Grafted in by Faith

“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,” -Romans 11:17

Picking up from his second illustration, Paul begins a longer discourse directed primarily at the Gentiles, warning them not to be haughty in their position but to be humble. He calls them “a wild olive shoot” that has been grafted in among the natural branches (the Jewish believers). The Gentiles now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, which is Christ himself.

In what follows, Paul will tell them not to be arrogant but to be fearful, remembering:

• who is the root and who is the branch (vs 18)
• that that their standing is by faith (vs 19-20)
• how God dealt with the natural branches (vs 21)
• both the kindness and the severity of the Lord (vs 22)
• that those Jews who believe will be grafted back in (vs 23)
• that the Jews were part of the tree naturally and will be again assuredly (vs 24).