The different ways the people of God express their faith in different parts of the world is amazing. When I was in Africa I was deeply impressed with their expressions of praise and the way they honored their heavenly Father. They were not the same as in the U.S. but out of their own culture they expressed great love and praise with dance and drum and beautiful harmonious singing.
We must never examine others in the light of our own culture but in the light of theirs. Now I ask, can we do that with our thinking about Messianic Jews. God promised Abraham saying, “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you.” (Gen. 17:7) In the light of this and many other scriptures we can be assured that God is not finished with the Jewish people as He establishes them in their promised land of Israel.
Simply stated the modern thinking called “Replacement Theology” is a denial of God’s promises. “Spiritual Israel” has not replaced Physical Israel any more than has Physical Israel replaced Spiritual Israel. God is keeping His promises to the patriarchs. In no way is God finished with the Jews!
Romans chapter 11 emphatically answers the question “Has God rejected His people” with the answer “No!” God cannot make a promise and not keep it. He is constantly faithful to His Word! “At the present time there is a remnant chosen by Grace.” Paul refers to this as “true Israel” in Romans 2. Those who are true Jews are those circumcised in their hearts having come to faith in Jesus as the Messiah. “Again I ask, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” Romans 11:32 declares, “God has consigned all men to disobedience that he might have mercy on all.” (Read John 3:17)
Now consider verses 25-26 of Romans 11. “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. AND SO ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED…” The day is soon to be upon us when the full number of Gentiles has come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and when this occurs, Israel as a whole will come to know her Messiah. “If their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!” (Romans 11:12)
Finally, Genesis 12:2-3, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” God blesses those who bless Israel. Seek the Lord in these days when more nations seem poised to turn against the little nation of Israel in the Middle East. God is with her and especially those Messianic Jews who, living as Jews, are believing and praying to the Lord Jesus as Messiah!
Pastor Brunner is the founder and director of Jim Brunner Ministries
