God's Covenant people. What About Israel?

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:17‭-‬21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

[17] "If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, [18] 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. [19] You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” [20] Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. [21] For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either."

We have seen and been horrified by the events that have been happening in the nation of Israel recently. As can be expected the prophetic prognosticators have come out of the woodwork in full force as well.

But how are we to understand what the scripture says about Israel as it relates to the modern world and to the gospel? There are two predominant views that carry some truth to them but also a lot of error. They are 'replacement theology' and 'dispensational theology.' Both of these ideas are much too in depth and complicated to go into here but we'll just do a very basic overview here as it relates to the ethnic nation of Israel.

Replacement Theology

This is the idea that the church has replaced Israel and that all of the unfulfilled covenant promises are to be fulfilled in the church. This idea goes back to the mid-2nd century promoted largely by Marcion. It asserts that God is finished with Israel because they broke the covenant and he has instituted a new covenant with a new people group -- the church. 

Dispensational Theology

This is a much more recent idea promoted by James Darby in the earlier part of the nineteenth century. Dispenasationalism was not part of teaching for nearly all of the church age. This belief system goes into many areas such as the covenants, prophecy, and eschatology. These are also too complicated to go into here. What we need to know for the purpose of this talk is that dispensationalism makes a distinction between Israel and the Church. It largely interprets the book of Revelation as the Church having been raptured before the tribulation and these events mostly affecting the nation of Israel. It should be noted that the rapture is also an idea that was previously not part of early church teaching. Some have even gone so far as to assert that God has a separate plan for saving Israel than for saving the Church which is completely heretical.

If the replacement view is correct then the image Paul presents in Romans 11 should be one olive tree being uprooted and a new olive tree being planted. If the dispensational view is correct then the image should be two olive trees, one representing Israel and the other representing the Church. 

But what we actually see is a single olive tree with natural branches broken off (ethnic Israelites) and unnatural branches (Gentiles) grafted in. It is one covenant people that now includes Gentiles.

Same Covenant people but a New and Better Covenant

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31:31‭-‬34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

[31] “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. [32] It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. [33] “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. [34] No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8:7‬-8, 13 ‭NIV‬‬

[7] For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. ‭‭[8] But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.

[13] By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Between verse 8 and 13 of Hebrews, the writer had quoted those verses in Jeremiah. Note that Jeremiah says that this 'NEW COVENANT' would be with Israel and Judah. After Jesus ascended and Peter preached his first sermon on Pentecost there were 3,000 people who were saved that day -- ALL JEWS. For the first decade or so the only Christ followers were Jewish -- ethnic Israelites. 

By the last half of the first century the tipping point was reached when there were more Gentile Christians than Jewish Christians.

As unpopular as it is to say in our world of politcal correctness, the early persecution of the Church was at the hands of the Jews, not the Romans. The first martyr, Stephan, was killed for calling the Jews out on their hypocrisy. They accused him of speaking against Moses and he reminded them of their history, one of chronic disobedience. As Jeremiah said, they had broken the covenant.

This brings us to Paul's words in Romans 11. Natural branches have been broken off because of unbelief and unnatural branches have been grafted in. It is still the same covenant people but a new covenant.

What is a Jew

‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:28‭-‬29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

[28] A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. [29] No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

This really needs no commentary. Bloodline doesn't make someone a Jew. With that in mind when we see verses like Romans 11:26:

...and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: 'The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.' 

It seems to imply that when the New Testament speaks of Israel, it refers to Israelites who have received Christ. Note in Romans 11:28 the word 'only.' It does not say, "A person is not a Jew who is one outwardly," it says "ONLY OUTWARDLY." That seems to imply that to be a true Jew means BOTH outwardly and inwardly.

Ultimately, those who reject Christ as Savior, both ethnic Jew and Gentile will not be saved. So, when it says that all Israel will be saved it refers to those who are both outwardly and inwardly Jews.

Earlier, John the Baptist had warned the Jews about claiming their ethnicity in Luke ‭3:8‬ (‭NIV).‬‬

"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham."

Being an ethnic Israelite will not save them. Repentance and faith in Christ will be the only thing that will, for both Jew and Gentile.

What About End Time Prophesy?

I have heard some who hold a covenantal view say that the fact that an actual nation of Israel exists is completely insignificant. I don't see how they can say that because even on a historical and geopolitical level the existence of a state of Israel is very significant. All of the conflicts in the middle east stem from the conflicting religious beliefs of both Jews and Muslims that believe the land belongs to them. And that goes back to Abraham.

But how does that figure into end time prophesy?

The honest truth is we really don't know. So spending too much time speculating about end time prophesy is somewhat pointless. 

Obviously, God is completely sovereign and is completely in charge of the unfolding of history. That means it is part of his sovereign plan that an actual nation of Israel exists today. But how that actually works out is still a mystery.

Romans 11 does seem to imply that there will be, for lack of a better word, an influx, of ethnic Israelites who will come to saving faith in Jesus Christ as their Messiah and these natural branches will be grafted back in. 

Yes Lord, may it be so. 

In the meantime, we have Kingdom work to do and we need to be about our Father's business.

Refuting Universalism

 

The universalist has an idea that eventually everyone gets to go to heaven because God loves everyone. 

Here's a question to ask:

"Does Judas Iscariot eventually get to go to heaven?"

If the answer is no. Then universalism is false. Not everyone gets to go to heaven.

If the answer is yes. Then Jesus was either lying or he was wrong. Either way he isn't the savior because he said in Matthew 26: 24 that it would have been better for him if he had never been born.

If even Judas eventually ends up in heaven then his ultimate end will be good and Jesus's statement was false.

There is no ambiguity in that statement. Nobody comes back from hell!

Dante had it right when he pictured the sign over the entrance into the inferno:

"Abandon all hope who enter here!"

"And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Revelation 14:11 ESV

But what about the Greek word for eternity, 'aionios' Which translates as 'an age?'

That word can either mean an age or eternity. 

One problem with the universalist's assertion is that if you look at the context the word is used it is obvious it means eternity. The other problem is it is the same word used to refer to eternal life. By that token we would have to assume the possibility that heaven will only be temporary as well.

Universalism is nothing new. The reason people embrace it is because we don't like the idea of an eternal hell. Especially the idea that some of those we know as 'good people' may end up there. God has a few things to say about that:

1. There are no good people.

"...as it is written: 'None is righteous, no, not one;' "

Romans 3:10 ESV

2. Only God is good.

"And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.' "

Mark 10:18 ESV

3. Our righteousness is not acceptable to God. 

"We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."

Isaiah 64:6 ESV

 

And this is where we really get in trouble:

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."

Proverbs 14:12 ESV

Universalism is simply a human idea. But it ends in death.

We need to scrap our ideas and take to heart what the Bible actually says.

When Peter preached on that first Pentecost after the ascension his message was one of warning:

"And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, 'Save yourselves from this crooked generation.' "

Acts 2:40 ESV

If universalism was the proper way to understand the gospel then Peter would have said in verse 38; "Repent and be baptized so that you may be among the first to get into heaven and get a better reward." 

If you get to go to heaven regardless then there is no reason to go to church, endure persecution or suffer for the sake of Christ. There is no reason not to indulge our fleshly lusts and morays. 

But there is a reason:

Because the wicked have their place in the lake of fire. 

And they don't ever come back.

Sometimes We Should Ask God to Send Someone Else

 IS IT EVER APPROPRIATE TO ASK GOD TO SEND SOMEONE ELSE?

"But he said, 'Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.' ”

Exodus 4:13 ESV

If you are familiar with the call of Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt you will remember that Moses raised all kinds of objections as to why he was the wrong person to lead them. After God had answered all his objections Moses showed his hand -- he simply didnt want to go.

So the question is; Is it ever appropriate to ask God to send someone else? I believe there are times we should ask God to send someone else and I'm going to give some examples that Moses DID NOT use.

1. Will this mission put me in a compromising situation where I might be tempted?

James 1:13 says;

"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.' "

If you are a married church elder and there is an unsaved attractive single woman at your workplace it would be risky to meet her for coffee to share the gospel. You might be able to share discreetly at the workplace but it would be wise to ask God to put someone else in her path who won't be tempted. (Thankfully I have a wife who I can suggest.)

2. Is this going to distract from what God has already called you to do.

I'm reminded of the story about the prophet who was told to prophesy against Jeroboam in 1 Kings 13. God had told him precisely what he was to do and another prophet came and told him that God had told him to tell the prophet to deviate from his original plan.

This was disobedient. If God has given you clear direction through his voice he will not speak through a different voice to change your direction. 

Sometimes a seemingly new call may be a GOOD thing but not a GOD thing. In that case you should stay where you are on the original mission but it is perfectly appropriate to ask God to send someone else who can fulfill that mission

3. When you truly cannot be effective. 

In a situation where someone is blatantly hostile toward you for whatever reason they are not going to receive anything you say to them. There's no point in stirring up more hostility but asking God to send someone else where there is no hostility that they would listen to is totally fine.

Sometimes it may simply be that you've already done everything you can. In that case maybe it's time for someone else to pick up where you left off. 

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth."

1 Corinthians 3:6 ESV

Even Paul didnt do everything. Apollos picked up where Paul left off.

4. Sometimes our own motives for wanting to go aren't the best.

This one is difficult because our hearts are deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Often we can convince ourselves that our motives are pure when they really aren't. Years ago there was an opportunity to go to Africa on a mission trip. I was excited about going but then I was convicted that while I did care about reaching the people with the gospel my real motives were about my hunger for adventure. I wanted to see Africa. When I was honest with myself I realized that my reasons were more about myself than caring for others. Therefore I passed on the opportunity and someone else was able to go.

So these are a few reasons where it may be completely appropriate to ask God to send someone else. Remember we have an enemy who is very good at imitating God's voice. He is very subtle in distracting us even by things that may be good, but just not for us at a particular time. You will notice that Moses didnt use any of these objections because they didnt apply. But if these objections do apply, then stay put and ask God to send someone else.