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Susan,

Perhaps William Hendriksen's comments will help clarify things for you. The following is taken from his New Testament Commentary: Romans Chapters 9-16, Baker Book House, 1981.

Paul warns the Gentile that he should not gloat over the fact that, while some of the natural branches - unbelieving Jews - have been lopped off, he, this Gentile, has been grafted in among the remaining (Jewish) branches, with all this implies with reference to partaking of "the nourishing sap from the olive root," the blessings promised to the patriarchs and realized in their lives and in the lives of their God-fearing children.

The Gentile, inclined to look down with a degree of contempt on his fellow-members, the Jews, is warned not to deem himself better than they. Let him bear in mind that it is not he, this boastful Gentile, who supports the root. How would it even have been possible for him to contribute anything to the blessings flowing forth from God's eternal decree, and from the promises, and imparted to the patriarchs, the all-inclusive promise being, "I will be your ( or y o u r) God"? No, it was not the Gentile who supported the root, but the root that supported the Gentile.

The possible counter-remark made by the typical Gentile was, "Branches were lopped off so that I - with tremendous emphasis on this pronoun - might be grafted in" (verse 19). Paul answers, "True." Historically speaking as verse 11 has shown, that was indeed true. But there was another, even more important side to the answer. It was this: "it was for the lack of faith that they were lopped off, and it is by faith that you stand." This faith, by virtue of its very essence, excludes all boasting, all arrogance or self-esteem. It includes godly fear, the kind of fear that is wholesome. See Prov. 3:7; Phil 2:12, 13; Heb 4:1; 1 Peter 1:17. Such fear leans wholly on God and his sovereign grace, and claims no merit of its own. The conclusion follows very naturally, "For if God has not spared the natural branches - the Jews to whom the promise was first made but who in large numbers had turned away from God - neither will he spare you." . . .

[On vss. 22-24]
In reading what Paul says about the olive tree there is on very important point that must not be overlooked. The apostle recognizes only one (cultivated) olive tree! In other words, the church is one living organism. For Jew and Gentile salvation is the same. It is obtained on the basis of Christ's atonement, by grace, through faith. The notion according to which God recognizes two objects on which he bestows his everlasting, saving love, namely, the Jews and the church, is contrary to Scripture. Here in Romans Paul has expressed himself on this subject again and again (3:29, 30; 4:11, 16; 5:18, 19; 9:22 f., 10:12, 13). One olive tree represents all the saved, regardless of their origin. And, as the result of the operation of God's saving grace, all the reborn are headed for the same everlasting home. Remember: ONE OLIVE TREE.

In His Grace,