I have seen endless debates on this passage about the olive tree in Romans 11. The following is my attempt to speak on what it is that the Apostle Paul is speaking about in this more difficult portion of Scripture. It is especially difficult if we force belief systems into this passage rather than looking at what the passage says and refining our belief systems to what the Book says. Many use this passage to teach against security, or to teach “replacement theology”, and some to combat these teach this passage as in some way not applicable to us today. So now, let us dive in, right to Romans 11:13:
Romans 11:13 — For I speak to you GENTILES, inasmuch as I am the APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES, I magnify mine office:
Here Paul speaks to Gentiles as such. Not to saved Gentiles particularly, nor to unsaved Gentiles, but to Gentiles. He states this as having authority to speak to them because he is the apostle of the Gentiles. The position of apostle of the Gentiles was not a position grasped at, but a position given. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth Me; and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me” (John 13:20).
Acts 22:21 — “And [the Lord] said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
