Featured The Glorious future for Israel !

More on the Hope of Israel !



We have previously showed already that the Hope of Israel, that which Paul had as an ethnic jew and the Twelve Tribes that instantly serve God Acts 26:7

Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

Was not the same Hope of the Apostate nation of jews, those who accused Paul. The Hope Paul had and any Spiritual Jew has, as did Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob, was a Spiritual Hope, a Heavenly Hope, one of which constituted them to see themselves as strangers and pilgrims on this earth, even in the physical land of Palestine !! Heb 11:13

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

The confessed this, the word confess here is the greek word homologeō
and means:

to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent

to profess

a) to declare openly, speak out freely

b) to profess one's self the worshipper of one

They declared openly their Faith in a Heavenly Home.

Also this is the same designation Peter had for believers in here 1 Pet 2:11

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Remember Peter is writing to those that had experienced this 1 Pet 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

This is the same Hope that Abraham had . Also the same Hope the gentile believers had in Colosse Col 1:5

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Another jewish Apostle had this hope, but more specifically calls it " the promise of a New Heaven and New Earth 2 Pet 3:13

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Yes, that same promise God gave Abraham and His Seed after Him, the Everlasting Canaan Gen 17:5-8, and also what Paul refers to here Rom 4:13-17, notice verse 17, how it refers back to God's Promise to Abraham Gen 17:5

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

For God hath just declared him to be the Father of many nations [Spiritually] meaning his Children of Faith among the world ! Gal 3:7

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

They are the ones God meant in Gen 17:5 that Abraham had been by God made a Father of ! And therefore they have the same Hope and promise of Gen 17:8

8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

This is the Hope of Israel !

 

Who is the First Natural Head of Israel ?



Abraham was not the first head of Israel, God's Elect People ! No it was Adam !

Lk 3:23-38

23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,

25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,

26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,

27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,

28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,

29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,

30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,

31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,

32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,

33 Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,

34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,

35 Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,

36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,

37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,

38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

This should help one to see and understand that Adam stood for the Elect of God, and we see that according to the Flesh Christ is Adam's Seed, of which it was preached in the beginning that Christ would be of the woman's seed which was Eve at the Time who was under Adam's Headship Gen 3:15, so quite naturally her seed [ Gen 4:25] was Adam's Seed !

 

A Saviour unto Israel Acts 13:23

Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

Is just another way of saying that Jesus is the Saviour of His Body the Church Eph 5:23-25

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body.


24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

or He gave Himself for Israel !

Now that the OT Prophecies of Salvation coming to God's Chosen People, their redemption, this has been fulfilled at the coming of Jesus Christ and the confirmation of the New Covenant by His Blood; That's why its written in Lk 1:68-70

68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

Notice vs 68 He has visited and redeemed His People, this is also confirmed by God in Gal 4:4-5

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Yes, the redemption that the prophets looked for Lk 1:70

70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

Was the redemption in Christ Jesus for the Church Rom 3:24-25

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Also Eph 1:7

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

according to the riches of His Grace, this is the grace they [the prophets foresaw 1 Pet 1:10


10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

But the apostate jews and even some of the elect among them were looking for a political and national redemption, instead of a Spiritual One that lied in the Blood of Christ. However Spiritual Jews like John the Baptist's Father Zacharias did understand it [redemption] was Spiritual Lk 1:74-77

71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

So he knew of the remission or forgiveness of sins associated with this redemption he just spoke of in vs 68, and so he knew and spoke of this Eph 1:7

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Which is clearly for the Church Chosen in Christ from the foundation of the world Eph 1:4 Cp with Lk 1:70

This Redemption by the Blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sins, so we see that he had been given a spiritual knowledge of the People Israel the Church !

 

The Fellowship of the Mystery !



Eph 3:9

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

What is this Fellowship of the Mystery ? It is the fact that under the New Covenant administration 2 Cor 3:6-9

6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

This ministration established by the Blood of Christ, that both ethnic jews of faith and gentiles of faith, constitute the commonwelth of Israel, the Household of Faith Eph 2:12,19

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

BTW even under the OC the ethnic jews who were not of Faith, even they were as gentiles, strangers from the covenants of promise, neither were they of the saints of the household of Faith, only a very small remnant was !

So now under the New Covenant economy of the Spirit, this fact is more clearly set forth, and that both saved jews and saved gentiles, people of faith constitute Israel, the People of God, The Israel of God, ,that Israel that shall be saved in the Lord Jesus Christ ! Isa 45:17,22

But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.


22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

God is speaking about the same people being saved here in vs 22 as He was in vs 17 !

Thats the Mystery !

 

Rom 11:7


7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election[Israel] hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

There is no plainer scripture in the NT that reveals that ethnic Israel as a ethnic nation was not God's Chosen People [Deut 7:6-7], remember Matt 22:14

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Paul had already in the epistle of Romans indicated that there were Two Israel's Rom 9:6

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

And these are the same Two pointed out in Rom 11:7, for there was a purely ethnic Israel according to the flesh, but also an Israel that pertaineth to the Election or the Chosen Rom 11:7, which is an Election Israel in Christ. Now here in Rom 11:7, the Election of Grace Israel obtained something that the national Israel did not, but did seek after ! Now what was that ? It was redemption Lk 1:68

68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

The discrepancy however is this, that almost all the Nation of Israel expected redemption in a earthly nationalistic sense, whereby the jewish people would be delivered from their physical enemies and given earthly dominance and glory as in the days of King Solomon ;[See Lk 24:21] but that was not the promised redemption hoped for nor promised to the Fathers and Abraham Lk 1:72-73

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

No, the redemption was spiritual and had to do with Redemption from sin, and the forgiveness of sins, through the coming seed, the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, Abraham's Seed Gal 3:16. So the nation as a whole, saving the very small remnant of grace, which was also Israel Rom 9:6, failed to obtain that they sought after, But the Election Israel obtained it, evidenced by their Reception of Christ Jn 1:12. So in the Real sense and according to the Faith, Israel Elect did receive the Abrahamic Promises Lk 1:72-73


72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

And also according to the Faith, Israel national did not receive the Promises but was blinded ! So what has been established here is that there were Two Israel's, as it is today, so in Paul's Day, National Israel and Elect Israel or the Election or Paul's statement is absolutely meaningless ! Both Israel's in Rom 9:6 and Rom 11:7 cannot be God's Chosen People, there is only One Election !

 

God has Chosen Zion ! Who is that ?

Ps 132:13-14

13 For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.

14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

Now who is this Zion that God has Chosen ? Its not the ethnic jews, but it is all those He hath Chosen in Christ Jesus Eph 1:4

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Its composed of both Jews and Gentiles ! And by them being made Lively Stones by New Birth, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Pet 1:3

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To these it is also said 1 Pet 2:5

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

From these He erects His Temple, His dwelling place, His resting place forever, and that it is comprised of Gentiles lets Look at Eph 2:21-22

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

For these are the Dwelling that is spoken of back in Ps 132:13-14

13 For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.

14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

This desire of God is fulfilled in and Through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Body the Church !

 

Not Natural Israel !



That Natural Israel, Israelites born according to the flesh only, which were cast away, that they were not God's True People is confirmed in Paul's pungent question Rom 11:1,2

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

And of course the answer is the following " God forbid" ! For God has not cast away His People He foreknew

Vs 2 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

Remember some ethnic jews as well as gentiles shall yet here Matt 7:23

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you or foreknew: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

So this means, those who were cast away Rom 11:15

15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

Those could not have been God's People which He foreknew Rom 11:2, because it is stated their plainly, God has not cast them away !

Now those He did not cast away, obviously the foreknown, they did obtain and were in possession of the Messianic Promises, which is quite clear from Rom 11:7

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

This remnant, the Election obtained what the cast away nation as a whole had vainly sought after, according to their corrupt natural desires; Yet even with this Divine Illumination, many deceived people, both jew and gentile believe natural, ethnic israel are still God's People ! Can we say " They do believe a Lie" 2 Thess 2:11

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

 

The false teaching of a coming day of salvation for ethnic jews or national ethnic israel is contradicted soundly by Paul's teaching here in Rom 2:1-16, for it is pointed out that all men alike, jew and gentile, have heard the Gospel, and it has been God's Purpose for them to hear it, as stated in Rom 1:16, to the jew first and also to the greek; and so it will be at the end of this age, at the second coming of Christ, all men says Paul, jew and gentile, will be judged according to the Gospel and their heart attitude towards it Rom 2:16, Mk 16:15-16; Acts 17:31

16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

And ethnic jews do not think you shall escape the Judgment of God in that Day just because you are and ethnic jew or Abraham's seed by the flesh Rom 2:3-12

Vs 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

The Divine retribution will be meted out to the jew first and also to the greek, oh foolish ethnic jew and jew worshipers, there is no respect of persons with God vs 11

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.