Sadly there is an increasing move towards anti-Semitism in the world, which has been imported into the Christian Church, teaching that the Church has replaced Israel! God forbid, as Paul proclaims! Indeed Paul spends three chapters refuting this unbiblical belief. God has not finished with Israel, which is a truth that has its roots in Genesis, where despite Adam’s sin.. God set in motion His glorious plan of redemption for mankind – and Israel plays an important role in God’s redemptive plan for mankind!
God needed one representative nation through Whom the Seed of the woman, Who was prophesised in Genesis, would be born. And no matter which nation had been chosen.. they would be destined to be hated by Satan, despised by the ungodly, misunderstood by many and become the prime target throughout the history of mankind for their destruction – this continues today, unabated.
Israel was the nation God chose to be His mouthpiece – to tell the world of the goodness of God and to be the nation through Whom the promised Seed of Abraham would secretly travel, until the appointed time. And so it was that in the fullness of time Christ was born to save His people from their sins – and through Him all the families of the earth would be blessed.
Replacement theology is one of many Satanic deceptions that seeks to rid the world of the people of Israel.. for God has decreed that ONLY when Israel cries in unison,blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord, at the end of the coming seven-year tribulation .. that the Lord Jesus will return to set up His promised kingdom, and every eye will see His return. No surprise, therefore, that Satan seeks to destroy the nation Israel to prevent them from calling on the name of the Lord, which would prevent Christ from fulfilling this prophecy of His return.
Israel as a nation may have transgressed 2000 years ago when they rejected their Messiah King and had Him crucified – but God is good and full of mercy and His promise to Abraham through David and his Seed stands forever. As Paul points out.. Israel may have stumbled but by God’s grace they did not fall, and as a result of their terrible transgression – salvation has come to the Gentiles – Hallelujah!!
We who were dead in trespasses and sin and without God in the world have been brought near to God because of Israel’s transgressions, and by grace through faith in Him, we have been made children of God; forgiven of our sins, made part of the Body of Christ, been in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit and received eternal life as a free gift of God’s grace. Hallelujah!!
And so for a season (i.e. during the church age – the current dispensation of grace), Israel has been set aside – but as a result of their transgression, salvation has come to the gentiles. And the privileges that the Church has received, is to provoke the nation of Israel to jealousy – so that they TOO will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ – for JESUS is Salvation to Jew and Gentile alike.
God’s plan to set up Christ on the throne of His Father David still stands – for Salvation comes through Jesus, the promised SEED of the woman – the promised SEED of Abraham – the promised SEED of David. And despite Israel’s rejection of their Messiah and the crucifixion of Jesus.. the carpenter from Nazareth and King of the Jews .. God is faithful to His promises and will not set aside the people He chose to be the nation through Whom the Saviour of the world would be born – the nation to Whom the Scriptures were given.
God set Israel aside until the time of restitution, when the Gospel of the Kingdom, which was preached to Israel before Christ was crucified, will once again be proclaimed by Israel.. throughout the earth. Scripture tells us that it is at this time that the remnant of Israel will finally recognise their Messiah and call on His name. They will look on Him Whom they have pierced as Zechariah prophesised and cry out: blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, what an amazing plan of salvation and I praise and thank You that because of Israel’s transgression I have been brought into Your family and made a citizen of heaven. I pray that many of Your people, Israel, would come to know Christ as Saviour and thank You that You are a faithful God Who keeps His promises to both Israel and the Church..from one generation to another. Use me I pray to be a witness to the wonderful gospel of Christ, in Whose name I pray, AMEN
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