“…….and the promises….” (Romans 9:4).
The promises were made to Israel, the nation; they began with promises to Abraham in relation to his seed and the Land.
It needs to be observed here that there has arisen, in recent times, a heresy that is referred to as “replacement theology”, in which it is assumed that, as a result of Israel’s rejection of Christ, the promises made to Israel have been transferred bodily to the Church. This error has come about because of the mistaken view that God has utterly cast off His chosen nation and thus, there is no longer a national future for the Jewish nation. This is a “doctrine of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).
When Paul wrote this epistle to the Romans, Israel had already rejected Christ, and it was on that account that he pours out the grief in his heart; because all of these things belonged to Israel; the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the service of God and the promises. And they still belong to Israel, for God is faithful and His gifts and calling are without repentance (Romans 11:29).
Many generations of Israel have excluded themselves from enjoyment of these promises, just as many generations of Christians will not obtain eternal life, but, as regards Israel, the promises are reserved in God’s purposes against the day when “all Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11:62). In that day, Israel will experience nationally what we experience individually and, whether relating to “spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:3), or to national and temporal blessings in the earthly Land; “in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Meanwhile, far from the death of Jesus Christ resulting in the annulling of the promises made to Israel, Paul assures us that “Christ was made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God that He might confirm the promises made to the fathers” (Romans 15:8). Thus, since they have been ratified, not with the blood of bulls and goats, but with His own precious blood, they can never fail.
For gentile Christians, our inclusion in the promises made to Israel in no way alters the fact that they relate primarily to that nation and will one day be fulfilled in that nation. That some Christians today think otherwise is attributable to the fact that the Bible, and especially the prophetic scriptures, has become a sealed book to the majority of professing Christians, who prefer to get their doctrine from other men and, consequently, are easy prey to every wind of false doctrine, and willing victims to the humanistic rationalisation of God’s Word which, sadly, permeates the modern Church.
As Paul told the Romans, to Israel are the promises; “For thus says Jehovah: Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them” (Jeremiah 32:42).
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