As Written
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Oct 2022
Dear ,
ISRAEL REJECTED BY CHURCH...NOT BY PAUL
Much of the Church is asking the question, “Why should Christians bless Israel when they reject Christ?” They cite Christ's harsh words against the Pharisees for their hard-hearted unbelief in John 8:44, "You are of your father the devil." They cite Jesus’ rebuke of unbelieving Israel in Matthew chapter 23, and also the fact that Paul had harsh words for the Jews when he "kicked the dust off his feet" in protest against the synagogue (Acts 13:46-51). But God has not forgotten His people Israel. The Israel-rejecting Church is wrong. Here’s why.
1. First, both Jesus and Paul were contradicting the Jewish RELIGIOUS LEADERS, not the Jewish people; only those who persisted in unbelief and persuaded others to do the same. They berated the SHEPHERDS, not the SHEEP.
2. Secondly, the words ""will bless those that bless you [Jews/Israel] and the one who curses you [Jews/Israel] I will curse" is a DIVINE PROMISE embedded in the Eternal Abrahamic Covenant. It is Divine Will, and it Will Be Done. Biblical history, world history, and Bible prophecy testify abundantly to the fulfillment of this promise, down to our own day.
3. Thirdly, the history of the Christian (and not-so-Christian) church is amply blemished with the record of antisemitism supposedly based on the condemnation of Jewish unbelief which culminated in the crucifixion of Christ. This continues to manifests itself in today's 'Church' through such dogmatic and UN-Biblical dark-side theology as Preterism and Replacement Theology, both of which essentially relegate Israel to the dust bin of history, proclaiming that the State of Israel is totally irrelevant today. Most mainline and mega-church organizations are blind to Bible teaching and Bible prophecy in this regard. Is yours?
4. The godly and right Biblical attitude toward the Jews and Israel is penned by the Apostle Paul (and the Holy Spirit) in Romans 9-11. Paul is speaking of UNBELIEVING ISRAEL (distinguishing them from the believing “remnant).
I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. (Rom. 9:1-5)...
Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. (Rom. 10:1-2)....
I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. ... (Rom. 11:1-2)
But if some of the branches [ISRAEL] were broken off, and you [THE CHURCH], being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. (Rom. 11:17-18)
NOTE: That (in the bold underlined above) Paul would rather himself be "accursed (9:3)" than that he should "curse" the unbelieving Jews in opposition to Genesis 12:3. Also note...
That Paul's "blessing" upon the Jews in harmony with Genesis 12:3 is his "prayer to God ... for their salvation. (10:1)
That "God has not rejected His people (11:1)", so how can we "Replace" them with man-made, stupid "theology"?
That the Bible warns Believers (the Church) to "not be arrogant toward the branches (11:18). Many mainline denominational web sites essentially "curse" Israel through such anti-Israel programs as the economic-based BDS program ("boycott-divest, i.e., 'un-invest'-& sanction). Persecution indeed!
God's Word is clear in Romans 9-11. Israel is on a prophetic trac-line leading to "all Israel will be saved." (11:26) No, the bulk of today’s end-time church may reject Israel, but "God has not rejected His people" (11:1-2), simply because in His immense Grace "the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." Let us expose the false teaching of Jewish FALSE SHEPHERDS, but we are taught to pray for the salvation of Israel, blessing them, and to remember that there still exists a Jewish "remnant" (those first century Jewish disciples & Apostles right on down to Messianic Jews of today).
Faith and Blessings in Christ, Phillip Goodman