Common Sense

Common Sense
I recently read a booklet from Moody Bible Institute called “Israel”. In this booklet the statement was made that “the Church does not merge with Israel or replace Israel in God's plan.” Common sense should make anyone who is at all familiar with the New Testament question at least the first part of that quote.

I should note that the terminology is inverted as the statement should read “Israel does not merge with the Church” since Israel apparently existed first.

Now we could ask ourselves what happened to the disciples of Jesus when he was crucified? Did they die, too, or somehow vanish from existence? Were they still Israelites when they went through Pentecost? Did they merge into the Church after Pentecost? Did all of living, believing Israel merge into the Church? Of course they did! So the Church and Israel are at this point one and the same, or at very least the Church is part of Israel. Did those Jews eventually witness about Jesus to Gentiles? Did any Gentiles believe the message about Jesus? Obviously they did. These questions are simply an attempt to help us think through the formation and progress of the early Church.

What did Jesus say in John 10:16 about this? “I have other sheep [gentiles] that are not of this sheep pen [Israel]. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” Doesn't this passage at least imply that the gentile believers will be brought into the flock of Israel? So now, it at least appears we have Jews (Jesus' disciples) becoming the Church at Pentecost and Gentiles being added to the flock of Israel.

If that were all that the Bible had to say about Israel and the church merging, we would be left with a great deal of uncertainty. But there's lots more! We will only look at some of it.

The statement was also made in this booklet concerning Romans 11:17 that “the natural branches (unbelieving Jews) are broken off so that other branches (believing Gentiles) may be grafted in.” No mention is made concerning what those gentiles are grafted into. The passage is clear however that the tree they are grafted into is Israel. Only some of the natural branches of the tree of Israel were broken off (the unbelievers) and believing gentiles were grafted into their places among the remaining believing Jews. To make it a little more obvious, we as gentiles are included in those in-grafted gentile believers. We are members of the Church, yet this passage makes it clear we are also grafted into Israel in some form. Obviously most of us are not living within the boarders of ancient Israel, so Israel's form has also changed in New Covenant times to the New Redeemed Spiritual Israel with newly appointed leaders- (Matthew 21:38-45) the apostles. The saints from Old Testament Israel are still members only now they have been redeemed. Being a spiritual nation at present (Jeremiah 31:36; 1 Peter 2:9; Ex. 19:5-6) does not diminish our future hope of prophetic fulfillment and glory. If that's still not clear enough let's look at another passage.

In Ephesians 2:11-14, 19 “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth... remember that at that time (before you were saved) you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise... But now in Christ Jesus you who were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one...” then verse 19 “ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people...” And Ephesians 3:6 adds “... the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” In other words we have merged together in Israel and are sharers together of the same promises. Does this sound at all like what Jesus said he was going to do in John 10:16? Since Jesus abolished the law and everyone must be saved through him, we believers are all on equal standing whether Jew or gentile. We should note also how even though we gentiles are no longer strangers and aliens to Israel, we are still strangers and aliens in this world, waiting for that better land just like all those mentioned in Hebrews 11:8-16,39-40.

Here's another question to ask yourself. Did God change his mind concerning the promises he made to those Jews who followed Jesus and who became the church? (Romans 11:29) Did they grow up all their lives anticipating the promises made to Israel only to discover that by following Christ they were going to receive something different than had been promised to Israel because the Church, as many say, would only receive spiritual blessings? Or did Jesus come to confirm the promises that had already been made to the fathers, so that the gentiles could also believe in God's faithfulness (Romans 15:8-9)?

The best part of all of this is how we (Jews and Gentiles) can together share the promises. The answer is so simple. Jesus is the real heir (Hebrews 1:2; Galatians 3:16,26-29)!!! The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed (singular) meaning one person, who is Christ. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ (that's anyone who has ever been saved) have clothed yourselves with Christ. ...for you are all (Jews and Gentiles) one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.” And in Romans 4:16-17 “Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring- not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: I have made you a father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed- the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” When God speaks, things are created (Galatians 6:15).

It is no doubt with these passages in mind that the Church could easily be called “the Israel of God” as it is in Galatians 6:16.

Why is it so difficult for some to believe that God can fulfill his promises to believing, ethnic Israel if believing gentiles are also included? In Genesis where the original promises are made to Abraham the term for seed in Hebrew is interpreted into English in different Bibles as “descendants” or “posterity” and could mean those things except for the clarity of Galatians 3:16 that Jesus was the seed, the one person spoken of. So what will you believe? Is there an error in the Bible or an error in the Old Testament interpretation believed by most people today that these promises were spoken to ethnic national Israel? Common sense may mislead us this time as we read more in the Old Testament and see later the promises being confirmed to Isaac and Jacob- the ethnic descendants of Abraham. But don't be mislead. They were of the same faith as Abraham and the promise comes by faith to all of Abraham's offspring who are of the same faith as Abraham (Remember Romans 4:16 & Galatians 3:26-29).

Why are so many people today committed to dividing what God is ultimately bringing together (Ephesians 1:9-10)? Must they save their theology? What if they are wrongly dividing the word of truth? If they are wrong will they be ashamed? If I am wrong I beg someone to care enough to prove me wrong so I can repent before I stand before my Savior ashamed. Is there anyone who cares?

Someone may be asking “So what is the promise?” Remember Ephesians 2:12 Start with the covenants. See Genesis 12-17; Galatians 3:16; Romans 4:13,16-17; Colossians 1:12-14; Matthew 25:34; Hebrews 11:16; Jer. 31: 31-40; Ezekiel 36:23-27

When do we receive the promise? (Ephesians 1:13-14) We have already received the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of what we will receive at Jesus return. Jude 3 ...Contend for the faith...
I added parentheses, italics, and underlining throughout for emphasis.