We will show the reader a portion of what we have been shown from the Scriptures concerning the subject at hand. We are submitting this material as being spiritual truth which can only be properly understood by searching out the Scriptures for yourself to see if these things are so.
The term “Israel of God” occurs only one time in Scripture. We will show the reader that the “Israel of God” mentioned in Galatians 6:16 is a direct reference to the term “New Creation” found in verse 15.
Galatians 6:15, 16 “For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”
The world is made up of two groups of people, the Jews and the Gentiles; everyone falls into one group or the other. But in Galatians 6:15 we are shown a third classification, called a New Creation. A New Creation is a person who has been born again by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for those who believe and obey the gospel of grace (John 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:3, 4, 22-23; Titus 2:11-15). Jesus spoke of this New Creation to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God[the house of Israel born of the Spirit].” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you[Nicodemus],unless one is born ofwater[Word of God]and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God[the house of Israel born of the Spirit]. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you[Nicodemus, a member of the house of Israel born of the flesh], `you[Nicodemus]must be born again [in order for you to become a member of the house of Israel born of the Spirit]‘” (John 3:3-7). To be born again is to become a New Creation, and to be a New Creation is to become a part of a second Israel that exists upon the earth-the Israel of God born of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Is the “Israel of God” composed of only those who have been born again by the Spirit?
The answer is yes! The reader will see that the term “kingdom of God” is defined by the Scriptures as referring to the “house of Israel born of the Spirit”. This is God’s chosen Israel! This Israel of God is composed of “…the true worshipers who worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).
The reader will see the spiritual definition of the “kingdom of God” through a series of scriptural definitions leading up to the answer:
1. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel
Isaiah 5:7 “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel…”
2. The vineyard of the Lord is the kingdom of God
Matthew 21:40-43, esp. 40, 43 “Therefore when the owner[God]of the vineyard[house of Israel] comes, what will he do to those vine-growers [corrupt shepherds over the house of Israel]?”
41 They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches [corrupt shepherds] to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard[the house of Israel] to other vine-growers [godly pastors and leaders], who will pay him the proceeds [a righteous people with pure hearts] at the proper seasons.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘ The stone which the builders rejected [the divine nature of Christ Jesus being formed in the hearts of men; Psalm 118:19-23], This became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God[the house of Israel] will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it” [this is the “holy nation, a people for God’s own possession,” spoken of in 1Peter 2:9, a nation made up of born again believer’s in Christ Jesus, a new creation, the house of Israel born of the Spirit. This holy nation produces within their hearts the fruit of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, which fulfills the Law of God through their walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23)].
The above parable is speaking of the Lord’s vineyard. You see in this parable that “the vineyard” and the “the kingdom of God” will be taken from the vine-growers. These are parallel statements that use the terms, “the vineyard” and “the kingdom of God” interchangeably, showing that they have the same meaning. In Isaiah 5:7 above, you saw that the vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel. Thus “the vineyard” and “the kingdom of God” are both speaking of “the house of Israel”, the house of Israel that is born of the Spirit and which produces the fruit of the Spirit.
The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel,
The vineyard of the Lord is the kingdom of God,
Therefore, the kingdom of God is the house of Israel.
Since the time of Abraham there have been two Israel’s upon the earth: The Israel born of the flesh and the Israel born of the Spirit. These same two Israel’s are upon the earth today: one is seen and one is unseen.
3. The vineyard of the Lord speaks only of the house of Israel in Christ Jesus. This is the Israel of God born of the Spirit!
John 15:1-6 “I am the true vine [Christ Jesus], and My Father is the vinedresser.
The verse above shows you that the vineyard being spoken of is the Father’s vineyard, for He is the vineyard’s vinedresser. This is His house of Israel, the Israel which is named the Israel of God!
2 “Every branch in Me [disciple of Christ] that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit [fruit of righteousness], He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.
3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit [righteousness] of itself, unless it abides in the vine [Christ Jesus], so neither can you, unless you abide in Me [Christ Jesus].
5 “I am the vine [Christ Jesus], you are the branches [disciples of Christ]; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.
6 “If anyone does not abide in Me[either Jew or Gentile], he is thrown away as a branch[cast out of the house of Israel], and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned [in hell].”
These Scriptures explain that Christ Jesus is the true vine of His Father’s vineyard, and that the branches attached to the true vine through obedience to the Word are those in Christ Jesus. This is the vineyard of the Lord, which is the house of Israel born of the Spirit, the kingdom of God.
It is easy to see that this vineyard is actually the Israel of God.
The vineyard of the Lord is the Father’s vineyard,
The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel in Christ Jesus,
The vineyard of the Lord in Christ Jesus is the kingdom of God,
The kingdom of God is the house of Israel in Christ Jesus,
The house of Israel in Christ Jesus is the Israel of God,
The Israel of God is the Church of God in Christ Jesus.
4. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven have one and the same meaning-the vineyard of the Lord, the house of Israel born of the Spirit, the Israel of God.
Matthew 19:23,24 “And Jesus said to His disciples, `Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.‘”
Again we have parallel statements that use the terms “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” interchangeably. This verifies that their meanings are the same.
Keep in mind that understanding the meaning of the terms “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” is extremely important in discerning the many parables that speak of the condition of both the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven, for you now have seen that these parables are all speaking of the condition of the house of Israel born of the Spirit-the Church of Jesus Christ. In other words, without this understanding, you are unable to see yourself in the parables or correctly discern the Scriptures or see yourself in the prophecies about to be fulfilled.
For example, Scripture is revealing that Matthew 19:23, quoted above, is actually saying, “Truly, I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the house of Israel born of the Spirit”, which is exactly the same thing that Jesus was saying to Nicodemus in John 3:3-7, when He explained to Nicodemus, a member the house of Israel born of the flesh, that he must be born again by the Spirit and the Word, in order to enter the house of Israel born of the Spirit, which is the true Israel of God.
The vineyard of the Lord is the Father’s vineyard,
The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel in Christ Jesus,
The vineyard of the Lord in Christ Jesus is the kingdom of God,
The vineyard of the Lord in Christ Jesus is the kingdom of heaven,
Therefore, the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are the same kingdom,
The kingdom of heaven, which is the kingdom of God, is the house of Israel in Christ Jesus,
The house of Israel in Christ Jesus is the Israel of God,
The Israel of God is the Church of God in Christ Jesus.
5. Therefore, since the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are both one and the same, and since the kingdom of God is the vineyard of the Lord, and since the vineyard of the Lord is speaking of the house of Israel in Christ Jesus, then, the kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven is always defined as being the House of Israel in Christ Jesus. This is the Israel of God born of the Spirit spoken of in Galatians 6:16!
Therefore, as the Scriptures unfold, they prove that the Israel of God spoken of in Galatians 6:16 is the Church of Christ Jesus!
The Head of the Israel of God is Christ Jesus
From the time of Abraham there have been two Israel’s upon the earth, an Israel born of the flesh and an Israel born of the Spirit. We would like to reveal these two Israel’s. In the following Scriptures you will see Christ Jesus being named My Servant, Israel, by His Heavenly Father. You have already seen that it is all of those in Christ Jesus, including Abraham, who comprise the one and only Israel of God from God’s point of view, with Christ Jesus as its head (Eph 4:15) and those in Christ as its body! (Eph 5:23) For as the Scriptures say: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4). There is one Church, which is the one Israel of God!
For He Himself (Christ) is our peace, who made both groups (Jews and Gentiles born of the flesh) into one new man, a New Creation-Jews and Gentiles born of the Spirit (Ephesians 2:14). Now those born of the Spirit are no longer “excluded from the commonwealth of Israel” and are no longer “strangers to the covenants of promise” (Ephesians 2:12). Paul explained this mystery of Christ in Ephesians 3:1-7 (Amplified Bible), and said that we also could understand it. To be specific: “…the Gentiles are now fellow heirs [with the Jews] members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings [the gospel].” This is the same gospel that was spoken to the House of Israel in the wilderness with Moses (Hebrews 3:7-12; 4:2). The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 9:6-8 that not all Israel is comprised of those who are descended from Israel (Jacob), nor are they children of God, or, of the Israel of God, just because they are Abraham’s flesh descendants. In other words, it is not Abraham’s children born of the flesh that are the children of God, but rather it is the children of the promise in Christ Jesus whether Jew or Gentile, that are regarded as being the children of God, the true descendants of Abraham, the Israel of God.
Christ Jesus is given the name Israel by His Heavenly Father
Isaiah 49:1-7 NAS “Listen to Me [Christ Jesus], O islands, And pay attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord [My Father] called Me [Christ Jesus] from the womb; From the body of My mother [Mary] He named Me [Jesus].
2 And He [Father God] has made My [Jesus’] mouth like a sharp [double edged] sword; In the shadow of His [Father God’s] hand He [the Father] has concealed Me [Jesus], And He [Father] has also made Me [Jesus] a select arrow; He [Father] has hidden Me [Jesus] in His [the Father’s] quiver.
3 And He [Father] said to Me [His Son], “You [Jesus] are My Servant, Israel [Jesus’ new name], In Whom I [the Father] will show My [the Father’s] glory.”
Jesus has been given the name Israel in the above verse-My Servant, Israel.
4 But I said, “I [Christ Jesus] have toiled in vain, I [Jesus] have spent My [Jesus’] strength for nothing and vanity; Yet surely the justice due to Me [Christ Jesus] is with the Lord [My Heavenly Father], And My [Jesus’] reward with My God [His Heavenly Father].”
5 And now says the Lord [My Heavenly Father], who formed Me [Jesus] from the womb to be His [Father’s] Servant [Israel born of the Spirit], To bring Jacob [House of Israel born of the flesh] back to Him [the Father], in order that Israel [born of the Spirit] might be gathered to Him [the Heavenly Father] (For I am honored in the sight of the Lord, And My God [Father God] is My [Christ Jesus’] strength),
In verse five the two Israel’s are clearly mentioned: First, Christ Jesus, My Servant Israel, is the Israel born of the Spirit (Matthew 1:20); Secondly, Jacob (renamed Israel by God in Gen. 32:28), through whom the flesh descendants of Abraham were named, speaks of the Israel born of the flesh.
Jesus’ Heavenly Father is named Israel! You can see this by comparing Isaiah 49:7 and Isaiah 45:11, which describes the Father as being the Holy One of Israel, and since He is “of Israel”, His name is also Israel. Of course, a second proof that this is so is the fact that all things that the Father has are Christ Jesus’ and vice versa, and that includes the name Israel (John 16:15; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23; Hebrews 1:4).
Scriptures tell us that Abraham’s seed would be named through Isaac. Isaac fathered Jacob who was given the name Israel by God (Genesis 21:12; 32:28), thus naming Abraham’s descendants the house of Israel. However, Galatians 3:16 identifies Abraham’s seed as referring to only One, and that One is Christ Jesus. Thus Christ Jesus was also being named Israel through Isaac (Romans 9:6-8).
In Galatians 3:28-29 Abraham’s offspring are defined as being Abraham’s heirs because they belong to Christ. And if they belong to Christ, they have been born (again) by the Spirit, and those born of the Spirit are those who make up the house of Israel born of the Spirit. This brings out the difference in the sons of Abraham born of the flesh and the sons of Abraham born of the Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25). The same is true of the use of the term Jew. There is a Jew born of the flesh, and there is a Jew born of the Spirit. The Jew born of the Spirit is a person in Christ Jesus, a disciple of Christ (Romans 2:28-29; Philippians 3:3; Revelation 2:9).
6 He says, “It is too small a thing that You [My Son] should be My Servant [Israel] To raise up the tribes of Jacob [Israel born of the flesh], and to restore the preserved ones of Israel [Israel born of the Spirit]; I will also make You [Christ Jesus] a light [bringing salvation] of the nations [the Gentiles] So that My [the Father’s] salvation may reach to the end of the earth [reach all the nations].”
7 Thus says the Lord [the Heavenly Father], the Redeemer of Israel [Heavenly Father], and its Holy One [Heavenly Father], To the despised One [Christ Jesus], To the One [Christ Jesus] abhorred by the nation [House of Israel born of the flesh], To the Servant [Jesus] of rulers, “Kings shall see [Jesus] and arise, Princes shall also bow down [before Jesus]; Because of the Lord [Father] who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel [the Heavenly Father, who has given all things which are His to His Son, including His Name Israel] who has chosen You [Christ Jesus, to be head over the Israel of God (Ephesians 2:11-22)].”
Brethren, please remember that the Word’s spiritual meaning is hidden from the wise and intelligent, and can only be understood by your spending time in the Word, trusting in God’s promise that the Holy Spirit will teach you about all things (1 John 2:27; John 16:13). Virtually all spiritual leaders who desire to make a good showing in the strength of their selfish flesh nature will try to compel you to become like them in word and action-they want you to submit to their words rather than to God’s Word. Submission to their words only promotes their form of godliness, rather than a true manifestation of the holiness of God in you. They do this simply that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ, which is to walk holy and blamelessly upon the earth, becoming like Christ Jesus in both word and deed (1 Peter 4:1,2; Galatians 2:20). Our religious leaders accomplish this by teaching you a false gospel that allows them to fulfill their own selfish ambitions and agendas, rather than God’s.
Throughout His Word, God is telling all mankind that being born of the flesh as Jew or Gentile means nothing in His eyes, for He is looking for a people with pure hearts, a people exactly like Himself and His Son Christ Jesus-a New Creation (Acts 10:34-36). Anyone who walks by this rule will be protected by the peace and mercy of God. This is the Israel of God! (Galatians 6:12-18; 5:6) This Israel of God is the Israel that will receive all of the Covenant promises made to Abraham and Abraham’s seed in the Covenant of Circumcision (Genesis 17:1-11)! “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:29). It is also true that if you belong to Christ, then you are not only Abrahams offspring, but also Christ’s offspring, heirs according to the promise, for “in the Lord all the offspring of Israel [of Christ Jesus] will be justified and will glory” (Isaiah 45:25).
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ teach you and be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Epilogue
We were asked an interesting question recently, the answer of which deals directly with the future of the Israel of God. We feel the question and answer should be included with this article.
“Doesn’t the Messiah have to come first to restore Israel to its promised land?”
According to what we have learned in the scriptures-no. Scripture tells us that in the last days there will be a 2nd Exodus of all of the sons of Abraham back to the land of Israel (Ezekiel 39:28-29) in order for Abraham’s sons to learn the ways of the Lord–Isaiah 2:1-3; 11:11, 12, 16; Jeremiah 16:14-21; Ezekiel chapters 34, 36, 37, 38 and 39:21-29. We have included just a few of the references to a 2nd Exodus that is to take place in the last days. It’s found all over the Bible, from beginning to end. Scripture tells us that God will bring Abraham’s descendants back to the land of Israel from out of all the nations in the latter days, when they search for Him with all their heart and listen to His voice (Deuteronomy 4:27-31, 39).
Deuteronomy 4:27-31, 39 “And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where the Lord shall drive you.
28 And there you will serve gods, the work of man’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.
29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.
30 When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and listen to His voice.
31 For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.
39 Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.”
Note: These scriptures are speaking to both houses of Israel that are on the earth today: The house of Israel born of the flesh and the house of Israel born of the Spirit.
Both houses of Israel are scattered among the nations.
Both houses of Israel are few in number.
Both houses of Israel are serving gods, the work of man’s hands, in that we submit to many of the traditions and teachings of men in our attempt to follow God.
However, a remnant of God, in the midst of servitude to man and man’s religious institutions, will begin to seek the Lord through the Word and gradually turn from the false teachings of our religious leaders.
Both houses of Israel are presently in distress, and we find that God’s prophetic Word and the latter days have come upon us. Distress has caused some to begin to return to the Lord through His Word and to listen to His voice (obey His Word). It is exactly as happened in the time of Ezra: Ezra spoke, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to Thee, my God, for our iniquities(sin) have risen above our heads, and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands(Satan and the powers of darkness), to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder and to open shame(the curse of the Law), as it is this day. But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God (the gospel of grace is being unveiled to God’s remnant today-a gospel leading to true holiness which has not been understood by today’s religious leaders), to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage (to sin and death). For we are slaves (to man’s sin nature); yet in our bondage, our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia (powers of darkness), to give us reviving (to cause us to become righteous as He is righteous) to raise up the house of our God, to restore its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem” (Ezra 9:7-9).
The Lord, God of heaven and earth, has caused all of these things to come about!
Based solely upon scripture we know that the 2nd Exodus has not yet taken place, but is actually in its beginning phase.We make this statement for three reasons:
1. When the 2nd Exodus takes place “…it will no longer be said, `As the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but, `Ás the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where he had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers” (Jeremiah 16:14, 15). The Jewish people who populate present day Israel still continue to celebrate their Exodus from Egypt, because the 2nd Exodus spoken of above has not yet taken place.
2. We have seen that the sons of Abraham to whom the promises apply are those of the house of Israel in Christ Jesus, the Israel of God born of the Spirit-such people have not yet been brought back to the land of Israel as God Promised (Ezekiel 34:11-13).
3. Scripture says that “… the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual” (1 Corinthians 15:46). In Israel today we clearly see the house of Israel born of the flesh being gathered by God to the land of Israel, which is actually a partial fulfillment of the 2nd Exodus prophecy. We say this because the house of Israel born of the flesh will be the first to be returned to Israel, which is to be a signal to the house of Israel born of the Spirit that God is about to gather them from the four corners of the earth, back to the land of Israel in order to fulfill His Covenant promise to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants in Christ Jesus, and in order to fulfill His Word-“It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went” (Ezekiel 36:22). Soon the remnant of God that is upon the earth today will hear God’s call to return to the land of Israel. Keep in mind, it is God who will bring this about, not man!
Restoring Israel, from God’s perspective, is to restore righteousness to His chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. The Jewish people presently living in Israel cannot be the sons of God to whom the Covenant promises apply, because they do not believe in Christ Jesus as the promised Messiah (John 14:6), and also because they have not fulfilled God’s scriptural requirements for restoration (Deuteronomy 30:1-6). However, it is still the hour of grace for all of mankind, both Jew and Gentile, which means that they can yet repent and return to God through His Son Christ Jesus, as can we all.
Deuteronomy 30:1-6 “So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you,
2 and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons,
3 then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity (to sin and death), and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you (this is the 2nd Exodus bringing the Israel born of the Spirit to the land of Israel).
4 If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back.
5 And the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.
6 Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart(give you a pure and blameless and holy heart) and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul (allowing us to walk blamelessly before God-the result of true sanctification), in order that you may live.”
Presently, many of the religious Jews in Israel, as well as many professing Christians worldwide, are supporting the Temple Institute in their efforts to see that the 3rd Temple is built. One of the chief reasons for doing this is their belief that the promised Messiah will come to this temple (probably because of Malachi 3:1-therefore a Jewish people, the house of Israel born of the flesh, must already be in the land of Israel in order to build the 3rd Temple). However, the Messiah they are expecting is nothing like our Lord, Jesus Christ. You can click on any number of web sites and read about what the Jewish people are expecting from their expected anointed one when he comes. Be warned!
We will briefly explain what we believe to be God’s plan for Abraham’s descendants in Christ Jesus. The Scriptures continuously support these conclusions.
From God’s perspective, we have learned that there are two physical offspring of Abraham on the earth today, that is, the offspring who walk after the flesh and the offspring who walk after the Holy Spirit. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are good examples of those who walked after the Holy Spirit.
In Galatians 4:28, Paul states, “And you brethren, like Isaac are children of promise.” What makes us children of promise like Isaac?
The blessing of Abraham is the promised Holy Spirit, who is given to all men through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:14). The purpose of the Holy Spirit is so that, like Abraham and Christ Jesus, we will walk before God and be blameless (Genesis 17:1,2,7-9; 26:5; Colossians 1:21-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; Romans 8:14).
The promises of Genesis 17:1-10 were only being spoken to Abraham and to Christ and to Christ’s offspring (Galatians 3:16, 29). These are the only descendents to which the promise belongs, whether of Jewish or Gentile bloodline.
The promised inheritance given to Abraham is: (1) The nature and character of God (“walk before Me and be blameless” Genesis 17:1, 2; 26:4, 5), which is the same as having a circumcised heart (Galatians 6:15, 16; Romans 2:28, 29; Philippians 3:3). (2) The land of Israel to possess as an everlasting possession (Genesis 17:7-9; Ezekiel 37:24-28). This inheritance was granted by means of a promise to Christ and to His offspring. Christ Jesus is the seed (descendant) to whom the promise had been made (Galatians 3:16, 19). (3) God as their Father: “…and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:8; John 14:6, 21-24; John 8:39 ).
The Jews who walk after the flesh, who are never “born again” and never walk after the Holy Spirit have no inheritance through Christ.
A. These Jews do not inherit the land of Israel, as an everlasting possession, promised to Abraham and his seed (Genesis 12:1-7; Deuteronomy 7:9-11; 30:19-20; Galatians 3:16).
B. These Jews do not inherit the world (Romans 4:13).
C. These Jews do not inherit the new heavens and the new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:9-18; Hebrews 11:8-10).
The land of Israel belongs to the Israel of God, a people who walk after the Holy Spirit. It belongs to them forever! (Genesis 17:8) It does not belong to the Israel born only as flesh descendants of Abraham. Jesus made this clear to His Jewish disciples: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life (John 6:63).
He also told Nicodemus, a Jewish teacher and a flesh descendant of Abraham, “Truly, truly, I say to you unless one is born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. You must be born again” (See John 3:3-10). So we see that there are two Israel’s: One that walks after the flesh and one that walks after the Spirit. One is an unholy nation; the other is a remnant according to God’s gracious choice, a holy nation and a people for God’s own possession. This Israel, which walks after the Spirit is the new creation in Christ Jesus, the Israel of God. This Israel of God is composed of both Jews and Gentiles, for there is no distinction in Christ.
Paul made this point obvious in Romans 9:6-8: “…For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: `Through Isaac your descendants will be named.’ 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.” It is the children of the promise whom God considers the offspring of Abraham, because they belong to Christ and have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 3:29; 5:24).
A member of the nation of Israel, who is given the land of Israel, must also be of the commonwealth (citizenship) of Israel, heir of the covenant of promise and a member of God’s household. The only people to whom this applies are described in Ephesians 2:11-22. These scriptures tell us that we were at one time not included as part of Israel, but both Jews and Gentiles become part of the Israel of God, by becoming one new man through Christ Jesus. In this way we, both Jews and Gentiles, have access in One Spirit to the Father. In Ephesians 3:1-6, Paul makes known his revelation. He says, “to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Verse 6). This being true, we can see that those in Christ, both Jews and Gentiles, are fellow heirs of the covenant of promise together! (Genesis 17:1-10; Galatians 3:29)
Therefore, God’s chosen Israel consists of both Jews and Gentiles, made into one new man in Christ Jesus. Built together, they constitute a body that is no longer a stranger to the covenant of promise made to Abraham; no longer excluded from the commonwealth of Israel; no longer in the world without God; no longer separated from Christ; no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens, called saints, and are of God’s household, both having access in one Spirit to the Father; being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Read Ephesians 2:11-22). This is the kingdom of God; the household of God; the Israel of God!
God is going to bring back this remnant of Israel (Isaiah 11:11, 12, 16) to the land of Israel, to fulfill all of the end time prophecies regarding the Israel of God-His chosen people and His holy nation. This remnant of Jews and Gentiles, made into one new man in Christ, (Romans 9:22-27) are the holy people who will inherit the land of Israel forever.
Peter was given a revelation of the Gospel spoken to Abraham and said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him (Acts 10:34,35). This is the Gospel spoken to Abraham, “All the nations shall be blessed in you” (Galatians 3:8, 14). This blessing begins by receiving God’s promise of the Holy Spirit through faith.
Peter goes on to speak to the men of Israel in Acts 3:25, 26: “It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” The blessing of Abraham is the power and promise, to be made blameless through God’s Servant, Christ Jesus, by turning every one of us completely away from the power of sin. This is not optional, since Peter also wrote in verses 22 and 23, “Moses said, `The Lord God shall raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed in everything He says to you. And it shall be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’”
In conclusion, knowing that God is not partial (Acts 10:34-36), it is clear that only those who obey the Gospel preached to Abraham will inherit the land of Israel forever. Therefore, as long as the house of Israel born of the Spirit has not been returned to the land of Israel, the prophecies concerning the 2nd exodus have not been fulfilled, but when they are fulfilled, the true identity of the Israel of God will be obvious to the world (read Ezekiel 37:21-28). Those who are taken out of the nations and returned to the land of Israel will become the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3). These are the true Jews! (Romans 2:28, 29). This is the true Israel of God! (Galatians 6:15, 16) The chosen commonwealth (citizens) of Israel! (Ephesians 2:12)
Ezekiel 37:21-28 “And say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,” Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king (Christ Jesus) will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations (Jews and Gentiles), and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms (one born of the flesh and one born of the Spirit).
23 “And they will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God.
24 “And My servant David will be king (Christ Jesus was given the throne of David-Luke 1:31-33) over them, and they will all have one shepherd (Christ Jesus); and they will walk in My ordinances, and keep My statutes, and observe them.
25 “And they shall live on the land (of Israel) that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons, and their sons’ sons, forever; and David My servant (Christ Jesus) shall be their prince forever.
26 “And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.
27 “My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.
28 “And the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel (house of Israel born of the Spirit), when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.”
We imagine that what we have written may seem far fetched to some, since it has been hidden from the rulers of this age (1 Corinthians 2:4-16). There is a doctrine called “replacement theology” which teaches that the Christian Church is the replacement for the Jewish nation Israel. We are not of the replacement theology belief. However, we do believe in fulfillment theology. We doubt that you will find this theology on the internet, but you might. It is the belief that the Gospel which God spoke to Abraham, concerning all nations is being fulfilled in those who have faith like the faith of Abraham and do deeds of obedience to God, as did Abraham (Galatians 3:8, 9; John 8:39; James 2:21-26).
Be diligent to study the Word, as a workman who desires to be approved of God, who accurately handles the Word of truth (2 Timothy 3:15). Search out these things we have written from Scripture, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you whether or not they are true.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.