• All believers, regardless of race, are the children of Abraham (Gal. 3:7, 26-29).
  

  All believers, regardless of race, are God’s chosen children (Eph. 1:3-6, Titus 2:11-14).
  

  All believers, regardless of race, are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, “a people belonging to God” (1 Peter 2:9).
  

  All believers, regardless of race, are the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 6:16).
  

  All believers, regardless of race, are currently in God’s spiritual kingdom or reign (Col. 1:13-14).
  

  All believers, regardless of race, are called the circumcision (Phil. 3:3).
  

  All believers, regardless of race, are called Jerusalem, the Holy City, the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2-12).

Why would God, at some future date, restore the old carnal regulations and practices when something far better, with transcendent promises, has arrived? God has made everything new! The new order eclipses the old regulations and practices, which were only shadows of the good things to come (Heb. 10:1).

To put it another way, why would God return to the Old after having created the New? This would be regression, not progression. Or, why would God retreat by reinstating the carnal when He has resurrected the spiritual? Why would any believer want to surrender his spiritual status in this new age and return to the carnal, external, and legalistic arrangement under Moses—a system that was incapable of abolishing sins? Well, why?

Secondly, God has not forsaken Jews or Gentiles. He wants all of them to come to His Son for deliverance and salvation. Romans 11 seems to teach that a day is coming (assuming it hasn’t come and gone) when Jews in large numbers will accept Jesus as their Messiah. When that happens, they, too, will be grafted in and become part of the one body of believers and part of God’s holy nation. “And if they [Jews] do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again” (Rom. 11:23). Until then, they remain separated from God.

Ungrafted Jews are not God’s chosen people. Ungrafted Gentiles are not God’s chosen people. I think all of you will agree that unregenerated Gentiles are not God’s elect. Then why is it so difficult for so many of you to believe that unregenerated Jews are not God’s elect?

This Editor’s loose generalization lacks substance and is void of reality. It is like saying that anyone who is anti-Nazi is, at the same time, anti-German, or that anyone who is anti-United Nations is, at the same time, opposed to all nations. There are many elements about National Israel I oppose, particularly the theology that she is God’s holy nation and special people and should be supported—financially and otherwise.

But am I anti-Jew because I oppose this theological concept? I oppose factors within America’s political system, believing it is largely pregnant with corruption. Does that make me anti-American?

It bugs me beyond words when these evangelical Editors and other writers, who lend their allegiance to National Israel “because she is God’s holy nation,” take pot-shots at those of us who cannot adopt their theological stance, and accuse us of being anti-Semitic. God has only one holy nation today, and she is the Christian community or the one body of believers. The divine testimony so affirms. Yet these evangelical Editors and their staff writers will point to a nation of atheists, National Israel, and affirm that she is God’s holy entity. Nothing could be farther from the truth. And so I say to Editor McQuaid: Get off your soap-box, cast aside your anti-ism, and face reality.

Enough is enough. Another staff-writer of Israel, My Glory told about the many ways Israel can be blessed. He referred, of course, to National Israel, not the community of the redeemed. This in spite of the fact that National Israel is 85% atheistic. So how in heaven’s name can we bless a nation of atheists? How in heaven’s name can God bless a nation of atheists? Yes, God no doubt has a remnant among the Jews in National Israel, as He has a remnant among all races. But to encourage Christians to bless an atheistic nation is beyond my ability to understand. I’d better close this section before I get all wound up and someone falsely accuses me of being anti-Semitic.

“Buff, I’d like your comments on Romans 11:28-29, where the apostle writes, ‘As far as the gospel is concerned, they [Jews] are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.’ Isn’t Paul saying that natural Jews are still God’s chosen people? For if he’s saying what it appears he’s saying, National Israel is still His holy nation and the Jews, universally, are His elect. I’d appreciate your version.”—Edna.

Another reader wrote in his newsletter, “I praise the Lord for the opportunities He has given me to speak His Word regarding His beloved people Israel.”

I do not concur with the reader’s deductions relating to Romans 11:28-29, nor do I believe National Israel is “God’s beloved people.” Paul is saying in Romans 11:28-29 that the Jews’ rejection of the Good News proved a blessing to the Gentile world. Their hostility and rebellion, which God knew in advance, helped to bring about the conversion of the Gentiles.

We cannot deny that at one time Israel was God’s chosen nation. Though enemies of God, as they currently are, God still remembers that they were children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He has not cast them away forever. For the time will come when God will “graft them in again...if they do not persist in unbelief” (Romans 11:23).

So, yes, at one time in history, old Israel was God’s elected nation and chosen people, as the verse above confirms. And as the apostle notes, the Jewish people “are loved on account of the patriarchs,” for they were once children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But in this grace era, the only children of Abraham are redeemed sinners or the household of faith. Listen to Paul again:

“In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring” (Rom. 9:6-9). Then again: “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly...No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly” (Rom. 2:28-29).

There’s no way to avoid the reality of Paul’s testimony. God no longer recognizes natural Jews and National Israel as His elected nation and chosen people! “Israel” is still God’s elected nation, but not Old Israel! It is New Israel, the redeemed community. If you still entertain doubts, listen to Paul again:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12 & 1 Peter 2:9).

Paul addresses these words to Christian believers, not to the Jewish community or to the Jewish nation, and calls them “God’s chosen people.” God has only one holy nation in His domain (1 Peter 2:9). It is not National Israel. Under Jesus, only those who have been born anew compose God’s holy nation, which is spiritual in nature—not National

But in reference to Romans 11, one school of thought is that a large segment of Jews are God’s elect in prospect or promise. I offer no argument against this if we agree that a large segment of Gentiles are also God’s elect in prospect or promise. There are many people out there in this wide world—both Jews and Gentiles—who are God’s children in prospect or promise, but currently not His children in reality. Jesus Himself recognized this truth. Read it in John 10:15-16.

To claim that the nation of Israel today—a nation made up largely of atheists—is God’s holy nation and His elect, is, in my opinion, an explicit contradiction of heaven’s testimony. Surely God does not consider a nation of atheists His elect! Yes, under the Old Covenant, Israel was God’s holy nation. There’s no argument here. But under Jesus, only those who have been born anew compose God’s holy nation.

But what about those Old scriptures that speak of the Land of Canaan, Jerusalem, Aaronic priesthood, Sabbath, Passover, and circumcision being everlasting or forever? It is my view that all of the old prophecies respecting these matters that so many of you understand as futuristic are typified by elements of the new era.

The Jewish Sabbath was issued as a lasting covenant and a sign between God and the Israelites forever (Exodus 31:16-17). Yet we know that this worshipful, holy day for the Jews is not to be observed by believers today in the form it was commanded initially. Incessant worship by committed believers typifies the Jewish Sabbath, for Jesus said that the time would come when worship would be anytime and the place where we are (John 4:21-24). In other words, worshipful and holy days can no longer be confined to certain days on the calendar—such as Sundays—or to specific places, such as “church buildings.”

The Jewish Passover was to last forever, but not in the form it was designed. The Lord’s Supper typifies the Jewish Passover. Jesus passed through the world and shed His blood. He is our Passover Lamb! Those who come to Him are saved by His blood. The Aaronic priesthood was given as a lasting ordinance (Exodus 29:9). In the grace era, the priesthood of all believers typifies the Aaronic priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).

Is this enough to convince you that all of God’s promises respecting Israel, the Land of Canaan, circumcision, priesthood, Passover, and Sabbath are still intact, but not in the form they were initially designed? The point is: National Israel is not God’s chosen nation or holy people today. But New Israel, consisting of all believers, is.

You see, we believers are the Israel of God. “Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16). If National Israel is God’s holy nation today, He has two holy nations instead of one! Peter speaks of only one holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). This holy nation, the Christian community, is the “one body” of believers spoken of in Ephesians 4:4: “There is one body” [of believers]. But if National Israel is God’s holy nation or people today, we have two bodies instead of one, the exact opposite of what Paul says.

The principle can be pointed in both directions. But no! Not according to a large segment of fundamental believers. If we oppose anything about the Jews, we’re anti-Semitic. But if we oppose anything about the Gentiles, we’re not anti-Gentile. I see a brutal weakness in this chain of events.

True, some misled people contend against Jews because of their race. Others oppose blacks because of their race. This is where the bone rubs. Racism is wrong and sinful. On one occasion, the apostle Peter was guilty of racism. Paul “opposed him to the face, because he was clearly in the wrong” (Gal. 2:11-13). (And Peter was supposed to have been the first Pope!) Racism is one thing, contending against corruption is another—regardless of race.

But again: If I’m guilty of racism because I oppose the corruption within the Jewish community, I am equally guilty of racism when I oppose the corruption within the Gentile community. Well, you get the idea.

Yes, I’d like to see peace in the Middle East. I pray for peace. Currently, we are seeing subjugation and terrorism. Israel is guilty of subjugation, and the Palestinians are guilty of terrorism. Subjugation is not the answer. Terrorism is not the answer. And Islam, one of the world’s greatest threats, must draw back her horns, for “Christians” and non-Muslims will never succumb to her expectations and demands.

Here is a letter I received from one of my readers, followed by my reply, both of which were published in my column “Reformation Rumblings.”

“Buff, from 1948 to 1967, Egypt had control of the Gaza Strip and Jordan had control of the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). Why didn’t they create another Palestinian State during those 19 years? It’s because they were not, and are not now, interested in helping the Arab Palestinians. They were only interested in wiping out Israel.

“In 1967, Israel had to once again defend herself from the Arab countries surrounding her. She ended up with more territory as a result. The Arabs ended up with less because they chose to attack Israel and to try to drive her into the sea.

“Israel has shown that she is willing to give up land for peace (she gave the whole Sinai peninsula to Egypt under the Camp David Accords of 1979), even though she herself has very little. Did you know the whole country of Israel can fit into the state of Arizona 10 1/2 times? Why should Israel give up more land when the Arab countries surrounding her have over 400 times as much land mass as she does?”—Name Withheld by Request.

My Reply
Bear with me, please, as I give answer to this good brother’s letter, which is in response to my comments about Yasser Arafat’s demise and Israel. His historical knowledge of both Jews and Arabs is commendable. I agree with his sentiments that Arabs and Arab countries are striving to drive National Israel into the sea. This has been their objective since National Israel was established in 1948. My correspondent also pointed out that Israel purchased the land they now possess.

National Israel, as an established State or country, has every right in the world to defend herself against her enemies, just as America does. And should the Arab Palestinians ever be given a State of their own, whether by diplomatic negotiations or by Israel granting them land they (Israel) now occupy, the attacks on Israel should cease. If they do not cease, Israel should wipe them off the face of the earth.

Do I believe the attacks would cease? No. I believe the scriptures teach that Jewish people will be persecuted until time is no more, and all because of their former—and current—persistent rebellion again God. Arabs have an obsession about eradicating Jews and the Jewish nation. On that note, I do not envision peace in the Middle East. I see war and chaos between Jews and Arabs until the end of time.

I make note of this because many supporters of National Israel today claim that the land promise is yet to be consummated or completed. The promise relating to physical land was fulfilled under Joshua, but because of their continual rebellion God removed all the land He had given them during the Roman/Jewish war of 67-70 A. D. In a spiritual sense, the promise pertaining to their possessing the land forever is still valid, but, as noted in this feature, not in the configuration it was originally conferred.

If God still has some “business” with Israel as a nation, as most evangelicals believe, and if there are yet prophecies and promises contained in the old covenant scriptures relating to Israel as a nation that have not been fulfilled, as they affirm, they are going to have a demanding task clarifying and reconciling Joshua 21:43-45, as commented upon above.

As noted in the Joshua passage, all the promises relating to physical land and other matters were fulfilled under Joshua, but because of the Jews’ continual and chronic rebellion against God, He amputated all of the land He had given them during the Roman/Jewish war of 67-70 A. D. Let it be noted that God never promised to give Israel land, or anything else, but on condition of obedience.

It was over—forever—for Israel as a nation! God had had enough of His one-time wife who persisted in spiritual adultery. They had become a stiff-neck people. “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers—you always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).

Even Jesus foretold of the disaster that would come upon His one-time wife when He said, “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near...They [Jews] will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations” (Luke 21:20-24). Jesus made it plain that all this punishment that came upon the Jews was “in fulfillment of all that has been written” (v. 22). The path of Israel as a nation had ended, never to rise again.