ÒAll Israel shall be saved.Ó

Romans 11:26

 

The physical nation of Israel in the Old Testament was, like all other things under the law (the tabernacle, the paschal lamb, the mercy-seat, etc.), was typical. It was chosen of God to be typical of his Church, Òthe Israel of GodÓ (Galatians 6:14). The natural nation was typical of GodÕs Òholy nationÓ (1 Peter 2:9). The physical seed of Abraham was typical of his spiritual seed, GodÕs elect scattered among all nations, who are the true Òchildren of AbrahamÓ (Romans 9:6-8; Galatians 3:29).

 

All the covenant promises God made to AbrahamÕs physical seed, the nation of Israel, were conditional promises. The promises were all conditioned upon obedience. The nation failed miserably. Yet, they inherited the land of Canaan and God fulfilled every covenant promise to that typical nation. Not one thing was lacking (Joshua 23:14). Why? Because one faithful man (Joshua, who typified our Lord Jesus) obeyed God. For JoshuaÕs sake, God brought Israel into the possession of all the good things God promised to their fathers. Even so, all the promises of God to the Israel of God are yea and amen in our great Joshua, the Lord Jesus, for whose sake we shall possess all things eternally with him!

 

ÒThe Israel of GodÓ is the whole body of GodÕs elect, Jew and Gentile, who must be saved. When Paul says, ÒAll Israel shall be saved,Ó he is simply declaring that the whole purpose of God regarding the salvation of his elect must be fulfilled. Not one of the chosen can ever be lost. Certainly, he is not talking about the salvation of all national Israel, or of all AbrahamÕs physical seed. Many of them have already perished! He is not asserting that all the physical descendants of Abraham living at the time of ChristÕs second coming will be saved when they see his appearing. Nowhere in the Bible does God promise salvation to people who physically see Christ! Salvation is promised only to those who look to Christ in faith (Isaiah 45:22).

 

            The Israel of God is the church of God, the kingdom of God. It is a holy, spiritual nation, not an earthly, political nation. The Israel of God is the household of faith. If you are born of God, if you trust the Lord Jesus Christ, you are a child of Abraham (Galatians 3:6-9). ÒHe is not a Jew, which is one outwardly...But he is a Jew, which is one inwardlyÓ (Romans 4:28-29). The promises of God are not made to AbrahamÕs physical seed, or to any upon the basis of earthly distinctions (John 1:13), but to Christ, his spiritual seed, and to all who are in him. The adoption, the covenant, the glory, and the promises of God pertain not to the physical seed, but to the spiritual, to the Israel of God (Romans 9:4-6).

 

            The Israel of God is the true circumcision (Philippians 3:3). They have three things in common, three identifying characteristics by which they are known— (1) They worship God in the Spirit. They worship him in a spiritual manner, in their hearts, without the use of carnal objects (icons and idols), by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. — (2) They rejoice in Christ Jesus. They trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone as their Savior in whom they have complete acceptance with God (1 Corinthians 1:30). — And (3) They have no confidence in the flesh. They do not trust their pedigree, performances, or piety, but Christ alone! The Israel of God is that body of elect, redeemed, regenerate people who live before God by the power of the cross, Christ crucified, and by the rule of the cross.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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