Church Series-The Church's Relationship to Israel-Israel Received Four Unconditional Covenants
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday December 13, 2016
The Church Series: The Church’s Relationship to Israel-Israel Received Four Unconditional Covenants
Lesson # 26
Tonight, we will continue with our attempt to demonstrate that there is continuity between the church and Israel or in other words, they are definitely connected in some way.
I will also show that there is discontinuity between the two.
There are several points that I will develop which will demonstrate that there is not only discontinuity but discontinuity between the two.
First of all, Paul taught in Romans 2:28-29 and 3:21-31 that a true Jew is one who is not only a biological descendant of Jacob whose name was changed by God to “Israel,” but also they have trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Paul teaches in Romans 9:1-5 that the nation of Israel was given the covenants which is a reference to the Abrahamic, Palestinian, Davidic and New covenants.
In Romans 11:17, Paul also teaches that Gentile believers, who he describes as a “wild olive tree,” are engrafted into regenerate Israel who he describes an “olive tree.”
Consequently, regenerate Gentiles benefit from the promises of the covenant.
The Abrahamic covenant is the “rich root” in Romans 11:17.
The apostle to the Gentiles also taught in Galatians 3:26-28, Ephesians 2:11-22 and Colossians 3:11 that the church is composed of both regenerate Jew and Gentiles.
Paul also teaches in Romans 11:5 that regenerate Jews living during the church age compose the remnant of Israel.
Thus, the church and Israel are connected by this remnant of regenerate Jews living during the church age and by the fact that regenerate Gentiles have been engrafted into regenerate Israel.
However, they are distinguished from each other because of race.
Last Thursday we noted the first point which is that the apostle Paul taught in Romans 2:28-29 and 3:21-31 that a true Jew is one who is not only a biological descendant of Jacob whose name was changed by God to “Israel,” but also they have trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Tonight, we will discuss the second point in detail.
Paul teaches in Romans 9:1-5 that the nation of Israel was given the covenants which is a reference to the Abrahamic, Palestinian, Davidic and New covenants.
In Romans 9:1, Paul implicitly appeals to Christ and the Holy Spirit as witnesses as to the veracity of his statements in Romans 9:2-3.
Paul feels the need to do this since in his day he was accused by many in Israel as being a traitor to the nation.
Romans 9:1 I am speaking the truth in accordance with the code of Christ. I am by no means lying, while my conscience does confirm to me in accordance with the code of the Holy Spirit. (My translation)
Then in Romans 9:2, Paul expresses his great sorrow and unceasing grief over the nation of Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ as their Messiah.
Romans 9:2 That, as far my feelings are concerned, there is always great sorrow as well as unceasing anguish in my heart. (My translation)
Paul in Romans 9:3 communicates to his readers his great love for the nation of Israel by expressing his desire to be separated from Christ for their sake.
Romans 9:3 In fact, I could almost wish that I myself could be accursed, totally and completely separated from Christ as a substitute for my brothers, specifically, my fellow countrymen with respect to racial descent. (My translation)
Next, in Romans 9:4-5, he lists eight privileges that were given to the nation of Israel by God that helps the reader understand the depth of his sorrow and grief.
Romans 9:4 Who indeed by virtue of their unique, privileged character are, as an eternal spiritual truth, Israelites. To them belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the service and the promises. 5 To them belong the fathers and from them, the Christ with respect to human racial descent, the one who is, as an eternal spiritual truth, God over each and every living and non-living thing, worthy of praise and glorification throughout eternity. Amen! (My translation)
The eight privileges listed by Paul in Romans 9:4-5 are as follows: (1) “To whom belongs the adoptions as sons” (2) “The glory” (3) “The covenants” (4) “The giving of the Law” (5) “The temple service” (6) “The promises” (7) “The fathers” (8) “From whom is the Christ according to the flesh”.
The term “Israelites” serves to identify who are Paul’s fellow countrymen with respect to racial descent and as a heading for the list of eight privileges that identify Paul and his fellow countrymen.
“Adoption” refers to the Old Testament teaching concerning the nation of Israel that they were “God’s son” in a “national” sense meaning that God had set apart Israel from all the nations of the earth for blessing and service (Exodus 4:22-23; Deuteronomy 14:1-2; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 11:1).
“The glory” refers to the visible manifestation of God’s presence that appeared to the nation of Israel throughout her history which was also manifested ultimately in the Person and Finished Work of Jesus Christ in hypostatic union during the First Advent (Matt. 17:2-5; John 1:14; 1 Cor. 11:7; 2 Cor. 4:4, 6; Heb. 2:9; Rev. 19:1, 7).
The “covenants” is a reference to the four unconditional covenants God established with the nation of Israel: (1) Abrahamic (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:16; 22:15-18; 26:4; 28:14; 35:11; Ex. 6:2-8). (2) Palestinian (Gn. 13:15; Ex. 6:4, 8; Num. 34:1-12; Dt. 30:1-9; Jer. 32:36-44; Ezek. 36:21-38). (3) Davidic (2 Sam. 7:8-17; Psa. 89:20-37) (4) New (Jer. 31:31-34; cf. Heb. 8:8-12; 10:15-17).
There are seven great features that are distinct in each of these four unconditional covenants to Israel: (1) Israel will be a nation forever. (2) Israel will possess a significant portion of land forever. (3) Israel will have a King rule over her forever. (4) Israel will have a throne from which Christ will ruler, forever. (5) Israel will have a kingdom forever.
The entire expectation of Old Testament Israel is involved with its earthly kingdom, the glory of Israel and the promised Messiah seated in Jerusalem as ruler of the nations.
Since the Lord Jesus Christ literally fulfilled prophecy during His First Advent, then it follows that He will certainly literally fulfill the prophecies related to the millennium at His Second Advent.
“The giving of the Law” refers of course to the Mosaic Law.
In Romans 9:4, the translation “temple service” is incorrect since the word “temple” does not convey the idea of the noun latreia, which simply means, “service.”
The translators added it since worship in the temple service connected to the worship of God was of major importance to the nation of Israel as expressed in the Mishnah, “By three things is the world sustained: by the Law, by the [Temple] service, and by deeds of loving-kindness” (m. `Abot 1:2).
However, it is more likely that when he uses the noun latreia in Romans 9:4, Paul is referring to the service in the tabernacle since it preceded the building of the temple by Solomon, which was designed by David.
“The promises” refers to the promises contained in the five covenants that God established with the nation of Israel.
These promises include Messianic promises.
“The fathers” refers to the patriarchs or progenitors of the nation of Israel, namely, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose name was changed later by the Lord to Israel.
This is an important privilege because the promises contained in the covenants were given to these men.
The eighth and final privilege is that the Savior of the world would be Jewish.