Ethnic Jews, the modern state called Israel — is that nation actual, biblical Israel? The Bible says no. For the Christian who takes Scripture seriously, true Israel is neither a race nor a nation-state.
Unfortunately, the ideology/theology behind Christian Zionism and Dispensationalism has caused widespread confusion in Christianity.
[Editor’s Insertion
What is Christian Zionism?
A ‘Christian Zionist’ is a Christian who supports the modern state of Israel and the Jewish people's right to their biblical homeland, often based on prophetic interpretations of the Bible. They believe supporting Israel fulfills divine promises and is necessary for the end times and the Second Coming of Jesus.What is Dispensationalism?
Dispensationalism is a school of thought that divides human history into seven arbitrary periods of time, placing national Israel at the forefront of all end time prophecy. In modern times, it was popularized by Tim LaHaye and Hal Lindsay, and promoted through the Left Behind series.]
Our hope is that this Bible study will reduce some of the preoccupation with that government — whether adoration and trust fueled by evangelical politicians (“you must bless them and fund them in order to be blessed”) or the opposite extreme of antisemitism ("the Jews run everything").
Unbelief Disqualifies One from Israel
“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart” (Romans 2:28–29).
Those are striking words. Someone may belong to the Jewish race ethnically or "outwardly," but in the Biblical sense, is "not a Jew." Jesus said something similar when confronting the Jewish Pharisees:
“If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.” (John 8:39)
Unless converted, these unbelieving Jewish leaders were considered disowned as being children of Abraham. Rather than Abraham being their father, they were even told, “You are of your father the devil” (John 8:44).
So, belonging to the people of God is not at all about racial lineage from Abraham. As Paul, states it, "They are not all Israel who are of Israel" (Romans 9:6). If not all Jews are considered to be a part of Israel anymore, what qualifies one to be considered a part of the Israel of God? What is the actual Israel of the Bible?
Paul explains it with one of the clearest illustrations in all of his epistles.
The Olive Tree
In Romans 11:16-24 Paul describes God’s covenant people using the illustration of an olive tree. The olive tree represents Israel. The branches represent individual people. Some branches — individual Jewish people who rejected Christ — were cut off.
“Because of unbelief they were broken off” (Romans 11:20).
Unlike those Pharisees, the disciples of Jesus accepted Jesus as the Messiah. That is why Jesus could say of Nathanael:
“Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” (John 1:47)
So there are both true Israelites, and there are false ones. The false Israelites were cut off from the olive tree that is Israel. But in the olive tree parable, not all Jewish branches were cut off — only those who rejected Christ.
It is unbelief, regardless of ethnicity, that separates a person from God. This was even foreshadowed in the Old Testament, when God referred to the rebellious as "not my people" (Hosea 1:9).
But there is more to Paul’s parable of the olive tree.
Where Do Gentile Believers Fit?
If the olive tree represents Israel, where do Gentile believers belong?
Recall that in Romans 2:28-29. Paul told us that "circumcision of the heart" (i.e. conversion) is what makes you a "Jew inwardly," or what Jesus called "a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit."
This is the key to debunking the central error behind Dispensationalism. Paul explains that Gentile believers were wild olive shoots grafted into the existing Israelite tree alongside the Jewish branches:
“And you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree” (Romans 11:17).
Don't miss that. God's covenant with Israel is not with a particular race, but with all believers - regardless of race. And there is one people of God, not two. One "Israel of God," (Gal 6:16), not two. Does this mean Jews are all rejected, or as Paul asks, “Has God cast away His people?” He answers emphatically: “Certainly not!” (Romans 11:1)
Though the 490-year probationary period for the Jewish nation ended in 34 AD (see Daniel 9), our merciful God has not cast any group off from salvation. Paul says that unbelieving Jews can be grafted back into the tree if they come to faith in Christ:
“And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again” (Romans 11:23).
In fact, Paul says this restoration of individual Jews to their relationship with God would be even more natural than the grafting of Gentiles!
“How much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” (Romans 11:24)
They are sadly broken off from the tree - for now; withering off the tree without Christ - for now.
The Jewish people had a special calling by God, and they may in great numbers come to faith in Christ in these last days, as the door remains open to every Jewish person to believe in Christ and to be restored to the olive tree that is Israel. But for now, those who reject their Messiah are not in the tree.
(As a side note, antisemitism makes poor evangelism. Paul in v. 18 reminds Gentile believers—who were wild olive shoots—not to boast over the natural branches of the tree.)
Who are Abraham's Actual Descendants?
Remember Jesus saying you Pharisees are not sons of Abraham, but Nathaniel is a true Israelite? This is significant. Remember also that time when Jesus said He has other sheep who are not of the fold who will be brought in? (See John 10:16)
Paul summarizes this beautiful truth with abundant clarity:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:28–29).
He just said it.
Who are the descendants of Abraham? Jewish believers in Christ are Abraham’s real descendants. Gentile believers in Christ are Abraham’s real descendants.
And, together, these two groups of believers - and only these two - comprise the single, sole covenant people of God, the "Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16) in the New Covenant.
The Confusion over the New Covenant
This is missed completely by Dispensationalists. We all know that the New Covenant was made at the last supper, establishing God's New Testament Church, and was established in the blood of Christ shed at Calvary for every human person. The New Covenant is made with the church, right? Now watch this.
What does the New Testament call the group with whom the New Covenant was made?
“I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah... For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord" (Hebrews 8:8-10, emphasis supplied).
Did you get it? "The church" is just another name for the true "Israel of God. (Gal 6:16). The church is not a new thing that replaced Israel. Gentiles were simply grafted into what God had been doing all along.
There is one body of Christ (Ephesians 3:6). Not two.
There is one bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27), not two. God is not a spiritual polygamist, maintaining a covenant with a Gentile church and a largely unbelieving Jewish race of people.
Does it make more sense now, why the book of James starts by addressing the church this way? “To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1, emphasis supplied).
The church is Israel. Israel is the church.
“All Israel Shall Be Saved”
This Bible truth also clarifies Paul’s statement in Romans:
“And so all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26).
If "Israel" here meant a race of unbelieving Jews, as the Dispensationalists would have us believe, then this verse would not be true, since you can't be saved without faith in Christ.
But if "Israel" here means what we've seen above - the body of believers of all races who make up the Israel of God - then this verse is true. All believers who comprise the olive tree are saved.
The State of Israel
What, then, is the modern nation-state of Israel? It is nothing more than that — a modern nation-state.
The confusion arises when Christians refer to that government as if it were the Israel of the Bible.
It is not.
The only way anyone becomes part of God’s covenant people is through faith in Jesus Christ.
One Fold, One Shepherd
Jesus, Himself, predicted the union of Jewish and Gentile believers when He said:
“Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring… and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).
One flock. One shepherd. One people of God.
Speaking of the church, Paul closes Galatians with these words:
“Peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16).
For the Bible-believing Christian, the Israel of God is not defined by nationality, politics, or geography. It is defined by faith in Jesus Christ.
And that invitation remains open today to Jews, Gentiles, and every person on earth. How will you respond to His invitation today?
****
Scott Ritsema is the founder and director of Belt of Truth Ministries and Media on the Brain. He lives in Lakeview Michigan with his wife Cami and three amazing children!
www.BeltofTruth.tv
www.11thHourDispatch.com
www.BeltofTruthMinistries.org