Unity in Christ: The Olive Tree Metaphor

The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of an olive tree to illustrate the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. The root, representing Abraham, is holy, and thus the branches, symbolizing the people of God, are also holy. Some branches, representing unbelieving Jews, have been broken off due to unbelief, while Gentiles, depicted as wild olive branches, have been grafted in. [00:00:21]

The olive tree is not the Jewish nation itself but represents the spiritual people of God, encompassing both Jews and Gentiles who believe. This interpretation aligns with the broader biblical narrative that God's people are one, transcending ethnic and national boundaries. The church is not a new entity but a continuation of God's covenant people, rooted in the promises made to Abraham. [00:11:47]

The Apostle Paul emphasizes that while the Jews have a special historical position as the first branches, they do not have a separate or superior status in God's kingdom. The same grace that grafts Gentiles into the olive tree will also restore the Jews. This unity in Christ underscores the oneness of God's people, who share in the same blessings and promises. [00:41:18]

The blessings of being part of the olive tree are the same for all believers, regardless of their background. These blessings include being part of God's covenant people, sharing in the promises made to Abraham, and receiving the life-giving nourishment of the root. This unity in blessing underscores the oneness of God's people. [00:33:10]

Salvation has always been by faith, as demonstrated by Abraham, the father of faith. This principle remains unchanged, affirming that both Old and New Testament believers are saved through faith in God's promises. This truth challenges any notion of salvation by works or ethnic privilege. [00:29:07]

The church is not something entirely new. Many people make that false statement, saying the church is something absolutely new. There was no such thing at all until you come to the New Testament times. Here, we are shown very plainly and very clearly that that is quite wrong. [00:24:59]

God's people are always one. They are one in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. The Olive Tree didn't come into being in the New Testament. The olive tree has been there since Abraham. He is the root. So, it's been going since then. You mustn't say that the people of God start after Calvary. [00:27:39]

There is only one way of Salvation, and it's always been the same one. The Apostle proves that in chapter 4. He says your father Abraham was saved by faith. There has never been a way of Salvation except that by faith, never. Here, he puts it in the picture of the Olive Tree. [00:29:07]

The Jews have a special position in this matter because, after all, they were the first or the natural branches. At first, the Olive Tree consisted of them and of them alone. Abram and his own natural progeny, the Gentiles, were right outside. The first branches, after all, in this Olive Tree were entirely and solely Jews. [00:41:18]

The blessings which all who belong to the Olive Tree are always the same blessings. That follows, doesn't it? Root and fatness of the Olive Tree, that's where it all comes from. It rises there in the sap. There comes the life, the nutrient. Well, it's always the same. It was the same at the very beginning. [00:33:10]

The Apostle tells us in many places that when the Gentiles believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, they're not only grafted into this Olive Tree, into the people of God, but because of that, they become Abraham's children and they begin to share in all the blessings of this Covenant people of God. [00:22:05]

The Apostle is concerned to teach that the Jews, speaking in a national sense, have something special and unique about their position. Now, we mustn't lose sight of this. The danger is to make either too much or too little of the position of the Jews. I'm now dealing with the danger of making too little of it. [00:41:18]