Romans 11:17-24

A Glorious Ingrafting

The act of grafting correctly is not something easily accomplished in terms of trees. For a tree farmer to properly graft, they must carefully take care of the scion, which is the area where the two trees are attached to one another. Even after this is done, the farmer must put a wax seal over it and tend to it daily. It takes a lot of work and attention to detail.

Even still, a graft may not even take. The new offshoot may not produce any fruit at all. A well-grafted shoot not only grows but is also productive. And so Paul uses the same analogy with regard to Gentiles and the Jews. The Gentiles were meticulously and effectively grafted in to the people of Israel, the true Israel by faith. Those who appeared to be grafted in were actually broken off. God broke off the unbelieving Jews from the tree.

All of this is part of God’s decree, election, and providence. God is able to graft whom he wills and break off whomever He wills. Paul’s hope is that the nation of Israel, the elect-remnant, would turn from their wicked ways that God would likewise re-graft them into the covenant and the promises. The text points us to the fact that God is sovereign and deserves holy worship and obedience.

Partakers of a Redemptive Root (vv. 17-18)

Punishment of a Rebellious Root (vv. 19-21)

Provision for a Repentant Root (vv. 22-24)

[1] Partakers of a Redemptive Root (vv. 17-18)

Romans 11:17–18“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.”

As we have seen previously, not all of the nation of Israel has cast off their inheritance, or traded their firstborn privileges for a bowl of anti-Scriptural, works-based, self-righteous religion. Paul substantiates this claim by saying that “some of the branches were broken off.”

Only a portion of national Israel fell away from the promises of God. We know this to be true as the number added to the Church increased greatly over the period of Luke’s account in Acts from chapter 2-13, more or less.

At the same time, however, Paul explicitly states that there were still some that were indeed broken off. If part were not, then part were. The fact that they “were broken off” is a passive verb, meaning, Israel did not break themselves off, yet were broken off by God for their unbelief.

This is the very thing Jesus announces early in Matthew 8:11–12“I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.””

There are some who will enjoy the fellowship of Israel by way of being grafted in by faith, and others who were of the nation of Israel yet did not attain a righteousness by faith. Hence, Jesus can declare in Matthew 21:43“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.”

Paul extends the analogy to mention that these other branches, the Gentiles, came from a wild olive shoot. They were not from the true, rooted, grounded, patriarchal promises and covenantal blessings that Israel was a part of through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were not even grounded in the same faith.

Yet, God being rich in mercy granted this gift to the Gentile people. Hence Paul can declare as he does in

Ephesians 2:11–13“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

The Gentiles were a wild sprig, no where near the redemptive waters of God’s graciousness. And this is the very mystery Paul explains in

Ephesians 3:6“This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

And also in,

Colossians 2:13“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,”

Purpose is to show what the Gentiles once were as the divine mystery of God in bringing them into the fold. Sharing among them the benefits of the covenant and blessings of Abraham, the firstfruits, by faith.

Grafted - to cut into for the sake of inserting a scion; to inoculate, ingraft, graft in, in these passages Paul likens the heathen who by becoming Christians have been admitted into fellowship with the people for whom the Messianic salvation is destined, to scions from wild trees inserted into a cultivated stock;

There is an intended benefit for those who are ingrafted. And that intended benefit is something they share in along with the natural olive tree. To “share in” means to participate in a joint concern. The joint concern is God’s saving plan for the people of Israel, those who receive it by faith. Paul also demonstrates this reality in his letter to the church at Philippi,

Philippians 1:7 “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”

To share in, or be partakers, is related to the grace that God Himself has given. Likewise, John provides the same encouragement in Revelation.

Revelation 1:9 “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

What is it that they are now sharing? They are sharing, or are partakers in, the nourishing root. This is the part that is underground, receiving the nourishment it needs to survive. Used in a figurative sense of that which is firmly planted and grounded. Unlike the seed that is planted upon the rock in

Matthew 13:21“yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.”

Mark 4:17“And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.”

Luke 8:13 “And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.”

Can also relate to descendents, with regard to Jesus. Romans 15:12 “And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.””

Revelation 5:5“And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.””

Revelation 22:16““I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.””

Galatians 3:7“Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.” Galatians 3:29 “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

The very root which you are ingrafted into comes from the seed of the woman in Genesis 3.15. The first promise of God that a Redeemer would come to save His own. And this promise is established upon the testimony of the patriarchs.

Are you grounded and rooted in Christ? Do you know in your being and nature that you are grounded in Christ? To come from the firstfruits is to come from the prophets and patriarchs of the Old Testament. The very people whom Jesus says told of Him,

John 5:39–40“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

John 5:46“For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.”

Because of this magnificent, life-altering event in redemptive history, where the righteousness of Christ is imputed to you, where you are declared righteous, and live in Christ, then Paul reminds the Gentiles that they are to have an attitude of gratitude, not of pride. Likewise, if you have received such a gift, do not be arrogant as if you accomplished the work of redemption.

To be arrogant is to boast at the expense of another. It is to assume that where you landed was owed to you and not given. Paul is warning the Gentiles, ‘you must not say that you are so much better than the branches.’ The state of man to both Jew and Gentile leaves them with no grounds for boasting.

Romans 3:9–10 “What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;”

To boast in this regard is a sin. James 3:14“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.” James 4:16“As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”

It is the same mentality Jesus spoke against in his parable in Luke 18:9–11 “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.”

If we know that magnitude of our sinful state wherein we were created and the holiness of God, then we have absolutely no ground for boasting or arrogance. You can not be arrogant toward the very root that is supporting you.

Paul is circling back upon the firstfruits principle in relation to the patriarchs. Romans 4:16 “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,”

Ephesians 2:19–20 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,”

God is sovereign and deserves holy worship and obedience. We looked firstly at [1] Partakers of a Redemptive Root (vv. 17-18), and secondly, [2] Punishment of a Rebellious Root (vv. 19-21).

[2] Punishment of a Rebellious Root (vv. 19-21)

Romans 11:19–21“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.”

Boasting and pride in one’s status in redemption has no basis in the Christian life. Paul is calling for humility. If one is to boastfully presume in their own status as the nation of Israel did apart from faith in the Messiah, then God will likewise easily snap off branches not producing fruit.

They may benefit from the root and the tree as do individuals within the visible church. However, the fact they are absent of fruit, they become a cancer to the rest of the tree.

Romans 11:11–12“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!”

The benefits received are of grace not of works.

Paul recognizes the fact that yes, the wicked branches of Israel who were not united to Christ were broken off. What is the reason for their breaking off? Their unbelief.

were broken off - passive again meaning passed over due to unbelief. In line with God’s right in hardening (cf. Rom 9 argument).

Unbelief - is literally “a” pistis, or “without faith.” It is not here a reference to their faithfulness, rather a lack of faith in Christ. It was the same state Paul was in prior to his conversion, 1 Timothy 1:13“though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,”

Paul was very faithful in Judaism and advanced far beyond all others, yet he was without the mercy and gift of faith. (maybe add this and put it in the context if needed). Hebrews 3:12 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”

Seen clearly again in Acts 13:46“And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.”

Acts 18:6“And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.””

Stand fast through faith. Active. Meaning we are to do something about it, namely, not wavering in our faith. Because the ground of our assurance is Jesus Christ.

Why should we do this? Romans 5:1–2“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Colossians 2:7 “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Therefore we have the power by way of our union with Christ. Therefore, as Peter tells us,

1 Peter 5:9 “Resist him [devil], firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

There is so much hope when we consider the grace of God within us. We are not to boast in our salvation but to glorify God because of the gracious gift given through our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul tells us to fear. Not a fear in terms of a phobia but fear in reference to awe and reverence. Why? As one commentator writes, “The antidote to pride is fear, and the object of fear is God himself, particularly his kindness and severity” (Thomas R. Schreiner, Romans, 590).

Proverbs 1:7“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 9:10“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Yet Paul’s warning as well is to fear God who can destroy those who are rooted not in Jesus but in their own sins.

Matthew 10:28“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

This is precisely what Paul has in mind. If God did not spare those of the nation of Israel who would receive the common grace blessings of being part of Israel, yet were in unbelief, how much more will he demolish those in the Church who think they are saved but are not grounded, or rooted in Christ.

“The kindness of God cannot be truly appreciated as a gift of his grace unless the severity of God is contemplated as the just penalty for forsaking him” (Schreiner).

Warnings often serve as an encouragement. A warning encourages us not to participate in a particular behavior or action. If you see a warning sign that says “road closure ahead” that warning is serving as a preventative toward certain death or loss. Likewise, the warning passages in Scripture are meant to be an encouragement to persevere. They are meant to bolster our faith knowing that God is the source of our perseverance.

Are you encouraged by what Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit declares to you? Colossians 1:23“if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”

Or also in 2 Timothy 2:11–13 “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.”

There is great comfort in the kindness and severity of God. The contemplation gives us assurance and perseverance yet it also gives us the necessary obligation to examine ourselves daily. To see what kind of fruit we are bringing forth. Not that our works will justify us in the last days but that they are the natural outworking of a Christian man or woman.

We also see a stark reality of those who claim to be Christian, claim to be part of the tree, claim to be grafted into Christ. The reality is that they are not of the faith. A mere profession does not automatically symbolize an internal change. Just as John warns us,

1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

Therefore, if God did not spare the natural branches who were apostates, those who rejected the Gospel, do you really think he would spare you who - by profession of faith - believe you are a Christian but are inwardly a child of the devil?

It is easy to live a life in the gray, as an unknown, hiding behind a public profession, hiding behind baptism, hiding behind church attendance, yet the moment you open your door on Sunday afternoon you creep back into the habitual nature of a sinner who hates God.

Are you living for Christ? Or are you thrusting him aside like the Jews did? Are you thrusting him aside like many Gentiles did as well? Do you see the clear punishment in store for those who are by nature children of wrath?

There is still and always will be hope. If you repent and believe that Jesus is Lord, that he lived a perfect life, that he died for your sins, that he was raised again on the third day, that he ascended into heaven, all of these things will be the center of your rejoicing.

God is sovereign and deserves holy worship and obedience. We looked firstly at [1] Partakers of a Redemptive Root (vv. 17-18), secondly, [2] Punishment of a Rebellious Root (vv. 19-21), and thirdly, [3] Provision for a Repentant Root (vv. 22-24).

[3] Provision for a Repentant Root (vv. 22-24)

Romans 11:22–24 “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.”

Jesus tells us in John 15:1““I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” That he is the vine and we are the branches. All of those who remain in Christ receive the benefits as promised. And only those who share in their union with Christ, who are partakers of the Holy Spirit, grafted in by faith, will persevere until the end.

Yet, those who are not of the faith but outwardly appear grafted in, shall be cut off. John 15:2“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.” We see here the doctrine of the visible and invisible church brought forth once more. And with this, the perseverance of the saints.

For Jesus Himself declares in John 8:31 “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” Those who demonstrate a contrite heart and true repentance abide in the Words of Christ Jesus. So also does he declare in John 14:21“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.””

The fruit we demonstrate is the new natural disposition of a Christian, one who has fellowship with God. Therefore, Paul can conclude that we must continue in the kindness given to us. In that, two aspects of God’s nature are brought forth, both his redemptive mercy and rightful judgment.

His redemptive mercy is found in his kindness. It is the same Paul uses in Romans 2:4“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

And how could we forget Paul’s admonition in Titus 3:4–5“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

When related to God, it is in relation to redemption. It is also the manifest fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

God is kind toward those who repent and believe.

Severity, on the other hand, is related to judgment. It God did not spare the natural branches for their unbelief, then you are under his severity if you are also in unbelief. It means to act harshly toward someone — ‘to show harshness, to act harshly, to be harsh, harshness.

The root is from the word related to sharp cutting, what we find in Hebrews 4:12“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Here, it is referring to God’s sharp cutting off, like a gardener with freshly sharpened shears, like a scalpel that is cut so fine by a laser. God will take that sharp shear and sever off those who may be superficially grafted in to the people of God but have no root or source in themselves. Unbelievers who plague the visible church in their apostasy and heretical doctrines in hopes to lead away the elect if it were possible.

We are not to presume upon our election as if we are to abandon obedience. Obedience is described as such by Puritan George Swinnock, “As the saint is described sometimes by a ‘clean heart’ so also sometimes by ‘clean hands’ because he has both; the holiness of his heart is seen at his fingers’ ends.” Meaning, the works we do in obedience to God’s Law demonstrate a heart changed by God.

Thus Paul tells us to “continue in [God’s] kindness, which is related to perseverance, hope, personal conviction, and enduring until the end. Galatians 6:9“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Romans 2:7“to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;”

Luke 8:15“As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”

Hebrews 3:6“but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”

Hebrews 3:14“For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

Jude 20–21“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”

There is great hope found in the doctrines of grace. That God saved you naturally yields heartfelt, true obedience unto him all the days of your life. Though we fail in thought, word, and deed, we repent and reflect by faith upon the principles found in Scripture that He will never leave you nor forsake you.

All that the Father gives the Son will come to Him and He shall never cast away. He is the Good Shepherd, the only Way, Truth, and Life, he is not only the branch of Jesse but the root and the entire vine itself. Christ is all in all.

Once again, Paul is establishing a promise previously stated that all of those from the nation of Israel who do indeed take heed of this very message will be saved. The whole purpose of Paul, as we looked at previously, is to provoke them to jealousy. Come back and hear the words of your God.

Like the unbelieving Gentile nations, the world so to speak, God promises that those who are contrite in heart, who would repent of their sins and wickedness, he will truly save. Paul is encouraging Israel to take heed of Moses’ own words in

Deuteronomy 10:12–13, 16 ““And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?”… “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.”

There the grace principle, being under the covenant of grace is in play, to fear the Lord your God. Then, to walk in his ways and serve him as the subsequent action to a new heart. How is this done? Because they must circumcise their own hearts. It always been a heart issue, not a work issue. Abraham’s heart was regenerated, therefore we are told in Genesis 15:6“And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

Being grafted into the olive tree has two elements to is. An external calling by profession of faith and an internal calling wherein one receives the benefits of faith, which we would call saving faith. The Jews, previously, were those who merely outwardly, or externally, aligned themselves as the people of God, but could be cut off.

Why could they be cut off? They were not of faith. They, “continued in their unbelief.” They were cut off for that very reason. Yet, when one who is inwardly called, effectually and irrevocably by the Holy Spirit, they will be saved and receive those benefits temporally, in the present, and in the glory to be revealed. (Turretin 1:372).

Finally, Paul circles back on what was established previously in the text.

Romans 11:12 “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!”

Romans 11:15“For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?”

And now we come to that great building up, how much more, will the reception of Israel mean when they come back into the fold of God. The hope for Israel is to be as the Psalmist declares in Psalm 52:8 “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.”

Israel is not without hope, just as those who are in their own sins are not without hope. Unbelievers, whether Jew or Gentile, God is able to raise up. The ESV rightly translates that “God has the power” as the Greek word for power is in mind. Similarly translated as “God is able.” Just as God is able to raise up from among inanimate stones believers in the Messiah so also is God able to raise up the broken off branches of unbelieving Israel.

Truly we see the sovereignty of God behind the scenes in all of Romans. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present. God is the author of salvation. God is the one who Redeems His own people! A mere man did not redeem His sheep, but the God-Man. The second person of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ who being the eternal son of God became man and so was and continues to be God and man in two distinct natures and one person forever.

Will you bow the knee to your sovereign God? Because in the last day, every single knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Yet only those who believe it in their hearts will be saved. Do you believe? If not, then do it. The Holy Spirit sears our conscience to turn from false gods and false idols to serve the living and true God. Turn to Him. He is your only hope in life and death, your only comfort in your life will be that your mind, body, and soul belongs to your precious saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. To him be glory, power, and dominion forever and ever. Amen.