What blessings have the Gentiles received through being grafted in?
Through being grafted in, Gentiles were made partakers of the fatness of the Abrahamic promises, enjoying all the possibilities of salvation and blessing that Israel once had. They were brought in by grace despite being wild, unproductive, and pagan, not because of any merit, and they are warned not to presume.
Les teaches that Gentiles were a wild olive tree by nature—unproductive and pagan—so God had no reason to bring them in except grace. He grafted them into the good olive tree and made them a part of the fatness of the Abrahamic promises, letting them enjoy all the possibilities of salvation and blessing that Israel at one time had. But he warns that if Gentiles reject this like Israel did, they too will be cut off; the day is coming when God stops the age of grace, sets Gentiles into the horrors of the tribulation, and turns again to His covenant people.
For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
How is the Gentiles' grafting into the olive tree described?
Gentiles are described as a wild olive tree by nature, unproductive and pagan, grafted contrary to nature into the good olive tree. God in grace brought them in to share the fatness of the Abrahamic promises, yet warns they will be cut off if they reject, just as Israel was.
What blessings do Gentiles enjoy because Israel was set aside?
Because Israel was set aside, Gentiles were grafted into the good olive tree and made partakers of the fatness of the Abrahamic promises. They enjoy all the possibilities of salvation and blessing that Israel once had, though warned they too can be cut off if they reject it.
More Questions
What does it mean that Gentiles were grafted contrary to nature?
Gentiles were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, which is the opposite of what is normally done when grafting.
Why does Paul say the Gentiles were grafted in 'contrary to nature'?
The Gentiles were grafted in contrary to nature — the exact opposite of what is normally done when grafting, since a good tree is not normally grafted with a wild branch.