The Apostle Paul shares a heart rending fact about how it is that the Covenant People, the Jews, are fallen into an apostate condition, even though they were chosen by God to be the vehicle of the salvation He was providing for all who believe. As we continue our study in the Epistle to the Romans, our Pastor Teacher, Landis Fisher delivers a message on this fascinating topic which he has titled: “Grafting To The True Vine”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Isaiah 5:1 – 7 (KJV)
Isa 5:1 Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
Isa 5:2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
Isa 5:3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
Isa 5:4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
Isa 5:5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
Isa 5:6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
Isa 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Romans 11:12 – 22 (KJV)
Rom 11:12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!
Rom 11:13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
Rom 11:14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.
Rom 11:15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Rom 11:16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.
Rom 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,
Rom 11:18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.
Rom 11:19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
Rom 11:20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
Rom 11:21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
Rom 11:22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) Viewing the family of the saved from the view of Scripture shows us a metaphoric concept of the Vine planted in the earth by God Himself, which is perpetual and attended to directly by God Himself through out all of time.
2) The people of Israel were cut out of the Gentiles from the beginning to become God’s “Choice Vine”; a people for God’s own possession; but upon their fall into unbelief, God chose to graft in once again, the Gentiles, but only for a season; ultimately Israel will again be grafted back in to the TRUE VINE, Who is Christ Jesus Himself.
3) God stands ready to graft in every believing heart, because it is not His desire that any should perish which is the reason He gave His Son, the True Vine , so that all who believe, Jew or Gentile, might be grafted in to the True Vine; There are always only two groups in the entire world; those who are operating in God’s grace under His blessing who we can say are ” Abiding in the Vine” or those who are cut off from the True Vine; which are you?
