THE TRUE ISRAELITE PART II
(Romans Bible Study Series Tape Twenty-Six)
Recommended reading - Romans Chapters 9, 10, 11 and
Galatians 3:26-29.
In these three chapters in Romans, Paul shares his great
burden for the Jewish nation. The person who is a descendent of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob is not a true Spiritual Jew in God's eyes. A person will
not be qualified as a true Israelite and will not be saved simply by being
a descendent of one of the Jewish fathers. The qualities of the Israelite
fathers is where we must place our focus. It is not Israel according to
the flesh, who are God's chosen people; rather, it is the Spirit that
determines God's chosen people. The three fathers appear throughout the
Bible. The reference to these men is for our proper understanding and
knowledge.
I. We are all the Sons of God.
· The Galatian
church was a church that was a mixture of both Gentiles and Jews. The
Gentiles represented the largest component of the church. In Galatians
3:26-29, Paul refers to everyone as the Sons of God through faith in
Christ Jesus.
· When we are
baptized into Jesus Christ, we put on our Lord. When we put on our Lord,
we are no longer of a nationality, race, or sex. Jesus Christ is the
same for everyone and there is no difference between any of us.
· When we are
Christ's, we become part of the seed of Abraham and heirs according to
the promise. The promise that was given was not through the Law, but
through the righteousness of faith. Paul was not against the Law, he was
simply against legalism.
II. Abraham was a prototype.
· We need to
understand the details of how Abraham became the prototype for all
believers. Abraham is our father and our example.
· The call of
Abraham is in Genesis 12:1-4. God had Abraham leave his home
because he was raised in idolatry. He had to come out of the culture in
which he was raised, and enter into God's culture.
· The world and
the religions of this world are of Babylon. Abraham was called out of
this world; we likewise are called out of the world and into the way of
God.
· God promised to
make Abraham a great nation. It is clear that Abraham was going to be
the father of the blessing to all the world, not just to the Jews. This
fact was established from the very beginning. Abraham obeyed the calling
of God.
III. God makes a promise.
· Hebrews
11:8-10, states that Abraham obeyed by faith. In Genesis 15,
God tells Abraham not to be afraid, rather to depend on Him.
· Abraham was
waiting for the promised son from God. God showed Abraham that his
children would be as many as the stars in the sky. A great amount of
time passed between the original promise and the actual occurrence of
that promised son.
· In Genesis
17, when Abraham was 99 years old, God appears to him. Abraham had
several breakdowns of faith throughout the years of waiting for the
promised son.
· God wanted to
remove those obstacles from the faith of Abraham; God wanted an
unshakable faith.
· God entered
into a covenant with Abraham in verse10. Note, that circumcision
was the sign of the covenant; it was not the actual covenant.
· The Jews took
the sign of the covenant and made it the actual covenant. One of the
first theological controversies in the Christian church was over
circumcision.
IV. Circumcised of the heart.
· Moses made a
statement that they were to circumcise the foreskin of the heart. Moses
understood the proper symbolism.
· In Jeremiah
4:4, we see that God is telling us to remove unbelief by
circumcising our hearts.
· We are to
remove all doubt. The New Testament application of circumcision is in Philippians
3:3. Paul says that, " We are the circumcision which worships
God in Spirit ". It is not I; it is Christ. He has done everything
that is necessary for salvation.
· Colossians
2, explains that in Christ we were circumcised with the circumcision
made without hands.
· Baptism today
has the same meaning as circumcision did in the Old Testament.
V. We are to have an unshakable faith.
· Abraham's faith
stands for faith without any doubt.
· Romans
13:14, tells us to put on the Lord and not to make provision for the
flesh. We are not to think about anything fleshly or human as a means of
salvation.
· Galatians
5:16, states that we are to walk in the Spirit.
· On the basis of
Romans 13 and Galatians 5, we believe that God can give us total
victory over sin. We are to have faith that is unshakable. Once God
entered into the covenant with Abraham, He gave him a son.
In Hebrews 11:17, we see that Abraham was
severely tested and was told to offer his son. Abraham did not question
God; Abraham had an unwavering faith. He knew that God would keep His
promise. Can God produce such a people today? We need to believe God, when
He tells us we are His children. Abram was the father of the literal Jews;
Abraham is the father of all believers. Galatians 3:6-9, clearly
states that those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. Those who are of
faith are blessed with believing Abraham. If we believe, then we are a
child of God. God wants a people who believe. We need to change our
position from doubt and unbelief, and from a determination to work up our
own salvation, to the belief in and the faith in God. |
The True Israelite Part -
II 