Who is Israel?-7

As Israel is repeatedly mentioned in the New Testament, this only adds to the confusion in regards to who is Israel. As we have studied, Israel is a man, a nation, a land, and has both physical and spiritual implications. All of this merely adds to our dilemma as to what are we to understand about who is Israel? So we will once again start with Paul’s revelation about the spiritual Israel.

Romans 9:1  I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 9:2  that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 

9:3  For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 9:4  who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 9:5  whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. 

9:6  But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 9:7  nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED." 

9:8  That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. 

Clearly, Israel is the family of true believers, both in the Old Testament and New Testament. So why is there so many references in the New Testament in regards to the sons of Israel? There are 14 verses that include this term. God sent an angel to Zacharias to tell him of the birth of his son John.

Luke 1:11  And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 1:12  Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 

1:13  But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 1:14  "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 

1:15  "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. 1:16  "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 

1:17  "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 

As we all know, John the Baptist’s only mission was in Judah to announce and confirm Jesus as the Son of God. He died in prison and never ventured outside of Judah. This angel is referencing the Israel still living in the land of Judah, which by itself is confusing. How can the land be called both?

Hebrews 8:8  For finding fault with them, He says, "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 

Here we read that there are two houses or lands and peoples. This sounds like tribes and lands.

Acts 9:13  But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 9:14  and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." 

9:15  But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 9:16  for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." 

Saul now Paul, was chosen to reveal Jesus to Gentiles, Kings, and the sons of Israel. The sons of Israel are separate from the Gentiles. As we remember, Paul was sent to the Gentiles to preach the gospel.

Galatians 2:7  But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised 2:8  (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 2:9  and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 

Again there seems to be a distinction between Gentiles and Jews, or maybe just a recognition. But, all in Christ are equals and sons of God.

Ephesians 4:4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 4:5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 

Romans 12:3  For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 

12:4  For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 2:5  so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 

There is only one body of Christ. There is only one faith and one baptism. God has only one family. We are all sons of God.

More next Saturday.