This present evil world, which does not look to God’s Word for understanding and truth, has turned the word "Israel" into a term of condescension and disdain.  In so doing, they have insured that they will miss out on the most extraordinary and fabulous promises of God in the first resurrection.  For those of us who believe and are faithful, God’s promises are sure.  Who then will be the recipients of the spiritual blessings that far surpass the promise of physical blessings made to ancient Israel?  The answer is the Israel of God.  But, who is the true Israel of God?  When most people hear the word Israel, they envision the Jews' land of Palestine.

The name "Israel" refers to much.  The name first appears when it is God given to our patriarch, Jacob. “And [Jesus Christ, God of the Old Testament] said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”  (Genesis 32:28, 30)  Jacob's name means "one who supplants," because he had usurped the birthright from his brother, Esau (Genesis 25:33).  Jacob's name was changed to Israel by God with the prophetic meaning, “the prince who overcomes or prevails,” pointing to the ultimate reality that the spiritual Israel of God would rule with Christ as kings and priests (Revelation 5:10).

Jacob’s twelve sons and their descendants are also called Israel.  We who understand the birthright promises that God made to Abraham, realize that America and the English speaking nations, formerly known as the British Commonwealth, are also properly referred to as Israel.  We commonly speak of “ancient Israel,” “Israel in captivity,” or “Israel in the Promised land.”  A very common mistake of many is the use of "Israel" and "Jew" interchangeably.  All Jews are Israelites, but all Israelites are not Jews.   Judah was only one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel).

God made many promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Paul explained that all these promises would find their fulfillment in "Israel."  “…my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:  Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.”  (Romans 9:3-4)  Paul explained that the Galatians were "factored into" all these promises through faith and belief in Jesus Christ and the way of living He represented.  The Galatians were being disqualified from the promises because of their reliance on circumcision and ritualistic practices.

The ultimate promise made to Abraham was that from his loins would come forth the Messiah and Savior.   “I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”  (Genesis 26:4, 12:3, Galatians 3:16)  This is the direct promise about Jesus Christ in whom all the earth will receive spiritual blessings.  In Abraham, all mankind is to eventually have access to God's spiritual blessings.

Paul was driving home the point to the Galatians that it would be the true spiritual Israel of God who would be the recipients of the spiritual blessings that far surpass the promise of physical blessings made to physical Israel.

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto freedom; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." [not self-serving – but serving others] (Galatians 5:13)  This is the crucial point of this entire book to the Galatians.  The Galatians had left off laying their lives down for one another in favor of ritualistic religion.

*Today, church members have left off laying their lives down for one another and substituted looking to men at a headquarters [rather than trusting God and looking to His Word],

*Today, church members have raised “Church government” to a par with God’s authority.

*Today, too many church members have forgotten how to serve one another in Godly love, and have simply become "seat warmers" at Saturday social gatherings.

*In place of forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, Christ’s love, repentance, mercy, compassion – too many church members substitute their versions of the calendars, holy names, organizational loyalty and organizational rivalry in place of the precepts Jesus Christ taught.  These are the same mistakes the Galatians made – that of substitute Faith.  They have moved away from the simplicity in Christ.