ISRAEL, THE OVERCOMER – Astoundingly Good News For You! (WATCH THE VIDEO – See “Links” Below)

GOD’S SPIRITUAL ISRAEL 

The Scriptures present a most wonderful and astounding truth that is unfolded consistently through the Old and New Testaments in such clarityand simplicity that the common man can grasp its significance and its logic.  And yet, this foundational truth remains one of the most misunderstood and misapplied Biblical teachings to this day.

Let’s go to a Wedding Feast – Matthew 22:1-10 NEB: 

            The Kingdom of Heaven is like this: There was a king who prepared a feast for his son’s wedding; but when he sent his servants to summon the guests he had invited, they would not come.  He sent others again, telling them to say to the guests, “See now!  I have prepared this feast for you.  I have had my bullocks and fatted beasts slaughtered; everything is ready; come to the wedding at once.”

            But they took no notice.  One went off to his farm, another to his business, and the others seized the servants, attacked them brutally and killed them.

            The king was furious … verse 8: Then he said to his servants, “The wedding feast is ready, but the guests I invited did not deserve the honor.  (KJV: were not worthy)  Go out to the main thoroughfares, and invite to the wedding everyone you can find.”

            The servants went out into the streets and collected all they could find, good and bad alike, so the hall was packed with guests.”

 Some 2000 years before Christ, God made a promise to Father Abraham that Abraham  would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4).

Then, Genesis 28:14 foretells that all families of the earth will be blessed … thru Abraham’s seed.

Here’s the set-up: Abraham and Sara had two sons.  Ishmael, the product of Sara’s devising, to “help” God in keeping His promise of a son to the elderly Abraham; and then, the promised son, Isaac, delivered long after the expiration of the couple’s child-bearing years.  Although both sons were Abraham’s biological offspring, it was thru Isaac, the child of the promise, that the bloodline of the Messiah was to pass.

We’ll fast-forward one generation: altho Isaac was the biological father of both Jacob and Esau, the Messiah’s bloodline was to follow Jacob, as God foretold, “The elder shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23), referring both to the individuals … and to the nations of the offspring of each.

Years later, there was Jacob’s night of wrestling with the “Angel of the Lord” on the river bank – a struggle that was centered on Jacob’s deep sense of guilt, his heart-felt repentance, and his earnest desire for God’s forgiveness – the Lord changed Jacob’s name to “Israel”, because he prevailed and overcame with God.

This is the very first reference to the name “Israel” in the Bible.  Let’s recap: Israel is the God-given name of a man, Jacob – and it represents his spiritual overcoming of sin, thru wrestling in prayer and claiming God’s grace.

Jacob, now re-named Israel, had children, who each produced families, who in turn generated their own offspring; and the extended families of each, collectively, comprised the Tribes of Israel,  of Jacob.

Now, let’s back up a moment: You’ll remember, there was conflict among the sons of Jacob.  The older brothers were jealous of the younger Joseph.  Their father seemed to favor Joseph – remember that “coat of many colors”? … and they were disturbed by a couple of dreams God had given Joseph;  all of which culminated in their selling Joseph into slavery   to a caravan of Egypt-bound merchants. 

And some time later, there was famine in the land.  Jacob, or Israel, and his entire family relocated to Egypt.  And they passed more than four hundred years in Egypt before God dispatched Moses to leverage what now numbered a million men, plus their families – known now as the “Nation of Israel”, or collectively, simply “The Israelites” – out of their oppression and Godlessness.

And still, to this point in their history, The Nation of Israel possessed not one pebble of real estate.

The name “Israel” originally applied to a spiritually-victorious man, a spiritual overcomer, and then, later, it was applied to his overcoming people.  This is a very important point.  Please hang onto this with a firm grip.

We’ll fast-forward again: 40 more years would pass in the wilderness before the “Israelites” actually received possession of their parcel of earth – their Promised Land.  Israel had been a nation for perhaps 500 years – a nation of people – before they were ever entrusted by God with custody of a geographical territory.

Question: Is it necessary to possess a geographical location in order to be considered a “nation”?  Well, obviously not.

For example, we have  The Red Sox Nation.  Have you ever heard of the Red Sox Nation? … where is this Red Sox Nation?  It’s a reference to the die-hard followers of the Boston Red Sox.  And they’re everywhere!  Red Sox Nation is everywhere!

The Scriptures teach that the followers of Jesus Christ are citizens of His Heavenly Kingdom, although we have not yet received physical possession of the New Jerusalem or the promised New Earth. Yet God’s Word refers to us as a “nation”,  as we’ll soon discover.

Listen as God speaks thru the prophet Hosea, about 800 BC.  God says, “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt” (Hosea 11:1).  However, by that time in history, the nation of Israel had failed to live up to the spiritual significance of its name.

But this verse comes alive when we look at the New Testament.  Shortly after the birth of Jesus, King Herod felt threatened by rumors of a newborn Child-King, so he sent his soldiers to slay all the children in Bethlehem under the age of two.

At that time, an Angel of the Lord appeared to Mary’s husband, Joseph, in a dream, directing him to flee with the Child and His mother to Egypt and to stay there until they received word that it was safe to return.   Joseph and his family remained in Egypt until Herod’s death.

Now, quoting the Gospel of Matthew,  “that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord    by the prophet, saying ‘Out of Egypt have I called my Son’”.  This is a clear reference to Hosea’s prophecy, which was originally intended to apply to Israel of old, but was fulfilled in reality by Jesus.

Now we’ll visit a burning bush: God, is directing Moses to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of captivity, and instructs him to tell Pharaoh, “Israel is my son, Israel is my firstborn” (Exodus 4:22).  Compare this with Jeremiah 31:9: God says, “I am a Father to Israel.”

Now, hold tight and follow this closely:

Thru Matthew’s Gospel, it becomes apparent that Jesus is actually repeating the history of ancient Israel, point by point, but where ancient Israel fails, Jesus overcomes and gains victory.  Note all the parallels between the history of ancient Israel and the path of Jesus:

In the Old Testament, a man named Joseph has dreams and goes to Egypt, where he preserves his family.

In the New Testament, another Joseph, likewise, has dreams and goes to Egypt, where he preserves his family.

When the nation of Israel comes out of Egypt, God calls it “my son”.

When Jesus comes out of Egypt, God says, “Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Matthew 2:15).

God called ancient Israel “my firstborn” in Exodus, and then again in Jeremiah.

The Apostle Paul said Jesus is “the firstborn of every creature” in Colossians 1:15.

Israel passes thru the parted Red Sea, which the Apostle Paul refers to as their baptism (I Corinthians 10:2), after which they spend 40 years in the wilderness, led by God’s Spirit in the cloud by day and in the pillar of fire by night.

Immediately after Jesus’ baptism, He is “led of the Spirit into the wilderness” for 40 days (Matthew 4:1, 2)

At the conclusion of Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness, Moses records the events of these years in the book of Deuteronomy.

At the end of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, He resists Satan’s temptations by quoting Scripture, all drawn from those same Deuteronomy writings of Moses.

God refers to Israel as “a vine” that He has brought “out of Egypt” (Psalm 80:8).  But the vine of Israel, and later Judah, failed to produce God’s desired fruit.

However, in John 15:1, Jesus declares, “I am the true vine”.

Remember God’s promise that Abraham was to be the “father of many nations”, and that “all families of the earth” would be blessed thru his seed?  Hold onto these promises as we continue …

We discover more astoundingly good news when we examine closely the covenant God made with Abraham and “his seed”.

We read in Galatians 3:16 :  “Now, to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.  God said not, ‘And to seeds’, as of many; but as of one, ’and to thy seed, which is Christ‘.”

Isaiah 65:9 – “I will bring a Seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an Inheritor of My mountain.”  -  undeniably referring to Jesus.

The “seed” referred to is singular, one seed, one individual, Jesus Christ, not the entirety of Abraham’s generations.  Are we suggesting that God is bypassing Israel’s natural bloodline here?  No!  Absolutely not!  Because, it was God’s purpose that Israel would receive their Messiah, would embrace the promised Redeemer, would serve God as His representatives according to God’s plan, and reveal Him to the neighboring nations.

And this “Seed of Abraham” was to be the means of salvation for ALL peoples … because in the Messiah – was and IS – the fulfillment of ALL of God’s promises throughout Eternity.

II Corinthians 1:20 says that:  All the promises of God are thru and in Christ.  So, the only way both Abraham and his generations, or any individual, for that matter, may have everlasting possession of God’s inheritance is by having everlasting life, which is only in Christ, as  I John 5:11 states.

So, God’s covenant is not with all the Hebrew people, nor is it with any earthly nation – but it is thru one Man; specifically, Abraham’s promised Seed, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  And in that Seed, all humanity CAN AND WILL find forgiveness and redemption, and salvation, and the eternal fulfillment of God’s promises – all those who receive Him.

The Seed of God’s covenant, Jesus, is “the Second Israel“, in the same way that the Apostle Paul refers to Jesus as the Second Adam.  And this fact can not be ignored if we are to truly understand the identity and the role of modern-day Israel.  Jesus is the very essence of Israel. 

Now, let’s visit a Vineyard – Matthew 21:33-46 NEB -

Jesus is speaking to the priests and elders:

            There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.  He put a wall around it, hewed out a winepress, and built a watchtower; then he let it out to vine-growers and went abroad.  When the vintage season approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect the produce due to him.

            But they took his servants, thrashed one, killed another, and stoned a third.  Again he sent other servants; this time a larger number, and they did the same to them.

            At last he sent to them his son.  “They will respect my son,” he said.  But when they saw the son, the tenants said to one another, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.”  And they took him, flung him out of the vineyard and killed him.

            When the owner of the vineyard comes, how do you think he will deal with those tenants?

            “He will bring those bad men to a bad end,” they answered, “and hand the vineyard over to other tenants who will let him have his share of the crop when the season comes.”

            And Jesus replies, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the main corner-stone?”  Therefore, I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that yields the proper fruit.

Following the death of Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel had divided into two kingdoms – the 10 northern tribes had retained the name “Israel” and the two southern tribes, Judah & Benjamin, became the Kingdom of “Judah”.  Israel continued its downhill path of apostasy and, as God had forewarned, Israel’s inhabitants were eventually scattered among the nations.  Remaining was only the Kingdom of Judah, referred to as “the Jews”, their religion, “Judaism”. 

May I add that the Old Testament doesn’t teach Judaism any more than the New Testament teaches Romanism.  Had Israel fed on God’s Word and not followed man’s teaching, they would have recognized their Messiah and received Him.  Could we make the same mistakes today?

We have always heard that the Jews were God’s “chosen people”, and that’s correct.  But let it be clear for what purpose were they “chosen”.

God raised up Israel to be His agents for the salvation of ALL mankind … They were to serve as His representatives, His priests, ordained to share His truth and reclaim ALL of His lost creation.

But … there were conditions associated with Israel’s status and with their possession of the Promised Land -  there were countless promises, and many clear warnings  … with solemn consequences.

For indisputable confirmation in detail, you’ll want to read the farewell addresses of both Moses (Deuteronomy 28-31) and Joshua (Joshua 23 & 24).  Please do this!

Today, the name “Israel” may be applied geographically to the present Middle-Eastern state, ethnically to all those of Hebrew descent, or in the spiritual context, as the Bible applies it.

But salvation does not come thru geography – the citizenship that is of eternal consequence is not of this world, but is of God’s Kingdom.

Nor does salvation come thru heredity – it has nothing to do with genes … but it has everything to do with one’s relationship with God.

Scriptures confirm this with a clarity that   Helen Keller could grasp:

Romans 9:6-8 for not all descendants of Israel are truly Israel, nor,             because they are Abraham’s offspring, are they all his true children … it is not those born in the course of nature who are the children of God, it is the children born thru God’s promise who are reckoned as Abraham’s descendants. (NEB)

… And God’s promise is in and through Christ.

Galatians 3:7-9  It is those of faith in Christ who are Abraham’s seed.

Galatians 3:13-16  further states that Abraham’s blessing is,  thru Christ, extended to the Gentiles.

John 10:16  other sheep, not of the original fold, will come in.

Hosea 2:23  I will call them My People, who were not my people.

Galatians 3:28-29  There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, slave and free man, male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you thus belong to Christ, you are the issue (the children) of Abraham, and so you are the heirs by promise.

Ephesians 3:6  Through the Gospel, the Gentiles are joint heirs with the Jews, part of the same body, sharers together in the promises made by Jesus Christ.

And there are numerous other New Testament references that state that those who are in Christ are now the Sons of God.  (I John, for examplem comes to mind.)

The name “Israel” first referred to one man,  Jacob, then later, to God’s Covenant People – who accepted His redemption, thru the Promised Seed, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Now, watch how this works:  Speaking to Israel of old, God said, “Ye shall be a unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6)

Then, in Peter’s first Epistle, speaking to the Christian church, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation.”  Christianity is the completion of Judaism … the fulfillment of Judaism.  God’s covenant with Abraham is fulfilled in Christ, the Promised Seed.  And God’s purpose for humankind is fulfilled, is completed, is finished in Christ.

Previously, in   I John 5:11, we learned that eternal life is found only in Christ …

… and, the next verse, verse 12 reveals:  “He who hath the Son hath life,   and he who hath not the Son  hath not life.”

I must confess, I want Jesus as my Advocate, because He has presented here, a case so compelling,   so overwhelming by sheer preponderance of the evidence, that it simply can not be refuted.

Abraham’s Covenant Seed?  Galatians 3:16 – Is Jesus!  And if  we are “in Christ”, if we are yielded and surrendered to Him, then all that He is, and has, and has accomplished are ours for evermore.  We are His redeemed possession, and thru His grace, “joint heirs with Jesus”.  You!  And me!   That’s awesome Good News!

God’s Covenant People, the Biblical Israel of God, is a world-wide “nation”, that is to this day, comprised of a “spiritual family” of Hebrew and Gentile overcomers,  faithful followers of  Jesus Christ,  irrespective of geographical borders or genealogy.

Revelation 12:11 … and they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the testimony of their mouth. (They “Israeled” – they overcame.)

That’s as Biblical as your Bible!  You can stand on this Truth with both feet!

Ahh, but wait!  Speaking of the Jewish Nation, just days before His crucifixion, Jesus declared, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who killest the prophets … behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matthew 23:37)

Question: is there still hope for today’s Hebrew bloodline?  The Jews?  Look at Matthew 21:28.

-         Let’s go to the account of the son who refused to go into the vineyard to work for his father … but then, went anyway   and was acknowledged as being obedient .  I do believe so!   (Matt 21:28)

-         Now, let’s go back to the parable of the wedding feast.  Could the second  invitation, the one that was extended to “everyone you can find”, apply to the first-invited group, as well?  Could some of them reconsider and come to the wedding dinner anyway?  Of course they could!  Many of us know serve the Lord alongside Hebrew Christians - Messianic Jews.

Paraphrasing Romans 9:30 – God testifies through Paul: “The Gentiles have obtained salvation thru faith, while my people have not, because they attempted to work for it.”

The entire chapter of Romans 11, will provide a clear and thorough understanding of this statement. 

The gist of Romans 11 is that salvation has come to the gentiles to provoke original Israel  to jealousy, to emulation, to reconsider  the Wedding Invitation,  and to desire to work in God’s Vineyard.

Romans 11:26 says “all of Israel will be saved”.   Referring to Israel, in the Biblical, spiritual context – all overcomers –  thru, Christ.

Revelation 12:11 … and they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the testimony of their mouth. (they “Israeled” –  they “Jacobed”  – they overcame through their faith in the Savior and God’s amazing grace.

-         Man’s salvation is in and thru the Seed of Abraham, the Lord Yeshua, Jesus Christ.  He is the only Door to the sheepfold …

-         Jesus taught: “… no man cometh to the Father but by Me”.

-         For there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

The Wedding invitation is still open … and it’s free … to any and to all “who will” … receive Jesus, place their faith in His overcoming victory!  We need to be sharing this with those we love and live with and work with.   Because it’s such good news  – especially, considering  the urgency of the times …and at a time when folks really could use some good news.

Salvation is not about geography …

Salvation is not about heredity …

It is not about doing church or “bizzyness” with religious activity

And it is so much NOT about denominational affiliation …

But it has EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD to do with our personal relationship with God, and walking in all of His Truth.

His final, all-inclusive invitation is found at the very end of His Book:

Revelation 22:17 – The Spirit and the bride say, “Come”,  and let him that heareth say, “Come”, and let him who is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.