Post by Sheila on Apr 19, 2024 15:47:06 GMT -5
Were the Israelites ever God's chosen people? Are they still his chosen people? What about Jews who aren't descended from the original tribes of Israel?
The first false teaching to be laid to rest is the one now being taught by some people who say Israel was never God's chosen people. One such group actually calls itself Christians For Truth and they provide false statements in the attempt to prove their version of the truth. They make the false claim that "nowhere in the Bible does it call Jews God's Chosen People" [1]. These staff members must have forgotten the commandment that tells us "Do not lie" and the fact the claim can so easily be disproved. "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession" (Deuteronomy 7:6). So this one verse shows, without a doubt, that the Israelites were indeed God's chosen people.
Most Christians who follow a dispensational theology will answer the second question by saying that while Israel and the Jews were once God's chosen people, they no longer are. Dispensational theology replaces the Jews with Christians because Christians have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and the Jews haven't accepted him as their promised Messiah. God made a covenant with the people of Israel and, unless you believe God is unfaithful and so easily breaks his promises, he will keep that promise. I find it difficult to say more about this in my own words; however, I found a sermon by John MacArthur in which he presents the information with which I agree when it comes to God's chosen people and to answer why they still are:
"Israel's very existence as a nation is tied to the promises of God without question. In fact, they were elected by God as His chosen nation and by His own sovereignty, unconditionally, He promised to bless them. The blessing that came to them in the Abrahamic covenant was not even conditioned upon them. In other words, God determined to do it no matter what they did. God would bring about the right circumstances to fulfill His promises. So God chose a people, God made promises to a people, God confirmed those promises by an oath in the fifteenth chapter of Genesis . . . covenanting with Himself, swearing by Himself, making an oath to Himself that He would keep His promises. So you have divine covenants based on sovereign election confirmed by a divine oath and that is why Hebrews 6 verses 13 to 18 says God has made His covenants and confirmed them by an oath by which He swore to keep His covenants. And so God has made promises to Israel which He must keep." [2]
Anyone can convert to Judaism, so not all Jews are descendants of the original tribes of Israel. If the covenant was made with the Jews of Israel, would it apply to these non-Israelite Jews? I believe the answer is yes. Take Ruth for example. There are arguments about whether or not she ever converted to Judaism. Put that aside. She did put aside her old gods and chose to follow God. She married a Jewish man and followed his practices and rituals. Whether or not this made her an actual Jew is beside the point. Would not God also include her within the group of his chosen people? I believe he did. The same would apply to any Jew today, whether or not they are actually descended for the original Israelites.
There are some Jews who have accepted Jesus as their Messiah. Some people may argue that these Jews aren't truly still Jews. They'll claim that these people are now Christians. While some may fully convert to Christianity, many don't. God still has plans for the Jews who haven't yet accepted Jesus as their Messiah. God's promises still stand true and his covenant with his chosen people is still in force. If it doesn't and the Jews are no longer considered his chosen people, how can we as Christians believe he'll hold to his covenant with us?
1. "Biblical Proof That the Jews Are Not God's Chosen People"; Christians For Truth; CFT Staff; 3/28/2023.
2. "Has God Cancelled His Promises to Israel? Part 1"; Grace For You; John MacArthur.
* All quotes are from the New International Version of the Bible.
The first false teaching to be laid to rest is the one now being taught by some people who say Israel was never God's chosen people. One such group actually calls itself Christians For Truth and they provide false statements in the attempt to prove their version of the truth. They make the false claim that "nowhere in the Bible does it call Jews God's Chosen People" [1]. These staff members must have forgotten the commandment that tells us "Do not lie" and the fact the claim can so easily be disproved. "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession" (Deuteronomy 7:6). So this one verse shows, without a doubt, that the Israelites were indeed God's chosen people.
Most Christians who follow a dispensational theology will answer the second question by saying that while Israel and the Jews were once God's chosen people, they no longer are. Dispensational theology replaces the Jews with Christians because Christians have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and the Jews haven't accepted him as their promised Messiah. God made a covenant with the people of Israel and, unless you believe God is unfaithful and so easily breaks his promises, he will keep that promise. I find it difficult to say more about this in my own words; however, I found a sermon by John MacArthur in which he presents the information with which I agree when it comes to God's chosen people and to answer why they still are:
"Israel's very existence as a nation is tied to the promises of God without question. In fact, they were elected by God as His chosen nation and by His own sovereignty, unconditionally, He promised to bless them. The blessing that came to them in the Abrahamic covenant was not even conditioned upon them. In other words, God determined to do it no matter what they did. God would bring about the right circumstances to fulfill His promises. So God chose a people, God made promises to a people, God confirmed those promises by an oath in the fifteenth chapter of Genesis . . . covenanting with Himself, swearing by Himself, making an oath to Himself that He would keep His promises. So you have divine covenants based on sovereign election confirmed by a divine oath and that is why Hebrews 6 verses 13 to 18 says God has made His covenants and confirmed them by an oath by which He swore to keep His covenants. And so God has made promises to Israel which He must keep." [2]
Anyone can convert to Judaism, so not all Jews are descendants of the original tribes of Israel. If the covenant was made with the Jews of Israel, would it apply to these non-Israelite Jews? I believe the answer is yes. Take Ruth for example. There are arguments about whether or not she ever converted to Judaism. Put that aside. She did put aside her old gods and chose to follow God. She married a Jewish man and followed his practices and rituals. Whether or not this made her an actual Jew is beside the point. Would not God also include her within the group of his chosen people? I believe he did. The same would apply to any Jew today, whether or not they are actually descended for the original Israelites.
There are some Jews who have accepted Jesus as their Messiah. Some people may argue that these Jews aren't truly still Jews. They'll claim that these people are now Christians. While some may fully convert to Christianity, many don't. God still has plans for the Jews who haven't yet accepted Jesus as their Messiah. God's promises still stand true and his covenant with his chosen people is still in force. If it doesn't and the Jews are no longer considered his chosen people, how can we as Christians believe he'll hold to his covenant with us?
1. "Biblical Proof That the Jews Are Not God's Chosen People"; Christians For Truth; CFT Staff; 3/28/2023.
2. "Has God Cancelled His Promises to Israel? Part 1"; Grace For You; John MacArthur.
* All quotes are from the New International Version of the Bible.
Copyright © 2024 by Sheila Rae Myers