TEXT: Galatians 6:16

SUBJECT: Eschatology #10: The Israel of God

This afternoon, with the Lord’s help, we’ll move on in our study of The Last Things. Today’s topic doesn’t really belong in the series, but I put it in for two reasons:

• A great many Christians believe it does belong here.

• I didn’t know where else to put it!

Is the modern state of Israel the People of God?

Before answering the question, I need to clarify it. I’ll start with a couple of definitions.

By ‘the modern state of Israel’, I mean the nation that was founded in 1948, by Jews from all over the world. I mean the country we read about in the newspaper every day, the one led by its prime minister, Ariel Sharon.

By ‘the People of God’ I mean a nation in Covenant with the Lord. The word, ‘covenant’ can be used in either of two ways—or both at the same time. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were in Covenant with God. Many of them were not saved, but saved or not, they were still God’s peculiar people. In the New Testament, the Church is God’s People, and it’s made up of believers from every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue—including Israel.

King Ahab belonged to God in one way; Luke belonged to God in another way; and Paul belonged to God in both ways!

To re-state the question: Does the modern state of Israel belong to God in any of these ways? Is it in fellowship with God through Christ? Or Abraham? Or both?

The traditional answer is No. From the Fall of Jerusalem to the Middle of the Nineteenth Century, the Church taught that unbelieving Jews are not the People of God. Why not? Because the Old Covenant is canceled, and no one has a part in the New Covenant without faith in Christ.

In more recent years, however, many have taken the other side. Today, most Bible-believing Christians in America think the Covenant made with Israel is still in effect. They differ on some of the details, but they agree on the big idea: The modern state of Israel is—or will be—the People of God.

The doctrine was perfectly captured in a sermon I heard several months ago on the radio. The preacher was Dr. John MacArthur (whose ministry I strongly endorse), and the sermon was one of the gutsy-est I’ve ever heard. Speaking of the attack on the Trade Towers and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, MacArthur said something to this effect:

On and on he went in this vein, but then he threw in a side comment—But I’d still rather support Israel than oppose it, because ‘I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you’ (Genesis 12:3)…

Do you see what he’s saying? He’s saying that a godless nation can still have the Lord’s favor (some of it, at least) if only it treats His people well. And His people are…the Israelis.

I do not subscribe to this view. But many godly and intelligent people do. If you asked them why, they’d point you to the Bible and to the facts of history. Let’s have a look now at the three main arguments. I’ll present them briefly and as fairly as I can.

THE ARGUMENTS FOR

The first argument is the one John MacArthur referred to, and is based on the Abrahamic Covenant. Beginning in Genesis 12:3, the Lord appears to Abraham several times to make a Covenant with him. The man and his wife are to quit their home in Mesopotamia and wander in Canaan. There, they will have a son, and eventually, a family that will outnumber the stars. The family will one day be given a rich land to support them—a land flowing with milk and honey. There they will live and enjoy the favor of God forever. Genesis 13:14-15 tells some of the story,

The argument goes something like this: (1) Israel will possess the land because they are God’s People, (2) Israel will possess the land forever, (3) Therefore, they are God’s People forever.

This view is supported by many other verses in the Old Testament. If you have a concordance, look up the terms ‘for ever’, ‘everlasting’, and ‘throughout your generations’. You’ll see they’re applied over and over again to Israel as the People of God. Genesis 17:7-8 sums it up. The Lord says to Abraham,

The second argument is based on the unfulfilled promises of God. The Lord promised Israel a land, but it wasn’t the sliver of ground on the Jordan River they lived in, but a big, huge land, stretching from—the River Euphrates to the uttermost sea (Deuteronomy 11:24). In Genesis 15:18, the land also reaches the river of Egypt. On today’s map, this means: All Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and parts of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.

The argument: (1) God keeps His promises, (2) God promised far more land than Israel ever occupied, (3) Therefore, Israel must occupy it in the future, (4) Which means they are still His People.

The third argument is based on the re-gathering of Israel found in Ezekiel 37 and many other chapters in the Old Testament. In Ezekiel, Israel is compared to dead bones, dry and scattered. But one day, God will put the bones back together and breathe life into the people taken for dead. The first part occurred in 1948, when the nation went home; the second part is still future; one day God will breathe life into the Israelis and they will, once again, become His People and He will become their God.

The arguments could be filled out quite a bit and others could be added, but I have made the case as well and fairly as I could. Here it is again:

The arguments are like the feet of Nebuchadnezzar’s idol: they look a lot stronger than they really are. In fact, they can be smashed by a few verses from the New Testament.

Are the children of Abraham God’s People forever? Yes they are! But who are the children of Abraham?

Not the unbelieving Jews!

The children of Abraham are, first Jesus Christ, and then, believers in Christ, whatever their ethnic background.

Is Israel the People of God? Yes they are. But, under the New Covenant, ‘Israel’ are those who share the faith of Abraham—and not just his chromosomes!

What about the second argument? If God has made promises to Israel, and if He hasn’t kept them yet, He will keep them. But the Bible says He has kept all His promises to Israel!

Did Israel receive all the land the Lord promised them? Yes they did, every inch of it,

But did Israel have all the land? From the Nile to the Euphrates? They did. When? In the days of Solomon,

Has God kept all His promises to Israel—every last one of them? He has. God has met His obligations to Israel, and He owes them nothing else.

What about the re-gathering of Israel? Surely it occurred in 1948, and this means that they are still His people and a revival awaits them?

In a word, no. The re-gathering did occur, but 2500 years before 1948. And God most certainly revived His People with the coming of Christ, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and so on.

If Israel is no longer the People of God, what are they? They are what every other nation is: Lost and under the wrath of God. But being lost isn’t all bad, because the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which is lost.

If a Jew glories, let him glory in the Lord! If Christians love sinners, let us love the sinners of Israel. But don’t let your heart for Israel empty your head. The People of God are those who believe in Christ—all who believe in Christ—and only those who believe in Christ.

If the modern state of Israel is not the People of God, we don’t need to support everything it does or fear criticizing it. I have very few political opinions, and this is not the place to promote the ones I have. But many American Christians think God is for Israel and against the Palestinians, the Arabs, the Muslims and everyone else who opposes the Jewish State. He isn’t.

Is the Lord for Israel? Yes He is, but He’s also for Palestine and for Syria and for Lebanon. All nations are under His judgment and under His love.

If you prefer Israel to Jordan, let’s say, that’s fine. But remember, your preference is no different than mine in preferring France to England. It is not a matter of right and wrong.

If you’re interested in world affairs, judge Israel by the standards of God’s Word: Injustice is bad, whether it’s done by an Arab dictator or an Israeli prime minister. Justice is good, whether it’s given to a Jewish settler or a Palestinian refugee. In short, God is no respecter or persons and we shouldn’t be either.