To Jr
By means of His prophet Hosea, Jehovah foretold that He would reject the nation of natural Israel in favor of a ‘spiritual nation’, which includes Gentiles:
„And I shall certainly sow her like seed for me in the earth, and I will show mercy to her who was not shown mercy, and I will say to those not my people::’You are my people’ and they for their part, will say:’You are my God." Hosea 2:23
And through Jesajah (10:21) was foretold about the natural Israelites: „ A mere remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God."
I do agree that Jehovah would fulfill His purpose, even though the natural Israel became unfaithful. And His way was, that he would open to the gentiles the opportunity to become His people, the ‘spiritual Israel’. This was foretold from old, through His prophets.
It all began, when the apostle Peter was lead to Cornelius, the first gentile, who got the opportunity to join the ‘remnant’ of the Jews, who accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. Later on, through the apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit brought thousands of Gentiles to the christian congregation, so that Paul could write to the galatians:"And all those who will walk orderly by this rule of conduct, upon them be peace and mercy, even upon the Israel of God".(Gal. 6:16)
If we read this Letter to the Galatians, we will see that the right to belong to this ‘spiritual Israel', was not due to a fleshly right, being a natural Jew, because Paul says:"Moreover, if YOU BELONG TO CHRIST, you are REALLY Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise." Gal. 3:29
In the congregation of the galatians, as well in Rome, there were christian Jews, who pretended that the gentiles joining the christian congregation should observe the mosaic Law and let them be circumcised. Paul enphasized the point when he wrote to the Romans, chap. 2:28, 29:" For he is not a Jew who is one on the outside (through circumcision), nor is circumcision that which is on the outside upon the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one on the inside, and his circumcision is that of the heart by spirit, and not by a written code. The praise of that one comes, not from men, but from God.".
Reading the whole letter to the Romans, we can see that the promises from old, were to be applied to new people, the ‘spiritual Israel’ of God, through the New Mediator, Jesus Christ, and not through the observing of the mosaic Law, but rather through faith in Jesus Christ. (Rom. 9:6-29)
Since then Jehovah has’nt changed His purpose. We are also living in a time, when the opportunity to belong BY SPIRIT to this ‘Israel of God’ is still given to all mankind, including natural Jews. That’s why I believe, Jehovah is fulfilling those prophecies from old in the Christian Congregation. Not due to presumption, or bearing ‘The Name’ as a 'label', or in an organization of men, but BY HIS SPIRIT, this ‘Spiritual Israel’ is all over the world, and we are unified not by the power of men, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.
John Darby’s Commentary says about Galatians 6:16:" To the believer the world has its true character; for in fact, in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value (all that has passed away with dead Christ), but a new creature, according to which we estimate everything as God estimates it. It is to such, the true children of God, that the apostle wishes peace. It was not Israel circumcised after the flesh that was the Israel of God. If there were any of that people who were circumcised in heart, who gloried in the cross according to the sentiments of the new creature, those were the Israel of God. Moreover every true christian was of them according to the spirit of his walk."
So I do believe in the modern 'spiritual Israel' and this is not a man made organization. Do you believe it also?
James
