IS ISRAEL GOD’S PEOPLE?

Bulletins

John Hines
02/25/24 - General

The Biblical answer is both yes, and no. The question itself is on the minds of many people, given the current escalated conflict. Much of the religious world takes the view that Jesus is going to return and establish an earthly kingdom in Jerusalem. This false doctrine (premillennialism) influences their opinions on matters concerning Israel today. When the Lord returns, it will not be to establish a kingdom, but to deliver the kingdom, to God (1 Cor. 15:24). No, the Lord’s kingdom is not earthly (Jn. 18:36), the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:4), and worship is not tied to any piece of land (Jn. 4:21). Given these Biblical truths, let’s return to the original question. Is Israel God’s people? Again, both yes and no. Follow along...

• The land promise was fulfilled, and it was not in 1948. God made the land promise to Abram in Gen. 12:1. Hundreds of years later, Joshua would lead Israel across the Jordan (Jos. 1:2). The land would be distributed as, “the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give... not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.” (Jos. 21:43-45).

• Other promises were made. Joshua would encourage the people to faithfulness, and warn them what would happen if they disobeyed God. “Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which the Lord your God promised you, so the Lord will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land...” (23:15). Moses had prophesied the same in the blessings and the curses (Deut. 28). We know what would come to pass; disobedience and captivity.

• Who truly is Israel? Romans 9-11 speaks to this question. There was Israel according to the flesh (9:4), but “those who are children of flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise” (9:8). “They are not all Israel who are of Israel” (9:6). Israel, true Israel, is not tied to land or the flesh. True Israel is tied to faithfulness to Jesus. If we believe on Him, we are Israel. If we do not, we are lost (9:30-10:3). Thankfully, the lost can be saved, but only through Jesus (11:16-24).

Governments may do as they wish and we pray that all use their authority for good (Rom. 13:1-5), but it is Christ’s followers who are the true Israel of God. Jesus came to His own and his own did not receive Him (Jn. 1:11), as prophesied. God promised Abraham that in his seed, all the nations would be blessed. Jesus is that seed, and when we follow Him, we, the Israel of God are heirs according to the promise (Gal. 3:24-29).

(Taken from Lenexa Edifier, edited by Jim Stauffer)