Are there yet still unfulfilled covenants by which God is indebted to the modern state of Israel? If so, then what specific covenant is still active and binding?

Christian Zionists are often very ambiguous when making their covenant claims regarding Israel and they fail to address the details involved in those covenants such as circumcision and the law.

Not all that long ago, I heard a well known minister say, “I run with Israeli Jews.” Well, such statements perpetuate the ambiguity of the covenant theology within Christian Zionism, for such statements would lead unsuspecting Christians to think that Jews in Israel have a special covenant status with God that other Jews, such as American Jews, don’t have.

An important detail that Christian Zionists leave out is that the land inheritance was dependent on physical circumcision. The uncircumcised male (even if he was a physical descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) had no inheritance in the promised land.

Did you know that?

Furthermore, circumcision only qualified the male descendant to be an heir to the land. It did not guarantee he would be blessed in the land. In fact, there were many times throughout the history of ancient Israel that God’s judgment fell on Israelites within the land. Just read the story of Israel and you will see it over and over again.

Only obedience to God based on the Law of Moses guaranteed the blessing of God within the land of promise. Disobedience and rebellion against God and his law resulted in Israelites being cursed and expelled from the land.

Christian Zionist advocates sometimes make the vague claim that God is faithful to his covenant promises to Israel regarding the land. By implication, they mean that only blessings will come from God to the Jews who live within the land Israel, yet no such theology has ever been taught in scripture.

God’s oath to Israel regarding the land was that he would bless them for their obedience and curse them if they forsook him to serve other gods. The Zionist will not tell you that God’s promises to Israel regarding the land included his severe judgment on Israel in the land if they sinned.

Though there are some godly, wonderful, Jewish people, there is no such theology in the Bible which advocates that God will only bless the Jew simply because he is in the land of Israel. God will bless those Jews who seek him and those who do so will be led to Jesus Christ. God is seeking for those who are true worshipers as Jesus said in John 4, who will circumcise their hearts before God as Paul says in Romans 2.

For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.  ~ Romans 2:25-29

Physical circumcision (the seal of the covenant God made with Abraham) profits only if the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled. Therefore a Jew which fails to fulfill the Law loses his inheritance as a descendant of Abraham, and his circumcision is now considered as uncircumcision in the sight of God.

On the contrary, the uncircumcised person (the Gentile) who fulfills the law through his obedience and faith in Jesus, is considered as circumcised, and a Jew inwardly, and a true child of Abraham in the sight of God.

Every covenant that God has ever made with the nation of Israel finds its fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. Though various covenants were made with individuals within Israel, there are four covenants which specifically had to do with Israel in God’s redemptive plan for humanity. They are as follows:

1. God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob .

Christ is the seed of Abraham to whom the promises were made and all who belong to Jesus (whether Jew or Gentile) are Abraham’s children (see Galatians 3, Romans 4 and 9).

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/is-the-land-inheritance-still-relevant-today/

2. The Law given through Moses.

Christ is the end of the Law and those who trust in Him fulfill the righteousness of the Law (see Romans 10).

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/what-covenant-does-modern-israel-have-with-god/

3. God’s promise to David concerning the Messiah reigning on his throne. 

Christ is exalted at the right hand of God in fulfillment of the promises made to David (see Acts 2).

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/christ-enthroned-at-the-right-hand-of-god/

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2017/12/15/jesus-and-the-third-temple/

4. The new covenant.

Christ shed his precious blood and has become the High priest of a better covenant established on better promises in fulfillment of the new covenant promised to Israel (see Hebrews 8).

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2014/10/21/the-new-covenant-with-israel/

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2017/12/14/israel-and-the-cross/

Understanding these four covenants in view of Jesus Christ will cause a person to have good and sound doctrine, rather than being swept up in the vagueness of the covenant theology taught by Christian Zionism which leaves out vital details.  

How many times have you ever heard; “the Jews are God’s chosen people?” Most likely, you have probably heard it a time or two, and quite possibly repeated it yourself at some point; but have you ever heard anyone qualify that statement by explaining what it really means?

Why was Israel chosen?

Israel was chosen by God to fulfill God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to bless all the families of the earth.  God’s original plan was to make Abraham the father of MANY nations and He chose Israel to be the vessel through which He would do this. God gave Israel the Law, and it was through keeping His covenant (the Law) that Israel would be a blessing to the nations; but Israel failed in her commission.

However, God is faithful.

In Romans 1:16-17 Paul introduces the gospel of Jesus Christ by declaring;  “it is the power of God unto salvation TO EVERYONE that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek, for in the gospel of Christ, the righteousness of God is REVEALED!

Yet, Paul leaves us hanging beginning in the very next verse, as he now speaks of the wrath of God being revealed from heaven against ungodliness. From Romans 1:18- Romans 3:20 we hear no more about this “righteousness of God” which is revealed through the gospel of Christ.

Romans 1:18 begins with the wrath of God being revealed from heaven and Romans 3:20 ends with not only the Jews but the whole world standing condemned in the sight of God, because of the Law – Israel’s covenant – which has brought forth the knowledge of sin.

Israel did not keep the Law, and consequently, failed in her commission to glorify God in the midst of the nations. Rather than being a holy nation and a blessing to the whole world, Israel’s disobedience has caused the nations to blaspheme against God.

Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? FOR THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES THROUGH YOU, as it is written.  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision (Romans 2:23-25).

Through Israel’s disobedience to God’s law, wherein she was unfaithful, she had become no different than the godless nations around her. Like those nations, she too was under the power of sin!

Beginning in Romans 3:21 Paul now picks up where he left us hanging in chapter one and says: “BUT NOW THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD WITHOUT THE LAW IS MANIFESTED, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST unto ALL and upon ALL them that believe: for there is NO DIFFERENCE…”

In Jesus Christ, God has revealed His righteousness (His covenant faithfulness as N.T. Write puts it) and God has fulfilled His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that through Abraham’s seed all the families of the earth would be blessed.

Jesus is the true seed of Abraham, and the embodiment of what Israel was called to be. Through Him alone the promises made to the Fathers have come to fruition. In Jesus Christ, Israel’s calling to bless all the families of the earth is fulfilled, and in Him the righteousness of God (God’s covenant faithfulness to do what he promised) is revealed.

Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, TO CONFIRM THE PROMISES MADE TO THE FATHERS: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, for this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust (Romans 15:8-12).

God in Christ has accomplished what he had chosen Israel to do.

In Acts 2, Peter interprets the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus at the right hand of God as the FULFILLMENT of the scriptures that the Messiah would reign from the throne of David. Notice carefully how Peter articulates this:

Therefore BEING A PROPHET, AND KNOWING that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, HE WOULD RAISE UP CHRIST TO SIT ON HIS THRONE; HE SEEING THIS BEFORE SPAKE OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD EXALTED, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, SIT ON MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE THY FOES THY FOOTSTOOL. *** THEREFORE**** let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:30-36).

In the texts above, Peter is quoting David from Psalm 110 when he says, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool.”

First, notice the words “the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand.”

Peter quotes this in reference to David as a prophet knowing that God would raise up the Messiah to sit on his (David’s) throne. So as a prophet, foreseeing the enthronement of the Messiah on his (David’s) throne, David said, “The Lord said unto my Lord, SIT ON MY RIGHT HAND.” As a prophet, David foresaw by the Spirit of God that the promise of the Messiah reigning on his throne would not be an earthly enthronement, but a heavenly one, at the right hand of God.

Secondly, notice the next part of the text that Peter quotes from David: “till I make your enemies your footstool.”

These very same words are employed by the author of Hebrews in describing the enthronement of Jesus at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:13; 10:13). In 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 the apostle Paul applies them to the exalted Jesus as well.

Also Psalm 110 is the Psalm which testifies that the Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. The author of Hebrews expounds on this and tells us that Jesus the exalted King at the right hand of God, is also our great high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek was a King and priest and Christ enthroned at the right hand of God is our King-Priest.

The exaltion of Jesus upon the throne of David is not something in waiting which is yet unfulfilled. Rather, the fulfillment of God’s promise to David became a reality when God raised Him from the dead and highly exalted Him at His own right hand.

When he had by himself purged our sins, (He) sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high… (See Hebrews 1:3).

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom (Hebrews 1:8).

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man(Hebrews 8:1-2).

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

(I, Paul) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:17-23).

Jesus enthroned at the right hand of God is not a temporary enthronement as He awaits the lesser one in Jerusalem, Israel. Rather, Jesus entered into His glory after His resurrection (Luke 24:26; John 17:5, 24; Acts 2:33; 3:13) and was enthroned at the right hand of God, where the New Jerusalem is – the true Holy City of God. From there, Christ will reign forever!

When Christ returns He is not taking a lesser throne. He reigns forever, being highly exalted at the right hand of God, and in that power and authority He will come again!

Does God have a love for Israel that surpasses or is independent of His love revealed in and through Christ Jesus, or was the love that God revealed in Christ the fulfillment of His covenant promises to Israel?

Consider the words of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. When John the Baptist was 8 days old he was brought to the temple by Zacharias and Elisabeth to be circumcised according to the instructions given in the Law of Moses.

Zacharias had been unable to speak since the announcement by the angel Gabriel that God had heard his prayers and his wife Elisabeth would have a child. Since Zacharias could not speak, the people decided to name the young child after his father thinking this was right.

However, Elisabeth spoke up and said, “Not so; but he shall be called John.” The people replied, “there is none of you kindred that is called by this name.” They then signaled to ask Zacharias asking him what the child would be called. Zacharias asked for a writing table, and wrote, “His name is John.”

The Bible says “they all marveled” and immediately Zacharias’ tongue was loosed, and he spoke, and praised God. The scripture says, “Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying…”

Before telling us what Zacharias’ prophesied, Luke gives us this interjection – “Fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea, and all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, WHAT MANNER OF CHILD SHALL THIS BE! And the hand of the Lord was with him.”

With a causal reading, it is very easy to miss the impact this had on Israel. The sign of Zacharias not being able to speak, and then his tongue being suddenly loosed at his child’s circumcision ceremony along with the words of his prophecy caused the fear of the Lord to come on the people. They talked among themselves holding these things in their hearts and asking the question – “What manner of child shall this be!”

Now consider the words of Zacharias’ prophecy which spread throughout the region, and the impact these words must have had on those who were looking for hope in Israel.

Zacharias prophesied the following:

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he swear to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:68-79).

Through Zacharias’ prophecy, the Spirit of God was interpreting what the redemption of Israel as foretold in the Old Testament scriptures would actually look like.  God was was visiting His people to save them, and this child John, was the forerunner who would reveal their Savior to them ( John 1:31).

God”s love for Israel -His saving grace, His mercy, and His redemption – is revealed in Jesus Christ. In the land God gave them (the land in which they were now servants to others because of the curse of the Law), in that land, the Messiah came and redeemed them with His precious blood. He did this not to restore them to their physical inheritance. He did it to bring them into their true spiritual inheritance. Through repentance and faith in Jesus, God fulfilled His purpose in the calling of Israel by giving them their true inheritance in of the Kingdom of God and as citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem which is above.

He offers the same to all, both Jews and Gentiles alike; for God SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON!

A lot of people will quote that Paul was taken to the 3rd heaven in an effort to support their claims of visions and heavenly experiences, but have you ever noticed the context of Paul’s description of being caught up into the third heaven?

In second Corinthians 11 and 12 the apostle Paul is correcting the Corinthians for allowing false ministers, especially false apostles, to take advantage of them. During his rebuke Paul uses sarcasm at times and that’s one reason why we should never a take any single verse out of its setting.

With regards to Paul’s heavenly experience, he mentions it reluctantly. He doesn’t share it to provide proof that he was sent by God. That’s the tactic of false apostles. Paul tells about this experience to show the Corinthians that these kind of things are not what we are to boast in.

Notice what he says in context:

If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him. “This boasting will do no good,” but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. ~ 2 Corinthians 11:30-12:4

I find it interesting that Paul didn’t describe his experience as a spiritual Disney World or fantasy land like so many of those who make such claims.

Paul goes on to say the following:

That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:5-10

The difference in a true minister and a false one is this: A false minister will boast in his supernatural experiences, but a true minister will only boast in his weakness so that power of the Lord will rest on him and Jesus will be glorified.

Under the Old Testament ancient Israel consisted of those who were physical descendants of Abraham, as well those who were Gentiles who became Jews by conversion.

Allow me to give you one example from scripture: During the time of Esther, King Ahasuerus  reigned over 127 provinces reaching from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1; 8:17) and many Gentiles in those provinces converted and BECAME JEWS.

There are also other examples in scripture of Gentiles who became Jews, and there are instructive scriptures in the Old Testament which address how the Jews were to accept those Gentiles who would be grafted into Israel from the outside.

Many Christians who hold to unwavering support of the modern state of Israel do so because they think the Jews in Israel are the direct descendants of Abraham and consequently are in covenant with God, yet they never consider the question: “What about the converted Jews?”

Did you know the modern state of Israel recognizes and grants citizenship to converted Jews? Many never think this one through.

If you believe that modern Israel in the Middle East is the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, allow me to ask a very simple question and give you something to consider: What about converted Jews?

Do you consider converted Jews (formerly Gentiles) to be real Jews and in covenant with God?

If not, why? They were in scripture and If you are going to claim that modern Israel is in covenant with God you must go all the way and accept converted Jews (formerly Gentiles) because converted Jews were in covenant with God (via Israel’s covenant) in the Old Testament.

If modern Israel is in covenant with God then converted Jews are as well, which would mean that Gentiles have a route into covenant with God WITHOUT Jesus Christ!

Such theology ought to alarm you, for there is no covenant relationship with God apart from Jesus Christ: not for the Jew or the Gentile.

“The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples FOR THE SAKE OF THE LAW OF GOD. together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand— all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and BIND THEMSELVES WITH A CURSE AND AN OATH to follow THE LAW OF GOD GIVEN THROUGH MOSES the servant of God and TO OBEY CAREFULLY ALL THE COMMANDS, REGULATIONS, AND DECREES of the Lord our Lord” (Nehemiah 10:28-29).

Why did these Israelites, who were returning for the Babylonian captivity, bind themselves with a curse? It is because they were dedicating themselves to God and to the covenant God made with their fathers through Moses.

The Law of Moses was accompanied with a curse (aka, the curse of the law). The Law of Moses was a binding covenant on the nation of Israel and being a partaker of that covenant meant being subjected to the curse for not doing all that the law demands.

This is precisely why Paul warns the believers in Galatia not seek justification by the works of the law, because the curse accompanies the law. The law demands the continuation in the works of the Law to all who are under it and therefore all who do not continue in all things contained in the law are under a curse.

You cannot separate the curse from the law covenant given through Moses. Those who attempt to do so are guilty of trespassing the very law they claim to obey. They claim they are not under the curse, while at the same time claiming that the law is still binding. Yet, the law itself says, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

Those who teach such error by putting others under their private interpretations of the law often excuse themselves for not keeping all the Law which the law itself actually demands. In this they reinvent the law with the portions they deem enforceable.

The Law of Moses was a unit, and not some divided up thing that some have made it into. Yet some have turned it into something that the Bible never reveals it to be. It was never a broken up dysfunctional system. According to the Holy Scriptures the Law Covenant was first ratified with the blood of animals, then the Law was given, then the priesthood, the sacrificial system, the various statutes and ordinances including the festivals were put in place and served as rule of life and constitution for the people of Israel in the flesh.

These were all interlinked and you cannot have one without the other. If any part of this covenant is obsolete, it is all obsolete. You do not, and cannot have the Law covenant without the blood of animals, the Levitical priesthood, the tabernacle/temple, the brazen altar, the laver, the lamp stand, the table of shew bread, the golden altar, and the Ark of the Covenant.

Jesus died and rose again, not to keep a remnant of the Law covenant in place, but to give us a better covenant established on better promises.

I once read a caption on a Hebrew Roots site which said, “You need faith first, but you are also required to keep His instruction” (aka the Law or Torah).

Those who make an issue of keeping the Torah, actually know very little about the Torah and purpose for which it was given.

Galatians 3:24 says, The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The whole purpose for the giving of the Torah (the Law) and its instructions was to bring us to Christ and to justification by faith. We are, therefore, to live by faith in Jesus Christ.

Yet the message of the Hebrew Roots movement is that Christ, and faith, brings you to the works of the Torah as indicated in the citation quoted above.

It is this sort of ideology of which Paul warns the Galatians against when he tells them to Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. ~ Galatians 5:1

The yoke of bondage referred to here is the works of the Law as opposed to living by faith. God did not save us to bring us under the Law of Moses. He gave the Law through Moses to point men to Christ, and once you have found Christ the Law is fulfilled by Christ living in you, as you are led into godly living and a holy character by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When the scriptures speak of the Law being our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Gal 3:24), it is referring to the knowledge of sin which comes by the Law. The Law was added because of man’s transgressions (v. 19).

These transgressions are the many sins that resulted from the transgression of Adam’s sin.

Through one man sin entered the world and death was the result of sin. In Adam (through our union with Adam) we were all sinners because, in Adam, we are all under the sentence of death. Therefore, the Law was given so that the offence might abound (Romans 5:20). The offense is sin, and the Law causes sin to abound so that it’s apparent to all.

In Galatians 3:22 Paul says, “the scripture has concluded all under sin.” This is a specific reference to the Law. It is the Law that brings to light the knowledge of sin and declares all guilty in the sight of God. Paul says something similar in Romans 3 when he says, “we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they are all under sin.”

Fallen humanity was represented by the nation of Israel under the law and by Israel’s failures to obey the Law, God has declared (from a judicial standpoint) all are sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. The Law (though it was given to Israel) was God’s way of declaring ALL guilty in His sight. This is why Romans 3:19 says, “we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are UNDER THE LAW: that every mouth may be stopped, and ALL THE WORLD may become guilty before God.”

Through the Law all are declared guilty in the sight of God so that all may be freely justified by faith in Jesus Christ. This is how the Law was our school master; not to show us how to live righteously but to show us how unrighteous we are so that we might rely totally on Him and His righteousness.

 

This is the time of year when some folks come out with their “anti- Christmas tree” rhetoric because they think the Bible forbids Christmas trees based on Jeremiah 10:3-5.

Well, Jeremiah 10 is not referring to Christmas trees and if this bursts the bubble of any of my anti-Christmas tree friends just know it’s gonna be OK and I am not a pagan if I have one up because I enjoy Christmas decorations.

Not everyone is in over-kill mode, some people really do enjoy Christmas with a pure heart because to the pure in heart everything is pure (Titus 1:15).

But what about Jeremiah 10:3-5, doesn’t it forbid Christmas trees? No it doesn’t.

First of all, there was no such thing as a Christmas tree in Jeremiah’s day. Secondly, it’s not the act cutting down and decorating of a tree that Jeremiah is addressing. It is the making of an actual idol (for worship) from the tree which is then decorated (after the idol has been carved) that Jeremiah is referring to. Those who cut down the trees in Jeremiah 10 first have it fashioned into an idol then decorated, but you won’t hear it this way from those who like to proof-text from Jeremiah 10.

Here are some other translations which bring clarity to the text that we are sometimes blind to when reading the (KJV).

For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, AND A CRAFTSMAN SHAPES IT WITH HIS CHISEL. They adorn it with silver and gold… (NIV).

Their ways are futile and foolish. They cut down a tree, and A CRAFTSMAN CARVES AN IDOL. They decorate it with gold and silver and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails so it won’t fall over. Their gods are like helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field! They cannot speak, and they need to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of SUCH gods, for they can neither harm you nor do you any good” (TNLT).

For the customs and ordinances of the peoples are false, empty, and futile; it is but a tree which one cuts out of the forest [to make for himself a god], THE WORK OF THE HANDS OF THE CRAFTSMAN with the ax or other tool. They deck [THE IDOL] with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers so it will not fall apart or move around. [Their IDOLS] are like pillars of turned work [as upright and stationary and immobile as a palm tree], like scarecrows in a cucumber field; they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it possible for them to do good [and it is not in them] (THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE).

For the statutes of the peoples are vanity, For a tree from a forest hath one cut, Work of the hands OF AN ARTIFICER (a craftsman) with an axe, With silver and with gold they beautify it, With nails and with hammers they fix it, And it doth not stumble. As a palm they [are] stiff, and they speak not, They are surely borne, for they step not, Be not afraid of them, for they do no evil, Yea, also to do good is not in them (YOUNGS LITERAL TRANSLATION).

“…for the customs of the peoples are nothing. They cut down a tree in the forest; A CRAFTSMAN WORKS IT WITH HIS AXE; they deck it with silver and gold. They fix it with hammer and nails, so that it won’t move. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber patch, it cannot speak. It has to be carried, because it cannot walk. Do not be afraid of it —it can do nothing bad; likewise it is unable to do anything good!” (COMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE).

In Matthew 12:48-50 Jesus asks, “Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?

He then stretched his hand toward his disciples, and said, “Behold my mother and my brethren”! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

All throughout the old and new testaments we see consistently the distinction between those who are God’s people and those who aren’t is based on these truths.

On the contrary, some Christian Zionism advocates claim that ethnic Israel has a covenant with God and it is the moral and spiritual duty of Christians to support national Israel unwaveringly because they remain the people of God, regardless if they are doing right or not.

Some Christian ministers actually call unbelieving Israel our brothers and sisters even though they are not followers of Jesus and in some cases these Jews are hostile to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Christian Zionism, which is based on a “proof –text theology” advocates that there are unfulfilled promises concerning ethnic Israel and that end time Bible prophecy revolves around ethnic Israel because God has unfinished business with them and ultimately they are at the center of God’s agenda for the yet future.  This theology often views the Church as a Gentile entity and a parenthesis until God get’s back to ethnic Israel.

On the contrary, the Church is the body of Christ and the body of Christ is the temple of God consisting of Jews and Gentiles. The church is not a mere stop-gap until God gets back to dealing with Israel; rather, the church is the fulfillment of Israel’s destiny and identity in the Messiah. The mystery that was hidden in past generations was that the Gentiles would be fellow heirs with the Jews in one body of believers in the Messiah through the power of the gospel (see Ephesians 3). Therefore the church consists of believing Jews and Gentiles in one body with a covenant that God said he would make with the House of Israel and the House of Judah.

Christ is the King of Israel and it’s only in Him, i.e., becoming a part of HIS BODY which is the church, that the Jew finds his true identity. If we’d think in terms of “the body of Christ” and “the temple of God” when we refer to the church, we wouldn’t see the church as Israel’s replacement but Israel’s calling and destiny in Christ.  

The hope of Israel is in the Messiah and that hope becomes a reality when the Jew believes in Jesus. In Jesus the Messiah, the Jew and Gentile have become united in one body and have become the Temple of God through His Holy Spirit.

A term that many have heard but few may have ever taken time to research is “church age.” Yet, the Bible never uses this term or concept.

Paul, who gave us the concept of the body of Christ never refers to the church within the framework of an age or dispensation which will eventually give way to another. Paul refers to the church as the body of Christ in whom God will FOREVER be glorified (Ephesians 3:21).

Yet, the belief of a church age is very prominent within Christian Zionism theology because it helps support the idea that God has unfinished business with ethnic Israel.

Christian Zionism makes no connection between Israel in the flesh under the Law and the Church in Christ Jesus under grace.

Israel was called to be the light to the nations and Israel failed in her commission because Israel, like the rest of humanity, was under the power of sin and in need of redemption. Yet, God in His faithfulness has done what Israel failed to do. God sent His Son Jesus, who is Israel’s Messiah and through Him God has provided salvation for the whole world.

Israel’s history as the people of God in the flesh came to an end in the death of the Messiah because the Law Covenant given to them through Moses, which covenant brought them under the curse, was fulfilled in the death of Jesus.

Through the cross Israel’s history continues as she is transformed from God’s people in the flesh to God’s people in the Spirit. That is why Israelites who reject Jesus are cut off from being God’s people and Israelites who believe in Jesus have life from the dead and are partakers of a New Covenant which God promised to give to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. This new Covenant is not a covenant with Israel as an ethnic people. It is with Israel as a spiritual people and believing Gentiles are grafted in with them, having their hearts and not their flesh circumcised.

God’s covenant people no longer limited to the physical borders. Abraham’s descendants are from every nation under heaven. The promise of God to Abraham was to make Him the Father of “many nations” and that promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. It was to this end that Israel was called and chosen.