A Biblical Lecture on National Israel, the Purpose of Election, and the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ
This
lesson is written from a Restoration Movement / New Testament fulfillment
perspective and seeks to let Scripture interpret Scripture.
INTRODUCTION
Many
today teach that modern national Israel still holds a special covenant status
with God above all nations, and that the physical land promises remain
permanently theirs by divine right.
But
the New Testament reveals something different:
- Israel was chosen for a divine purpose.
- That purpose was to bring the Messiah into the world.
- In Christ, the old covenant system reached fulfillment.
- God’s people are now defined spiritually, not ethnically.
- The kingdom, promises, temple, priesthood, and inheritance are
fulfilled in Christ and His church.
The
issue is not whether Jews are loved by God. God desires the salvation of all
people.
The
issue is whether national Israel remains God’s covenant nation today.
The
New Testament answer is no.
I. ISRAEL WAS CHOSEN FOR A PURPOSE
A. Israel was chosen to bring forth
the Messiah
God
chose Abraham’s lineage so that Christ would come into the world.
"In
your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed”,
— Genesis 22:18a
Paul
explains this seed ultimately points to Christ.
“Now
the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And
to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your
seed," that is, Christ”.
— Galatians 3:16
Israel
was never chosen because they were inherently superior.
“The
Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number
than any of the peoples…”
— Deuteronomy 7:7
Their
election was functional and covenantal — to preserve the lineage through which
the Savior would come.
B. Once Christ came, the purpose of
national Israel was fulfilled
Jesus
fulfilled what Israel pointed toward.
- Israel pointed to the true Son.
- The sacrifices pointed to the cross.
- The priesthood pointed to Christ.
- The temple pointed to His body.
- The land pointed to a greater inheritance.
The
shadows gave way to reality.
“Things
which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ”.
— Colossians 2:17
II. GOD’S PEOPLE ARE NOW DEFINED
SPIRITUALLY, NOT ETHNICALLY
A. Being a Jew physically no longer
makes one part of God’s covenant people
Paul
could not be clearer.
“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
which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not
from men, but from God”.
— Romans 2:28-29
Under
Christ, covenant identity is spiritual.
B. The true children of Abraham are
those who have faith
“Therefore, be sure that
it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.”
— Galatians 3:7
Not
genetics.
Not
ethnicity.
Faith.
C. In Christ there is no ethnic
covenant superiority
“There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither
male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
— Galatians 3:28
The
cross removed ethnic covenant distinction.
D. The church is now God’s chosen
people
Peter
uses Old Testament language once applied to Israel and applies it directly to
the church.
“But
you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's
OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called
you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
— 1 Peter 2:9
The
church inherits the covenant identity.
Not
through flesh.
Through
Christ.
III. THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NO
LONGER EARTHLY OR NATIONAL
A. Jesus rejected an earthly political
kingdom
Many
Jews expected a national restoration and earthly dominance.
But
Jesus repeatedly rejected this concept.
“Jesus
answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this
world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to
the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."
— John 18:36
Christ
did not come to establish geopolitical Israel.
He
came to establish a spiritual kingdom.
B. The kingdom is spiritual
“For
the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and
joy in the Holy Spirit.”
— Romans 14:17
The
New Covenant centers on transformed hearts, not territorial borders.
IV. THE LAND PROMISE WAS NEVER
ULTIMATELY ABOUT PALESTINE
A. Even Abraham looked beyond the
physical land
Hebrews
explains Abraham understood there was something greater.
“For
he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder
is God.”
—
Hebrews 11:10
And
again:
“But
as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God
is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”
— Hebrews 11:16
The
physical land was typological.
It
pointed to a heavenly inheritance.
B. The New Testament expands the
inheritance to the whole world
“For
the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world
was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.”
— Romans 4:13
Not
merely Canaan.
The
inheritance becomes universal in Christ.
C. Christians now inherit through
Christ
“And
if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to
promise.”
— Galatians 3:29
The
promise belongs to those in Christ.
V. THE OLD COVENANT SYSTEM PASSED
AWAY
A. The old covenant became obsolete
“When
He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But
whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.”
— Hebrews 8:13
The
Mosaic covenant was temporary.
B. The wall separating Jew and Gentile
was destroyed
“For
He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the
barrier of the dividing wall,”
— Ephesians 2:14
Christ
united believing Jew and Gentile into one body.
C. There is now one people of God
"I
have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they
will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”
— John 10:16
Not
two covenant peoples.
One.
VI. WHAT ABOUT MODERN ISRAEL?
Modern
Israel is a political nation-state.
But
nowhere does the New Testament teach that modern geopolitical Israel is God’s
covenant nation.
The
New Testament consistently points believers away from:
- earthly Jerusalem,
- earthly temple systems,
- earthly priesthood,
- earthly sacrifices,
- earthly nationalism,
and
toward Christ.
VII. THE TRUE JERUSALEM IS HEAVENLY
A. The New Jerusalem is spiritual
“But
the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.”
— Galatians 4:26
B. Christians already belong to the
heavenly Zion
“But
you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,”
— Hebrews 12:22
Notice:
Not
“you will come.”
“You
HAVE come.”
The
fulfillment is present and spiritual.
VIII. DOES GOD STILL LOVE JEWISH
PEOPLE?
Absolutely.
Jews
are loved by God just like every other people group.
The
gospel is still for them.
“For
there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of
all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;”
— Romans 10:12
Salvation
is available equally to all through Christ.
But
no one is saved by ethnic identity.
Only
by Jesus Christ.
IX. ROMANS 11 DOES NOT TEACH
NATIONAL ISRAEL’S FUTURE SUPREMACY
Romans
11 is often misunderstood.
Paul’s
point is not that ethnic Israel remains permanently God’s covenant nation.
His
point is:
- Jews can still be saved through faith in Christ.
- Gentiles should not become arrogant.
- Unbelieving Jews were broken off.
- Believing Gentiles were grafted in.
“Quite
right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do
not be conceited, but fear;”
— Romans 11:20
Faith
— not ethnicity — determines covenant standing.
CONCLUSION
The
Bible teaches:
- Israel was chosen to bring forth the Messiah.
- Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant system.
- God’s people are now spiritual, not national.
- The church is the holy nation in Christ.
- The inheritance is heavenly.
- The kingdom is spiritual.
- The promises are fulfilled in Jesus.
The
focus of the New Testament is never:
“Return to ethnic Israel.”
The
focus is always:
“Come to Christ.”
Because
in Christ:
- Jew and Gentile become one.
- The shadows are fulfilled.
- The true temple stands.
- The true kingdom reigns.
- The true inheritance is received.
“For
as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through
Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”
— 2 Corinthians 1:20
DW
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