Alrighty, one thing should be pretty darn crystal clear by now.
In order to become a member of the Lord’s covenant community, circumcision is a non-negotiable requirement REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU’RE AN ETHNIC HEBREW OR A GENTILE.
Got it?
However, it is a circumcision of the heart, NOT the flesh, that’s important.
Why?
Because HASHEM ultimately wants changed hearts.
The real circumcision the Lord seeks is spiritual, not fleshly.
At this stage, Paul’s Olive Tree metaphor should be much more easier to understand.
Let’s take a quick look at it right now.
“But if some of the branches were broken off,
and you- a wild olive-
were grafted in among them
and have become equal sharers
in the rich root of the olive tree,
then don’t boast as if you were
better than the branches!
However, if you do boast,
remember that you are not
supporting the root,
the root is supporting you.
So you will say,
“Branches were broken off
so that I might be grafted in.”
True, but so what?
They were broken off because
of their lack of trust.
However, you keep your place
only because of your trust.
So don’t be arrogant;
on the contrary, be terrified!
For if God did not spare the
natural branches,
he certainly won’t spare you!
So take a good look at God’s
kindness and his severity:
on the one hand,
severity toward those who fell off;
but, on the other hand,
God’s kindness toward you
– provided you maintain yourself
in that kindness!
Otherwise, you too will be cut off!”
-Romans 11:17-22
Can you see how Paul is making the exact same point we’ve been studying in Joshua Chapter 5?
Paul is telling us that there are many native-born ethnic Hebrews who were made branches of the Olive Tree…meaning they were circumcised and saved.
But because of their rebellion, they were cut off and removed from the tree (a metaphor for falling away from God).
However, Paul warns that this can happen to anyone.
And his warning is especially directed to arrogant gentile believers who think they’re all hot stuff because they’ve been “saved by Christ”
He makes two points very clear to the arrogant gentile believer who harbors a condescending attitude towards an unbelieving Israel or Jews who have rejected Yeshua.
FIRST, Paul says, remember it is the root of Israel that is supporting your faith in the first place, so your arrogance is based on nothing but shifting sands.
SECOND, if you fail to maintain your trust in Hashem, YOU TOO will be broken off, so humbleness is in order here.
THIRD, when the time is right, God can easily graft the unbelieving members of Israel back into the Olive Tree.
In fact, Paul makes the point that it will much easier to do than grafting gentiles into the Olive Tree because they are “natural branches” who are being returned to what they already are as opposed to gentiles who are “wild branches”.
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