Did Jesus set out to begin a new religion apart from that taught in the Hebraic Scriptures? Did Paul seek to further that new religion by teaching that Israel was replaced by the Church? Quite the contrary! In fact, all of their teachings sought to establish the Church in the midst of "the commonwealth of Israel" (Ephesians 2:12).

But then, what of this statement that Paul wrote to the Church in Rome: "You will say then, 'Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in" (Romans 11:19)? Therein lies the very heart of Paul's teaching regarding the Church's proper place in the world: Gentiles (the wild olive branch) were grafted into Israel (the root) after other natural branches (Jews) had been broken off for their unbelief. The Biblically correct position of the Church (those called in Messiah) according to Jesus and Paul, is in the middle of Israel, not next to or opposite her.

Jesus's purpose was "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel"

Why did God choose to graft in Gentiles when, almost 1,400 years before, He had entered into a covenant with the Israelites? Israel had been waiting for the Messiah all that time (Deuteronomy 18:18). They had been given the oracles of God (Romans 3:2). He had dwelt in their midst in the Tabernacle in the wilderness and in the Temple in Jerusalem. Why would He choose another people that were not a nation and call them His people, even "sons of the living God" (Hosea 2:23/1:10)? To provoke Israel to jealousy (Romans 11:11)! The Church has dangerously strayed from their understanding of Messiah and His purpose. His death resulted in justification of life to all mankind (Romans 5:18). This is true and the blood is available to all men. It is also true that the Church has been given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). God, however, states that this is in addition to bringing Jacob back to Him: "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6). The previous verse (Isaiah 49:5) shows that Jesus's purpose was "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). Paul states it again: "For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers" (Romans 15:8). Peter declares it to the men of Israel: "For you first, God raised up His servant..." (Acts 3:26). Again, Jesus states: "...salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22). Salvation will come forth from God to the world through the nation of Israel (Isaiah 52:9-10).

Therefore, the Church should be a vessel for Messiah to encourage Israel to believe in the promises God made to their fathers. (In doing so, it is to preach the message of the Kingdom of God as a witness to all the nations [Matthew 24:14]). This cannot be accomplished by declaring that God has forsaken His people Israel and has abandoned the covenants made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Church is grafted into Israel, not the other way around. It does not take much interpretation to understand what Paul is saying: if the Church becomes arrogant towards Israel, it (the Church) will cut off its roots and destroy itself.

When a branch is broken off a tree, it is no longer able to bear fruit; it dries up and becomes brittle. It will eventually be broken under the slightest pressure and fall apart. It will then return to the earth from where it came. The Church has experienced the same thing. Somewhere between 70 and 110 AD, the Church cut off its roots. During this time, little is known of the activities of the Church. The Church that existed in 70 AD is not the same Church that appears in 110 AD.

The council at Jerusalem concluded that Messianic believers would learn Torah in the synagogues on the Sabbath.

The Church prior to 70 AD was firmly rooted in its Hebraic origins. It was centered in Jerusalem. Messianic believers went to the Temple to worship (Acts 3:1), they observed the Sabbath (Acts 13:14), were considered a sect of Judaism (Acts 24:14) and celebrated the Biblical feasts (Acts 20:16). The council at Jerusalem concluded that Messianic believers would learn Torah in the synagogues on the Sabbath (Acts 15:21). However, the Church that emerged after 110 AD was quite different. It no longer had a root in Jerusalem (it was destroyed in 70 AD by Titus). By this time, Gentiles dominated leadership positions in the Church. Greek philosophy had already started to come into the teachings. The Church had already changed the day of worship from the Sabbath (Saturday) to what was called the Lord's Day (Sunday). By 150 AD the clergy was firmly in place. In order to be seen as a legitimate religion within the Roman Empire, the Church proclaimed that it had replaced Israel in God's purpose.

The Church had finally managed to sever its roots. Without the rich root of the olive tree, it could no longer sustain itself. The wild olive branch was broken off and ceased producing any fruit. It soon dried up and became brittle. The tribulation that is coming upon this earth will cause this branch to be broken into pieces — eventually the Lord will return to crush it: "I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23). "Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you will be cut off" (Romans 11:20-22).

There are those, however, who will persevere and keep the Torah of God and their faith in Jesus (Revelation 14:12). These are those who are truly grafted into the rich root of the olive tree.