creation and conveniently located in the suburbs of Jerusalem.
Paul provides the explanation in Romans 9 through 11. In Romans
11, we are reminded in verse one that God has not rejected His
people. Already, when Paul is writing to the Romans, he was
writing to the Gentile Christians, primarily, in that Gentile city.
He is saying, “You want to know how the gospel came to you?
Well let’s get first things first. God has not rejected His people.”
It wasn’t that Israel was God’s plan A and you, the Church, are
God’s plan B. God has not rejected His people.
In verse 5, Paul reminds the Romans that God has always had a
remnant according to God’s gracious choice. In verse 11 of that
great chapter, he says that “salvation nonetheless has come to
the Gentiles,” and in verse 17, he tells us it is because the Gentiles
have not been a replacement tree for the tree of Israel; we have
been grafted on the tree of Israel. Paul is saying, “Yes it is true and
there is horror and judgment in this, there have been branches
that have been broken off, but there are branches that have been
added to the glory of God.” He described the Gentiles as the
branches of a wild olive tree, who are now partakers with them
of the rich root of the olive tree of Israel. Thus, you see it is the
Gentile Church, it is Gentile Christians, who are grafted on to
the tree that was not rejected but is now completed. What then
does Paul say to the Gentile Christians in verse 18? “Do not be
arrogant to the branches.” Do not be arrogant to the tree. Do not
be conceited, but fear. Remember how the apostles addressed
the Gentiles who were within their hearing in Acts 2 and in Acts 4
(and Paul in Acts 13:16)? They said: “Men of Israel and those who
fear God.” If you fear God, you will never slander Him as saying He
has rejected His own people. To the Jew first.
Peter, again in Acts chapter 2, makes this clear. In his second
sermon in Acts chapter 3, he expands it further. In speaking to
the House of Israel in verse 26 he says, “This was for you first,”
speaking to the Jews, “but it wasn’t for you only.” In Acts chapter
2, it is that ingathering that gives me so much hope. There is such
28 | To the Jew First