Paul’s Ministry AmongThe Gentiles: Part 13 of 16—Rightly Dividing The Word Of God

Romans 11:1-5  “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, '3 Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life?' 4 But what does the divine response say to him? 'I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal? 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.'”

                       

In Part 12 we saw with heavy hearts how the Jewish rejection of their Messiah was complete.  The Jews of the dispersion, through their leadership, have now completely and ultimately rejected Jesus, echoing the rejection of the Jews of homeland.  Paul's preaching was their last chance.  

But even though their leaders rejected Him, there remains a remnant.  HALLELUJAH!!!.....and you and I, the Church, are both the beneficiaries and result of that rejection.

Also in part 12 of this study we saw that Jesus postponed setting up His visible kingdom. This will now occur when He returns after the 7 years of tribulation.  In the meantime He has established the most amazing, most powerful and most successful organization of all time:  The Church!  

 I hope this won't be confusing but The Church, though "part" of THE KINGDOM, is actually not THE KINGDOM VISIBLE.  We are the KINGDOM INVISIBLE.  It will become VISIBLE when Jesus returns to sit on David's throne during His millennial reign.  This is really important to understand.  The visible Kingdom was what Jesus called, "The Kingdom of heaven," in Matthew's gospel. The Church is not that kingdom. We are the kingdom of God. 

Think of it like this:  Washington D.C. Is IN the United States; but Washington D.C. Is NOT the United States.  The Church of Jesus Christ is IN the Kingdom; but it is not THE KINGDOM.  

That VISIBLE KINGDOM has been temporarily suspended; postponed, until all the Jewish people, but especially her leaders, recognize that Jesus is their Messiah and cry out, "Baruchaba BaShem Adonai--blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD!"

One day very soon, the Church age will end in the rapture of His saints. Jesus will return to earth after the tribulation with us in tow, rescue Israel and establish His VISIBLE KINGDOM.   At long last He will sit on the throne of His father, David! 
 

Let me stop right here. I reiterate that: Even though the Jews have rejected their King, GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN HIS PEOPLE.  They remain under a partial, though temporary, blindness.  Thanks be to God that in our day many, many Jews are coming to faith in Jesus as their Messiah!  That is GREAT NEWS!

The Bible says that even though they are enemies for the gospel's sake, they are beloved for the Father's sake. Paul says in Romans 11:
"I say then, have they (the Jews) stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, HOW MUCH MORE THEIR FULLNESS! (Romans 11:11-12)

You see?  GOD CAN AND WILL BRING THEM BACK!  

We would all be SO MUCH BETTER OFF if all the Jews were born again!  Look what riches we have now as a result of their failure?  So don't be haughty and boast against the natural olive tree. They are the root that supports us, not the other way around.  

"For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, WHAT WILL THEIR ACCEPTANCE BE BUT LIFE FROM THE DEAD? 
For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, REMEMBER THAT YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THE ROOT, BUT THE ROOT SUPPORTS YOU.  (Romans 11:13-18)

It's a Jewish tree of which Paul speaks and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the roots of it.  If that first fruit is holy, SO ARE THE BRANCHES.  Who are the branches broken off?  The unbelieving Jews.  

We, being the wild olive tree and grafted into the natural tree, are together with them partakers of the "ROOT AND FATNESS," (all the blessings given to the fathers) of the natural olive tree.  Everything that God promised Abraham is now yours and mine as well!  We are the “WILD OLIVE BRANCHES that have been grafted into it.  We must be very careful not to boast against "the branches."  

THE CHURCH HAS NOT REPLACED ISRAEL.

 You and I owe our salvation to the Jewish people because Jesus was born as a Jew.  They are His natural family.  He is 100% God, but as100% man, He has not and never will forget nor will He stop loving His people.  He will NEVER forget or stop reaching out to them.

The entire Bible, with the exception of Luke's writings, was written by Jews.  If not for them, we wouldn't have the Bible.  This is is why the devil hates the Jews; it is from their race that the Champion was born, the Dragon Slayer; the one Who destroyed and crushed him...UTTERLY AND COMPLETELY!  JESUS!!!

Remember what He said to the woman at the well of Sychar?  "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, FOR SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS. (John 4:22)

Let's move on to the rest of the New Testament in Part 14 of Rightly Dividing The Word Of God.

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-letters-of-paul-part-14-of.html