Pastor Ray asked me to write up a brief summary of our views regarding the Bible’s teaching regarding present and future Israel: Here is what I came up with:
(1) Israel remains a source of blessing for all people for “in Abraham shall all the nations be blessed” and those that bless Israel will be blessed (Gen. 12:2-3).
(2) The gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, whether Jew, Arab or any other (Rom 1:16). God is the God of Jews, Arabs and all others (Rom 3:29) and Jesus is Lord over all, without ethnic distinction (Rom. 10:12). In Christ’s Church there are no ethnic distinctions (Col 3:11). Although Israel “stumbled over the stumbling stone” (Christ) (Rom. 9:32), even now a remnant are being saved (Rom. 9:27, 11:7-8) when they believe in Jesus, and receive circumcision of the heart, in the Spirit (Rom. 2:29).
(3) Today, the Jews remain as “wanderers among the nations” (Hos. 9:17), but they shall be planted again in their own land (Amos 9:15) and the promises of God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, including those related to the land, are not set aside but remain as God’s promises to their descendants, the Jewish people (Rom. 9:4). God has not cast away His people (Rom. 11:1).
(4) In the last days, God will” pour out His Spirit” on Israel, Israel will “come” to the LORD (Hos. 3:5), they shall believe in Him “whom they pierced” (Zech. 12:10) and “all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26).
Aug 19, 2012 @ 07:00:03
Thsnk you Abba for Your patience & mercy with all of us!
Hey Randy, We missed church last week but saw you on line…that was a GREAT message! Thanks! M&A
Aug 21, 2012 @ 07:14:20
“The Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven….”
2 Kings 14:27a
Jehova, the Eternal, if He had chosen to, could have saved mankind without Israel. However, He has plainly spoken otherwise in many places of Scripture. Thus, Israel’s “inexplicable” preservation through centuries of exile, persecution and near-extermination serves as a mighty token – second only to the Resurrection of Jesus itself – for all who would put their faith in Him. That all who come to Him He will in no wise cast out, and that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Look at the empty tomb; look at the Jew; look at His impeccable, unimpeachable written Word; look at His marvelous creation; look at transformed lives of sinners-made-saints throughout the centuries. There is no safer depository for our souls than Jehova and His Christ, the Rock of Ages.