Gal 3:13,14, 28 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: {3:14} That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”….. “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

The Law and the Covenant.

Paul is very clear in Galatians, Romans and Hebrews that Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant (Heb 8:6-9). The first covenant was not faultless, therefore there was a need for the second covenant. Because Israel had ‘continued not in my covenant (v9)’ a New Covenant was required to “put my laws in their minds and write them in their hearts‘.(v10)

From this verse we see that the covenant and the law are interrelated. It is not possible to separate the law and the covenant. Also note the covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were before the law. They precede the law. The entire Romans 4 is an illustration of Abraham’s salvation by faith, without the law. Hence, if:

• The covenant contains the law (Heb 8-10)
• The covenant precedes the law. (Rom 4)
• Salvation is not by the law.(Rom 3:10, 20,23)

There is no difference between a Jewish and a Gentile Christian

“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” Colossians 3:11

And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; {4:2} But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. {4:3} Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: {4:4} But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, {4:5} To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. {4:6} And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. {4:7} Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Gal 3:29, 4:1-7)

Paul makes it very clear that the Jews, under the new covenant, no longer have the position they had under the old covenant. When he speaks about the ‘elect’, he is not referring to the physical nation of Israel, but to all believers. Believers are the children of the promise, they are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise (Gal 3 above).  Why is that important? It is because many Christians today continue to say “No, no, no, the Jews are God’s chosen people”. Somehow such Christians have difficulty believing that all saved, born again believers are God’s chosen people.

Christian Zionism is in obvious contradiction with the Gospel. Firstly, Christianity is based on the actions and teachings of Jesus Christ as written in the New Testament. At the heart of Christianity is the Once-for-All substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross; the final sacrifice, that makes it possible for all men to be saved, with no further punishment. This good news, known as the Gospel, is not merely the heart of Christianity, but actually is Christianity.

Secondly, Christ’s sacrifice fulfilled and terminated the Old Covenant sacrificial system documented in the Old Testament. This system required ongoing blood sacrifices of animals in the Jerusalem Temple to point toward that final sacrifice, to show them that God had a plan to deal with sin. However, most Jews of the first century denied that Jesus was that promised Passover Lamb who paid for our sin, and thus continued with the Temple sacrifices for forty years after the Crucifixion; until Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. With the Jews scattered and the altars torn down no further prescribed sacrifices have been made to this day.

It should be clear from the above points that the Christian Zionist desire to rebuild the Temple and restore animal sacrifices is completely antithetical to the once-for-all Sacrifice of Jesus. One may support one or the other, but not both. If Christ’s Sacrifice was what the New Testament says it is, then animal sacrifice is not merely redundant, but blasphemous. To support animal sacrifice is to reject the cross. It is hard to conceive of a more serious error for a Christian to make.

Different status?

In addition to the dangers of embracing Christian Zionism, we may also question: “How can anyone, as they read Galatians 3, still continue say that any Christ-rejecting Jew is still part of God’s chosen people, that “They’re God’s elect”? Or are we saying that the current <1% Jews that do actually believe are the elect, that these believing Jews are not normal Christians like the rest of us? Is there a special kind of Christian, a Jewish Christian, which is somehow saved differently or to which a different lifestyle of ‘conforming to Christ’ applies? Alternatively, if we say the UNBELIEVING, unregenerate Israel of today are God’s future chosen people, that’s why they are special; are they not then blocking their future conversion by affirming their current unbelieving status?

2 John 1:9-11 Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. {1:10} If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: {1:11} For he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The Jewish nation rejects the doctrine of Christ. Why affirm  unbelievers in their unbelief in the face of the serious warning above, by going along with the popular tide which regards the current unbelieving Jewish nation as somehow ‘chosen’ and special?

The Old Testament Chosen

Were the Jews then not God’s chosen people in the Old Testament? Yes they were. It is true that God did choose the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, and they were His chosen generation, they were His chosen people. But in the New Testament, that is no longer the case. In the New Testament, being elect is only based on whether or not you believe in Jesus.

Nevertheless, Jewish people – the apostles and the prophets – are the foundation of the Church (Eph 2:20). The actual Church is composed of all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, true God and true man in one Person forever who died to save us from our sins, bearing them in His body on the cross. It is very clear from Paul’s letters that he is writing to predominantly Gentile congregations. True, some of the Jewish people of his day did respond to the gospel, but most did not. As he says, their “loss” is the riches of the gentiles. (Romans 11:22). Yet there is always a remnant, God be praised (Rom 11:5).  The Jewish people are “beloved for the fathers’ sakes” (Rom 11:28 above), and when the Lord returns, a remnant of Israel will be regathered and will, during the Millennium, be restored to their land. Remember that we, as eternal beings at that time, will be ruling and reigning with Christ over human affairs.

However, gentile believers must remain clear on the current position of the Jews. There is nothing to be gained by going back to “our Jewish roots”, or by considering or treating unbelieving Jews as somehow ‘special’. They need the gospel as desperately as any other unbelievers. Gentile believers should avoid becoming involved in trying to “keep the Torah, or participate in the ceremonial feasts”, this is the same advice as we find in Acts, the Pauline epistles, indeed everywhere in the NT.

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; {2:15} And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. {2:16} Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: {2:17} Which are a shadow of things to come; Col 2:14-17a

Shadows

The Jewish feasts and rituals were a shadow of things to come, a preview of the great future events to come, as given to the Old Testament people. Four of these ceremonial feasts have been fulfilled: Passover, unleavened bread, First fruits, and Pentecost. (refer post 3.8) Jesus was our once and for all Passover Lamb. There is no benefit in re-enacting the ritualized Old Testament preview or foreshadowing of events already completed. These are historical events! Why have another preview if the main event is complete, and the understanding is clear? No shadows are left, Jesus’ work is clearly visible. Participating in a Jewish Passover, which foreshadows Jesus as the Passover lamb, and so re-enacting a preview of Jesus’ sacrifice, may be biblically indefensible. We are instructed to remember His work on the cross during communion, that’s it; no additional rituals remain applicable to us as believers.

We are better off keeping our eyes on Jesus, His Word and His future kingdom than seeking the favour of the Jewish nation still in unbelief, as people like John Hagee advocate.

There is a widespread misunderstanding about the future of Israel and the status of Israel today. There is no power in Judaism to save any person on earth. Neither is there any power in the Law to save any person on earth (Gal 3). There is absolutely no basis for Christians to get enamored about keeping or participating in Jewish feasts, ceremonies, trumpet blowing and so on. The Bible teaches that the Israel of today will be deceived by the antichrist, that they will believe that he is the Messiah. Jesus prophesied: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”(John 5:43) The Messiah that they will receive and believe in, from this verse, appears to be the Antichrist.

Jewish Revival

There will be no Jewish revival (until the antichrist shows his true colours), except for the pseudo-revival when the temple rites get re-instated with the help of agreements made by the antichrist. But once the antichrist has global power the turns the tables on the Jews and starts a program to annihilate them, killing a full two-thirds of them:

Zechariah 13:8 “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. {13:9} And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”

“…and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate. {11:32} And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. {11:33} And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.  (Dan 11:31b-33)

“…cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. {3:16} In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. {3:17} The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. {3:18} I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. {3:19} Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee:(Zephaniah 3:15-19)

The revival only occurs after severe persecution. As always God has reserved a remnant of the Jewish nation for himself, in keeping with his promises to their fathers: (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)

Rom 11:28 “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes {11:29} For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Ez 20:33-44} As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: {20:34} And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. {20:35} And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. {20:36} Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. {20:37} And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: {20:38} And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. {20:39} As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. {20:40} For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. {20:41} I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. {20:42} And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. {20:43} And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. {20:44} And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

God keeps his promises, even if they are enemies of the gospel now. Because God keeps his promises a portion of the Jews will be restored right at the end, at Jesus’ second coming. They are not ‘blessed’ now as some are teaching, they are facing an extremely hard future. We can pray for the Jews, however that we must ‘bless them’ is a false teaching that ignores whole chapters of biblical prophecy about the future of Israel.

Joel 2:31} The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. {2:32} And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call…..….

Joel 3:14 “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. {3:15} The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. {3:16} The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD [will be] the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Matt 24:29 and Rev 6:12-17, describe the same event, where we read that the sun and moon are darkened and the heavens shake on the ‘day of the LORD’. We can conclude that we are being told about events surrounding the second coming of Jesus. Reading the above (and the rest of Joel) it becomes clear that the Jewish revival only occurs close to the second coming of Jesus. The New Testament confirms the Old as to the timing of Israel’s prophesied spiritual-rebirth as a nation, that it will happen only when Christ returns in judgment. In the interim, God has placed a veil which will remain upon them – until, as their own prophet said, as a people they repent as they look upon Him whom they have pierced.

Zech.12:10 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. {12:10} And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him….”

The repentance of Israel

Behold! He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the peoples of the earth will grieve on account of Him. Revelation 1:7

The grieving on the part of all unbelievers when Jesus comes on the clouds is in response to their knowledge that the time of reckoning has arrived. Jesus comes in unimaginable glory after the preceding darkness (Matt.24:27-31). How many unbelievers will repent at His coming we are not sure of, but we know that His coming on the clouds is the event that opens the eyes of the Jews and removes their blindness as spoken of by Paul:

{11:25} For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. {11:26} And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: {11:27} For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. {11:28} As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

{3:4} For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: {3:5} Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. Hosea 3:4-5

{5:2} But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of  Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. {5:3} Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travails has brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.  Micah 5:2,3

 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. {12:10} And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him….”Zech.12:9,10

Jesus’ gracious hand of forgiveness is stretched out to the Jews even until His second coming. As the saints are raptured ‘at the appearance of his coming’, it may be too late for the Jews to be raptured also, but not too late to be delivered.

{2:30} And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. {2:31} The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. {2:32} And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. Joel 2:30-32

{2:12} Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye evento me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with  weeping, and with mourning: {2:13} And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repents him of the evil. {2:14} Who knows if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? {2:15} Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: {2:16} Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. {2:17} Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? {2:18} Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. {2:19} Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: {2:20} But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.  Joel 2:12-20

The Elect.*

The word elect means “chosen”. To “elect” a president, for example, means to choose a president. When the Bible calls us as believers, “God’s Elect”, He is saying that we are the chosen people. We are God’s current New Testament “chosen people”,  “the elect” The Bible teaches that all believers in Jesus Christ are the elect. (Colossians 3:11 above) . The Bible is crystal clear. Paul states that  “there is neither Jew nor Greek”, “therefore as the elect of God”, we put on Christ-like behavior.

What is Paul emphasizing? He is saying that it doesn’t matter whether you are Jew or Gentile. We are elect if we are in Christ Jesus. And if you are not in Christ, you’re not elect, because you have to be justified by faith to become one of the elect. To show  that it’s we as Christians that are God’s chosen people, not the Jews, listen to Paul in Romans 8:

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies.” Romans 8:33

How are we justified? Justification is by faith only. By faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not of works lest any man should boast (Eph 2:8). So we as believing Christians are the elect, the chosen people. The Jews are not elect unless they believe in Christ, if they do, then they’ll be elect. So right there we see that being elect is to be justified by God.  So Paul says:

“who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns, it is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

Note that we are the ELECT, because we’re justified, because we believe in Jesus. Because we believe in the resurrection, and because Jesus loves us. and he will never leave us or forsake us. Nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ. He is daily making intercession for us, WE are the elect, WE are the chosen people. This is spoken unto the Romans. He says “we’re the elect, Gods making intercession for US. Nothing is going to separate US from the love of Christ.” Paul is talking to Gentiles in the book of Romans. So again, this just goes to show you that it’s not the Jews that are elect in the New Testament, or chosen in the New Testament. No. All believers are the chosen people in the New Testament, this certainly excludes any  unbelieving Jews.

To confirm that the word “elect” refers to believers in Jesus Christ under the new covenant, consider the example in Mathew 24:24. Here we see the word “elect” come up again in the New Testament, where it says:

“There shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders insomuch that IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, they shall deceive the very elect.”

So according to that scripture, in the end times there will be false christs and false prophets that will be so convincing that IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, they would deceive the very elect. Which means that it’s not possible to “deceive the very elect”. And that tells us right there that no believer in Christ is going to fall for the anti-Christ. None of the elect are going to be deceived by a false Christ like the anti-Christ.

Many people are trying to tell us today that the elect here is “referring to Israel, to the Jews.” Well guess what? The Jews have already believed in an anti-Christ. They’ve already fallen for a false Christ, because they’re looking for a mythical Messiah other than Jesus. They’ve rejected Jesus as the Messiah, and they’re looking for some other false Messiah that’s going to come and be the “real messiah”, because they don’t believe in Jesus. Why would we believe that this is talking about the Jews in Mathew 24:24, when it says that it’s impossible for them to be deceived by false prophets and false christs.

Bless Israel:*

If believing Christians are the elect, the chosen people,  doesn’t the Bible nevertheless instruct us to continue to ‘bless Israel”?

Genesis 12:1-3. “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make Gof thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great; And thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curse thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Galatians 3:16, “Now to Abraham and his SEED were the promises made. He saith not and to SEEDS as of many; but as of one, and to thy SEED, which is Christ.”

Gal 3:28 “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Is the Genesis 12:3 promise made to the modern-day nation of Israel or to Abraham? In Gal 3 the Bible says the promise was made unto Abraham, and also to his seed… That “seed” was Christ according to Galatians 3, therefore if we’re in Christ, we are that seed, we’re of Abraham, and we inherit that promise made to Abraham.

Gen 12:1-3 cannot therefore be claimed by the modern-day nation of Israel, because they are not in Christ. Therefore, they are not of the seed of Abraham, with the exception of the ‘remnant’, the Jewish believers.

How then are all Nations Blessed through Abraham? (Gen 12:1-3, Gal 3)

Referring to Genesis 12:1-3 above, this promise was made unto Abraham using the words “thee” and “thou”, which are singular, speaking to Abraham saying “I am going to bless him that blesses YOU”- singular, Abraham, “and curse him that curses you.” According to Galatians 3:16, we as believers in Jesus Christ inherit the promises of Abraham whether we be Jew or Gentile.

A lot of people will also say that in Abraham, all nations of the earth will be blessed, because if they help Israel, they will be blessed ……. so all nations can be blessed by being pro-Israel, and by helping Israel militarily and financially.

Gal 3:8-9 “And the scripture, forseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached the Gospel unto Abraham saying in thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of FAITH are blessed with faithful Abraham.”

Therefore according to Gal 3, the reason all nations of the earth are going to be blessed through Abraham, is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ …….. by believing in Jesus Christ, we are blessed together with faithful Abraham.

Gal 3:7, “Know ye therefore, that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” If we believe in Jesus Christ, we are children of Abraham. When God said unto Abraham “in thee shall all nations of the earth be blessed”,

Paul is referring to the fact that people of all nations will believe on Jesus Christ, who is the seed of Abraham. And so through Abraham and his seed Jesus, the whole world could be blessed, because anyone who believes in Jesus Christ will be blessed.In Revelation it is very clear that there will be people in Heaven out of every nation. All nations are blessed through Abraham.

Gal 3:28-29 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise

Holy Nation*

We as believers are a chosen generation, we are a royal priesthood, we are a holy nation, and we are a peculiar people.

1 Peter 2:9-10 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: Which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

In the Old Testament, God said that of the nation of Israel, that they were to be unto Him a holy nation. But now in the New Testament, the Bible says that we in time past which were not a people, are now the people of God, “which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

Romans 9:24-25  “Even us whom he hath called, NOT OF THE JEWS ONLY, but also of the gentiles, as he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people which were not my people, and her beloved which was not beloved.” (also Hosea 1:9-10). So in the Old Testament, the gentiles were not God’s chosen people. The nation of Israel represented God’s chosen people. But in the New Testament he says, those that in time past were not my people, have now become the people of God.

We as gentiles in the New Testament today are a holy nation. We are the chosen people of God.

Under the old covenant, we were not the people of God, as gentiles. But now, we are the people of God. According to 1 Pet 2:9-10, Romans 9:24-25, and Hosea chapters 1 and 2, we as believers (and any believing Jews) in Christ are today the people of God.

Back in the Old Testament, God told the nation of Israel that IF they would keep his covenant, they would be a peculiar people, they would be a holy nation, and they would be a nation of priests, or a kingdom of priests. In 1 Pet 2, that’s exactly what he says unto believers, that we are. We ARE a peculiar people, we are a holy nation, we’re a royal priesthood, or a kingdom of priests.

Exodus 19: 5-6 “Now therefore IF ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me, above all people, for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.“

1 Peter 2 is quoting from Exodus 19. And notice that Exodus 19 makes it clear that these promises only apply unto the children of Israel IF they keep his covenant. 1 Peter 2:9-10 is referring to both Jews and gentiles, by going back to Hosea, going to Romans 9 etc.. However, he makes it clear in that passage that whoever he is talking to were not a people in time past.

They did not keep God’s covenant, because in Hebrews 8, the Bible tells us “they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.” In the Old Testament, God had a covenant, or an agreement, or promises unto the nation of Israel that had some IF’s associated with them. We know from Hebrews and from reading the Old Testament that the children of Israel broke that covenant, did not hear His voice and did not obey Him. Because of that, the Bible told them that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And in 1st Peter chapter 2, He tells us who that holy nation is, that peculiar people. It’s those who in times past were not a people. It’s just a nation made up of all believers that now comprise the people of God in the New Testament.

Therefore to say that the children of Israel are STILL a chosen people, or a set-apart holy nation, is to deny scripture, because in order to be called the holy nation, they had to continue in the covenant. They broke the covenant, they are no longer God’s chosen people.

Cast off*

Jeremiah 31:35-37. “Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.” 

Romans 11:1-7. “I say then, has God cast away His people?” (Notice the same language as Jeremiah 31) “God forbid. For I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin.” The apostle Paul is saying “I am proof that God has not cast off all of His people Israel, because I am a believer in Jesus Christ, I’m saved, and I’m of the tribe of Benjamin.” (Listen to this.) “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded”.

In Jeremiah 31 verse 37 it says “I will also cast off ALL the seed of Israel for all that they have done”, if these ordinances fail. But Romans 11 is saying He is not going to cast off all of them. There will always be a remnant that remains as the people of God.

So when God says in Jeremiah 31:37 that He is not going to cast off ALL of His people, what he is saying is that there is going to be a remnant, not all of them are going to be cast off, a remnant will be saved. The remnant according to Romans 11 are those that are saved by grace, not by works, not by following the deeds of the law that their Pharisee Rabbis are telling them to follow. He says that it’s those that are elect, because of the grace of God. God has cast away the unbelievers of Israel. They’ve been cut down; they are not God’s chosen people. But there is a believing remnant today of saved Israelites, those who are of Israel who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And that’s why God has not broken His promise that He made in Jeremiah 31.

There were seven thousand men who had not bowed the knee to Baal in Elijah’s days. Such are the remnant, those that are the saved Israelites, who worship the true God, the Lord Jesus Christ. If you don’t have the Son, you don’t have the Father. The only Israelites who are truly worshipping the same God we are, God the Father, are the ones who also acknowledge the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Peace of Jerusalem*

We need to be careful how we interpret this passage in Psalm 122 verse 6. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem”. This should be a prayer that they would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Not that they would have material prosperity, or that they defeat their physical enemies in the middle east. Psalm 122:6 reads “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Many will quote this scripture unto Christians and say “we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, if we want to prosper, we need to LOVE Jerusalem.”

Firstly,  it would be appropriate to pray for those that are living in Israel that is that they would be saved! Since 99% of them reject the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, we should do like the apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 1. He said “Brethren, my heart’s desire, and prayer to God for Israel, is that they might be saved.” If they’re going to have the peace which passes all understanding, it’s only going to come through salvation, which only comes through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

That is the prayer that would actually make sense, if we prayed that the people in Israel would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved, and have peace. But many will try to twist this scripture, and try to use this to say that “we need to just pray for the prosperity of Jerusalem, seek their good, and that they would be protected from all their enemies and that they would win the victory over there in the middle east, and be blessed by God.” That is not what this passage teaches, because if we read it in its context, it says “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.” But look at the next two verses. “For my BRETHREN and COMPANIONS’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the HOUSE OF THE LORD OUR GOD I will seek thy good.” So people are just isolating that one phrase “seek their good!” And they’re not even realizing the reason that we would seek their good is because of the house of the Lord our God. But here’s the problem, they don’t have the house of the Lord any longer!

The Old Testament temple was destroyed, and in the New Testament, the Bible makes it clear that the local church is the house of God. That we as God’s people, when we assemble together, make up the house of God in the New Testament. NOT a physical building that was destroyed in AD 70. So the Bible says “because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good.” So my question is, why would we seek their good, when the house of God is no longer there? Why would we seek their good, when they don’t believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and are therefore under the wrath of God? The only thing that we should seek for them, is that they would be saved, which would be good for them. But, when people have a lot of prosperity, and things go well for them, they’re less likely to get saved. So why would we pray for God to give material prosperity and bless them militarily, that they would be secure and winning the battle over there, when they’re not saved? And they don’t have the house of God, and they are not our brethren and companions, because they are unbelievers.

All Israel*

Galatians chapter 6, verses 15 and 16:  the Bible reads “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” Lets draw attention to that phrase, “the Israel of God’. Let’s look at Romans chapter 9, verse 6 through 8, to see what God meant by that. It says:

“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”

Notice in verse 6 He said “they are not all Israel which are of Israel.”

He is saying “just because they are physically descended from Israel the person, does not make them Israel in God’s sight.” That’s why the Bible uses the term “behold, Israel AFTER THE FLESH.” That’s referring to the physical nation of Israel, the ethnic children of Israel. But then He contrasts that in Galatians 6 with “the Israel of God”, the spiritual nation of Israel. And that spiritual nation of Israel is made up of all believers, Ephesians 2 made that crystal clear. But here in Romans 9, He explains that the children of the flesh are not the children of God. It’s the children of the promise that are counted for the seed, therefore they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.

So when you look at a statement like “all Israel shall be saved”, you have to ask yourself, “are we referring to the physical ethnic nation of Israel, or are we referring to the Israel of God, the spiritual nation of Israel?” Well it makes a lot more sense that it would be referring to the spiritual nation, because of course we know that the Israel of God is made up of all those who are saved, who are a new creature in Christ Jesus. Then it makes perfect sense. So the Bible says in Galatians chapter 6, “Peace be on the Israel of God.” And some people will look at that and say that there are two peoples of God, “there’s the physical nation of Israel, and there is the spiritual nation of Israel.” But remember, the flesh profits nothing. It’s meaningless in the New Testament to be a part of that physical nation of Israel. You’ve got to be a part of the spiritual nation in order to be a part of God’s people. You’ve got to be a part of the Israel of God, NOT Israel according to the flesh.

The Talmud*

The head of Judaic studies at Princeton University, Peter Schaffer,  has examined  documents in their original languages and done  research throughout the Talmud, to write a book called “Jesus in the Talmud”. He documents and explains every mention of Jesus Christ in the Talmud. He states the “fact” that Jesus Christ is “the bastard son of a Roman soldier named Pantera”, that “his mother Mary is a whore”, that “he practiced sorcery and black magic that he learned when he was down in Egypt”. Furthermore the horrific “fact” that “Jesus is spending all eternity boiling in hot excrement”.

The Talmud speaks this kind of wicked blasphemy about the Lord Jesus Christ. If one speaks to Rabbis today, they’ll tell you that the Talmud is the word of God, and that it is authoritative, that it is inspired by God. Nevertheless the Talmud is saying these awful, horrific things about Jesus. Again, this isn’t just hearsay, it’s all documented in the book, “Jesus in the Talmud”, by Peter Schaffer, head of Judaic studies at Princeton University. So, it’s clear from the Bible, and from the Talmud that the “Jews” today are those who blaspheme Christ in their synagogues, their Judaism is a blasphemous religion.

In Acts 26:11 the Apostle Paul is talking about how he worked hard to persecute Christians back when he was in the Jewish religion. And one of the things it says that he did was that he compelled them to blaspheme. He forced them to blaspheme. Why is this significant? Because in Revelation chapter 2, verse 9, when it talks about “the synagogue of Satan”, He said “I know the BLASPHEMY of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” Obviously, those who SAY they are Jews and ARE NOT, are today’s so-called “Jews”, practicing “Judaism”. They claim to be Jews, but God does not recognize them spiritually as Jews, even though outwardly they are Jews, Romans 2:28 and 29 (below) explains that.

Modern Israel.*

Many people claim that modern Christ-rejecting “Jews” are still God’s chosen people. That is not scriptural.

Romans 2:28-29 “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

A Jew which is one outwardly, is not a Jew but Rom 2:29 says “he is a Jew which is one inwardly.”

Paul writes in Philippians 3:3, “For we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”

Therefore according to Rom 2:28-29, these OUTWARD Jews, people who call themselves Jews, people that are circumcised in the flesh… “they’re not Jews, God does not regard them as Jews.” He says “we are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit and” and “and rejoice in Christ Jesus.” The Jews believe that they are God’s people because they are descended from Abraham in the flesh, or because they are doing  works in the flesh, the works of the law. The Bible says that we as Christians today are the circumcision. We’re God’s chosen people.

Consider also how God called Israel into the promised land in the past.

 “But with whom was he grieved 40 years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not?” Hebrews 3:17-19. 

This is talking about that generation that came out of Egypt with Moses that wandered in the wilderness for forty years, because they could not enter into the promised land. Israel could not enter in because of unbelief.

After a generation died in the wilderness, their children, the next generation, did believe the Lord. They were then allowed to enter into the Promised Land. Now why is that important? Because all throughout scripture we see a pattern where the children of Israel, when they did not believe, could not enter into the land. Once they believed, then they were allowed to enter the land. Later when they turned and worshipped other Gods, they were removed from the land. THEN in their captivity, when they turned to the Lord, they came back into the land. THEN, when they rejected the Lord Jesus Christ in the first century, they were removed from the land. THEN, in 1948, they believed on Jesus and then they all came back to the land… Is that what happened? No.

What we see in 1947 and 1948, is Israel becoming a nation, the people returning to the land. But they did NOT BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, nothing changed about their belief. They were thrown out of the land for rejecting Jesus Christ. So why would God bring them back into the land, when they’re STILL REJECTING Jesus Christ? Nothing’s changed! And this would violate the pattern of what God has always done throughout scripture, where their right to be in that land was not just some unconditional promise that says “Hey this land is yours no matter what, it belongs to you no matter what.” No, it was ALWAYS conditional upon them worshipping the Lord. And when they would not worship the Lord, they were kicked out, or they weren’t allowed to enter. When they were worshipping the Lord, they were allowed to be there and prosper in that Land.

And you have to ask yourself, if the Lord is not the one who brought them back in 1947 and 1948, then who did? If it wasn’t the Lord that did it… You say “oh, it’s a miracle!” No, it’s not a miracle my friend. It was a phenomenon, but it was not a miracle. You can look at all the events that led up to it through world war one, there was the Balfour Declaration which was a letter sent to Nathan Rothschild, you know, granting the land of Palestine to be a place for the Jews to have a homeland and so forth. It was all done through the funds of Jewish bankers and through the institution known as the United Nations.

The United Nations is the embryonic world government that one day is going to be the seed of a global government that’s going to install the antichrist. So if we look at the forces that were behind Israel becoming a nation, it was through wicked people. Ultra wealthy Jewish bankers, through people in the United Nations and other wicked organizations like that. It wasn’t of the Lord. And the proof that it wasn’t of the Lord, is that they never turned to Jesus. So therefore, they’re not even worshipping the Lord, so why would the Lord bring them back? It doesn’t make any sense. And so to say that “God is blessing Israel by bringing them back into the land”… No, they’re under God’s wrath; they’re not under His blessing.

Many American pastors teach that in order for America to be blessed, they need to support Israel militarily, and if  they don’t support Israel God is going to curse the nation. Now this is the exact opposite of what the Bible teaches. We have a perfect example of this in 2nd Chronicles 19. Because here is a man named Jehoshaphat that is going go to war to help the nation of Israel. Jehoshaphat is going to be allied with Israel, he’s going to be pro-Israel, and he’s going to help them militarily. Listen to what God tell him in chapter 19 verse 2. “And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, Should thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.” 

So at this time in history, the nation of Israel was ungodly and hated the Lord. And so Jehoshaphat is being rebuked by God for helping them militarily. He said “should thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is WRATH upon thee, from before the Lord.” So here when Jehoshaphat wants to support Israel militarily, instead of being blessed with Abraham as people will try to tell us today, “America will be blessed if we will support Israel”. Instead of being blessed, the Bible says God’s WRATH is on him, for helping the ungodly, and for loving those that hate the Lord.

The modern state of Israel is as ungodly as any western country. First of all, they reject the Lord Jesus Christ. 99% of those that are “Jews” over there reject the Lord Jesus Christ. That in itself makes them ungodly. They blaspheme Christ in their “holy book”, the Talmud. And also there’s much sodomy and homosexuality in Israel today. There are gay pride parades, go down the streets of Jerusalem. There are abortion clinics in Israel. There’s all kinds of wickedness and ungodliness. And it’s a Christ rejecting place. So WHY should we believe that America is supposed to just help Israel militarily no matter what, when there is an exact parallel with Jehoshaphat wanting to go help Israel militarily and God rebuking him for it. Instead of getting a blessing, he gets God’s wrath.

The name of Jesus

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: {2:10} That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; {2:11} And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The name of Jesus is higher than any other name, there is no substitute for the name of Jesus. It is the only name ‘whereby we must be saved.’ (Acts 4:12). It seems inappropriate to suggest that Jesus is not our Saviour’s name, but that Yeshua or some other Hebrew version is. Most Hebrews spoke Aramaic, and in 30 A.D., the international language of the time was Greek. Refer to Greek books 17-05-19 for the evidence that the majority of the new testament was written in Greek. The Romans knew Greek, and the Hebrews knew Greek. The gospels were written in Greek, the Epistles were written in Greek, and Jesus’ name appeared in greek as as Ἰησοῦς.  (or Iesous in our current alphabet).

Luke 23:38 “And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS (KJV)

One only needs to refer to Luke 23’s ‘THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS‘, which was written in Greek, Latin and Hebrew on the sign on the cross, proving the multi-lingual nature of  Israel at the time. In Revelation Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega! John uses the Greek alphabet when describing Jesus! (https://www.rapidtables.com/math/symbols/greek_alphabet.html)

The only different pronunciation, (which is in no way a different version) of the name of Jesus that we could consider is regarding the ‘J’. In European languages one may have a ‘hard’ J like in English, a soft J as in German and a guttural ‘gh’ like in Spanish. The “J” was written as ‘I’ in Greek  (Iesous).  Do we assume that all Christianity was wrong over the last 1900 years, that  Greek, Spanish, French and English speaking Christians should now change Jesus’ name to the Hebrew version?. Are we attempting to sound more spiritual using the Hebrew name? It does seem preposterous to do so, an unthinking regurgitation of someone else’s misguided views, as explained below in blogpost https://sirjeffreypendragonblog.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-greek-name-of-jesus-iesous-christos.html (edited)

“There is currently much obsession over the presumed name of Jesus in modern Hebrew, Yeshua. Note, however, that this name is not found anywhere in the New (or Old) testament scriptures, and was never used when our Lord and Saviour walked the earth during His First Coming. .”

“Jesus’ name in Greek is Ἰησοῦς, or Iesous as in our alphabet, which is pronounced as : ee-ay-sooce’. This name, Iesous was used by the Disciples James, John, Peter, and Paul. The entire New Testament was written in Coine Greek, and so Jesus name would have appeared in Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Epistles of Colossians and 1 & 2 Corinthians as Ἰησοῦς  or Iesous. This Greek name of Jesus is important because the original Gospels and Epistles, and even Revelation on Patmos would have used Iesous for Jesus’ name and it would have been full Jesus Christ: Ἰησοῦς Χριστός.

It disturbs me that there is a big push in christian media to rename Jesus Yeshua, when there is not certainty He was ever called Yeshua, a Hebrew name, and Hebrew was not commonly used in the time of Jesus. We thus can be certain Iesous, which becomes Jesus, is the name of our Saviour.

It is also important to know that modern Hebrew was only re-invented in the 1800’s. Israel had been purged of Jews by 125AD and repopulated with other peoples. There was no Hebrew being used in Israel for certain, and it became a dead and unspoken language among exiled Jews, now dispersed all over the world. Much later, in the 1800’s, when Hebrew was revived by Zionists , they had to re-invent the spoken pronunciation. They came up with the word Yeshua. At that time ‘Yaweh’ was also introduced among Christians, despite the fact that in the New Testament neither Yaweh nor Jehovah is used even once. The name of God given in the Old Testament scriptures is Jehovah. The apostles, inspired by the spirit when writing the New Testament letters, whenever they quoted the Old Testament, only spoke of God as LORD. Jesus never used Yaweh once, and neither did the Apostles.

Remember also that Jesus is called:

• Christ – John 4:25
• Jesus the Christ – Acts 17:3
• The Christ, the Son of the living God – Matt 16:16, John 4:25
• Jesus called the Christ – Matt 27:22
• Christ the Lord-Luke 2:11
• Christ, the saviour of the world – Luke 2:11, John 4:42
• Jesus Christ – Rom 3:22, Acts 2:38, John 17:3
• Jesus both Lord and Christ – Acts 2:36
• Lord Jesus Christ – Rom 5:1, Acts 16:31, Acts 28:31
• Christ Jesus – Acts 19:4Rom 3:24, Rom 8:1.
• Jesus Christ our Lord – Rom 6:23
• Saviour Jesus Christ – ! Pet 1:11

Christ Greek) means Messiah (Hebrew), which is ‘Anointed One’ and ‘Holy One’.

Brittanica Article on the Hebrew language. “Spoken in ancient times in Palestine, Hebrew was supplanted by the western dialect of Aramaic beginning about the 3rd century BC; the language continued to be used as a liturgical and literary language, however (i.e. not spoken). It was revived as a spoken language in the 19th and 20th centuries and is the official language of Israel.” This clarifies any misconception on whether there was an ‘oral traditioon’ by which the name Yeshua came to us. There is none, neither written nor oral.

Jehovah is translated as “the LORD” and our Saviour is “The Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Star of David*

The Star of David is a really big symbol for the Jews. In fact, the Israeli flag features the Star of David. If you go over to the home of a Jew, you’ll often see decorations that include the Star of David. And we’re told that this star has something to do with David. But yet when you look this up in the Bible, you’ll never find ANY “Star of David”, or any star that’s associated with David.

Steven Andersen asked 4 different Jewish leaders, Jewish Rabbis “is the Star of David found in the Bible?” They said “no”. He asked them “where does it come from? What does it mean?” They did not know where it came from. But supposedly, this is just a “Godly symbol”.

And even Christians today will often wear the Star of David, and promote the Star of David, to “show their support for Israel”, they support the Star of David. Let me show you what that star really is, it’s not of David. Listen to Acts 7, 43, the Bible says “Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and THE STAR OF YOUR GOD REMPHAN, figures which ye made to worship them, and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.” So the Bible says that in the Old Testament, when the children of Israel worshipped other gods, they made a star that they worshiped. They made a figure or an image of a star that they worshiped, and that was called the Star of Remphan. And so he said “you took up the star of your god Remphan.” So there’s no Star of David in the Bible, but there definitely is a star of Remphan.

The Bible says that if you don’t have the Son, you don’t have the Father. So you can’t say that they’re worshiping God the Father, “they don’t acknowledge Jesus, but they are worshiping God the Father”. No, God said if you don’t have the Son, you don’t have the Father. Therefore they do not have the same God that we have today. That means they’re worshiping a false God. And so does it surprise you that the star that they use as a symbol of their FALSE religion, that worships another God is mentioned in the Bible as the “star of Remphan”. That’s what that symbol on the flag is. Don’t you dare as a Christian decorate with that symbol, or put that symbol up in your church as some kind of a symbol of Israel. You know what? It’s not of David, it’s not of Israel, it’s of Remphan.

Summary*

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” Galatians 6, verses 15 and 16

Pay attention to that phrase, “the Israel of God’. Also look at Romans chapter 9, verse 6 through 8, to see what God meant by that. It says

“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Notice in verse 6 He said “they are not all Israel which are of Israel.”

He is saying “just because they are physically descended from Israel the person, does not make them Israel in God’s sight.” That’s why the Bible uses the term “behold, Israel AFTER THE FLESH.” That’s referring to the physical nation of Israel, the ethnic children of Israel. But then He contrasts that in Galatians 6 with “the Israel of God”, the spiritual nation of Israel. And that spiritual nation of Israel is made up of all believers, Ephesians 2 made that crystal clear. But here in Romans 9, He explains that the children of the flesh are not the children of God. It’s the children of the promise that are counted for the seed, therefore they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.

So when you look at a statement like “all Israel shall be saved”, you have to ask yourself, “are we referring to the physical ethnic nation of Israel, or are we referring to the Israel of God, the spiritual nation of Israel?” Well it makes a lot more sense that it would be referring to the spiritual nation, because of course we know that the Israel of God is made up of all those who are saved, who are a new creature in Christ Jesus. Then it makes perfect sense. So the Bible says in Galatians chapter 6, “Peace be on the Israel of God.” And some people will look at that and say that there are two peoples of God, “there’s the physical nation of Israel, and there is the spiritual nation of Israel.” But remember, the flesh profits nothing (John 6:63: It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life). It’s meaningless in the New Testament to be a part of that physical nation of Israel. You’ve got to be a part of the spiritual nation in order to be a part of God’s people. You’ve got to be a part of the Israel of God, NOT Israel according to the flesh.

Under construction…

• Much of this post is a re-arranged compilation of mini-sermons by Steven Andersen of ‘Faithful Word baptist church, Tempe, Arizona.