Israel: Have believers today been grafted into them?
This is a study about a passage that is discussed and debated by students of the Bible in every generation. If you’re looking for some quick “feel good” inspiration as from “a devotional,” this article probably won’t provide it. But if you’re ever going to understand your Bible and reach spiritual maturity, this contains some information we all need to know, or it wouldn’t be there for us to learn. So, what exactly is this passage telling us? What should we gain from it? Here’s the passage of Scripture. We’ll go through it one verse at a time, and I’ll make some comments and references to some other passages along the way.
Romans 11:11-24
11 I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall [speaking of a permanent spiritual fall]? God forbid [ME GENOITO = emphatically not]: but rather through their fall [PARAPTOMA = a false step, their spiritual stumble] salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them [Israel] to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them [Israel] be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness [PLEROMA = fulness or fulfilment]?
In the time frame of the book of Acts, Israel was in a period of unbelief and spiritual decline, having rejected their Messiah. The book is there to show us how and why everything went from Israel being the centerpiece of all things spiritual to the Gentiles. It was in that time frame that God turned away from Israel to the Gentiles. The situation has not changed since that time but will in the coming time of the Tribulation and beyond.
Acts 13:46
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you [Israel]: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. [Emphasis added]
After two millennia Israel is still in that period of rejection. But eventually, after the Rapture, when God’s people who are known as members of what is called the Body of Christ are removed, that will change. They will then, in the time known as the seven-year period of the Tribulation, become again God’s custodians of His Word.
This “fall” Paul speaks of refers to a spiritual one. They rejected their Messiah and God then directed His attention away from Israel and to the Gentiles. Today nearly all believers [God’s people] are Gentiles in their lineage, but now God makes no distinction between Jews and Gentiles for salvation.
Romans 10:12-13
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek [HELLENOS = speaking of Gentiles]: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. [Emphasis added]
We were all once spoken of as God’s enemies until we accepted Christ for salvation and became members of what is called the Body of Christ.
Romans 12:5
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. [Emphasis added]
Rarely will you find a saved Jew in our time that is spoken of as The Dispensation of the Grace of God.
Ephesians 3:1-3
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery [MUSTERION = secret]; (as I wrote afore in few words, [Emphasis added]
Romans 11 continued
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I [Paul] am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify [MEGALUNO = make great] mine office:
This is a verse that gives us the identity of Paul as our apostle today. He has been given a position of priority over all in the dissemination of those things God wants us to know about His policies and blessings for our time. While Peter and the eleven had a wonderful ministry, it was not specifically addressed to us—the Gentiles. When he says, “I magnify mine office,” this isn’t a prideful statement but a matter of fact as to the importance of his ministry and his teaching in our time, something most people have greatly ignored. For more information about this special messenger God appointed, please see my articles about him—
Paul: Who exactly is this man to us?
Paul: Do we make too much of him?
Paul: What’s so special about his teaching?
Paul’s gospel was not even the same as Peter’s. This statement comes as a shock to people who’ve only known denominational theology. But you’ll find numerous articles about this truth on this website—
Peter and Paul: Was their message the same?
Gospels: Did Peter and Paul preach the same gospel?
You’ll also find videos about this.
#27 ~ Two Gospels – Peter’s and Paul’s – What is the difference?
#32 ~ Our Last Words of the Apostle Peter – II Peter 3:15-18
14 If by any means I [Paul] may provoke to emulation [ZELOS = jealousy or envy] them which are my flesh [fellow Israelites], and might save some of them.
Again, this that we’re studying is probably not your favorite inspirational passage of Scripture, but the principles here are ones every fully mature believer MUST come to understand. It is this that is at the heart of understanding what the right division of Scripture is all about. Therefore, let’s continue our walk through some more of this.
15 For if the casting away of them [because of Israel’s unbelief] be the reconciling of the world [2 Corinthians 5:19], what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
God’s plan was to bless the world through Israel’s spiritual RISING. But in our time, He has brought blessing to the world despite Israel’s FALL, their spiritual decline. But, again, the day will come when this will change. After the Rapture and in the time of what’s known as the Tribulation, Israel will again rise spiritually to evangelize the world [Matthew 24:14 & Revelation 7]. For more information about this coming event called the Rapture, please see my articles about it.
Rapture: What is the meaning of this term?
Rapture: How is this different from the Second Coming?
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
This is simply a figurative way to illustrate the fact that whoever taps in by faith to God’s provision gains access to God.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou [believing Gentiles], being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
By what God accomplished through Israel many others have been blessed by being “grafted in among them.” That includes us today!
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
As Paul often reminds us, every blessing we have is courtesy of God’s grace. There is no place at all for boasting. We have nothing to boast about concerning our most precious possession—salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Romans 11 continued
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off [speaking of Israel], that I might be grafted in.
Israel has been broken off because of spiritual decline and deadness, but we as believers today have all been grafted in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded [TUPHOO = literally to wrap in smoke—meaning metaphorically— conceit], but fear:
We had best not get “the big head” over our salvation and our position of blessing because, again, it is all by grace through faith alone. Our works of righteousness have absolutely nothing to do with it.
21 For if God spared not the natural branches [speaking again of Israel], take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity [APOTOMIA = sharpness in dealing with Israel] of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee [believing Gentiles], goodness, if thou continue in his goodness [as long as this present age continues]: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
We know this present program will continue until the occasion of the Rapture. But there will then be an abrupt change and things will revert right back to where they were in the time before the apostle Paul’s salvation and commissioning [Acts 9 & 1 Timothy 1:16].
23 And they also, if they [Israel] abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these [Israel], which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? [Emphasis added]
All this adds up to the fact that God honors faith wherever He finds it. Man is a free moral agent. Decisions determine so much! Today we as Gentiles are the beneficiaries of His blessing that has come to us by grace through faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
But unbelief and rejection of this always meets up with the justice of God.
However, it is important to know that this passage in Romans 11 has nothing to do with the idea that we are now Israel, spiritual Israel or any other kind of Israel, as it is sometimes incorrectly believed and taught. We are simply members of what is called the Body of Christ. Again, this occurred by grace through faith in what Christ accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection, the provision God has made for all—both Jews and Gentiles. It is through what is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit that we’re brought into this union with one another and with Christ for now and forever.
1 Corinthians 12:13-14
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many. [Emphasis added]
The Old Testament prophets proclaimed that Israel would one day rise to a position of honor and glory to be a channel of blessing for the Gentiles. That all began with a man named Abram who later became known as Abraham.
Genesis 12:1-3
1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred [all being Gentiles], and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. [Emphasis added]
The complete fulfillment of this promise is yet future. But it surely will be perfectly fulfilled! No one need ever doubt that. God is not finished with Israel. The promise was initially given to Abram but confirmed many times since then [Exodus 19:3-6; Isaiah 2:2-4; Isaiah 60:1-3; Isaiah 61:6; Zechariah 8:20-23).
It is believed by some that believers today are this prophesied “kingdom of priests” mentioned in Scripture, but such is not the case. Such thinking has only added to the confusion. For one thing, a priest represents people before God. Today, we’re not representing anyone but Christ. We are by no means a “kingdom of priests” representing people of faith. Again, the apostle Paul tells us we are instead members of what is called the Body of Christ, being citizens of Heaven and not promised a new Earth on which to dwell as Israel is. Our home is now Heaven and always will be. We just haven’t taken up bodily residence there yet. Israel’s kingdom home is said to be OF Heaven but not IN Heaven.
Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom OF heaven is at hand. [Emphasis added]
The kingdom was “at hand” in terms of its nearness of fulfillment. That kingdom would have then come and been established if Israel had accepted her King. But because of their rejection, the kingdom has not been cancelled but postponed to a future time for fulfillment. The day will come when regenerate, born again Israel will get to enjoy that kingdom.
Unlike Israel of times past, our home as members of the Body of Christ is IN Heaven. We gained citizenship there the moment we were saved.
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation [POLITEUO = citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. [Emphasis added]
This is an important distinction between us and regenerate Israel in times past or in times future. What we now have is certainly a more intimate relationship with God than the one Israel had in the past and will have in the future. The arrangement we have with God today was “a mystery” [a secret] held in the mind of God until it was first revealed through the apostle Paul.
Ephesians 3:1-9
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me [Paul] to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery [MUSTERION = secret]; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as [HOS = showing contrast—it was not known to them at all AS it is now known fully to us] it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit [speaking of how it was first revealed through the apostle Paul’s teaching and people who then passed it on to others];
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: [Emphasis added]
For more information about this “fellowship of the mystery” that was first revealed to Paul, please see my article about it—
Mystery: What is the fellowship of the Mystery?
We call this Paul’s “mystery” program while we call Peter’s a “prophetic” program, an extremely important distinction Christendom fails to see and understand.
Acts 3:21
21 Whom the heaven must receive [speaking of Christ] until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. [Emphasis added]
This will all be fulfilled at what we speak of as Christ’s Second Coming. It is at that point that the earthly kingdom He promised to Israel will begin on a restored and new Earth that lasts for a thousand years. It is during this time frame that Satan and his angels are bound.
Revelation 20:1-10
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. [Emphasis added]
Following this will be what is called the final judgment or what is also called the Great White Throne judgment which will be for all unbelievers of all times. They are all then cast into the Lake of Fire to reside there in torment forever. They are even given a body in which they will suffer.
John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. [Emphasis added]
Romans 11 simply shows us a chapter in Israel’s history. In so much of it there was only disobedience to God. Then now today it is even worse because she has lost her position of privilege since the days of the apostle Paul’s ministry. The facts concerning what God was going to do in this time now was “a mystery” in that it was all a secret held in the mind of God. And for all this time He’s dispensed grace to the world instead of the deserved judgment. For the time being Israel is cast away.
Again, Romans 11:11-12
11 I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall [speaking of a PERMANENT spiritual fall]? God forbid [ME GENOITO = emphatically not]: but rather through their fall [PARAPTOMA = a false step, their spiritual stumble] salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them [Israel] to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness [PLEROMA = fulness]? [Emphasis added]
Yes, Israel is now temporarily a castaway fallen before God. All have become His enemies. But in this period the entire world has been offered a means to reconciliation. This is not offered through Israel but directly from God Himself.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
Now all people of all the nations equally can be “made nigh” unto God. Today there is no Israel to be grafted into. The situation has changed dramatically.
Ephesians 2:11-13
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. [Emphasis added]
Yes, Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection has made all this possible. Acceptance of this provision changes everything for anyone, Jew or Gentile. Faith alone in His provision provides for us the righteousness God’s justice demands for salvation. This justification comes to us only by faith in Christ and what He accomplished at the cross for us.
Romans 3:28-29
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: [Emphasis added]
It is by this that we have “peace” with God, that is, complete reconciliation.
Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [Emphasis added]
Yes, we now all have a lot to look forward to enjoying forever. And this status will never change, being perfectly secure forever.
Conclusion—
The subject of Romans 11:16-24 is how we as Gentiles have come to have complete access to God directly apart from Israel.
Ephesians 2:11-15
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; [Emphasis added]
It is because this which we speak of as the work of Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection that any one of us at any time can gain this personal access to God.
1 Timothy 2:3-6
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will [THELO = desires] have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. [Emphasis added]
After having learned about all this through the writings of the apostle Paul, we know that the full penalty for our sins was paid completely at the cross. Again, by putting our faith in what Christ accomplished there in His death, burial, and resurrection we have received this access and numerous blessings—justification, everlasting life, citizenship in Heaven and many others. You’ll find articles on our website where I discuss many of them. You’ll also find this information in the Ephesians video series—#213-#215 which is also linked to our website.
This direct access Gentiles now have will someday end. Just as Israel’s unbelief led to their fall, so it will be for the Gentiles in some future day. When this “dispensation of grace” ends on the occasion known as the Rapture, things will revert to the way they had been for centuries. Gentiles will then again have to go through Israel for God’s blessings. Israel will then be ultimately restored to her place of prominence.
