Romans 11: 1 - 36 (Olive Tree Root and the Mystery)
1) God has not forsaken His Chosen people but is currently offering salvation to the Gentiles by faith in the finished work of Christ.
A) How are the unnatural/Gentile branches grafted into the olive tree? (Galatians 3: 7-14)
B) What are the Biblical discrepancies between ethnic Israel and the Church (The mystery revealed found only in Paul’s writings, who was called by Jesus Christ to be the Apostle to the Gentiles… tutored by Christ, separated from the other 11 Apostles)? (Galatians 1:11-21, Acts 9:15-16)
1) Marriage: Israel - Wife of God (Jeremiah 31: 31-32)… Church - Bride of Christ (II Corinthians 11:2)
2) Israel - Birthed Jesus Christ in physical form… Jesus Christ - birthed the Church as a spiritual witness of Himself upon the earth in physical form.
3) Christ’s return - Israel - 2nd Coming… The Church - Rapture
4) Scripture - 4/5’s written to ethnic Israel (Hebrew) … 1/5 Written to Gentiles (Greek).
5) Birthdate - Israel - Genesis 12… Church - Acts 2.
6) Christ’s Leadership role - Israel - King & Messiah… Church - Groom & Head of the Body
7) Temple - Israel - Physical… Church - Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19).
8) Israel - Physical Nation … The Church - the spiritual body of Christ.
9) Calendar of prophecy - Israel - Specific and literal prophecies… The Church - no specific prophecy, calendar or time line.
10) Israel - was given the prophets, the law, and the covenant promises of God - The Church - was given a hidden mystery (Gospel-salvation of the Gentiles/temporary hardening of the Nation of Israel) not revealed in the Old Testament but only to the Apostle Paul under the new Covenant (Romans 16: 25-27)
11) Military weapons - Israel is a political nation that will fight and has fought wars in the earthly realm… The Church - fights spiritual battles but not with carnal weapons. (Ephesians 6:12-18).
12) Priesthood - Israel - The Levites - with a literal physical temple inside of a physical nation with literal boundaries … The Church - Jesus Christ is the High Priest sitting at the right hand of the Father making intercession for the saints (Hebrews 4:14-16)
C) Salvation has come to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! God has not forgotten His promises to Israel.
Discussion Question: Is Christ enough for Salvation and righteousness… if not… do we need to place our faith in the finished work of the cross… plus what else?
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Production, Editor and Cover Art: Susan Cofer Fell
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