Romans 9: 6 Commentary

THE TWO ISRAEL
SOURCE:http://www.markbeast.org/mark-beast-israel.html

Some will say that this perpetual (never ending) covenant that is a sign forever, (Exodus 31:13-17) applies only to the Israel of God and that much is definitely correct. But the question is; who is the Israel of God today?
Paul wrote, “They are not all Israel, which are of Israel” Romans 9:6. What does this text mean? Those “of Israel” refer to people belonging to the literal Jewish nation but just because people are “of Israel,” or Jewish, doesn’t necessarily mean they are truly Israel indeed.
Paul said there is an “Israel according to the flesh” (1 Corinthians 10:18) and an “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:14-16) centred in Jesus Christ. The “Israelites … according to the flesh” (Romans 9:3-4) refer to literal Jews who can trace their blood line back to Abraham but who do not as yet believe in Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Paul wrote, “They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God.” Romans 9:8. Thus this group although it has a wonderful religious heritage is made up largely of people who spiritually “are not the children of God.”
In the New Testament sense, “the children of God,” applies only to those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord (John 1:12). “The Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) refers to a composite group made up of both Jews and non-Jews who believe in the Crucified one, have died to self and been born again (see verses 14-15). This group is called “the Israel of God” because it is God centred, being made up of people who have a genuine experience with the Lord. Sadly, the majority of Israelis today don’t fit this description.
Writing to non-Jews, or Gentiles, Paul wrote, “And if you belong to Christ, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” Galatians 3:28-29. This passage teaches that a Gentile, if he “belongs to Christ,” is mystically injected into “Abraham’s seed,” which according to Isaiah 41:8 is Israel. In Galatians 6, Paul summarized his doctrine by saying that anyone, circumcised or uncircumcised, who becomes a “new creature” through faith in Jesus, is now part of “the Israel of God”, verses 14-16. See also Romans 2:28-29; 9:6-8 and Galatians 3:28-29. Thus before the cross we had a literal Israel but now those that are Christ’s after the cross are a spiritual Israel.
There are many who do not understand that those who belong to Christ are spiritual Jews and the Israel of God under the New Covenant. If we reject this truth then we cannot be under the New Covenant. Observe who the New Covenant was only made with. This came into effect when the Jews rejected God’s message from Stephen (Acts 6:8-7:60) and stoned him. This ended the 70 * 7 prophetic years, (see also Matthew 18:21-22) which God gave Israel to end their rebellion and sin against Him. (Daniel 9:24) Needless to say they did not and this is why at this time the Gospel now went to the Gentiles also. See the 70 weeks of Daniel for comprehensive detail on this prophecy.
Hebrews 8:10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:”

By TIUCHE (wrote 2733 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 9/11/2011 18:29 pm

For the word of God was not ever that all fleshly Israel would actually inherit the promises, but that believers only would inherit.

By rey (wrote 36 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 10/5/2008 19:53 pm