The vast majority of Bible believing Christians today think “the Olive Tree” of Romans 11 represents Israel and that “the church, the body of Christ” has been grafted into Israel. I will explain why this is not so. Once again, we need to see what exactly Romans 11 says in its full context.
By Arthur J Licursi
Before one can be saved from eternal damnation they need to know and acknowledge their true condition, as to how they are seen in God’s eyes. Who can receive and answer until they first come to the question… which is, “Is man able to save himself?”
God’s word gives us the answer starting with the revelation of our true condition, apart from His Salvation.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
Paul’s words tell us how the Lord reacts to our failing (sinning)… He does NOT React. He simply permits the flowering of what we’ve sown into our lives.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption (the natural ruin of sin); but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap (of the) life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7-8).
The order of the three coming resurrections, according to the Holy Scriptures, are as follows:
This glorious resurrection will take place in the course of the Rapture of the Church (below). It will include those who are “in Christ” from the time of the Apostle Paul to the sound of “the trump” (cf. 1Cor. 15:51-53).
“Therefore, My Beloved Brethren, Be Ye Stedfast, Unmoveable, Always Abounding In The Work Of The Lord, Forasmuch As Ye Know That Your Labour Is Not In Vain In The Lord” (I Cor. 15:58).
What wonderful words of assurance! Who among us has not felt, at some time or another, that our labor for the Lord is in vain? At such times, what a comfort it is to rest in this unconditional, unqualified, God-given guarantee that our labors for Him are not in vain!
But how could Paul say such a thing, in light of his words to the Galatians, where he said,
Since God is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Pet. 3:9) and His Spirit works to “(draw) to Himself every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9), everyone has the option to be saved from “everlasting destruction” (2Thes. 1:9). The Lord seeks for every individual to do what He did with Lydia, “whose heart the Lord opened” (Acts 16:14): drawing him or her to a personal decision of saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
How does God’s foreknowledge and man’s free will work together? This is a core question since apart of free-will, man would be but an automaton or robot.
All genuine Christians must have had faith for salvation by grace through faith in Christ as Savior. Yet, the plan of God is to also renew and sanctify or set apart our soul’s mindset unto Him. This is called sanctification, which is accomplished in the very same way of faith in Christ for His accomplishment “in us.” “As (in the same way) ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so (also) walk ye in him: (Colossians 2:6)
When the Babylonian multitudes prostrated themselves in worship before the golden god which Nebuchadnezzar had erected, three young Hebrews refused to bow and remained standing, erect and alone.
When called before Nebuchadnezzar to answer for their impudence and threatened with death in a fiery furnace, they answered:
“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us… But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Dan. 3:17,18).
“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of (from) Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” (Romans 3:22 (KJV)
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of (from) the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 (KJV)