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Israel—Things to Keep in Mind. Today’s Israel is not the OT Israel They have missed the Messiah Their leaders are NOT appointed by God (anymore than any other nation) There aren’t temple sacrifices They are NOT a theocracy. One God, One People. Pre-Israel Israel the Nation
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Israel—Things to Keep in Mind • Today’s Israel is not the OT Israel • They have missed the Messiah • Their leaders are NOT appointed by God (anymore than any other nation) • There aren’t temple sacrifices • They are NOT a theocracy
One God, One People Pre-Israel Israel the Nation The body of Christ Israel Restored ALL saved by FAITH
Today (In the dispensation/stewardship of Grace) Eph 3:2 Christ is building His Church
A Promise to the Dead (Living): A Warning to the Living (Dead) Romans 11:12-24
Romans 11:13-14 • For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: • If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh [Jews], and might save some of them [Jews]. Why?
Jesus Said? • Luke 19:10 • For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Paul’s Commitment • 2 Timothy 2:10 • Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. What’s the big deal?
How would you answer this question? “Christian, what do you think I need to be saved from?”
What are you being saved from? Answer • The power (poison) of sin • Death (you’re both dead and dying) • The penalty of sin • Enmity (hostility) between man and God • Wrath of God (it is being stored up) • Eternal separation from God
Romans 11:15 • For if the casting away of them [ethnic Israel] be the reconciling of the world, • what shall the receiving of them [ethnic Israel] be, but life from the dead? Some day God will remove the partial blindness Israel is presently experiencing.
Romans 11:16 Two Illustrations • For if the firstfruit [dough offering] be holy, the lump is also holy: • and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:17 • And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; The spiritual blessing of being part of the “People of God.”
Paul describes non-Jews [Gentiles] as branches on wild olive trees who are now being integrated (grafted) into the people of God. But these people are NOT becoming Jews; they are professing to be followers of Christ. The tree is the visible representation of the people of God beginning with Abraham.
1 Peter 2:10 • Which in time past werenot a people [wild], but are now the people of God [grafted in]: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Today’s unrepentant Jews are not the people of God.
Romans 9:6b • For they arenot all Israel, • which are of Israel:
Romans 15:27b • For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their [the Jew’s] spiritual things, • their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. Jewish Christians
Romans 9:4 • Who are Israelites; to whompertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Our biblical heritage is in the Judaism of the OT.
How could a Christian be anti-Jewish in his attitude or behavior? Turn to Romans 4:11 through adoption, we are connected to Jews
Romans 4:11 • And he [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Faith is having Hope against Hope • Romans 4:18 • [Abraham] against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Romans 11:18 • Boast not against the branches (Jews) • But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. • remember it is not you who supports the root, but the root that supports you.
Romans 11:19 • Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. • Note: This has NOTHING to do with salvation • We know this because 1 person doesn’t have to lose his salvation so another person can be saved.
Romans 11:20a • FACT • There isn’t anyone who truly believed and was broken off. • Well: because of unbelief they [Israel] were broken off, and thou standest by faith. corporately
Corporate Blinding of Israel This is what Paul describes as natural branches being broken off.
Romans 11:20b • Well: because of unbelief they [Israel] were broken off, and thou standest by faith. • Be not highminded but fear. FEAR NO ROOM FOR PRIDE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST!
Israel’s History is our Example 1 Corinthians 10:1-12
Romans 11:21 • For if God spared not the natural [ethnic Israel] branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee [Gentiles]. Natural vs. Wild Israel vs. Gentiles
I want to skip over vs. 22 for now Romans 11:23 And they also, if they [corporate] abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Romans 11:24 • For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature [Gentile], and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree [Israel]: • how much more shall these [future Jews], which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree [people of God]?
Romans 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 fulness of the Gentiles be come in. The corporate blindness sets the conditions for a huge Gentile church (which can have Jews in it who believe Jesus is the Christ).
Jesus Prophesied About • Luke 21:24 • And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: • and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Acts 10:45 • And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. • Note: Nothing is left to chance.
Why didn’t they see the truth? Acts 18:6 • And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he [Paul] shook his raiment, and said unto them, • Your blood be upon your own heads; • I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
Paul is Showing Us • Paul is teaching us that the fullness of the Gentiles (Christ and His Church) is a part of the way God is fulfilling the covenant He made to Abraham in Genesis 17:5: • for a father of many nations have I made thee. • Tribes and ethnicities
Question How does God fulfill His promise to Abraham if the tree has only Jewish branches?
Romans 11:24 • For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature [Gentile], and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree [Israel]: • how much more shall these [future Jews], which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree [people of God]?
The Future When the fullness of the Gentiles is reached, how will God remove the partial blinding?
Zechariah 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, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
NOTE In the same way the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Gentiles, God will once again send His Spirit [of Grace] to Jews [natural branches]; and when they see Jesus [him who they pierced], they will repent.
America & Israel • God has made a promise to bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse Abraham • Therefore, it seems wise or prudent to show favor toward the nation of Abraham • Only the return of “Him whom they pierced” will bring peace to Israel
Conclusion Promises • God has a very specific plan for the future! • God has a plan to keep His promises to Abraham, David and ULTIMATELY His Son so that I can trust Him. Warning • Do not presume upon the mercy of God.
Romans 11:22 • Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; • but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: • otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.