A) INTRODUCTION.

B) BECOMING SPIRITUAL ISRAEL.

C) FINALLY.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

The phrase, “Spiritual Israel” is used in this primary context.  That being, it is used as a reference to the entire body of Christian and Judeo-Christian believers; in order to differentiate them from the political or racial people of Israel.  However, the premise has now arisen that the promises directed toward Israel are now directed, or completed in today’s Christian church.  This is mostly drawn by using (false) arguments that the “New Covenant” is for Christians and Judeo-Christians only.  In reality, those promises were, as are all of God’s promises, conditional upon obedience to them.  Else, the false assumption, that Israel is still to be a light to the world.

 

Acts 13:46 is SO CLEAR that all need not speculate as to any other interpretation or meaning:  “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you [ISRAEL]:  but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”  By contrast, Jesus CLEARLY stated to the woman at the well that, “salvation is of the Jews,” John 4:22.  Therefore, in order to become a member of “Spiritual Israel, one must adapt all that pertains to the Jewish lifestyle; becoming obedient to all of God’s Laws that our Lord died for upon the cross.

 

Another clear reference point is Romans 2:29, which emphasizes that one must become “a Jew, which is one inwardly.”  Meaning, one must mentally adhere to Jewish principles of obeying God.  Compare with Jeremiah 31:31-33.

 

 

B) BECOMING SPIRITUAL ISRAEL

 

 

Isaiah 56:6-7:  “[6] Also the sons of the stranger {that’s a non-Israelite}, that join themselves to the Lord {God’s people, the Jewish system}, to serve Him, and to love the Name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My Covenant; [7] Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer:  their {anyone obeying God’s Law} burnt offerings and their sacrifices {pre-cross; no longer required after the cross; replaced by the “Communion Service”} shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine House shall be called an House of prayer for all people.”

 

Acts 15:13-18:  “[13] And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto Me: [14] Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His Name {God is looking for a people/person who will do His Will; These are they which will comprise His end-time Church}. [15] And to this agree the Words of the prophets; as it is written {in Amos 9:11-12; which comprises verses 16-18here}, [16] After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: [17] That the residue {SMALL AMOUNT} of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My Name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things {Who is doing “these things?”}. [18] Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.”

 

Explanation:  James is here quoting a prophecy from the Old Testament by the prophet Amos (9:11-12), in which the ingathering of the Gentiles was to be brought about.  What is to stand out for us in analyzing this passage, is that our Lord is pointing out that this particular prophecy was being fulfilled through the literal ingathering of the Gentiles, not into literal Israel, but into the Christian Church, both then, and as prophecies are sometimes dual, but also now, and futuristic.  This is a clear example of a figurative New Testament fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy.  WHO COMPRISES ISRAEL NOW, according to this prophecy?  Only those who are obedient.  We are saved as individuals, not as a Nation or a particular church, as it has always been.  Israel as a nation was to be a light unto the Gentiles (Isa. 49:6; 60:3).  When she failed to do this, those prophecies and promises went by the wayside.

 

Acts 26:17-18:  “[17] Delivering thee from the {Jewish} people, and from the Gentiles {from being persecuted to the point of death}, unto whom {the Gentiles}now I send thee, [18] To open their {the Gentiles}eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light {which Israel was supposed to have done}, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance {BECOME SPIRITUAL ISRAEL} among them {among those who do the Will of God} which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.”  WHO IS “sanctified?”

 

Romans 8:14-17:  “[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God {Who are “the sons of God?”}. [15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage {STUCK IN SIN} again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption {the Jews are not adopting Gentiles; our Heavenly Father is adopting into Spiritual Israel those who “are led by the Spirit of God}, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit Itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we {Who are the “we?”} are the children of God {Who are “the children of God?”  Before you answer, consider that Paul is writing to the Romans -- Gentiles and Roman Jews}: [17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him {HERE IS THE CONDITION}, that we may be also glorified together.”

 

Romans 9:4-8:  “[4] Who are {SPIRITUAL} Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises; {that would be the Israelites} [5] Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ Came, Who is over all, God blessed for ever.  Amen. [6] Not as though the Word of God hath taken none effect.  For they are not all Israel {Who is that?}, which are of Israel {sounds like Spiritual Israel to me}: [7] Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham {“they” are not Israelites}, are they all children {not seed; not born Jewish}:  but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. {Explain yourself Paul; for Isaac was an Israelite} [8] That is, They which are the children of the flesh {a child “of the flesh” is one who does not do the Will of God; which would include Israelites and Gentiles}, these are not the children of God:  but the children of the promise {Those who DO the Will of God} are counted for the seed {comprise Spiritual Israel}.”

 

EXPLANATION of “the children of the promise.”  With help from “Albert Barns Notes On The Bible:”  “That is obviously the descendants of Abraham, on whom the promised blessings would be bestowed.  However, the sense is that God at first contemplated a distinction among the descendants of Abraham from the rest of mankind, and intended to confine His blessings to such as He chose; that is, to those to whom the promise particularly appertained, to the descendants of Isaac.  The argument of the apostle is, that ‘the principle’ was thus established that a distinction might be made among those who were Jews; and as that distinction had been made in former times, so it might be under the Messiah,” that anyone who obeyed God’s precepts would be grafted in as if he were a Jew.”

 

In other words, the “flesh,” would be those of Abraham’s seed, but are not of the redeemed.  Only those who “are counted for the seed,” or in other words, those who obey God, receive the promise as though they were Isaac.  Jew or Gentile, those who obey are Isaac.

 

Galatians 3:9:  “So then they which be of faith {Who is this? Answer:  SPIRITUAL ISRAEL} are blessed with faithful Abraham.”

 

Galatians 3:29:  “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed {How clear is this?} and heirs according to the promise {What “promise?”  The promises given to Abraham; see Rom. 8:17 above}.”

 

Galatians 4:4-7:  “[4] But when the fulness of the time was come {which the Jews should have known when Messiah was to Come an God made them accountable for, spelled out in Luke 19:44}, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law {Christ had the possibility to sin; else He was not tempted}, [5] To redeem them that were under the Law {you are “under the condemnation of “the Law” when you are breaking It}, that we {Who is “we?”  Those not breaking “the Law”} might receive the adoption of sons. [6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts {obedience is ALWAYS a “heart” issue}, crying, Abba, Father. [7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son {SPIRITUAL ISRAEL}; and if a son, then an heir {SPIRITUAL ISRAEL; if obedient} of God through {the power of} Christ {“in you, the hope of glory,” Col. 1:27}.”

 

Ephesians 1:10-12:  “[10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ {at the Second Coming}, both which are in Heaven {Those “in Heaven” are those who are “sons of God” and obedient}, and which are on earth {Those who are obedient}; even in Him {You are not “in Him” if you are not obedient}: [11] In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His Own Will {Again, we must be obedient in order to “have obtained an inheritance”}: [12] That we should be to the praise of His glory {because they =}, who first trusted in Christ {Who are they?}.”

 

What “was” the purpose of the Nation of Israel?  To teach (be a light, Isa. 49:6; 60:3 to) all nations and aquaint them to Who God is, was, and will be.  God will only redeem a people who will be obedient; the one thing lacking of physical Israel.  No Nation is now designated to do that.  Search the Scriptures for this new supposed commission.  Only those who are doing God’s work will comprise “Spiritual Israel.”  Only those who are doing the Will of God will receive the reward.  I believe it will be the work of small groups; a “residue,” Acts 15:17; a “remnant,” Revelation 12:17, who will comprise Spiritual Israel.

 

 

C) FINALLY

 

 

Finally, the primary functions of the original Nation of Israel, was for the Jewish nation to preserve the Scriptures (“unto them were committed the oracles of God,” Romans 3:2) and to introduce the Messiah to the world (the entire Sanctuary service pointed to Him; also embodied in the following Temple built by Solomon).

 

However, one text is quite clear.  Genesis 49:10 has a prophecy about the word “scepter.”  In the year B.C. 2, is when the right of the Jewish people to exercise the punishment of capital punishment was taken away by the Roman power.  It is said that the Jewish leaders considered this to be the fulfillment of the prophecy of Genesis 49:10, the taking away of the “sceptre” from Israel.  Priests and rulers walked around in “sackcloth and ashes” because they believed that this prophecy had been fulfilled, and yet the Messiah had not yet come.  Little did they know that the prophecy was fully in effect, in that a little to the North, a Baby was being born in Bethlehem.  What is not recognized by most is that this prophecy has a dual meaning.  Most understand that Jesus fulfills the fact that the “sceptre” never departs from the tribe of Judah, yet the one mentioned above is not generally understood.

 

The Jewish Rabis have a quibble over the word “shebet,” which we translate as “scepter.”  The quibble, or argument is that they say it signifies “a staff,” or “rod,” and therefore, that the meaning of it is, that “afflictions shall not depart from the Jews till the Messiah comes.”  Their reasoning is that they are still under affliction, and as such, “the Messiah is not Come.”  This is a miserable shift to save a lost cause.

 

Their chief “Targumist,” Onkelos, understood and translated the word nearly as we do; and the same meaning is adopted by the “Jerusalem Targum,” and by all the ancient versions.  The Arabic excepted, which has the word “kazeeb, meaning, “a rod.”  Other ancient Manuscripts of the “Pentateuch” have the Hebrew word “sebet,” which signifies “a tribe.”  The concept is, “Judah shall continue a distinct tribe till the Messiah shall Come; and it did so; and after His Coming it was confounded with the others, so that all distinction has been ever since lost.”

 

The point is, Genesis 49:10 is a prophecy of future events; and that future event tells us that the Jewish nation would be “cut off” after the Messiah Comes.  The reason why is clearly spelled out in Leviticus, Chapter 26, Verses 14-39.

 

Deuteronomy, Chapter 8, Verse 20:

(20) As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the Voice of the LORD your God.

 

And many others.