I’ve been privileged to visit Israel a number of times in my life, including twice in the last two years! While I would not recommend traveling there at this time, I can’t even begin to describe what an amazing experience it is to be able to walk where Jesus walked. It would be my hope that you have the opportunity to have that amazing experience yourself one day, if you haven’t already.
But that would require peace in the Middle East, wouldn’t it?
Israel as a nation-state ceased to exist in 70AD, within the lifetimes of the apostles. Jesus had told them it would happen! From that time on, the region was sparsely populated, overtaken by various occupiers throughout all of Christian history until right after World War 2. In 1948, Israel officially became a nation once again, in part as a response to what happened to the Jews in he holocaust. Their entire history as a nation has been marked by conflict with the Arabs, and what happened on October 7 and afterward is just part of an ongoing battle for that highly contested land. Now, antisemitism has risen to an absolutely alarming level around the world. Even and especially here in the United States. Our upcoming presidential election may be determined by this issue.
What do you think will become of the people of Israel? How do you think they figure into the plan of God now that Jesus has ushered in the New Covenant?
What does it take to be a “true Israelite?”
Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,
-Paul, Romans 9:30 – 10:4 NLT
“I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
How did Israel miss out on righteousness? What do you think Paul means when he writes that they pursued it “by law”? Are modern practitioners of Judaism still making this same mistake?
Why is the law a stumbling stone? Why is it tempting to try and be justified by law instead of faith? Why is it bad for Israel, or anyone else, to attempt to “establish their own righteousness”?
For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
-Paul, Romans 10:5-13 NLT
If a Jew is to be saved today, how will he or she be saved?
How were the Jews in the Old Testament saved? What, if anything, has changed?
What does Paul mean by saying “there is no distinction between Jew and Greek”?
From the beginning, NOBODY has been able to be righteous in God’s sight. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Salvation has ALWAYS been by faith. Abraham “believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” (Gen 15:6)
I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not!
-Paul, Romans 11:1, 7-9 NLT
So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. As the Scriptures say, “God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.” Likewise, David said, “Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve.
Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, “The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.”
-Paul, Romans 11:25-27 NLT
Did Israel totally reject Jesus as the Messiah?
What happens to Israel in the end? What do you think that Paul means by “all Israel will be saved”? How is God using Israel’s disobedience? When will all Israel be saved?
How can God’s faithfulness to Israel give you hope in your own life? If God never abandons Israel, can’t we be confident that He will never abandon us either?
Wouldn’t it be helpful to take time to remember that God is faithful to all of His promises? God promised a son to Abraham that would be a blessing to all mankind, and He fulfilled that promise through Jesus Christ. How many more promises has He kept?
How freeing is it to understand that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by our own works?