Are We Israel?
“And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, have been grafted in among them, and came to share the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. And if you boast, remember: you do not bear the root, but the root bears you! You shall say then, ‘The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.’ Good! By unbelief, they were broken off, and you stand by belief. Do not be arrogant but fear. For if Elohim did not spare the natural branches. He might not spare you either. See then the kindness and sharpness of Elohim: on those who fell sharpness, but towards you kindness, if you continue in His kindness, otherwise you also shall be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for Elohim is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more shall those who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” – Romans 11:17-24 TS2009
Perhaps you know this passage, so I thought it would be a good place to start. Some may look at the belief part in this passage, but I am going to look at another aspect of it.
We can see from this passage that Israel and outsiders are allowed and desired to serve under Yahuah, that they can become one people, the Bride of Messiah.
As I read through the book to the Romans, other passages popped out to me, ones I had not seen before, that also established this promise. Like this one:
“Is this blessing [forgiveness by belief] then upon the circumcised only, or also upon the uncircumcised? For we affirm: Belief was reckoned unto Abraham for righteousness [Genesis 15:6]. How then was it reckoned? Being in circumcision or uncircumcision? Not in circumcision but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the belief while in uncircumcision, for him to be a father of all those believing through uncircumcision, for righteousness to be reckoned to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision but who also walk in the steps of belief which our father Abraham had in uncircumcision. For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Torah, but through a righteousness of belief.” – Romans 4:9-13 TS2009
So, no matter if you begin believing in Him and Messiah, circumcised or uncircumcised, you are still able to come in and take part of the covenants and promises.
I read Colossians today, and also found a verse relating to this:
“Where there is not Greek and Yehudi, circumcised and uncircumcised, foreigner, Scythian, slave, free, but Messiah is all and in all.” (3:11) TS2009
And also Ephesians 2:11-13,
“Therefore remember that you, once nations in the flesh, who are called, ‘the uncircumcision,’ by what is called, ‘the circumcision,’ made in the flesh by hands, that at that time you were without Messiah excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’el and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the worlds. But now in Messiah יהושע (Yahusha), you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.” TS2009
I once heard a gentlemen say, “In the kingdom, there are two divisions: Jew and Greek.” (Chosen people and the nations.) He kept trying to explain to us, how this is so, but you can see from this passage in Ephesians 2 that this is not the case.
There is one more passage on the subject, I would like to share, if you will listen. You probably know these verses:
“For you are all the sons of Elohim through belief in Messiah יהושע (Yahusha). For as many of you as were immersed into Messiah have put on Messiah. There is not Yehudi nor Greek, there is not slave nor free, there is not male or female, for you are all one in Messiah יהושע (Yahusha). And if you are of Messiah, then you are the seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise.” –Galatians 3:26-29 TS2009
So, as we have belief and expectation in Yah’s Salvation, we become part of His people. Able to please Him by our actions (Hebrews 11:16), and receive the fulfillment of His Promises.
I hope this encourages you to continue in His, Good, Perfect, and Wonderful ways!
Shalom,
JS