could send down into the world.

But even then, there are dying branches among them. And we read about the dying branches here, that some of the branches be broken off. There are broken off, there are branches that fall through, as it says here, the severity of God. they're cast away. Amongst the branches of Joshua and Caleb and so on, there are the branches of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, those people that rebelled against Moses and the earth swallowed them up or the fire swallowed them up. Amongst the Joshua's and the Caleb's as the Achan's of this world who stole from Jericho and thought he could get away with it and then when he knew that he's possibly been rumbled, possibly been found out, he still didn't admit it until the very next day and then he was stoned. These people, they're branches that were broken off of the branch that was a branch of blessing.

And yet we read even then at the lowest point in this branch, we see in verse four, I've reserved to myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. There were 7,000 here that were still being blessed by God. And yet the promise is still there, out of the seed of the woman there will come a blessing. Out of this branch there will come a blessing that is a greater blessing than anything else this world has ever known.

And in the fullness of time, we see in God's time, If you like, in this branch of the family of Abraham, this branch of Judah, there is, if you like, this flower, this beauty of a woman who buds and is a spiritual creation is formed. a first fruit. We read in verse 16 of a first fruit, and a first fruit that is holy. A holy creation in the family tree of mankind, in the branch of Abraham, in the branch of Judah, there is a first fruit, born to be born of Mary, conceived of the Holy Spirit, that which is from heaven, a first fruit. And that first fruit was to be born to Mary and to grow up in Nazareth. And we read in how he was to grow in stature and end of chapter 2 of Luke we read there that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. Just imagine this tree, this human race tree and here somewhere in this branch of Abraham is this first fruits.

Something really, really special is taking place. The name of the Lord Jesus is growing there. He began his ministry, he taught, he healed, he blessed, he forgave, he loved, but then in the fullness of time, In the appointed time, that first fruit falls to the ground. We read that there's an account in John chapter 12 of the corn of wheat. It's not a tree fruit this time, but a corn of wheat, like a seed of wheat. It falls to the ground and dies. And then, instead of abiding alone, if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.

And that's exactly what happened with this first fruit you see. The first fruit, the Lord Jesus Christ, at that appointed time, died, was crucified on the cross, gave up his life and committed his life and his spirit into the hands of his Heavenly Father and was buried. but it didn't end there.

This first fruit you see, there was a resurrection, like a seed germinating in the ground. Here's a first fruit. Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection. The first of those that were died and buried and then rose again out of the grave, a spiritual existence. Just like that wheat seed that grows that we just looked at in John, so that first fruit shoots up a resurrected, risen savior, a resurrected, risen Jesus.

And if you like, I want to call him a new tree. There is the human family tree, and there is this new first fruit that has germinated, that has risen again. And here is a completely different tree that is holy. For if the first fruits, verse 16, be holy, the lump is also holy. And if the roots be holy, so are the branches. Here is a tree that is destined to bring forth much fruit, just like the corn of wheat that falls to the ground. It dies and brings forth much fruit. And so this is a tree that's going to bring forth much fruit.

And it's a holy tree. It's a holy family tree. The lump is holy. That means the whole substance of it is holy. Everything about this tree is holy. And this is like an illustration of the kingdom of God. And if the roots are holy, so are the branches. And we see this then, this second tree. The substance of it is holy. Every part of it is holy. The sap is a sap of grace. If you like the juice that flows through the branches to the branches from the roots is a sap of grace. It's God's favor. It's God's blessing. It's God's forgiveness. It's God's mercy.

And then we see that the old part of the family tree, yes, down through the ages, whether it's the branch of Abraham, the branches of all the other branches, there's thousands, there's millions, there's billions of new branches. It's a huge tree. It is the human family tree. It's billions and billions of branches, but all of them dying one by one.

We see, it says here in verses 22 and 23, behold therefore the goodness and the severity of God. on them which fell severity. There are those you see that have no understanding, that they're on a dying tree, and ultimately they fall. And we might say, that's the severity of God.

But we read there in verse 23, there is hope. they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, in other words, if they make a change, and instead of continuing in unbelief, they become believers, then these people can be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

You see they can be taken off of the human race with the dying branches and if you like be grafted in or plugged into the family tree of the kingdom of God. there is a grafting in again. And this is such a beautiful message because it's a message of hope to every single one of us. If there are those that at this moment in time are in that tree where at this moment in time they don't know the gift of God, which is eternal life, if you abide not still in unbelief, it says, you shall be grafted in, for God is able to graft you in again. There is such a beautiful message of hope in the word of God that we have before us. There is this gospel message that's calling us, that speaks a truth. that there is such a thing as a dying branch being grafted into the living holy branch, the holy olive tree, if you like, and they become a living branch.

Those sinners, you see, that were one day part of the dying tree, If we're, at this moment in time, part of that dying tree, there is something to be done. There is something to be done, a change of allegiance, a change of your priority from how you've lived up till now, your allegiance to a tree that's a dying tree, and to serve notice on that tree and plead that you may be part of the living tree of the Lord Jesus Christ. A change of allegiance from serving nature to the good olive tree, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be grafted in.

And then those branches that are grafted in among this tree they with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree. Verse 17. These branches that were from the dying branches are grafted into the true olive tree and then they partake, then they benefit from the sap, the root, the fatness, the blessings, the goodness of the olive tree. And that's how it is you see with our lives.

Outside of the Lord Jesus Christ is a dying existence. We were never designed to live our lives outside of the Lord Jesus Christ. Adam and Eve were dependent upon him for everything before the fall. After the fall, they thought they could go it alone. And we know the sad outcome and consequences of that.

But you see, the Lord Jesus calls us back to him, to be grafted in him, so that once again, we can be reconnected to him and partake of the root and the fatness or the goodness, the fertility of the olive tree. And you see, at that point, our life becomes a life through him. No longer just of him, but through him. Flowing through the branches of our lives is the goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Partakers of the goodness that he gives to us And just to talk about the Jews and the Gentiles because that's what this chapter is a little bit, is about for a fair bit.

You see, the Jews, they're in the same situation. Their branches are dying just like all other people's branch. They come into this world and live for a while and then they die. Dying Jews, they also need to be grafted in and be partakers of the root and fatness of this olive tree. They also need to be knowing that it is only through Jesus Christ that there is this blessing. Yes, they were the true family here upon earth, derived from the true family here on earth of the Lord Jesus, but if they fall, they need to be grafted back in to the olive tree again. Yes, it might be, as it says here, the true olive tree, then broken off and then grafted back in. And that's perfectly feasible, says Paul. They were the branches, which are natural branches. How much more shall they not be grafted into their own olive tree? It can all be done.

The Jews, they can be grafted back into this olive tree that is the Lord Jesus Christ's tree, if you like. And just the same as the Gentiles, which are branches that aren't part of the Jewish family, and yet those wild branches, the branches of the wild olive tree, they can also be grafted in amongst this true vine, this true olive tree. If we, as Gentiles, were cut out of an olive tree which is wild by nature and grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, that's us, how much more shall these, the Jews, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

You see, the situation, Paul says, It's all the same. God has concluded them all, Jews and Gentiles, in unbelief, that he might have mercy on them all. The only way you see for salvation, we're all in the same situation, we're all in the same boat. All are unbelievers by nature. All unbelievers in the Lord Jesus Christ, all of us by nature are believers in ourselves. And whether we are Jews or Gentiles, we need to be made unbelievers in ourselves and believers in Jesus Christ.

You see, the Jews, some of them became unbelievers in themselves when Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. And they suddenly realized they'd made a massive mistake in crucifying the Lord Jesus, who Peter says, this one that you crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ.

And they were pricked in their hearts, they were devastated. They became unbelievers in themselves. They realized they got it wrong, and they said, what must we do to be saved? Men and brethren, what shall we do? And the message was, repent. Stop going your own way, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Serve notice on your own tree, if you like, and be partakers of the tree of the Lord Jesus Christ. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, the blessings that flow through Jesus Christ, to believe and become believers in Jesus Christ. And it was exactly the same with the Gentile.

They also had to become unbelievers in themselves. Think of the Philippian jailer. There he was, thinking that his life was not worth living anymore, because he thought he'd let all the prisoners escape, and he was thinking up, he had no hope, he was contemplating suicide, and Paul calls out, do thyself no harm, for we are all here. and the Philippian jailer. lost all belief in himself. He realized that he had no ability to keep himself alive anymore. And so he cries out, sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And that's a very good question for each one of us as we come to realize that being part of the olive, the natural family tree of mankind here upon earth, a branch like that is a dying branch. And we mustn't believe that we're not dying branches. We mustn't think that somehow we're going to be different. But to be understanding, that's me. What am I going to be doing to be saved? What do I need to do? And they said to him, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house. Believe that Jesus Christ is able to take your dying branch, your dying life, and make it an eternal life.

You see, this is what it's like to be a people being grafted from a natural human race into the people of God. And there are people today being grafted from the whole human race in all the different parts of the world, all the nationalities, and all the various different peoples of the world.

They're being grafted into this tree. They're being built into this tree that is a holy tree. The first fruits was holy, the lump, the whole is holy, and the root is holy, and the branches are holy. They're set apart for the service of God. And this is happening today, whether it be out of Jews or Gentiles, all of us, it's happening today. And it's happening to those who profess that there's no hope in ourselves any longer. We have no hope in ourselves. Verse 18, boasts not against the branches, but if thou boasts, thou barest not the root, but the root thee.

The branches are connected to the vine, but all the goodness comes up. The goodness comes up from the olive tree, not the vine, the olive tree. All the goodness is coming through Christ. It's through him. It's to us from him. And we are as such partakers of the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ. His loving kindness, his care, His grace to all eternity.

And it says that about it in verse six, doesn't it? This is by grace. It is free undeserved favor. It's not what we've done. It's through Him. It's grace because we have to receive it, having not even been deserving of it. It's not of works. It's not what we do. It's the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And in his care and in his hands, we experience his eternal goodness and mercy and experience dwelling in his house forever. And all of us that are in him are called by him to serve, to honour and to revere his great and holy name. And on an ongoing basis, the rest of our lives here upon earth, it's going to be through him. Through him, we will live. Through him, we will move. Through him, we will have our being. It's all the days of our lives.

We are to follow him, to serve him, to depend upon him, our master, and our Redeemer, it's through him. And just looked a couple of verses back, chapters back in Romans chapter seven, we might say, well, yes, as we go through life's journey, there's often times when we fall, when we mess up, when we sin and we fail. And Paul said, oh, wretched man that I am. That's the end of chapter seven. Who shall deliver me from this, the body of this death? You see, I feel like a branch, but I don't feel worthy. I don't feel that there's anything good about me. How can I be delivered from that circumstance?

The answer is, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. It's that same word again, through Jesus, through what Jesus does, our branch can be transformed from a dying branch to a branch that lives to serve and to follow our Lord Jesus Christ. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is this complication that by nature we are prone to make mistakes, but as we are grafted to the Lord Jesus Christ, so he upholds us by his hand.

And we see that Nothing, no one is able to pluck us out of our father's hands. His hands are strong. Now that tree is a strong tree, it doesn't let go of the branches that he has obtained. He is able to care for us through time, care for us through life, and ultimately care for us through all eternity. Because it's not about just where we've come from, of him, And our natural birth and our spiritual birth is what he does. But through him, our life continues.

But then there is, and to him, we are going somewhere. We have a destination. He shepherds us to our destination. He cleanses us. He disciplines us. He teaches us. He molds us. He turns us into his people, living in his ways, to be prepared for where we're going to. We're going to him. For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever. Amen. You see, there is a destination.

The dying branches, incredibly sadly, have a destination. To live as a dying branch in this human race is to die and drop into a lost eternity. A lost eternity. where we are separated from all good and only know trouble and torment and affliction in hell itself. But the message goes out into the world today that there is another way, and it's in the Lord Jesus Christ. And there, there is a completely different ending. To him, we go.

A destination of glory, a destination of heaven, where he is, the Lord Jesus Christ is. And he prepares us so that we are ready to come where he is, because he wants us to be where he is, that we might be with him. That's what he tells us, so that we are able to be with him.

And this is, will be an ongoing experience an existence of blessing, eternal blessing, of glory forever and ever. And we will continue to be receiving because that's what we've learnt to be, receivers from the Lord Jesus Christ. Receiving from him and in return serving him and loving him and praising him for what we receive from him. And so to him be glory forever because of all that he's done in giving us our life in the first instance in that natural human race tree and giving us an existence in the tree of life of the Lord Jesus Christ and being helped through our lives here below, helped through death, To go to him, we will praise him forever and ever for all that he has done. And then it says here at the end, amen, which means from our perspective, a prayer.

Lord, may it be so. And may that be your prayer here this evening. May you be transplanted if you like grafted off of the natural tree into the tree of the Lord Jesus Christ and that you all and we all may be lovingly tenderly kindly looked after by the Lord Jesus Christ all the days of our lives being blessed through him until we are brought to our heavenly home, to continue to partake of his blessings through all eternity. May that be your prayer then.

May it be so, Lord. And there's another aspect to this word, because from Jesus' perspective it is, it shall be so. He will do all that's necessary for those that believe in Him that it shall indeed be so. They will be kept through Him. They will be brought to Him. They will be for all eternity blessed by Him.

Pray that the Lord will use those illustrations of those two trees as a help to understand the human race, the whole human race, and the human race that's part of the kingdom of God, and to have that great desire that through Jesus Christ, we may be partakers of the human race that is called by God's grace. to glory.

Well, may God add his blessing to those thoughts. Let's pray. Dear Lord God, we do thank thee for thy precious word and we thank thee, Lord God, that thy word tells us that we are all concluded under sin, that if any of us get to heaven, it will be by thy mercy. It'll be by thy grace. And so, Lord, we pray that this evening, Lord God, we pray that each one of us here may be of him, of thee, Lord Jesus, brought by thee to be thy children and kept through thy power all of our days and, Lord, ultimately be brought to thee to live with thee forever and ever. Lord, we ask for things that only thou are able to do. The Lord we bring the souls of each before thee and please Lord Jesus in love and mercy touch each dear soul with thy blessing. May it be so Lord Jesus we pray that the answer to each dear soul this evening may it shall be so as we ask these blessings for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Grafted into the good olive tree

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Grafted into the good olive tree

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