The Power To Graft in Again

Two trees in Seville, grafted and living together. 

Scripture:

Rom. 11:11   So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. ¹² Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Rom. 11:13   Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry ¹⁴ in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead! ¹⁶ If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.

Rom. 11:17   But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. ¹⁹ You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.  ²² Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. ²³ And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you have been 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 natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Observation:

This is really a message of grace upon grace. Were the Israelites made to stumble and fall? Of course not, but because they did, they became like an olive tree that could have another branch grafted into the system. The door was opened for the Gentiles to become fully included. 

Paul warns, however, that it may be a temptation for the Gentiles to become haughty, and think that they are more precious to God than the Israelites. This is not true, and in his grace, God uses the grafting of the Gentiles as an opportunity to graft Israel again. For Paul, all of this is good news— that the Gentiles may actually bring about the salvation of Israel. According to Moo “(i) Jewish transgression opens the way for (ii) Gentile salvation, which leads in the end to (iii) Jewish salvation” (NBBC). 

Application:

There is something about this grace upon grace that goes hand in hand with evangelism. Sharing the good news about Jesus must be tied to grace. It’s far too easy to sidle up with the Gentiles in Rome and point an accusing finger at the disobedient Jews. Look how they rejected the Messiah! In an instant we forget that their rejection unleashed God’s grace, and opened up a pathway for us to become children of God. Therefore, we should never point an accusing finger, but look upon our unbelieving brothers and sisters with love, gratitude, humility and grace. 

When we lived in the former Soviet Union, we had a number of recovering drug addicts come to Christ. Their hearts were full of appreciation because they knew that they had been saved from a life of destruction. They had experienced grace upon grace. They had been embraced by the God of second chances, which is revealed in the power to graft in again. 

This idea of grafting in again is quite beautiful. Just because a new branch was added, the old could still be brought back in. God continues to lavish grace, even when Plan A has been messed up. Don’t we all wonder whether God had a Plan A for our lives, and just maybe, we messed it up? God’s promise to the Jews speaks to us as well, for God’s Plan B may be even more expansive than the original plan. Our salvation may come through what we may perceive as failure. 

If God is willing to lavish this kind of grace upon us sinners, how much more should we participate in his gracious activity in this world? Many people seem to be afraid of sharing the good news of Jesus with others. At the same time, there are reports of a greater openness to the gospel, and that people are curious about Christ. Maybe we should become participants of this grace upon grace and lavish it into those who can again be grafted. This is a promise for those who have wandered from their faith, that there is a way back, and that road is lined with grace. 

1 Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary's mount out-poured–

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Refrain:

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

2 Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold,

Threaten the soul with infinite loss;

Grace that is greater– yes, grace untold–

Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross. [Refrain]

3 Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

All who are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive? [Refrain]

Julia Johnston, 1910.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for your grace which has reached me. May I be a generous participant in your grace. Amen.