Grafted by Grace: Rooted in God’s Unchanging Covenant
Romans 11:25-26
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
"The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob"
Q: Is "The Church" Israel?
A: The Church is not identical to Israel, but it is closely related in God’s redemptive plan.
Let me see if I can explain.
In Romans 11, Paul distinguishes between ethnic Israel (the Jewish people) and Gentile believers, using the olive tree metaphor. And being a professional tree hugger, I always love tree metaphors. Paul’s olive tree imagery is a gem! Paul reveals a "mystery": a partial hardening has come upon Israel (ethnic Jews) until the "fullness of the Gentiles" (a complete number of Gentile believers) comes in. Then, "all Israel will be saved," fulfilled by the Deliverer (Jesus) who will "banish ungodliness from Jacob" (quoting Isaiah 59:20).
Paul, using the olive tree metaphor shows that ethnic Israel as the "natural branches," some broken off due to unbelief, and Gentiles as "wild branches" are grafted in through faith. This suggests a distinction between Israel and the Gentiles, even as they share the same "tree" (God’s covenant people). And knowing what I know about grafting, I absolutely understand that they are different. Simply put, when I graft a "scion" (a desired variation) to a "root stock" (a related species), I understand that I have not replaced the root. In fact, the rootstock absolutely controls the life of the scion. And on top of that influence, the rootstock is chosen because were the scion to be grown on its own natural root it would be weaker. What that means is, the horticulturalist selects both the scion for its unique characteristics AND the root stock for its unique characteristics. And he joins them together to produce the EXACT desired results.
So, how does this enhance our understanding of so called "replacement theology"?
Replacement theology posits this idea that "The Church" has fully replaced or superseded (supersessionism) ethnic Israel as God’s covenant people, inheriting all of Israel’s promises (e.g., land, the kingdom, God's promised blessings), with Israel no longer having a distinct role in God’s plan. And simply put, in light of this grafting theme, people who follow this replacement theory are suggesting that the scion has replaced the rootstock. And of course this is absolutely wrong. In fact the rootstock produced, supports, feeds, and upholds everything that the scion has going for it. Without the rootstock the scion will fail. In addition to that, the scion does not change the characteristics of the rootstock. The only impact the scion has is on everything growing above the graft. Everything below that graft remains rootstock.
So, let's explore this idea more.
In Romans 11, Paul’s olive tree metaphor illustrates God’s covenant people:
Rootstock (Israel’s Covenant, the Abrahamic covenant):
The "root" represents the Abrahamic covenant, (Genesis 12, 15, 17), promises, and spiritual heritage of ethnic Israel (Romans 9:4-5), and (ultimately the Messiah, Galatians 3:16). It's the foundation of our faith, "producing, supporting, feeding, and upholding" the tree. Notice the rootstock is rooted in God's covenant. This is why the church cannot replace Israel, because God's covenant cannot be replaced and Israel is the natural outgrowth of that rootstock. So, the covenant is the foundational characteristic of the rootstock, and ethnic Israel grows out of that as His natural chosen people.
Natural Branches (Ethnic Israel):
Some are broken off due to unbelief (11:20), but the rootstock remains vital, and they can be re-grafted (11:23-24). They aren't regrafted into the new (Church) scion, but into their natural rootstock. They remain. They are the remnant. God's sovereignty saves and preserves them. Thereby providing for them a future in the plan of God. Ethnic Israel, as God’s chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6-8), is the "natural outgrowth" of this covenant, tied to its promises (Romans 9:4-5: "the covenants, the law, the promises" ). The "remnant" (Romans 11:5) and the potential for re-grafting (11:23-24) show God’s sovereign preservation of Israel, ensuring their future role in His kingdom.
Wild Branches (the Gentile scion):
Grafted in through faith (11:17), they rely on the rootstock’s nourishment, not their own strength. They inherit a place in God's plan, sharing the covenant’s blessings (Ephesians 2:12-13).
God's Future Plan:
A "partial hardening" affects Israel until the "fullness of the Gentiles" comes in, then "all Israel will be saved" (11:25-26), showing ethnic Israel’s distinct role. Then, "all Israel will be saved" (11:26, quoting Isaiah 59:20), affirming ethnic Israel’s distinct role in God’s redemptive climax.
The rootstock (Israel’s covenant) remains unchanged below the graft, providing life to the scion (Gentiles). The Church depends on Israel’s spiritual heritage, not vice versa.
Romans 11:18
"you do not support the root, but the root supports you"
Israel is not grafted into the scion (The Church). It is a natural branch. Their covenant is the "foundational characteristic" of the rootstock, with Israel as its natural outgrowth, which drives home why the Church cannot replace Israel.
The covenant (root) is God’s unbreakable commitment (Galatians 3:17), and Israel’s identity as His chosen people flows directly from it. Romans 11:18 ("you do not support the root, but the root supports you" ) underscores that the Church (Gentile believers) depends on this covenantal root, not vice versa.
The Master horticulturist (God) joins the scion and the rootstock for His "exact desired results," blending unique traits together in His kingdom. The Church and Israel are unified in one covenant people (the olive tree kingdom), but their roles remain distinct. Replacement theology attempts to erase this distinction, ignoring the natural branches’ enduring connection to the rootstock and the scion’s dependence on it.
Horticulturally, this is nonsense, the scion dies without the rootstock’s support, and the rootstock’s identity persists below the scion's graft.
Theologically, it’s equally flawed. The covenant (rootstock) is God’s unchanging promise, with Israel as its natural outgrowth (Romans 9:4-5).
The Church (scion) is grafted into this covenant, not a new one, and depends on its nourishment (11:17-18). The new covenant (scion) is the grafting into the old covenant (rootstock).
Ethnic Israel’s future salvation (11:26) confirms their distinct role, not replacement.
In conclusion:
The Church, as the grafted scion, depends on Israel’s covenant, it does not replace it. Romans 11:19-26 shows God’s plan as inclusive, uniting Gentiles with Israel’s covenant while preserving Israel’s distinct future. It’s God’s perfect orchard, where the rootstock’s strength and the scion’s inclusion produce His desired harvest.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You are the divine Horticulturist, crafting Your redemptive plan with sovereign wisdom and boundless grace. Thank You for the unbreakable root of Your covenant, established through Abraham and fulfilled in Christ, which nourishes and sustains Your people. We stand in awe that You have grafted us, wild branches, into the rich heritage of Israel’s promises, not to replace but to share in Your salvation. Humble our hearts, Lord, to honor Israel’s enduring role and to cling to Your kindness through faith. Preserve Your remnant, and fulfill Your promise that all Israel will be saved. May we, as one tree, bear fruit for Your glory, rooted in Your unchanging love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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