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.
Les explains that the wild olive tree represents the Gentiles, who were unproductive and pagan, and God had no reason to go to them except by grace. He took the no-good Gentiles, brought them in, and made them part of the fatness of the Abrahamic promises. This grafting was contrary to nature, just opposite of normal grafting practice. But Les warns that if Gentiles reject this like Israel did, they will be cut off just as well. The day is coming when God will stop the age of grace, set Gentiles into the horrors of the tribulation, and turn again to His covenant people, Israel, grafting them back into their own olive tree.
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?
More Questions
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.