GOD'S DEFINITE PLAN FOR ISRAEL

GOD'S DEFINITE PLAN FOR ISRAEL

By: Bishop Albert Gran

EXPOSITION OF ROMANS 11 (Part-4)

ROMANS 11:24-36

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

The context in this passage is yet describing between the natural olive tree (the prophetic Jews) and the wild olive tree (Jews in the mystery of the dispensation of grace)

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

What Paul is saying here is that if the Jews under the mystery in the dispensation of grace which in view of God's prophetic plan in time past were far off and yet today had gained salvation by the grace of God, how much more the prophetic Jews will be grafted again in the time when God will restore his plan on earth in the resumption of program through Israel above other people in other nations.

THE MYSTERY IN THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE IN PLACED ROMANS 11

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

This is the thing all teachers and preachers of God's word in our time must understand regarding God's program in the mystery all set for the Gentiles today. Today, is the time of the Gentiles of which people in all nations could have direct access to God's grace for their salvation and grandeur. Today is the period in which Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles took the greatest role to reveal God's heavenly plan for the entire humanity. The completeness of the Gentiles ended up when the time of the dispensation of grace, the mystery will come to end. This shall take in effect gradually and shall come to also diminish in like manner during the beginning period of the dispensation of grace.

The " blindness in part is happened to Israel" speaks the condition of the God's prophetic program of Israel ( natural olive tree) which was held in abeyance. This is the mystery that everyone must know. The branches are broken off of the wild olive tree which was grafted in ( The Jews who are saved by the grace of God with Paul the apostle)

The apostle Paul had reminded the Jews today about the mystery of which God's salvation which is sent to the Gentiles and that their prophetic privilege above people was cancelled and has to be resumed in time until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

Diminishing process in the culmination of the fulness of the Gentiles was obviously stated by Paul through apostasy and heeding to men's doctrines in view of people's behavior which in turn were for the flesh and its satisfaction when many turned to be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.

THE FUTURE PROPHETIC JEWS

God's dealing to Israel was so plain and that it would require so great deal of understanding how at present their prophetic program was suspended hence Paul had written the Jews in his time until today to listen to God through Paul and his gospel. However, God's plan for all Israel in His entire plan concerning the prophecy about them will continue.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

This is the future resumption of God's prophetic plan for Israel. Paul reiterated the fact addressing the Jews in his time that his gospel was held contrary in view of God's prophetic plan concerning them in TIME PAST and IN THE FUTURE. It's all the mystery truth they have to understand and must come to understand what is most fit for them today to follow Paul as he followed Christ and like Jew saved by God's grace.

His promise to the fathers is at all consistent and that after all they will stand as a nation and became the national channel of blessing when Christ shall restore his kingdom on earth in His second coming.

This is the wisest plan of God to whom the Jews in our time must consider and thought of deeply with great appreciation. Today's Jews were wild olive tree grafted under the program of God in the church the body of Christ along with the Gentiles who are saved by grace through faith by the apostleship and ministry of Paul.

The importance of understanding their status today will encourage them to understand the mystery of God's grace in the dispensation of grace through the apostle to the Gentiles, the apostle Paul.

Grace and peace...

THE NATURAL OLIVE TREE AND WILD OLIVE TREE: IT SPEAKS ABOUT GOD'S GENERAL PLAN FOR PROPHETIC ISRAEL AND ISRAEL IN THE MYSTERY

THE NATURAL OLIVE TREE AND WILD OLIVE TREE: IT SPEAKS ABOUT GOD'S GENERAL PLAN FOR PROPHETIC ISRAEL AND ISRAEL IN THE MYSTERY 

EXPOSITION IN ROMANS CHAPTER 11 (Part-3)

By: Bishop Albert Gran

Romans 11:15-21

15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

We have to be aware that Paul's tone had always been consistent to God's ultimate plan over the ages for the care of Israel. It's always been our pleasure to establish that which was sound in view of God's delineated purpose in the diverse ways he managed the Israel today for obtaining life eternal which is in accordance to God's most recent plan.

Notice the word "For" as continuously stated by Paul in Romans 11 as a word containing a laid out purpose and great intention pertinent to the issue which matters God's various dispensing plan from ages to ages.

CASTING AWAY OF ISRAEL

15 For if the casting away of them [Israel] be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Let's be keen to observe that still the issue of character in this verse is "Israel" along with God's prophetic dealing with them as something "fall", "diminishing", and "casting away".

Paul had stated this condition with the fate of Israel intended by God or in other words planned for him to express His heavenly purpose which he kept secret since the world began, Romans 16:5, Eph. 3:9,  (dispensation of grace).

What turns out in the time of Paul is one of the real scenes of the prophetic Israel as being cast away which denote God's blessed condition way back in time past as of who they were before the Gentiles in other nations ( Deut. 14:12, 26:19, 28:1; Romans 9:1-5)

The reality in Paul's time is the casting away of Israel (prophetic program for Israel) and then with that be the condition the world's reconciliation program. It's all in this time that resurrection is in view reconciling the world into himself with Paul as God's instrument to carry out this heavenly purpose for both Jews and Gentiles ( 2 Cor. 5:16-18).  

FIRST FRUIT RESURRECTION 

-----but life from the dead? This is the focal presentation of Paul by which God's program to the entire humanity has been carried out. All people were declared lost and needing God's grace for life eternal (through cross-work of Christ) 

6 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

The firstfruit that is holy is Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Christ is all in effect of God's two-fold program which are both prophecy and mystery.

1 Corinthians 15:20King James Version (KJV)

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

It's in the message of the apostle Paul through which the declaration of God's resurrection and victory was declared all dead's or those who were slept's grandeur by the faith of the gospel. Again Paul is describing the resurrection event with Christ being called the firsfruits of them that slept.

Paul is describing that those all who have life by believing the truth of the gospel, Christ was made them a pattern of resurrection.

The firstfruit, lump, root, branches made up an olive tree which describes God's plan over the ages (it's entirely addressed to Israel). The entire plan of God throughout Israel was described like a AN OLIVE TREE ( the natural and wild) wherein the firsfruit signifies Christ as the pattern of resurrection for life eternal.

THE BROKEN OFF BRANCHES: PROPHETIC ISRAEL  

WILD OLIVE TREE: JEWS BELIEVERS (ISRAEL) IN THE BOC 

 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

It's so significant to consider that it's not all the branches be broken off but "some" (prophetic Israel). The ...some of the branches be broken off  appertains to the prophetic Jews who did not believe their Messiah and his redemptive plan including his resurrection and hoped for the earthly kingdom however was held in abeyance due to the grafted in of the wild olive tree which signifies the believing Jews in the most recent program of grace who were keen to respond the message of grace with Paul.

Here, Paul speaks of the two-fold Jews of which one refers to the natural branches in view of prophetic Israel and the second group pertains to wild olive tree which categorically comprised of Jews who believed the gospel of the grace of God with Paul. The phrases "wert grafted IN AMONG THEM, and WITH THEM partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;  

"In among them", and "with them" simply gave us clear understanding they were one Olive tree ( natural and wild- all in reference to Israel, the prophetic and mystery Jews) But the one's which was grafted is the wild Olive tree (same Jews however grafted in the program of which they were saved by the grace of God through the message delivered by Paul)

JEWS IN THE MYSTERY- SAVED BY GRACE MUST NOT BOAST   

18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

The question is: Who will boast not against the branches which were broken off? It is the wild olive tree (mystery program Jews saved by grace through Paul's ministry).  But if THOU (wild olive tree- Jews in the mystery program) boast, THOU bearest not the root, but the root THEE.

Paul pointed out that the root is Israel through which the prophetic program was held in abeyance and that the recent Jews who were saved by the grace of God today, and were grafted in the BOC  in this dispensation of grace bears the same root of the tree with some branches which were broken off (Jews under prophetic program-before their fall in Acts 7 ). 

19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

The Jews who were members of the BOC today must not boast they were mostly privileged today compared to the prophetic Jews whose program was held in abeyance, and that made Paul starred as the in-charge apostle pertinent therein or in this recent dispensation.    

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Because the natural branches (prophetic Jews) were broken off due to unbelief (Father, Son, and HS were rejected) they were broken off (held in abeyance---supremacy program suspension), and THOU STANDEST BY FAITH ( Jews in the mystery program with Paul who were saved by grace). Paul here emphasized clearly how these Jews were grace believers as they stand by faith. They're not standing by works but by grace and so these were Jews who were believers of God's grace with Paul.

These grace-believing Jews were called by Paul not to be highminded for the sole purpose and reason as stated below: 

21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

This is not a verse stating the loosing of salvation or to strengthen those who will not believe eternal security. However, Paul warned them at the onset that if God suspended the prophetic program of the supreme Israel, time will come he will also end up the program of the dispensation of grace. Thus, today's Jews must believe the gospel delivered by the apostle Paul for their salvation and so obtain life eternal.

CLING TO THE SEVERITY OF GOD IN THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE  

 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

Paul had charged today's Jews (wild olive tree grafted) to recognize the goodness of God due to His consistent dealing with them by the grace of God through the apostleship of Paul. They must not go back to the law and adhere the prophetic conditions regarding them. Instead, they must recognize and embrace the most recent program through which they might be saved through the grace of God and His cross-work.

It is simply by believing that he died on the cross, and that he was buried and resurrected on the third day that today's Jews (wild olive tree being grafted) will surely become member of the church the body of Christ which is the mystery of God for both Jews and Gentiles in the Body of Christ.

When this dispensation of grace ends, the supreme Israel will be restored back and the natural branches will be grafted in again. This is the time of the resumption of God's prophetic plan with Israel to fulfill His plan on earth.

Grace and Peace!!!     

 

  

    

PROPHETIC ISRAEL IS BLINDED AND HAD FALLEN: OUR SALVATION

PROPHETIC ISRAEL IS BLINDED AND HAD FALLEN: OUR SALVATION TODAY 
By: Bishop Albert Gran

EXPOSITION IN ROMANS CHAPTER 11 (Part-2)

ROMANS 11:7-14

7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

It's so plain that Paul enabled us today's teachers and grace believers how God's prophetic plan for the nation Israel was a failure "hath not obtained that which he seeketh for". What do you think Paul meant this statement; "but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." 

It's in truth that Paul had been emphasizing to an election about grace of which many in Paul's time and in our most recent time became so ignorant. Paul is not saying here that they were blinded concerning God's continuous program for Israel in view of that which was spoken by the mouth of the prophets or in view of prophecy. They were blinded of the fact that today apart from works they could be saved by the grace of God and that they could become members of the church the Body of Christ and therefore become remnant according to the election of grace. Although Paul is citing a passage in the Old testament about these things, however it's to show a parallel truth what situation they might obtain IN THE MOST RECENT TIME when Israel get saved by the grace of God of whom Paul is the apostle. They were blinded in the context how Israel today could be saved through the gospel delivered by Paul.  

ISRAEL'S FALL

   12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

Relative to the statements beforehand how they were so blinded, it's the fact however to let us grace preachers and teachers believed the present "fallen" situation of the nation Israel in consonance and in view of God's prophetic plan for them. Their fall turned out for world's riches. This of course included the Israelites as they were part of the world. It's the essence wherein their being supreme to other nations was held weightless and unimportant in the context of God's plan today. In Acts 7-8, it is Israel fall until its diminishing status along with Paul's pronouncement when salvation was sent to the Gentiles ( In Acts 9-28). Paul significantly pointed out the time frame that "Now" even when he wrote the book of Romans, it is the "fall of Israel" (and yet Israel will be saved by God's grace through Paul). Their "fulness" speaks about the resumption in the world to come when their blessedness above other people shall be restored.

PAUL'S PLEA TODAY

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

Now that the nation Israel fell off and God's prophetic plan was diminished, Paul's authority has been magnified towards the Gentiles but not only to them as he's also an apostle to the Jews for making them abide in the alection according to God's grace. The riches of the world turned out to declare the offering of God's grace for the salvation of all men. (both Jews and Gentiles)

Though Paul had spoken to the Gentiles concerning God's denouement plan through him and his apostleship for the Gentiles, yet he hoped there would be among his kinsmen not blinded about the truth of their salvation in accordance to the truth of the gospel of God's grace in the dispensation of grace which he preached.

What blessedness one might attain in this life today? It's all simply by believing to the truth of the gospel delivered by Paul.

Grace and peace to all...

  

   

         

A REMNANT JEW IN TIME OF GRACE

 A REMNANT JEW IN TIME OF GRACE

EXPOSITION IN ROMANS 11 (Part-1)

By: Bishop Albert Gran 

Romans 11King James Version (KJV)

11 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Romans 11 is one most fascinating chapter which contains Paul's recent directives regarding the status and condition of the nation Israel. It Is God's most recent revelation in the time called "But Now" to delineate with Paul what seems to be a doctrine purports along Israel's current standing in the dispensation of grace.

In verse 1, Paul stated a remark that being a Benjamite (as his particular tribe) he then avail the privileged blessing of God's care by including him in the heavenly provision of God's most recent plan in this dispensation of grace.

11 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin

It is to reiterate the fact that in our recent dispensation of grace, any Jew regardless of tribe could also have access of blessedness same as Paul the apostle to the Gentiles had obtained. However, it is in the condition wherein the "mystery truth" is in view and no longer the "nation-emphasized" view of obtaining blessings which is the Abrahamic covenant "I will bless----I will curse" principle. 

2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

We have to be very clear that the essence through which Paul declared the issues of election to Israel has no emphasis to mean the prophecy about them was fulfilled in the time of Paul when wrote these things about Israel in respect to God's election with them. It has an illustration stating similar condition under the dispensation of grace that Israel could also obtain salvation by the grace of God if they would hearken to Paul's "my gospel".

Again, Paul made it clear that although he spoke these things concerning the nation of Israel as God's elect, yet he spoke about their election of grace after their fall. It means to say that it's no longer in view of getting saved through the truth of circumcision and or by being servant of the law according to the law and the prophets, but their becoming remnant speaks in wise concerning what they avail in the time when Paul had received a new revelation and set him a pattern as a Jew who is saved by grace without works. They were called remnant according to the election of grace.  

 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Paul here proved the fact that IN THIS PRESENT TIME, Israel could still avail the salvation after their NATIONAL FALL. It's a measure to consider what reigns today and the gospel in view is that which was preached by the apostle Paul for all lost sinners in this world including the Jews. There is no nation so special by God today and thus, he made all men place in a conclusion to be all in unbelief and need so great salvation from God.

When a Bible teacher teaches you that Paul is talking about the nation Israel which is still in view in Paul's epistles and that there's neither changed happened in God's dealing, then they had taught a false notion about God's plan with Paul. 

Israel had been a recipient of God's grace today trough the mystery truth which was made secret by the sons of men in time past.

It's only the grace of God which is no more of works that made today's Israel spared for the wonderful and blissful fate in the ages to come in the heavenly.

When you look after a remnant Jew in our time, it's he who was saved by the grace of God.

Grace and Peace...