Two Trees or One- Why Does God Not Care for the Wild Olive Tree?

Rom. 11:1-36  I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.  God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?  “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.”   But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”  So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.  But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.  What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”  And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.”  So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.   Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!  Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.  For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?   If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.  Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”  That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.  For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.  Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.  And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.  For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.   And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”  As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.  For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.   For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.  For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.  Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”  “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

It is vital to a right hermeneutic of Romans 11 to consider the central metaphor that the Apostle utilizes is the singular cultivated olive tree. If Paul held to a dispensationalist doctrine, then he missed the perfect opportunity to teach it, for in fact he references two trees. If he had such a mindset as Scofield, Chaffer, & Ryrie, he then should have pictured something to the effect of God turning His attention to the the cultivation of the "wild" olive tree to raise it up it for a time, then later after "the fullness" of  the wild tree would appear, He would turn His attention back to the "natural" tree.  In stating His work among the Gentiles in such manner, the idea of a separate "plan B", an entirely new dispensation, a wholly separate program of salvation- this would be manifestly clear, & we would all be dispensational. The Church & Israel would be explicitly displayed as separate from one another.

But the Apostle chose the utterly opposite metaphor- the wild olive tree is virtually ignored, & only its branches are accorded any worth; that only comes as He grafts them into His one cultivated tree, for as Jesus said to the woman at the well, "salvation is of the Jews".  In essence, Paul not only missed this supposed opportunity to teach dispensationalism, he in fact contradicted it! It is highly ironic that dispensationals reference this chapter more than any other to support their didactic of separation, for the clear message of the one tree is that we Gentiles are to be identified as essentially one with the remnant of Israel. Once again- distinctly separate branches- agreed! But concomitantly- these branches are fed by one root, through one trunk, to produce one manner of fruit; they are only separate in their distinctive origins, which are obviously to be only regarded as the former realities. God is not a respecter of persons, so former things play no role in His ministry to His one Bride in the future. 

There remains one part of the tree discussed apart from the branches- the root. The root is not explicitly identified by Paul; most dispensationalists identify as it as Abraham. Clearly, by such titles as "the father of us all" (Rom. 4), this primary patriarch, & the covenant of unilateral grace God made with him, must be seen as the means to the root's common ministry of mercy & grace to the branches. But should Abraham be pictured as the root or source of the grace that saves? I say no!  To do so disparages the ultimate Source of not only the mercy & grace that nurtures us, but our fruit as well. We call as our witness the words of John 15...

John 15:1-12  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

We understand & agree that it the individual parables of the New Testament cannot be always synthesized into one narrative. Nevertheless, we press that if the root of the olive tree is to be declared, it must be essentially Christ, who is placed & ministered to in His central role by "the Vinedresser", towards the purpose of each branch producing fruit- to the glory of both the Vine & the Vinedresser. Abraham & his covenant of grace are present & they are central, but only in Christ. 

We fear pride is afoot here whenever man is put in the place of God. Such is the central apostasy of the church in Rome- with all the mediation of Popes, parishes, & dead saints- the glory of Christ is greatly obscured. It is not with their Christology that we dispute, it is with all the mediation that the Romans put between the sinner & the Savior that is the problem. It is subtraction by means of addition. 

We fear viewing Abraham as the root is a likewise concern, that there may raise up a proud spirit in the Jew, a spirit akin to the Pharisee that declares “Abraham is our father” (John 8:39).  If so, then the irony is deep, for Paul's desire with the metaphor of the root is to humble the Gentile, not exalt the Jew. Such a person would do well to revisit & ponder the previous chapters that state there is no essential difference between Jew & Gentile- that the previous distinctions are meaningless in the present & future kingdom of God.

Milk & Honey or Beans & Broccoli?

Rom 10:17-21  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.  (18)  But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”  (19)  But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”  (20)  Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”  (21)  But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Rom 11:5-14  So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.  (6)  But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.  (7)  What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,  (8)  as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”  (9)  And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;  (10)  let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.”  (11)  So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.  (12)  Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!  (13)  Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry  (14)  in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.

Paul tells us at least one purpose for God’s drawing the Gentiles into the fold- to make Israel jealous. But would Israel be truly jealous if the Gentiles had something less than, or other than the Jews were promised? No child was ever jealous of his classmate’s lunch of liver & onions; pizza & pudding would be much greater reasons for jealousy. Likewise, we Gentiles would only draw the Jews’ interest if they could see we had the very thing they have always craved- the promise of dwelling forever in the promised land with the Messiah’s presence, peace, & protection. 

Mat 28:16-20  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  (17)  And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.  (18)  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  (19)  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

In this passage, Jesus give His Jewish disciples an indication of what He would later do through them (Acts10), & the “abnormally born” Paul (Acts 13)- to teach “all nations… to observe all that I have commanded you.” Note the teaching was the same for the “nations” as it was for them. 

In contrast, note in Romans 10-11 Paul is addressing the Gentile disciples to witness back to the Jews with the evidence of  their possession of the promised Messiah that the Jews’ prophecies point towards. This portion of Romans is something of a Great Commission in reverse. The “nations” are called to witness all the teachings they have received, in a circular fashion, back to the nation from whom they have primordially obtained them.

If we indeed have such a calling from Paul, how can he expect us to make them jealous with the lesser or at least substantially different kingdom & Messianic relationship that dispensationalists insist we have? 

How can I compel my children to believe in the promise of pizza & pudding if all they ever see on my plate is liver & onions?

A Letter to Witness of Jehovah

Because of the pandemic, many are taking unorthodox means to engage others. One such interesting change is the local Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall is now apparently proselytizing by mail instead of door to door. I received one such invitation lately; this is my response, with edits to remove personal details about my JW friend...

You are absolutely correct to have great concern for our eternal destiny & Jehovah’s central role as our true, final, & righteous Judge. But how are we to know this ultimate Judge & his edict for coming into his eternal presence? You are right once again to point to the Bible as our only ultimate source for revelation concerning his standard for righteousness.

The question then comes to the matter of a full interpretation & ensuing incorporation of the Bible’s teachings into our beliefs & practices. What does the Bible tell us to believe & do? I am somewhat older myself (in my mid fifties), & I have heard many a man teach John 5:19 & 30:

“Therefore, in answer, Jesus went on to say to them, ‘Most truly I say to you, The Son cannot do not a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he beholds the Father doing. For whatever things that One does, these things the Son also does in like manner.’ ”

“I cannot do a single thing of my own initiative; just as I hear, I judge; & the judgment that I render is righteous, because I seek, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.”

It is a great thing to teach Scripture, but like anything, it must be taught in context. If, for example, I talk of a man pulling out a gun to chase down & kill someone it would appear I am describing an act of great evil. But if I give the greater context of this man as a police officer, & his supposed victim as someone in the act of murdering innocent children at their school, then I completely change the perception of this man & the nature of his actions.

Jesus’ teachings in John 5 are like that; because the greater context gives a wholly different perspective:

20-29 For the Father has affection for the Son and shows him all the things he himself does, and he will show him works greater than these, so that you may marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead up and makes them alive, so the Son also makes alive whomever he wants to. For the Father judges no one at all, but he has entrusted all the judging to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Most truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes the One who sent me has everlasting life, and he does not come into judgment but has passed over from death to life. “Most truly I say to you, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who have paid attention will live.

For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted also to the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to do judging, because he is the Son of man. Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.

The Jesus that declares verses 19 & 30 is no different from the Jesus of 20-29, & his teachings there should be given the same reverence. The understanding of a seemingly lesser Jesus of 19 & 30 must be contrasted by his clear teaching that all judgment is given to the Son. There he also teaches the very specific reason that the Father has done this- “so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”

This is the critical question to ask yourself:

“Do I honor the Son just as I honor the Father? Or have I relegated him to a lesser status than the Father, as someone less than the Almighty, Jehovah God?” 

Remember the teaching- that the reason the Father gives all judgment to the Son is that we would not demote the Son to being someone less than the Father. The power to judge is the Father’s responsibility; for him to accord it to someone lesser than himself would be a great act of injustice. It would be as if a judge in our criminal justice system gave his robe & his gavel to the court bailiff to execute judgment while he went on vacation. Instead, the truly righteous judge would only give his great authority to another judge of equal status & qualifications.

Jesus’ teachings in John 5:19-30 are not impossible to reconcile, in fact, it’s quite natural to see Jesus as both submissive & equal to the Father, for this is often the natural state of affairs for us as well. I came from my natural father & he taught me & led me to be like himself. For these reasons I honored him by submitting to him, even & especially as an adult, for I came from him & saw his wisdom. As an adult human being, I certainly did not have to submit to him, for I too was human, of equal status to him in the eyes of our society, but in my eyes, I loved him, & therefore sought to honor him above myself at all times. We were equally human, yet I was submissive to him as the source of my humanity. And he likewise sought to cause others to give me the same respect that they would give him.

By embracing all the words of Jesus here, we should say the same can be said of Jesus & his Father. He was "begotten" of his Father, therefore he had the same qualities & status as his Father. Jesus was & is equally God, yet submissive to his Father as the source of his Godliness. Understand, in expressing this, he was fulfilling the mandate of the fifth commandment to honor his Father. He was honoring his Father, just as we are called to honor our father. And the Father likewise seeks to cause us to give his only begotten Son all the status of himself. 

 Again, that is the reason he has given all judgment to his Son.

To give more due to verses 19 & 30 than the verses between is like a restaurant that tries to sell you a hamburger without the meat. Those two verses are absolutely necessary to make a sandwich, but they are close to worthless without the “meat” of Jesus’ teachings in between them.

Note as well that Jesus also teaches that believing in “my word” concerning the nature of Jehovah to be the primary cause of everlasting life. The words of Jesus are life to our soul, & he gives in abundance here & elsewhere…

John 6:28-29 “So they said to him: ‘What must we do to carry out the works of God?’ In answer Jesus said to them: ‘This is the work of God, that you exercise faith in the one whom he sent.’”

Our works certainly play a role in our salvation, but they must be born out of true faith & belief in Jesus & his word, else they will be burned up as worthless wood, hay, & stubble (1 Cor. 3). We can never meet Jesus’ standard for us to merit salvation for he demands that we become perfect, even to the measure of the Father’s perfection (Matt. 5:48). It is only by believing in Jesus & his perfection, in the Son as the way, the truth, & the life, that we can come to the Father to have everlasting life (John 14:6).

You should note that I quote exclusively from the New World Translation. This does not mean that I regard it as a good translation, as it was done by elders of your church to try to render the many passages that honor the Son with a glory equal to the Father to mean something else. But in my study of God’s word, I have found this truth to be so conspicuous as to be impossible to hide, even when that is the obvious intent. Your church used the KJV for many years, but were challenged greatly every day by the thousands of verses that speak of the Son’s glory as Jehovah…

Psalm 2:11-12 Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Honor the son, or God will become indignant. And you will perish from the way, for His anger flares up quickly. Happy are all those taking refuge in Him.

I was raised in a religion which believed similar to yours concerning the status of the Son of God. I defended my beliefs with great resolve until I asked myself “What if I resolutely believe this all my life, & at the day of judgment I come into the Son’s presence with great hope- only to hear him say ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you worker of lawlessness!’ ” (Matt. 7:23). I did not change my belief at this point; I only became open to the possibility that I was wrong concerning the Son’s full glory & prayed that God would show me the truth about his Son through the Scriptures, whatever that truth might be.

I ask with the deepest concern for your soul that you please consider this truth, for I believe that instead of giving witness to Jehovah, you are in fact denying him, by denying Jesus his status & pursuing an eternal glory by some means other than his righteousness & his work on that stake…

Acts 4:11-12 This is ‘the stone that was treated by you builders as of no account that has become the chief cornerstone.’ Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.