Thursday 11 October 2012

Israel Of God

As Matthew 24 disclose a number of end time happenings many people are becoming increasingly interested in the end time prophecies and many scholars have written books pointing to Israel as the place where all these thing will come to a climax.

Many people will tell you that unless you are a descendant of Abraham otherwise a Jew you are not a part of God’s chosen people. As we examine what the Scripture has to say about the Jews may we be enlightened as well as comforted by the word of God.
The Bible speaks of two types of Jews; one of the descendant of Abraham, meaning of Jewish nationality and another who are spiritual Jews those that have been born into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

In the first epistle of the book of Corinthians 2:14-15 we read “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." Unless we allow God who is the revealer of all secrets to teach us his truth we will find ourselves confused as to the truth according to the Bible.

An example of how easily one can misunderstand the word of God is John 2:18-21. "Then answered the Jews and said unto him, what sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body."

In 1 Corinthians 10:18 we read "Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?" and Romans 8:5 "For they that are flesh do mind the things of the flesh: but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." Here we see the bible making reference  to Israel of the flesh. Meaning those who are descendant of Abraham by blood. In Romans 9:1-3,6.  We read "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost. That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel." 

They are not all Israel, which are of Israel."As Romans 2:28-29 points out there are two distinct Israel those who are of Jewish birth and those who are of Spiritual birth, who have accepted Christ and become "not a Jew, which is one outwardly; but is a Jew, which is one inwardly; whose circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter;whose praise is not of men, but of God."

Paul in the book of Romans 9:8,17. further points out that "Their are two types of children; the children of the flesh, and the children of the promise who are counted for the seed.
In Romans 8:14 we read, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God, and joint heirs with Christ." There is no need for anyone to be left in darkness according to the Scripture as it relates to Who are the Spiritual Jews referred to in the Bible. Paul in the book of Galatians 3:14, 29 wrote, "That the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. (Ephesians 3:6).

Therefore God forbid that we should boast, for salvation is come to every man whether they are Jews or Gentiles as long as their central focus is Jesus the Son of God who gave his life a ransom for all that all can if they choose become the seed of Abraham through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 6:14-16)


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