16
`And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive,
wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and
fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches' (Rom. 11:17,18).
This dispensational distinction we must keep well in mind, for
while it lasted and until the middle wall was broken down, no
church of the One Body with the threefold equality of Ephesians
3:6 was possible.
In Romans 15, the apostle speaks of the earthly ministry of the
Lord Jesus Christ as being concerned with the `circumcision':
`Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth
of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers' (Rom. 15:8).
This testimony is explicit. The `Gospels' are primarily
concerned with the `circumcision' and with the confirmation of
promises made `unto the fathers'. We have already seen,
however, that in the great promise made to Abraham the
Gentiles were included, with Israel as the channel of blessing.
Consequently Romans 15:8 is followed by 15:9-12 :
`And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy; as it is written ...
and again He saith ... And again ... And again'.
Apparently no opposition was anticipated to the exclusiveness
of Romans 15:8, for the apostle had already alluded to the
strength of Jewish prejudice by asking, `Is He the God of the
Jews only?'. Today, however, the whole aspect of things is
reversed. Anyone who dares to believe Romans 15:8 and teach
that the Gospels are primarily `Jewish' must prepare to meet
criticism and opposition, while in most congregations the hope
of the Jew is so far forgotten or spiritualised that today one
would have to ask `Is He the God of the Gentiles only?'. The
inclusion of the Gentile, even as a wild olive in the olive tree of