Introduction

When reading this passage, one may wonder if they are reading the Bible or the Farmer’s Almanac or possibly even the Sunset Guide to Gardening. Why is Paul talking about Grafting to people in the church? At this time in Rome, due to the expansive road system, the crops harvested by the farmers and the community were easily distributed, making the agricultural industry the most significant employer in Rome. The Romans were farmers. So, the church in Rome knew plants. It is a natural thing for Paul to explain the complexities of the gospel through understood principles. Much like I can use Legos to explain the connection to kids today.
So, what did Paul say? Paul testifies. That the Gentile salvation wasn’t a second thought, but all humanity was the original intention of God all along.” Until a full number of gentiles”. How can that be? Am I contradicting what you have been taught in the past? If we were to look at Genesis, we would see that God desired to have relationship with all humanity, not just Adam and Eve. God wanted a partnership which made His glory known.
“Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air” Gen. 1:28. The partnership described in Genesis is what God wanted all along with mankind, Israel, and with us. We were not a reaction or a response to one person’s sin, but an elaborate plan of God, which displays our need for a Savior, then dispenses the grace to obtain the promise of sonship. Romans 11 is summed up in verses 25 and 26, presenting Paul’s purpose, passion, and promise to the church.

Purpose

Let’s look at these together to identify Paul’s purpose “I do not want you to be ignorant of the mysteries, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited.” At this time there was inti semitic efforts already taking place in Rome and an arrogance amongst the Romans that felt God moved on from the Jews and onto the Romans. It is easy, as Paul points out, to look at favor and forget the grace which brought it. Paul draws the reader back to the realization that grace is our “in-ness” with Christ.
Holiness only through obedience,
none of them were obedience,
none should be considered holy.
Christ was the only obedient one.
Christ is the only holy one because Christ is holy,
all who are in him is holy. It is not. About the branches, but the vine.

Passion

Paul continues with what he considers his life passion as he answers the call of God in his life. Paul writes,” I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry…” Paul’s passion was released relaying the good news to the Gentiles so that all may be saved. Paul is elated as he conveys the plan of God because it displays God’s pursuit of the Gentiles and draws the Israelites to return to the father who is not forgetting but pursuing them. “Israel has experienced a hardening, in part until the full number of Gentiles has come in” (25).

Promise

Here is a principle established by God to circumvent the lies of the devil, while utilizing as he promised to work out all things for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). I recognize this is difficult to entertain but, here is Paul’s promise to the church.
God’s grace, which is utilizing Israel’s disobedience to aluminate the motive and method of God to rescue, the people he loves will be at work in us as well. Paul highlights that apparent disregard for the father’s will, won’t go without consequences, nor does it go without grace.
Consequences
Disconnected from God.
Outside of God’s promises.
Wanderer, enslaved, oppressed.

Grace.
Opens opportunity for non-Jews.
Displays fuller understanding of God.
Evokes jealousy and arousing for a father.

Throughout scriptures the Lord hardens hearts to reveal Himself through decisive victories. This is grace!
1. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened by God driving the people to the water’s edge into the baptism of newness of life as they were taken through to the other side.
2. The prodigal son was separated from the father long before he left. Home. The leaving led to the returning.
3. The hardening of Judas led to the fulfillment of Scripture, leading the way to the cross.
4. Did the Israelites stumble beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, Because of their transgression, Salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
You have heard the phrase, your loss is my gain, but in scripture we see your loss is your gain when you are in Christ. It is through the door of loss that decisive victories are gained.

Summation

We are not an afterthought. We were desired by God from the beginning to be His partners in glory. All humanity was in His heart and mind at creation. Our inclusion and displays the full richness of God’s grace and our presence in the Kingdom prompts the desires of other hearts unto God.