I heard people teach that Israel is rejected by God and that the Christians worldwide form the new Israel.
In the same time they claim that all promises that God gave to Israel are now for them. Well you can count yourself rich, but it is not based on truth.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans: Did God reject his own people? Certainly not! And as proof he mentioned that he himself was an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
God has NOT rejected his people, whom he CHOSE FROM THE BEGINNING. (See Romans:11.1-2)
Like in the days of Elijah, where Elijah thought he was the only one left, and God answered him that there were still
seven thousand men who have not worshiped the false god Baal. Also today there is still a small number of them left that GOD HAS CHOSEN, because of his GRACE. (See Romans:11.3-5)
GOD’S CHOICE is based on HIS GRACE, not on what people have done.
You can do good deeds your entire life, and still it would not earn you one second in heaven. His Kingdom can only be reached through faith in Jesus and by the Grace of God.
If God’s choice were based on what we accomplished or on what we do, then His grace would not be real grace. (See Romans:11.6)
The people of Israel sadly enough did not find what they were looking for.
So are many Christians today. Maybe there situation is even worse as they think they have found the narrow way, while they are clearly still on the broad way to destruction. In fact till now among the people of Israel, as well as among the Christians there is only a small group that God chose who have found it; the rest grew deaf to God’s call. Like the scripture says, “God made their minds and hearts dull; to this very day they cannot see or hear.” (See Romans:11.7-8)
And David is even calling for their punishment, “May they be caught and trapped at their feasts; may they fall, may they be punished! May their eyes be blinded so that they cannot see; and make them bend under their troubles at all times.” (See Romans:11.9-10)
But when the Jews stumbled, they did not fall to their ruin. But because they sinned, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make the Jews jealous of them. (See Romans:11.11)
Strange as it may sound in our ears, the sin of the Jews brought rich blessings to the world, and their spiritual poverty brought rich blessings to the Gentiles.
Now just try to imagine how much greater the blessings will be, when the complete number of Jews is included! (See Romans:11.12)
Now try to understand this: If the roots of a tree are offered to God, the branches are his also. Because the tree is one. Now it happened that some of the branches of the cultivated olive tree have been broken off, and a branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to it.
We are like the branches of that wild olive tree, and because we are grafted into the cultivated olive tree, we now share His strong spiritual life. (See Romans:11.16-17)
So you have no reason whatsoever to look down on those branches who were broken off. How can we be proud and say that God has left Israel, or even that God hates Israel, and that we have now taken their place?
You feel proud of being a Christian?
Don’t forget you are just a branch, and if not for God’s grace, you couldn’t even be a Christian.
Remember that the tree can live without a branch, but a branch cannot live without the tree. (See Romans:11.18)
Don’t say now that the branches were broken off to make room for you.
You are right in that they were broken off, by which there came room for us. But that was not the reason why it happened. They were broken off because they did not believe, while you remain in place because you do believe. (See Romans:11.19-20)
So there is no reason to be proud of it; instead, it gives reason to be afraid. For if God did not spare the Jews, who are like the natural branches; do you think he will spare you when you loose your faith? (See Romans:11.20-21)
We can see in this how kind, but also how severe God is. He is severe toward those who have fallen, but kind to you; if you continue in his kindness. But if you do not, you too will be broken off. (See Romans:11.22)
And when the Jews abandon their unbelief, they will be put back in the place where they were. God is able to do that. (See Romans:11.23)
We are no more than the branch of a wild olive tree that is broken off and then, contrary to nature, is joined to a cultivated olive tree.
The Jews are like this cultivated tree; and it will be much easier for God to join these broken-off branches to their own tree again. (See Romans:11.24)
There is a secret truth in this, It is that the stubbornness of the people of Israel is not permanent, but will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to God. (See Romans:11.25)
All Israel will be saved. As the scripture says, “The Savior will come from Zion and remove all wickedness from the descendants of Jacob. I will make this covenant with them when I take away their sins.” (See Romans:11.26-27)
Because the Jews as a whole still reject the Good News, they are now still like God’s enemies.
But this is for the sake of us.
But because of God’s choice, they are also today his friends because of their ancestors. For God does not change his mind about whom he chooses and blesses. (See Romans:11.28-29)
As for us, we disobeyed God in the past; but now we have received God’s mercy because the Jews were disobedient. In the same way, because of the mercy that you have received, the Jews may also receive God’s mercy. God has made all people prisoners of disobedience, so that he might show mercy to them all. (See Romans:11.30-32)
About Author
