In this article I would like to take you through the scriptures, to show you that it has always been God’s plan for his people to be looking above, because that is where their ETERNAL HOME is. Many have been distracted, bamboozled, and deceived by the modern day false teachers who would have you focus on the earthly State of Israel, and the earthly city of Jerusalem, while Jesus Christ is left in the background. There is absolutely NO question that the majority of Jewish people over in the State of Israel, and throughout the world need to repent and believe the gospel, (Mark 1:15) because they are NO DIFFERENT than the millions of other people who do NOT know the Lord. That should be the MAIN focus, for the Christian in their relationships with the Jewish people. We are to LOVE the Jewish people just as much as we LOVE the rest of the people in the world, BUT we are not to put them on a pedestal ABOVE the rest of the people in the world. Any true Christian who has been BORN AGAIN of the Spirit (John 3:1-8), knows that ANY person (Jewish or Gentile) who dies without FAITH in Jesus Christ will be doomed to an eternity in HELL, and it makes NO difference at all where that person may live in this world. (John 3:36, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 16:19-31) There are TWO different kingdoms, with one being the Kingdom of God, and the other, the kingdom of darkness and this present evil world (Galatians 1:4). Every person in the world has a choice to make. If they want salvation through Jesus Christ, then they will enter God’s kingdom, IF they do NOT want Jesus Christ, then they remain in a lost spiritual condition, which will ultimately land them in an eternal Hell.
When we take a look at the scriptures in our Bibles we learn that the true patriarchs of the faith continually had their eyes lifted up toward heaven, because they were looking at the spiritual and eternal things. Their MAIN CONCERN was not on the physical and temporary things, which were of this world.
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)
Abraham and his descendants were looking for a city where Almighty God was the maker. They dwelt in tents (tabernacles) which were temporary dwelling places. Their true riches and possessions were up above where God dwells.
But ye are come unto mount Sion (Zion), and unto the city of the living God, the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22)
Every TRUE BELIEVER in Jesus Christ has already come to Mt Zion, the city of the LIVING GOD, the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM. They know that their focus is ABOVE, and NOT on the EARTHLY city of Jerusalem as so many, have believed in this modern day. I have sympathy for those who have been ENSNARED by that great deception because it is taught in most churches, and I was formerly among the deceived on that point, until the Holy Spirit guided me into the truth. If the “fathers of the faith” had their eyes on the HEAVENLY country, then that is where our eyes must also be. There has always been one people of God, and that includes Jew and Gentile. The TRUE CHILDREN of Abraham are those who have FAITH in Jesus Christ. Any person who does not believe in Jesus Christ is not part of the Kingdom of God. The apostle Paul could not have made it any clearer in His writings.
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7)
This includes both Jewish and Gentile people, and the common denominator is FAITH in Jesus Christ.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)
And IF ye be CHRIST’S then are ye Abraham’s seed, and HEIRS according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29)
The SEED (descendant) is Christ (which means Messiah), and so the PROMISE has been FULFILLED in Jesus Christ and in Him alone. The Kingdom of God is a SPIRITUAL KINGDOM, and a person must be born again of the Spirit to get inside that Kingdom. The Bible makes it clear that IF YE BE CHRIST’S, then you are Abraham’s seed (descendant). It is naturally obvious that IF a person BE NOT CHRIST’S, then they are NOT Abraham’s seed (descendant) There is only ONE true Israel of God, and that includes both Jewish, and Non Jewish, believers in Jesus Christ. This is so FAIR and RIGHTEOUS and JUST because God invites ALL PEOPLE to become part of His Kingdom!
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are NOT all ISRAEL, which are of ISRAEL: (Romans 9:6)
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a NEW creature (creation). And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the ISRAEL OF GOD. (Galatians 6:14-16)
It does not matter at all if a person has been circumcised or not. The TRUE ISRAEL OF GOD are those who believe in Jesus Christ! It is that simple, and it is that clear!
For ye are all the children of God by faith in CHRIST JESUS. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)
The Jewish apostle Paul explained the whole thing very clearly AFTER he got SAVED, and he realized that the Jesus Christ whom he formerly HATED, was in fact the Lord, Messiah, and Saviour! Paul knew at that time that the ONLY circumcision that mattered was the CIRCUMCISION of the HEART and in the SPIRIT, and that the PHYSICAL circumcision meant absolutely NOTHING! Paul who was a Jew, went on to explain what a TRUE JEW was:
For he is NOT a JEW, which is one OUTWARDLY; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But HE IS A JEW, which is one INWARDLY; and circumcision is that of the HEART, in the SPIRIT, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Romans 2:28-29)
The Jewish apostle Paul was also physically circumcised in the flesh, BUT he was DEAD in his own sins, and on the way to HELL until he was regenerated by the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT! Paul knew that his fellow Jews were still in the UNSAVED condition of being physically circumcised, without being SPIRITUALLY circumcised in the HEART and in the SPIRIT!
It does not matter if you are Jewish, Gentile, male or female, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then YOU most definitely are part of the SEED (descendants) of Abraham. YOU are linked together with people (of the same precious faith) from every part of the world. What could be more beautiful than that? That is the GLAD TIDINGS of the Gospel, which the angel spoke about when Jesus Christ was born. It is most important that you understand that a Jewish person is just as LOST, and HELL-BOUND as the Gentile who refuses to turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. That is what the scriptures teach, and it is in full agreement with what Jesus Christ himself taught. If a person does NOT want to get SAVED through Jesus Christ, then they are on their own, and they WILL die in their OWN sins! (John 8:24, John 3:18-21)
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you GOOD TIDINGS of great joy, which shall be to ALL PEOPLE. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOUR, which is CHRIST the LORD. (Luke 2:8-11)
This Gospel message was meant for ALL PEOPLE!
Once again I must tell you that this is so JUST, so RIGHTEOUS and so FAIR! The very fact that Christ (Messiah) was born in the city of David, shows us that Jesus was the promised Messiah, which the prophet Micah spoke about! ( see Micah 5:2)
Jesus also made it clear that His Kingdom was NOT of this world!
JESUS answered, My kingdom is NOT of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the JEWS: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36)
The apostle Paul spoke along those same lines, and he continued even as the patriarchs of the FAITH, in keeping his focus up ABOVE, and NOT on the earth!
If ye then be RISEN WITH CHRIST, seek those things which are ABOVE, where CHRIST sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things ABOVE, not on things on the earth. For ye are DEAD, and your LIFE is HID with CHRIST in GOD. When CHRIST, who is our LIFE, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)
Jesus spoke very highly of the FAITH of a GENTILE man, and told the religious Jewish people that he had NOT seen such great FAITH in Israel.
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When JESUS heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, NOT in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of HEAVEN. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 8:8-12)
Jesus specifically mentioned Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the prophets also, because the religious Jewish leaders prided themselves in their knowledge of the scriptures. The Lord told them that people would come from every part of the earth (East, West, North and South, see Luke 13:29) and that those same people would sit down and eat with those patriarchs of the faith. The Lord was talking about the Gentiles (from all nations) and the TRUE children of Israel (believers) sitting down TOGETHER in HEAVEN, as ONE people. The unbelieving physical descendants of Israel would be THRUST OUT! (into the outer darkness of an eternal HELL) Why? Simply because they REJECTED Jesus, the Messiah, the very Son of God, whom the Father sent to redeem their precious souls!
For here have we NO CONTINUING CITY, but we seek one to come. (Hebrews 13:14)
The Bible makes it clear that HERE (in this present world) WE (true believers in Jesus Christ ) have NO CONTINUING CITY! The land of Israel over in the Middle East, which includes the earthly city of Jerusalem, is NOT the continuing city that the true and faithful believers are looking forward to.
And I saw a NEW heaven and a NEW earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:1-8)
Those who are TRUE BELIEVERS in Jesus Christ have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and they shall not be hurt by the SECOND DEATH simply because they ALREADY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE in Jesus Christ. But those who continue to reject this GREAT SALVATION will be cast into the Lake of Fire, according to God’s Word!
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)
It is not too late for YOU to get SAVED and have YOUR name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
As it is written, There is NONE righteous, no, NOT ONE: (Romans 3:10)
For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)
Your SIN separates you from God and in HIS sight you are without life and spiritually DEAD! In other words YOU are UNGODLY in the sight of a HOLY and RIGHTEOUS GOD! But it is not HOPELESS for YOU at all. This is the great news about Jesus Christ!
For when we were yet without strength, in due time CHRIST died for the UNGODLY. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But GOD commendeth his LOVE toward US, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us. Much more then, being now JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be SAVED from wrath through him. (Romans 5:6-9)
It almost sounds too good to be true does it not? Why? Because deep inside your own heart YOU realize what a wretch YOU really are, just as I did when the Spirit of God started moving in my heart. The Jewish apostle Paul preached the same way to the JEWS and the Greeks (Gentiles) and he consistently pointed them to put their FAITH in Jesus Christ. This totally shuts down the argument of many dispensational people who boldly insist that the apostle Paul never preached repentance!
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, AND faith toward our LORD JESUS CHRIST. (Acts 20:21)
There are false teachers who teach their MILLIONS of gullible, and deceived FOLLOWERS, that the Kingdom of God preaching was only for the Jews, and that it is LEGALISTIC. They insist that the Jewish apostle Paul was the only apostle who preached the new message of GRACE. Folks if YOU are part of that CULT, I encourage YOU to leave immediately, because the next passage of scripture, blows that FALSE teaching completely out the window.
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the GOSPEL of the GRACE of GOD. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone PREACHING THE KINGDOM OF GOD, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the BLOOD of all men. For I have NOT shunned to declare unto you ALL the COUNSEL of GOD. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:22-28)
The Jewish apostle Paul was severely persecuted because he DID preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The Jews absolutely despised him, even as they despised Jesus Christ. Why? Because he held back nothing and he let his own Jewish people know in no uncertain terms that they needed salvation in Jesus Christ. Paul did not coddle them like many of the “famous preachers” of today. Paul did not tell them that they were still in covenant with God, despite their rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord, Saviour and Messiah either. In the passage above the Jewish apostle Paul said that he testified of the “gospel of the grace of God”, and in the very next verse Paul said that he had “gone preaching the kingdom of God” also. Paul was talking about the very same gospel folks. There are literally thousands of false teachers out there that have seduced millions into believing their religious junk at the peril of their very souls. Paul told the people that his hands were “pure from the blood of all men” and that was because he did what the Lord told him to do. There are tons of major leaders and Pastors whose hands are drenched with the blood of millions, because they NEVER declared the full counsel of God, out of FEAR of the religious groups who reject Jesus Christ!