Saturday, October 12, 2013

Who is "Israel"?

A QUESTION:
Pearl,
Do you yourself believe that the Jewish people today, will come to know Jesus and see him as the true Messiah that was sent by Jah?

MY REPLY:

The answer to this question first requires that your definition of "Jew" be defined.
If as I suspect, you define "Jew" based upon physical traits, then my answer must be a conditional "No".
If you define "Jew" upon spiritual traits, then my answer must be a conditional "Yes".
Why are each of these answers "conditional"?
Because those spiritual Jews who "see" can become "blind"; and those physical Jews who are "blind" can be made to "see" (Rom.11:22,23,24).
It is as Jesus said...those who are God's chosen people must "endure to the end" to be finally saved (Matt.24:13; Eze.33:18,19).

Now because of a prevailing and popular attitude about the salvation of ethnic "Jews", I will assume which of these options is the intent of your question. If I assume wrongly, please notify me, and I will reconsider your clarified question.
I will assume that you are asking...
"Will those considered Jews by physical descent alive today (or in the time of the end) be converted in Faith to true Christianity, and thereby fulfill scriptural prophecy regarding 'Israel'?"

I hope this rephrased question is the right choice from among the above options. This is the most popular interpretation of your words; So I will reply accordingly.

God's people today, are no longer Jews by physical descent.
Please examine the scriptural basis for this conclusion....

"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you (the Jews) and given to a people who will produce its fruit." Matt.21:43 (Matt.7:19; John15:16,5; Prov.12:14; Heb.13:15; 1Pet.2:5,9,10)

"You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” For if God did not spare the natural branches (natural physical Jews), he will not spare you either. If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot (Gentiles--not Jews), have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap (holy spirit) from the olive root (John15:4,5; 1Cor.12:13), do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you." (Rom.11:19,21,17,18)

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you did not want it. "Behold, your house is being left to you abandoned!" (Matt.23:37,38) (Josh.24:20; 2Chron.15:2; 7:19,20,21,22; 1Chron.28:9; 1Kings9:7; Matt.24:2)

God's past promises made to physical Jews will not fail, despite their rejection of the Messiah. How? Paul tells us how:
"Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God's people!" (Rom.9:6)
If God only accepts Jews of faith in Christ, he has fulfilled his promise toward Jews through that remnant of faithful (Rom.9:27).
And God can add to that nation, by converting Gentiles who imitate Abraham's faith, into "Jews" to bless. Then His promises of blessings are still fulfilled to his New hybrid nation who are all SPIRITUAL Jews, yet physically both Jew and Gentile (Eph.2:15).
Just as we can prove ourselves sons of God by imitation (Eph.5:1)
or sons of Satan by imitation (John8:44)
we can become sons of Abraham (Jews) by imitation of his faith (Heb.6:12).
"I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way, all Israel will be saved." (Rom.11:25,26)
Can you discern from these two scriptures, that the means by which God's promises will be fulfilled toward Israel, is by means of the compensation by Gentiles to fulfill the deficient full number by physical Jews? By God's acceptance of Gentiles into His new faithful Nation (thereby cleansing Gentiles into spiritual Jews/"Israel"); the promises He made will be fulfilled...
"For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith (not through physical descent);  for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal.3:18,26,27,28,29)

This is why Paul did not assume his salvation was based upon his Jewish flesh. (Phil.3:3; Gal.6:15)
He based it upon a "circumcision of the heart" which cleansing by spirit occurs to those who become spiritual Jews (Rom.2:28,29) and heirs of Abraham (Gal.3:29).

The "Old Covenant" ("Law") was "near to passing away" and being replaced through Christ (Heb.8:7,8,6,13; Matt.5:17). He is the "seed" who fulfilled and received the promises to Abraham (Gal.3:16). But he was to share his authority and inheritance with his brothers (Gal.3:22; Phil.3:10,11; Rom.6:5; 8:17; 2Pet.1:4). As physical descendants of Abraham, the Jews were first to be offered the inheritance of the kingdom (Matt.15:24; 10:6; Acts13:46; Rom.15:8; Matt.15:24), but this preference would not last (Luke8:21; Heb.8:13; Acts13:44,45,46; 18:6; Luke24:47; Rom.11:19; John15:2; Matt.21:43). God could raise up sons of Abraham ("Jews") from even Gentiles (Luke3:8; Rom.2:28,29; Gal.3:14,28,29; Gal.4:28,26; Matt.21:43; Acts.10:34,35; 15:8,9,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19; Gen.17:3,4,5; Rev.5:9,10). These would stand by means of faith, not by means of their Jewish flesh (Rom.11:20; 2Cor.1:24; Heb.6:12,15; 10:36).

God has allowed the free-will choice of the physical Jews to reject what God has offered them (Matt.27:23,25; Acts18:6; Rom.11:25; 9:18; 11:7,12) until the full number of required anointed priests and kings is fulfilled by "Gentiles" (all nations).
Once the "remnant" of physical Jews of faith in Christ were gathered (Rom.9:27; 11:5); the rest of the anointed flock of Christ was completed by means of physical Gentiles. These two groups would become "one flock" over which there would be "one shepherd".
Two links to help with this understanding:
(4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/04/anointed-flockthe-truth.html)
(4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-is-jew-what-is-gentile-answers-to.html)
(http://godsavesisrael.blogspot.com/)

All the prophecies that mention the final salvation to the "Jews", are speaking of those who are God's nation by means of faith (Rom.9:26; 8:14). These become "Jews" in spirit. God's original promise to Abraham specified that he would be father, not just to Jews, but to "many nations" (Gen.17:5,7). Abraham is father to those who imitate his faith, though which they inherit the promises given to him and his seed (Gal.3:29).
Abraham's seed are the same spiritual "Jews" being spoken of in the symbolic book of Revelation (Rev.7:4; 21:14).
These are the same 144000 seen on "Mt. Zion" (Rev.14:1) and are equated in scripture with New Jerusalem (Isa.2:3; Heb.12:22; Rev.21:2).

So although many self-sourced "scholars" declare that we should expect a miraculous conversion of physical Jews, in order to fulfill God's promises to save "Israel";
the scriptures identify
 who "Israel" actually is,
 the means by which this entire new nation will be "saved",
 and clarifying precisely who will fulfill and receive those very promises.
 (Jer.31:33; Rom.2:14,15; Acts10:35; 15:9,14; Isa.43:21; 1Pet.2:9,10; Rev.5:9,10).

  I know that there are many more scriptures which establish these things, and I apologize for not including all of them. I hope the ones I was enabled to offer, are sufficient to give you a clear reply.
If not, please follow up with your additional question.
God bless you in your search for truth (Matt.13:11),
Pearl
--------------------

Dear "The Message",
I will quote (and underline) some of your previous post and cited scriptures, and within it, offer some scriptural considerations.

Gen 22:18 And by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves due to the fact that you have listened to my voice."

Yes, God made this promise to Abraham and his seed. Who is that "seed" physically descended from Abraham?
Please consider Gal.3:16...
"The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ".
So,
Christ fulfilled God's promise to Abraham's "seed".
He shares that throne, with those whom God chooses to be His new people (Eph.2:15) (Rev.3:21; 2Tim.2:12; Rev.2:26; Luke 19:17) (Eph.1:4,10; 3:8-9; Col.1:27) without any preference to physical lineage (see below).
Christ was eligible to fulfill that promise, because he was also born under the Law Covenant as a Jew (Gal.4:4-5). < He redeemed only those of Israel, who accepted him [Matt.15:24; John 1:11; 12:48-49; 8:13,24,26,33,37,39-44,47; 3:36; Matt.20:18-19; John 19:11; Matt.27:24-25; 21:43; 23:33-38; Rev.17:6 (Luke 13:33 B) Rev.19:2. 
(Matt.3:9; Rom.2:28-29; 9:6; Gal.6:15-16; 3:28-29; Eze.36:26-28; 1Pet.2:10,9,5).
Those who have God's Laws on their hearts, have a spiritual mark on them (Deut.11:18; Rev.14:1). Those who follow other Laws (John 8:44) have a different mark (Rev.13:16-18; 16:13,15). They are not serving God (Rev.7:3), nor do they inherit the promises (John 3:36; Rom.4:13; Heb.6:12).
Jesus also fulfilled the Law that he was born under (Rom.10:4), which then, passed away (Heb.8:7,13,9,10; 9:15; Rev.5:9-10)... replaced by the New Covenant. 
Remember... the covenant to Abraham made him father of many nations (Gen.17:4; Rom.4:13,16; 1:16; Gal.3:7-9), with no designation of partiality to any nation in particular (Acts 10:34-35).

This is the foremost covenant, the world will experience a blessing by means of Abraham's seed. This seed of Abraham comprises of both a physical seed, the Jews
and a spiritual seed, Christians.

Yes, both the physical seed of Abraham and the spiritual, are realities.
The reality of physical seed, does not guarantee that this seed are heirs.
True, the Jews were given preference, by being offered the inheritance first.
Those under Law who accepted Christ while that offer stood open (Matt.10:5-6; Heb.8:13; Rom.1:16; Acts 13:26-28,44-51; 15:7-9,14-17), received the reward which their faith incurred (Rom.11:1,5,7,11,14,19-23,35). 

No one can deny that the Jews are the physical seed of Abraham. 
No one can deny that Christians are the spiritual seed of Abraham by means of faith.

ALL are seed of Abraham by means of Faith 
(Rom.4:12-13,16; Gal.3:7,9,14,27-29; Col.3:11). The physical seed of Abraham who lack faith (and are not a part of the remnant - Rom.9:27), are no longer considered Abraham's seed (John 8:39,44), nor do they inherit the earth (Gen.13:14-15; Rom.4:13; Ps.37:29).

The conclusion: Both aspects of Abraham's seed exist and are legitimate!
The Jews are part of the new covenant. God explicitly says:
Jer 31:33,34 "For this is the covenant that I shall conclude with the house of Israel after those days," is the utterance of YHVH. "I will put my law within them, and in their heart I shall write it. And I will become their God, and they themselves will become my people." 
"And they will no more teach each one his companion and each one his brother, saying, 'KNOW YHVH!' for they will all of them know me, from the least one of them even to the greatest one of them," is the utterance of YHVH. "For I shall forgive their error, and their sin I shall remember no more

But who is the "house of Israel"??? (Rom.9:6; 2:28-29; Phil.3:3; Heb.3:6) 
Who is considered "Israel" by God (Gal.6:16). God considers Israel his "flock" of sheep (Jer.31:10). The Jews who repented and accepted Christ (Acts 13:24-25), were the little flock (Luke 12:32). When Jesus brings in the Gentiles, they become ONE FLOCK without a divided distinction among them (John 10:16; Eph.2:15; Isa.56:8; Eze.37:24; John 11:52; Gal.3:26; Rom.8:27).
Who have God's Laws written on their hearts? (Eze.37:24; Deut.6:6,8; Rev.14:1)... who become God's people? (1Pet.2:10,9,5) Whose error is forgiven? (Heb.9:15; Rev.5:9-10)
Who really know God? (Isa.43:6-7,10,12,25,21; 1Pet.2:9; John 6:46; Matt.11:27)
    Just those who bear Abraham's physical genes?
Jer. 31:33,34 does not insist upon this.
All God's Sons must have God's Laws in their hearts.
(Luke 8:11,15)

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