Grafted Into God’s Family

The major theme of the book of Romans is the unity of both Jews and Gentiles (us) in God’s family.

“Some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with then of the rich root of the olive tree – Romans 11:17.

In Genesis 12:3 and 28:14, God promised Abraham and his generations that “all people on earth will be blessed through you.” God chose Israel to be the nation that would witness Him to the World. But Israel rejected God and His Messiah Jesus, choosing legalism over faith. Salvation through grace, by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on our behalf and not on the basis of works (Romans 11:6). And by faith we he gentiles have been grafted into God’s family.

Grafting is a horticultural technique used to join two plants so they can be grown into one. Paul uses this metaphor of the grafting of the olive tree to explain the union of Jews and gentiles in Gods family. In the Old Testament, the olive tree was often used to symbolize Israel. This olive tree was cultivated and nurtured by God, but because of their disbelief and fruitlessness, God cut off the barren branches and grafted in the wild olive branches -the gentiles, that we may partake in the riches of God’s kingdom and draw the rest of the tree into fruitfulness (Romans 11:11).

As a wild olive that has been grafted and joined into God’s family by His divine grace, we have to take caution and fulfill our responsibility.

• Do not be conceited: Our being united into God’s family is the partial fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham that through his offering, the entire world would be blessed. Do not be puffed up in pride at your election into God’s family.

Romans 11:21 tells us, “For if God did not share the natural branches, He will not spare you either.” And Proverbs 16:5 says, “The Lord detests the proud.

Understanding that we are saved by grace and not by anything we can boast about, we need to stay humble in our service to the Lord.

• Do not fall into disbelief: It is disbelief that did not allow the children of Israel to enter God’s rest (Hebrews 3:18-29), disbelief that prompted God to break off branches from the cultivated olive tree (Romans 11:17). Be cautious, “that none of you has a sinful unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God, hardened by sins deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:12-13).
• Continue in God’s kindness: We should have a reverential fear of the awesome God who saved us from eternal death and calls us into fellowship with Jesus.

In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul reminds us, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Without God’s goodness, there is no hope.

• Be fruitful: Jesus said in John 15:5-6, “I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears must fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch that is dried up. Such branches are picked up and thrown into the fire and burned.“

God expects us to be fruitful in His kingdom. We are not called to be passive, but to be powerful witnesses of Jesus to the world. Bringing many to the joy of the Lord.