At its inception, the Church was Jewish and remained so
until the gospel began to spread. Antioch, where the first gentile congregation
began, was the base from which the gospel spread to all the world.
Romans, chapters 9-11, deals with the question of the
Jews in God's providence and purpose. These three chapters are an elaboration
of the theology of God's dealings with the Jews. Three things about the Jewish
people are important to our understanding:
- They are the "first fruit", meaning the first people of God, through Abraham, to understand covenant with God.
- They then relayed the riches of that truth to the world through the Law, which God had given to Moses.
- Through them the Messiah came into the world ( John 4:22 ).
Romans 11:17 refers to the Jews as "natural
branches", and the Gentiles as the "wild branches". We are
reminded, in verse 20, the the "natural branches" were broken off
because of their unbelief (in chapter 9, verse 2, Paul expresses sorrow). In
verses 25-26 we learn that Israel's rejection is temporary. Just as the
"fullness of the Gentiles" will come, so will it come for the Jewish
people.
God has planned that in the future there will be a
massive in-gathering of Jews, as they turn to Christ and are reconciled to God ("grafted back in").
Where do we fit in all of this?
We are living in a sobering moment in history, that calls
us, as believers in Jesus, to stand with Israel. We could be living in the last
days, and we cannot afford to be passive in the face of prophecies that are
being fulfilled. As the Church, we are called to PRAY and to MINISTER according
to the words of Jesus, (and I paraphrase ): "It is not our task to
speculate when the end will come, but it is our responsibility to do kingdom
business till He comes" (Luke 19:13).
Standing with Israel means moving in prayer and outreach
on behalf of the lost sheep of Israel.
Let's pray for a last day's outpouring of the Holy Spirit
over the Land of Israel and her people.
That's our role.
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