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Israel of God |
Dear Brethren,
The apostle Paul made an important
point to the Galatians. Because they had turned their backs on the practice of the
true Gospel of Jesus Christ, they were in danger of missing out on the spiritual promises
God had made to the true Israel of God. Oh, they still kept the Sabbath (in
a ritualistic way) and they continued to observe God's law with regard to clean and
unclean meats to a tee – in minute exactness, but they neglected to serve the brethren
in Godly love (Galatians 5:13).
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.
The incredible truth is that God's true spiritual blessings are bestowed on
a people today! Not on physical Israel, however, but on spiritual Israel – the
Church of God – the Israel of God. We are the ultimate recipients
of the spiritual promises Jesus made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) – we who have
God's Spirit are the fulfillment of those promises – the Israel of God.
“As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon
all the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:16)
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Sermon: "Israel of God"
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