How Should We View Israel's Rejection?

Romans 11:1-10

SUBJECT: ISRAEL’S FUTURE

THEME: Israel’s rejection is not total, final, or permanent; in fact, God is saving individual Jews by His grace when they believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

INTRODUCTION:

Rom. 11:1-2a, I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.

Paul’s opening question is, “Hath God cast away his people?” That is has God utterly, completely, and finally cast away the nation of Israel? Since the question is rhetorical, Paul answers, “God forbid!” Meaning certainly not! No, every single Israelite has not been cast away. He follows with the reason through a series of illustrations and Old Testament references demonstrating how God historically reserved a handful of faithful believers even in seasons of extreme national apostasy.

Israel’s Rejection by God is not Total; He has Always Reserved a Remnant for Himself; Therefore, Individual Jews can be Saved by Grace.

Remember Chapter 10 of Romans ended with the fact that the Nation of Israel refused to pay attention to the message and messengers of God. Paul described them as a “disobedient and gainsaying people.” There was nothing deficient in the message of God, they opted to close their ears to it. Likewise, there is no weakness in the Gospel of Jesus Christ even though the nation of Israel has rejected it. The majority chose not to believe, but there is a remnant!

CONSIDER THE TWO GROUPS OF ISRAEL (Rom. 11:1-10)

There is the minority group of believing Jews, and then there is the majority group of Christ-rejecting Jews.

The Minority Group Represents the Saved Remnant of Israel (Rom. 11:1-6)

God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace (Rom. 11:2-5).

The Minority Group Is Represented by Paul (Rom. 11:1).  

The converted Pharisee, Apostle Paul, represents the believing remnant of Israel in this Age of Grace. Remember Romans 10:8-13, “Whosoever” includes Jews and Gentiles! We know that all Jews have not been cast away because Paul himself was a Jew and he certainly was a saved man. Exhibit A is Paul himself as proof that God has not fully rejected all of His covenant people Israel. Actually, Paul’s conversion in Acts 9 can be understood as a foreshadow of the conversion of the entire nation of Israel one day. They will acknowledge Jesus’ Lordship, trust Him as Savior, and serve Him faithfully after His glorious future revelation and return to the earth!

The Minority Group Is Represented by Elijah (Rom. 11:2-4).  

Elijah pictures the believing remnant of Israel throughout the life of the nation of Israel. The situation of Israel today is similar to that which existed in Elijah’s time. The mass of the nation had turned away from God to serve the idol Baal. It was so bad that Elijah prayed against his nation instead of for it!     

During Elijah’s season of discouragement, he was convinced he was the only believer in his day, and to make a bad situation worse, his life was in danger according to the death warrant issued by the queen of Israel. Who would worship Jehovah then? In those difficult times, the prophet actually made “intercession to God against Israel” (11:2). Can you imagine national conditions being so sinful and idolatrous that you feel compelled to pray judgment upon your own country? But God (who fully understood the truth) quickly informed him that: “I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal” (Rom. 11:4; see also 1 Kings 19:10, 14,18).

What was true then is true today: God never leaves Himself without a witness. Though it may be modest, He always has a faithful remnant chosen as special objects of His grace (Vs 5, ... “according to the election of grace”). The fact that God always has a remnant of believing Jews is proof that He has not totally and finally cast aside Israel!

The Minority Group Represents the Principles of Salvation for Every Age (Rom. 11:6).

Rom 11:4-6, But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5, Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6, And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Like us, God did not choose this remnant on the basis of their cleaver and devoted works, services, or rituals! No, God's actions evidenced His own sovereign electing grace (vs 6). That is God saved them on the basis of unmerited, undeserved, unqualified, and unwarranted kindness. It is the same way God has always saved anyone who is saved or ever will be saved. Grace is always the basis of salvation. Paul also clearly insists that Grace and Law are mutually exclusive, and they can never be mixed. If you tried to combine them, you will in effect destroy them both. While Law and Grace cannot be fused together, they do complement each other. Law prepares us to see ourselves as sinners in need of the Savior. Accordingly, God saves repentant sinners by special favor motivated by His great love and nothing else—grace. Praise the Most High God that even this remnant under the Law from Elijah’s day were saved by Grace and not on the basis of their works/performance. If salvation was by our actions of service, we all would be damned to Hell for all eternity. God requires perfection and none of us measures up to the absolute perfection in Jesus Christ! Principally speaking, this minority group represents the saved, redeemed of every age! Praise our gracious Lord, I am in this group! What about you?

The Majority Group Represents the Unsaved of Israel (Rom. 11:7-10)

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (Rom. 11:7).

The Nation of Israel desires salvation, but they are going about securing it entirely wrong. Israel failed to obtain righteousness because they sought it through self-effort instead of through the finished work of Christ Jesus. In contrast, this elect minority—the chosen remnant—did indeed obtain God-given righteousness through faith in the Lord Jesus. As a result, the majority of the nation of Israel has and will suffer various forms of God’s judgments. Review the history of the nation….

God Punished Them with Blindness (Rom. 11:7) “and the rest were blinded”: This blindness is a judicial act of Almighty God because of their unbelief, and their insistence upon trusting in their own efforts of self-righteousness (Rom. 10:2-4). They refused to believe God; they would not exercise faith in the all-sufficient atonement of Christ our Lord. Therefore, their refusal to receive the Messiah resulted in a decreased capacity and inclination to receive Him. This is exactly what the OT predicted would happen. Spiritual blindness is an act of divine judgment. Beloved, unbelief is an exceedingly serious matter to God!

Isaiah Predicted This Form of Slumber, Blindness, and Deafness: Compare Romans 11:8 with Isaiah 29:10.

According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; unto this day (Rom. 11:8).

Today Israel as a nation is in a spiritual stupor; they have become insensitive to spiritual realities, because they refused their Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is key and central to comprehending God’s redemptive work and gracious plan, if you reject Him then nothing makes any sense at all. The greater number of the national population is in this group who have lost their power to see spiritual reality; therefore, they stumble around in utter darkness!

David Predicted This Curse of Enslavement to Blindness: Compare Romans 11:9-10 with Psalm 69:22-23.

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway (Rom. 11 :9-10).

Understand, that no nation was ever privileged and blessed like Israel was historically. It was God who prepared an unrivaled “table” of spiritual and national benefits for them! Yet, the sum total of their abundant blessings became a source of curses to them! Yes, it even became a form of entrapment judgment upon them! Finally, it proved to be a stumbling block—an obstacle of great offense to them. Both prophets Isaiah and David predicted this. Present-day Israel is thus plagued with a threefold blindness:

         1) The blindness caused by the fall of Adam (Eph. 4:18)

         2) The blindness caused by Satan (2 Cor. 4:4)

         3) The blindness caused by God (Rom. 11:8)

Beloved, there is a sober warning for each of us in these words of Scripture. The things we cherish most can become the very source of our stumbling, blindness, and rejection of the mind and heart of God for each of us. You see a refusal to accept God’s truth and Christian responsibility will result in spiritual blindness for both sinner and saint alike. Peter warms NT believers of the possibility of spiritual senility taking over and crippling our potential for Christ (2Pet. 1:8-10). The writer of Hebrews cautions believers of the awful condition of growing backwards and reverting back to spiritual infancy (Heb. 5:11-14). It is vitally important that we pursue godly growth and maintain real sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Scriptures, our Holy Savior, and our Holy Sovereign.

It is a frightful thing to contemplate becoming so enamored with the blessings that I dismiss the God who blessed me! I shudder at the thought of allowing a human relationship, a professional path, a standard of living, a certain church family, or an unjustified prioritization of convenience and comfort over God’s will, godly convictions, and surrender to Christ. Too many of God’s people can delineate their blessings, but they cannot imagine life without those privileges…not even when God summons them to go further and deeper with Him in life and service. Saying NO, to what God is trying to teach us and refusing to accept God’s will for us is literally asking for His chastening!

CONCLUSION:

Because of the things we’ve explored, we are assured that God still has plans for His covenant people. Once again, the Nation of Israel will be saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and according to the Covenant of God to Abraham. God will fulfill all His great promises to the nation. In the meantime, God will save the Jewish person who repents believing the Gospel of Jesus our Lord. Therefore, Israel’s rejection is not entire, permanent and certainly not final—she has a brilliant future before her when she turns to Jesus Christ in faith.

Now consider this brilliant and powerful description of Jesus Christ, the Savior,

In whom [Christ our Lord] we have redemption [Redeemer] through his blood [Blood Atonement], even the forgiveness of sins [Forgiver of our sins]: [15] Who is the image of the invisible God [Revealer & Representative of God], the firstborn [The Unique Superior & Sovereign over creation] of every creature: [16] For by him [Jesus] were all things created [Creator], that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones [Superior to all creatures], or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him [Originator], and for him [Supreme Purpose & Meaning]: [17] And he [Jesus] is before all things [Preeminent One], and by him all things consist [The Providential Sustainer]. (Col. 1:14-17)

Beloved, because of these truths and Paul’s constant proclamation of Jesus Christ as the perfect, divine, all-sufficient Lord, we do not need to add anything to Him and His work to be saved. Nor should be supplement Jesus to find fulfillment, completion, confidence, maturity, power, victory, or meaning in this life and the next! Come Jews and Gentiles alike…there is room at the Cross for all. Come religious person and atheistic person to this one Savior and Lord. He promises to save, to give life to, to forgive, to receive you, to be your Savior when you trust Him. Remember, it is Jesus who died, was buried, and rose again the third day. Yes, He is alive to rescue you from spiritual destruction and hell because of your sin. Listen, God forgave even me when I repented trusting Jesus…He will certainly do likewise for you. Turn to Him now. Cry out to Him for forgiveness, confess that Jesus is the Lord God who became a man to die for our sins. Believe in your heart of hearts that God raised Him from the dead proving that Jesus had conquered sin, death, and hell for us. Our Lord Jesus, the very Son of God, is the consummate Savior! The question remains, is He your Savior? Why not trust the Lord today?

Restoration Will Come

ROMANS 11:1-2a

SUBJECT: ISRAEL’S FUTURE

THEME: God will regather, redeem, restore, and return to reign over the nation of Israel.

INTRODUCTION: The nation of Israel will be saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (New Covenant) and according to the covenant of God to Abraham. Therefore, Israel’s rejection is not permanent and certainly not final—she has a brilliant future before her. Like the rest of the world her hope is in Christ Jesus.

In many regards, Israel’s history and future serves as an object lesson teaching us something about God’s grace, wisdom, power, and faithfulness. The following passages outline God’s future plans for the Nation of Israel. Today, they are an unbelieving nation; a people who have rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ. According to God’s dispensational management, they have been temporarily set aside (Rom. 11:1-2). However, everything God promised Israel will be fulfilled within the context of her national experience. Israel will be saved nationally and spiritually by the grace of Almighty God; this is the profound eschatological reality—a clear fact of Scripture.

LESSON:

Is There a Biblical Foundation for Israel’s Restoration in the Future?

The Scriptural and Theological Foundation for the Restoration of the Nation of Israel is Abundant and Strong.

Here is what we know from clear statements in the Word of God:

1. We Know the People of Israel Will Be Regathered

Matt 24:31, And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect [Israel] from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Deut 30:3-6, That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. 4, If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: 5, And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. 6, And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. (Ezek. 20:33-44)

2. We Know the Nation of Israel Will Be Redeemed

Rom 11:26-27, And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27, For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Isa 45:17, But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

Isa 54:5-10, For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6, For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7, For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8, In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. 9, For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10, For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

3.  We Know the Kingdom of Israel Will Be Restored

Dan 7:17-18, These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. 18, But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Dan 7:22, Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Dan 7:27, And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

4. We Know the True King of Israel Will Return

Isa 9:6-7, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7, Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Matt. 24:29-31)

CONCLUSION:

If you take the Word of God as the final authority, then restoration will come to the nation of Israel. Yes, restoration will come! This study simply permits the holy Scriptures to speak with brilliant clarity. The truth that Israel has a promising national future cannot be denied. God will regather, redeem, restore, and return to reign over the nation of Israel in the person of Jesus Christ. Nothing in Scripture can be more certain than this. To believe these teachings is to believe the Lord God Almighty who promised such developments thousands of years ago.

Nations, regimes, and terrorist organizations may oppose and attack Israel today, but the nation will not ultimately be destroyed. Hitler’s Nazi’s could not cancel this promise! The world cannot prevent these developments no matter how they use the United Nations to oppose Israel. Israel will ultimately be sustained by a faithful God who keeps covenant and promises!

Our Lord God can be trusted; He is supremely faithful to His Word. Go ahead and trust Him; it is entirely safe. Trust Him as Savior and Lord. Trust Him as your Source of everything—your Provider. Acknowledge Him as your Creator…the one to whom you are accountable. Take His promises to heart and walk in the power they avail…the grace He wills for you. Each of us should be daily hanging on to some specific promise God made in the Scriptures. Even if it is as basic as 1 John 1:9, its God’s promise to you and me for forgiveness, cleansing, restoration, and renewed fellowship. So, again go ahead and take Him at His Word. It is entirely safe to do so.   

Can God be Trusted?

ROMANS 11:1-2

SUBJECT: ISRAEL’S FUTURE

THEME: God is faithful, and the record demonstrates this in the history and future of the nation of Israel.

Romans 11:1-2a, I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.

INTRODUCTION:

In Romans chapter Eleven, we find ourselves exposed to the great wisdom of God and the promise of Israel’s future restoration (Rom. 11). Paul has been discussing the rejection of Israel in chapter 10; he explains that this rejection is because of their unbelief. Jesus Christ is key to a relationship with God; Israel as a nation rejected Him. Unbelief severed them from God. Paul will now show that God rejecting Israel was neither total nor final (Rom. 11:26-36). Before we address that important subject, it is beneficial to think about God casting away his people.

So, why does any of this matter to us today? Well, if it can be shown from the Scriptures that God did not keep His promises to the nation of Israel, then we have little reason to trust Him for our future as Christians. In that scenario God’s character would have sustained a question-raising blot; is He faithful? Can God be trusted to stand by the commitments He voluntarily made to Israel? Can we really trust Him today? If God is proven to be untrue to His Word, then can He really be God at all? A holy God is terrifying enough, but a treacherous God leaves us with absolutely no reason to expect Him to follow through on anything He says. A God who quits on his promises or because of frustrations is a painful idea…is God really like this?  

LESSON:

Does Israel have a Place in God’s Plans for the Future?

Actually, Israel fits prominently into God Future Plans; They have a Significant Role in the Future.

What about the future of Israel? Is it true, as some teach, that God is through with Israel, that us Christians are now the Israel of God, and that all the promises of Israel now apply to the Church of the Living God? Romans Chapter 11 is the strongest refutation of this view and teaching!

Should we Recognize a Difference Between Israel as a Nation and the role of Christianity? Yes, we must distinguish the national experience of Israel from Christianity and God’s plan for the churches during this age. Israel and the churches are not one nor do the churches replace Israel permanently in the redemptive plan of God. God will yet perform every promise to the nation of Israel and her forefathers; He is entirely faithful to His unconditional promises made to this distinct people. It is important to understand that the Christian movement cannot claim all the blessings and promises which were clearly given to Israel, a nation.  God never confuses the nation of Israel with the Christian Church Age. This distinction is further maintained by the Apostle Paul in

1 Cor 10:31-33, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32, Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

33, Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Three entities are recognized and distinguished in perpetuity; the nation of Israel currently is different from the rest of the world (Gentiles). Secondly, the church of God is not synonymous with Gentiles or Israel though it includes all peoples of all nations including Israel. In the church age such distinctions afford no special privileges or disadvantages; still the cultural idiosyncrasies and customs should be regarded and respected to avoid needless offenses in evangelistic outreach and local church community. In this economy, personal preferences are voluntarily subjugated/de-emphasized/de-prioritized to accommodate the greater profitability/salvation/sanctification of the larger group/population/church. Certainly, the glory of God supersedes all else as the essential source of unity and harmony. The point that must not be missed is that God maintains these as separate entities.

Can We Trust the Promises of the New Covenant to Indicate Israel’s Future? The New Covenant is an important key to understanding the Nation of Israel’s Future and God’s Faithful Character: (Jer. 31-33; He. 8:7-13; 10:9-22). This is God's promise to give free blessing to men through Jesus Christ. It was given to the nation Israel (Jer. 31-34), but Christians also share in the spiritual aspects of the New covenant through Christ (Heb. 8:7-13). The New covenant with Israel promises that God will restore them to their promised land and give them a new heart to obey Him. This will happen when Jesus returns from Heaven (Rom. 11:25-27; Zec. 13-14).

The Promise of the New Covenant: (1) It was made with the nation Israel (Je. 31:31), and (2) it will replace the Mosaic covenant (Jer. 31:32; Heb. 10:8-9). This promise features regeneration and cleansing from sin (Jer. 31:33-34), while (4) reaffirming Israel’s national security and future kingdom (Jer. 31:35-37). (5) The covenant also promises Israel’s possession of the land (Jer. 32:37, 41-44), and the fact that the covenant (6) is eternal in nature (Jer. 32:40). (7) Finally, it involves God’s blessing upon the land (Ezek. 36:29-30).

We as Gentiles or Christians cannot claim any of these promises simply because they were not given to Gentiles or Christians as such; they must be ultimately fulfilled in the life of the nation of Israel to whom they were originally given. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are made joint-heirs with Him. We have spiritual blessings and opportunities through our relationship with Israel's chef Son! This strictly spiritual union with Christ affords us the spiritual blessings and benefits of this covenant alone. Namely, regeneration and cleansing from our sins, but not the national promises related to the land, a national kingdom of Israel, or prosperity and blessing in the Promised Land. These promises belong uniquely to Israel. The false Health and Wealth Gospel message propagated by prosperity gurus is utterly without a biblical foundation. Such a position is theologically, exegetically and dispensationally spurious and irresponsible. They unfortunately have confused the identity and purpose of the nation of Israel with the identity and purpose of the present New Testament Church Age. God still maintains a distinction between Israel and Christianity. Accordingly, the nation of Israel fully retains her God-given place in the future plans of God.  

Other Old Testament Passages Mention the New Covenant: (1) It will be established when Israel is restored and blessed before the eyes of all nations (Is. 61:8-11; Eze. 37:21-28). (2) It will involve the placing of God’s sanctuary in the midst of Israel forever (Eze. 37:26-27). (3) Some Psalms record prayers of this future spiritual regeneration of the nation (Ps. 80:18-19; 79:8-9). (4) Some Psalms picture the fulfillment of this covenant (Ps. 85; 130; 72). (5) Mentions of Israel seeking God in the future are references to the New Covenant (Jo. 3:5; 5:15; 6:1). (6) Jesus referred to the New Covenant in His teaching of the new birth (compare Jn. 3:1-15 and Eze. 36:24-29).

The New Covenant and the Church Age: If the New Covenant is not fulfilled in the church (referring to the church in a general, institutional sense), why does the writer of Hebrews apply it to Christians (He. 8:6-13; 10:15-19)? Yes, we Christians do enjoy some of the blessings of the New Covenant today, but its fulfillment is yet future for us all. Hebrews does not say the New Covenant is fulfilled in this Church Age; it plainly says the New Covenant belongs to “the house of Israel” (He. 8:10). The Book of Hebrews refers to the New Covenant to show how the Mosaic system was only temporary and that even the O.T. foresaw that one day it would be abolished and replaced by another covenant. The writer of Hebrews indicates that every N.T. believer partakes of the spiritual blessings of the New Covenant through Christ, but nowhere does he say that this covenant has been transferred from national Israel to the Church Age Christians. The blessings of the NT Covenant have only been realized partially. God has so much more in store for Israel and the world. The Apostle Paul taught that the New Covenant will be literally fulfilled following the Church Age in God’s unfolding redemptive plan (Rom. 11:25-27).

Rom 11:25-27, For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26, And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27, For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

The nation of Israel will be saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (New Covenant) and according to the covenant of God to Abraham. God will complete His current work among the Gentile world; it will be done when the "fullness of the Gentiles be come in." Simply put there are parameters to this current age--a definite beginning and end. One day while we are out evangelizing the last person from this age will be born again! I believe the Rapture of the NT saints will follow very soon thereafter. God will then shift His immediate attention to the nation of Israel and her spiritual redemption through Jesus Christ. He will not abandon the rest of the world; God will actually evangelize the world through Israel. Read Revelation 7 for the account of the salvation of 144,000 Jewish men and a massive Gentile population in just a few years during the Tribulation Period on earth. Therefore, Israel’s rejection is not permanent and certainly not final—she has a brilliant future before her. Like the rest of the world her hope is in Christ Jesus.

Heb 8:9-13, Not according to the covenant [Old] that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, [Old] and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10, For this is the covenant [New] that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11, And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13, In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

These incredible passages portray a future for the nation of Israel—a new covenant redeemed Jewish people of God; this much cannot be denied. God is speaking and promising these gracious provisions to that nation specifically, and they will transpire during the Tribulation Period and the Millennial reign of Christ Jesus. Yes, Israel as a redeemed nation fits prominently into God’s future plans. Presently, in this Church Age, both Jews and Gentiles are being saved and set apart to God through faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the future, after the Rapture of Christians, God will take up His plans for the nation of Israel and began to advance his program most aggressively. Everything He promised Israel will be fulfilled within the context of her national experience. Israel will be saved nationally and spiritually by the grace of Almighty God; this is the profound eschatological reality—a clear fact of Scripture.

Beloved, the fact that Israel has a future in God’s plans is a strong testimony to the faithfulness of God. Yes, Jehovah can be trusted. The Lord Jesus is the Way and the Truth! The Spirit of Truth cannot lie. His truthfulness to Himself and follow through on His Word encourages and strengthens our faith. It promotes faithfulness in the people of God today. We have every reason in the world to trust Him without limitations.

According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary faithfulness is “dependability, loyalty, and stability particularly as it describes God in His relationship to human believers. The faithfulness of God and His Word is a constant theme in the Bible. It is particularly prominent in Ps 89 and 119.” This is the true character and nature of God; He is faithful, dependable, and loyal. He sustains stable relationships with His people!

In Deuteronomy 7:9, Moses says, “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations” (KJV). Almighty God keeps the covenant He made with Israel. Isaiah the prince of prophets says of Jehovah, “because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee” (Isa 49:7, KJV). Again, the faithfulness of the Holy One is highlighted and exalted. In Lamentations 3:22-23, the weeping prophet, Jeremiah, found incredible hope in the faithful character and nature of God saying, “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (KJV). Our Lord’s faithfulness is not average or really good; it is described as “great!” I recall the Apostle Paul who observes, “If we believe not, yet he [God] abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (2 Tim 2:13, KJV). This much the apostle knew with a deep experiential knowledge—a conviction refined through the challenging seasons of life. The faithfulness of God is who He truly is. So, go ahead and trust Him fully, entirely, implicitly, explicitly and unreservedly! As our faithful Lord, God CAN be trusted!

Choosing Spiritual Reality

Theme: The Sacrifice of Christ purged sin and dedicated the New Testament while fulfilling the Old.  The New Covenant provides eternal redemption, thorough forgiveness of sin, and the anticipation of Christ’s return with full salvation. We have no need of any other religious system or supplements to Christ’s service to have a clear—guilt free— conscience with God.

Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:1-10)

Describe the Tabernacle and its associated furnishings. (Heb. 9:1–5)

A.    It Was A Worldly or Earthly Sanctuary (9:1-2a).

1.      In (8:3) Paul made passing mention of the fact that every high priest must have something to offer. He is now ready to discuss the offering of our great High Priest and to contrast it with the OT offerings. To introduce the subject, he gives a rapid review of the layout of the tabernacle and of the regulations for worship.

2.      The tabernacle (9:2) was a tent-like structure in which God dwelt among the Israelites from the time of their encampment at Mount Sinai to the building of the temple.

                                                  i.      The area around the tabernacle was called the outer court. It was enclosed by a fence consisting of a series of bronze posts with linen cloth stretched between them. As the Israelite entered the tabernacle court through the gate at the east, he came to the altar of burnt offering, where the sacrificial animals were slain and burned; then to the laver, a large bronze stand containing water, in which the priests washed their hands and feet.

                                                ii.      The tabernacle itself measured about 45 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 15 feet high. It was divided into two compartments. The first, the Holy Place, was 30 feet long and the second, the Most Holy Place, was 15 feet long.

                                              iii.      The tent consisted of a wooden framework covered by goats’ hair curtains and weatherproof drapes of animal skins. These coverings formed the top, back, and sides of the tent. The front of the tabernacle was an embroidered veil.

B.     It was a Symbol with Spiritual Significance (9:2-5).

1.      Paul listed the furnishings of the tabernacle because each of these had a spiritual meaning. They were “patterns of things in the heavens” (Heb. 9:23). The Holy Place contained three articles of furniture:

                                                  i.      The “candlestick” (9:2) was a seven-branched golden lampstand; its seven arms reach upward to hold oil-burning lamps (Ex. 25:31–40; 27:20–21; 37:17–24). Since there were no windows in the tabernacle, this lampstand provided the necessary light for the priests’ ministry in the holy place. The nation of Israel was supposed to be a light to the nations (Isa. 42:6; 49:6). Jesus Christ is the “Light of the world” (John 8:12), and believers are to shine as lights in the world (Phil. 2:14–15).

                                                ii.      There was also a table of showbread (9:2), on which were twelve cakes of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel (Ex. 25:23–30; 37:10–16; Lev. 24:5–9). Each Sabbath, the priests could eat this bread, and they were required to eat it in the sanctuary.

1.      These cakes were called “bread of the Presence” because they were set before the face or presence of God.

2.      These loaves were called “the bread of presence” and the table was called “the table of presence.” It reminded the twelve tribes of God’s presence that sustained them. It also speaks to us today of Jesus Christ, the “Bread of Life” given to the whole world (John 6). –W. W. Wiersbe

                                              iii.      The golden altar (9:4) stood in the holy place just in front of the veil that divided the two parts of the tabernacle.

1.      The word “censer” means a device for burning incense (Heb. 9:4) and refers to the incense “altar.”  Here the holy incense was burned each morning and evening.  David suggests that it is a picture of prayer ascending to God (Ps. 141:2). It can be a reminder that Jesus Christ intercedes for us (Rom. 8:33–34).

2.      Verse 4 says that the golden censer was also in the Most Holy Place. The Greek word translated censer can mean either the incense altar (mentioned in Ex. 30:6 as being in the Holy Place) or the censer with which the high priest carried the incense. The best explanation is the latter. The writer regarded the censer as belonging to the Most Holy Place because the high priest carried it in from the incense altar into the Holiest Place on the Day of Atonement.—Believer’s Bible Commentary

2.      Behind the second veil was the Holiest of All or the Holy of Holies (9:3).

                                                  i.      Here God manifested Himself in a bright shining cloud. It was the one spot on earth where He could be approached with the blood of atonement.

                                                ii.      This second compartment of the original tabernacle contained the ark of the covenant (9:4), a large wooden chest overlaid on all sides with gold.

1.      The Holy of Holies contained only the ark of the covenant, a wooden chest three feet, nine inches long; two feet, three inches wide; and two feet, three inches high.–The Bible Exposition Commentary

2.      Inside the chest were the golden pot holding manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the two tables of the covenant. (When the temple was erected later, there was nothing in the ark but the tablets of the law—see 1 Kgs. 8:9).

                                              iii.      The gold lid of the ark of the covenant was known as the mercy seat (9:5).

1.      On top of it were two golden figures known as cherubim. They faced each other, with wings overspread, and with heads bowed over the cover of the ark.

2.      On the top of this chest was a beautiful “mercy seat” made of gold, with a cherub at each end. This was the throne of God in the tabernacle (Ex. 25:10–22; Pss. 80:1; 99:1). On the Day of Atonement, the blood was sprinkled on this mercy seat to cover the tables of Law within the ark. God did not look at the broken Law; He saw the blood. Christ is our “mercy seat” (“propitiation” in 1 John 2:2; Rom. 3:25). But His blood does not just cover sin; it takes away sin.–The Bible Exposition Commentary

3.      The writer stops with this brief description. It is not his purpose to go into great detail, but merely to outline the contents of the tabernacle and the way of approach to God which it depicted. –MacDonald, William; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary

4.      No doubt many spiritual truths are wrapped up in these pieces of furniture, and all of them are of value. But the most important truth is this: all of this was symbolism and not the spiritual reality. It was this fact that made the tabernacle of the Old Covenant inferior. –The Bible Exposition Commentary

Under the old covenant with its earthly tabernacle, who could approach God and how free was their access? (Heb. 9:6, 7)

A.    Only Priests Had Access to the Court and Holy Place (9:6).

1.      Since Paul is going to contrast Christ’s offering with the offerings of Judaism, he must first of all describe those which were required by the law. There were many he could choose from, but he selects the most important in the whole legal system, the sacrifice which was offered on the great Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). If he can prove Christ’s work to be superior to that of the high priest on the outstanding day of Israel’s religious calendar, then he has won his point.

2.      The priests had access to the outer tent, that is, the Holy Place. They went there continually in the performance of their ritual duties. The common people were not permitted in this room; they had to stay outside.

3.      We must not get the idea that the Jews assembled in the tabernacle for worship. The priests and Levites were permitted into the tabernacle precincts, but not the people from the other tribes. —W. W. Wiersbe

B.     Only the High Priest Had Access into the Holiest of All Once Annually (9:7).  

1.      Only one man in the world could go into the Most Holy Place—the high priest of Israel. And that one man, out of one race, out of one tribe, out of one family, could enter on only one day of the year—the Day of Atonement.

2.      When he did enter, he was required to carry a basin of blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance. –MacDonald, William; Farstad, Arthur: Believer’s Bible Commentary

3.      In contrast, the heavenly tabernacle is open to all of the people of God, and at all times! (Heb. 10:19–25)

What was the Holy Spirit saying to people about access to God through the arrangements of the Old Covenant? (Heb. 9:8)

A.    God Could Only Be Approach Through A Mediator with Sacrificial Blood.

1.      There were deep spiritual truths connected with this. The Holy Ghost was teaching that sin had created distance between man and God, that man must approach God through a mediator, and that the mediator could approach God only through the blood of a sacrificial victim.

2.      It was an object lesson to teach that the way into God’s presence was not yet opened for worshipers.

B.     This Was the Only Legitimate Approach to God Until Christ’s Death.  Imperfect access continued while the first tabernacle was yet standing.  

1.      The tabernacle was displaced by the temple during the reign of Solomon, but it still had a standing until the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The principles it proclaimed concerning approach to God were still valid until the veil of the temple was ripped in two from the top to the bottom. –MacDonald, William; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary

2.      The fact that the outer court (“first tabernacle,” Heb. 9:6) was standing was proof that God’s work of salvation for man had not yet been completed. The outer court stood between the people and the holy of holies! As long as the priests were ministering in the holy place, the way had not yet been opened into the presence of God. But when Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matt. 27:50–51) and the way was opened into the holy of holies. There was no longer any more need for either the holy place or the holy of holies, for now believing sinners could come into the presence of God. –The Bible Exposition Commentary

The division of the tabernacle into the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies showed the limitations of the Levitical system, and kept the people from coming directly to God. The Holy Place barred both priests and people from the Holy of Holies.

When the new order of things was brought into being by the death of Messiah on the Cross, thus fulfilling the typical sacrifices, God rent the inner veil of the temple which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, making of the two rooms, one. There was, therefore, no more “within the veil.” This was God’s object lesson to the Aaronic priesthood that its ministry was now over, that the temple was to be closed, that a new Priest had arisen after the order of Melchisedec. But, Israel in its apostasy, repaired the veil, kept on offering sacrifices, until God in His wrath, sent Rome to destroy the city of Jerusalem and scatter His chosen people to the ends of the Roman empire.

The way into the Holiest of all, into heaven itself and the presence of God, had been opened at the Cross. God made it impossible for the high priest in Israel to enter within the veil, all of which was enough to show Israel that the true High Priest, the Messiah, had entered the heavenly Holy of Holies, and that the earthly one was to be a thing of the past. –Wuest, Kenneth S.