Previously, we looked at God’s own declaration that Israel will never cease to exist before Him as a nation or a people no matter what they do (Jeremiah 31:35-37). Thus, to claim that there is currently no true Jewish people or nation is to call God liar. However, the Scriptures declare “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). Now, although God has persevered the Jewish people and nation today, as it was in biblical times, has He rejected Israel as His chosen people, replacing them with the church Or Jesus Christ? Thankfully, the Scriptures ask and answer this question so that we don’t have to speculate or guess the answer. Romans 11:1 reads, “I say then, has God cast away [rejected] His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away [rejected] His people whom He foreknew (Romans 11:1-2). The phrase “certainly not: is also translated as God forbid, absolutely not, far from it, by no means, of course not”, and may it never be. In other words, the Scriptures declare that it is an absolute impossibility for God to reject or cast away Israel as His people. How then, could there be whole movements or doctrines built on the error that God has rejected Israel and replaced it with the church or something else?
We often quote, “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29) to show that God does not change His mind concerning the gifts and callings He gives us and because of that God’s power may still work in the lives of His ministers who may not even be living right. However, contextually, Romans 11:29 was written to support the truth that God’s choice of Israel as His beloved people will never change: “From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:28-29). Therefore, we testify against ourselves that we are in error, whenever we quote Romans 11:29 and still claim that God has rejected or replaced Israel.
If Israel is still the beloved of God for the sake of their fathers, why are they still enemies, from the standpoint of the gospel, for the sake of the Gentiles? The Scriptures address this as well. Paul wrote in Romans 11: “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS”….For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all (Romans 11:26-32). From these texts, we learn that a partial hardening has come on Israel as because of their unbelief and disobedience to God (cf, Romans 11:20; Romans 11:26-32). This does not mean that there no Jews who are saved. Rather, Israel as a nation, does not collectively claim Jesus as their Messiah—until the fullness of the gentiles have come in, then all Israel shall be saved. Even so, God does not refer to Israel’s disobedience or partial hardening as His eternal rejection of Israel (see Romans 11:1) but as a stumbling, from which they will recover: “I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous (Romans 11:11). The Scriptures continue to say, “Now if their (Israel’s) transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring! (Romans 11:12)”.
Since the Scriptures declare that God has not rejected Israel, and His choice of Israel as a His beloved nation will never change, How does God expect the church to view and relate to Israel? We shall look at this in the next post.
Kwadwo Omari, PhD
October 17, 2023
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be taught and trained to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ. God bless you.