Friday, April 23, 2021

Israel's Commonwealth and the Grafting

Israel's Commonwealth and the Grafting


The condition of Gentiles in the world was deplorable. They were separated from Christ, had no access to the spiritual blessings of the commonwealth of Israel and were without hope and salvation.

Eph 2:11-12 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)-- (12) remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

It was not so with Israel. Israel had the Covenants and the promises, which included both spiritual and physical blessings for Israel, including salvation.

Rom 3:2, Rom 9:4-5 ... First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. .... Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. (5) Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.


The Wall of Partition

Until Christ came, there was a "wall of partition" between Israel and Gentiles that prevented Gentiles from being beneficiaries of Israel's source of blessing, or commonwealth. That wall was the Mosaic Law with it's commands and regulations which detailed the path to salvation and blessing. Prior to this wall coming down, Gentiles could only benefit from Israel's commonwealth by becoming proselytes to Judaism, essentially "becoming Jews" and submitting to the Law of Moses.

When the ordinances of Judaism contained in the Law of Moses were made inoperative through Christ's shed blood, the Gentiles became beneficiaries of spiritual blessings of Israel's commonwealth through faith in Christ. In this way, the Gentiles were blessed according to God's promise to Abraham that he would be a blessing to the nations.

Eph 2:13-15 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (14) For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, (15a) by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. ....

Rather than Gentiles becoming Jewish proselytes to benefit from Israel's commonwealth, a new entity was created, His body which was one new humanity consisting of Jew and Gentile.

Eph 2:15-16 (15b) His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, (16) and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Jesus' atonement for sin on behalf of all people, Jews as well as Gentiles, took away the separation between Jew and Gentile and put them on equal footing, and took away the enmity due to the advantages of the Jews. Gentiles now had equal access to the Father through the Holy Spirit, and no longer needed to become proselytes to enjoy the benefits of Israel's commonwealth. Jew and Gentile were now reconciled with each other.

Eph 2:18-19 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (19) Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household,

This work on the part of Christ opened the way for the spiritual blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant to come to the Gentiles. Thus Gentiles became beneficiaries of Israel's commonwealth.

Gal 3:8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."

 

The Commonwealth

The commonwealth of Israel is the source of both spiritual and physical blessing to Israel. Israel's blessings include the spiritual blessing of the Holy Spirit as well as physical blessing of rulership in the Millennial Kingdom, and the land in which to rule from.

Rom 3:2, Rom 9:4-5 ... First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. .... Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. (5) Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

Gen 12:7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Gentiles share in the spiritual blessings with Israel in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Eph 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Rom 15:27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.


The Grafting

The concept of Israel's commonwealth is corroborated in Paul's metaphor of being grafted into the rich root of the olive tree. The olive tree in this metaphor consist of the branches and root of the tree, national Israel, believing Gentiles, and the source of blessing and privilege. The rich root is the same place of blessing as Israel's commonwealth. Israel's commonwealth is the nourishing rich root.

Rom 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,

(See https://www.shasta.edu/uploads/1/6/7/0/16705804/romans_11_and_the_olive_tree_metaphor.pdf).

Gentiles are grafted into the nourishing rich root, among the other branches. The other branches represent believing Jews and unbelieving Jews.

Gentiles who are born again believers and are grafted into the rich root / Israel's commonwealth share with believing Israel the spiritual benefit of the Holy Spirit.

It is important to note here that the benefit of sharing in Israel's rich root does not change a Gentiles identity to Israel or spiritual Israel. Believing Gentiles are still Gentiles, and continued to be called so by the disciples.

Act 13:16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!

Act 13:26 "Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.

Rom 15:27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

Scripture states that from a spiritual perspective, we are children of Abraham. Abraham is the father of many nations, including Israel. Scripture never calls Gentiles children of Jacob.

Gal 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Believing Jews are the ones that are still attached to the rich root. These are today's Messianic Jews who are enjoying the spiritual blessing of the Holy Spirit, and look forward to their physical blessings of the land of Israel and rulership from there.

Unbelieving Jews are the ones who have been cut off from the rich root. These are today's secular Jews who have not yet accepted Christ as Messiah.

 

Conclusion

Israel's commonwealth of Eph 2:12 and the rich root of Rom 11:17 are the same source of blessing. The commonwealth is Israel's. Gentiles, as beneficiaries, share the spiritual blessings from it.



 

No comments:

Post a Comment