Who is Israel-14

We left off last week being introduced to the Bible’s reminders that only a true remnant will remain faithful to the LORD! This is indeed a very sobering reminder and challenging truth. It involves the whole world.

How does the world identify itself by religion? There are over 8 billion people in the world today. Here is how they are identified by religion.

Moslem/Islam 1.8 B

Hindu 1.2 B

Roman Catholic 1.3 B

Protestant .6 B

Buddist .5 B

Atheists/Agnostic 2.5 B

Jewish .015 B

Considering that at least half of all Protestants are attending liberal, false churches, the true born again believers are less that .3 B. That is indeed a remnant.

Romans 11:11  I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 

11:12  Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! 

This is where terms can be very confusing. Paul is calling out to those who call themselves both Jews and Israelites. As we have already studied from Paul’s own writings, the true Isrealites are from a spiritual family not a physical family. All born again believers are the true Israelites.

11:13  But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 11:14  if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 

11:15  For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 11:16  If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 

Through Jesus Christ, the reality of the chosen people of God are those who once were called Gentiles, outside of the covenant of God. Now all who believe are in Christ and grafted into His Church.

11:17  But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 11:18  do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 

11:19  You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 11:20  Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 11:21  for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 

This is a warning about pride and obedience. It is God who chooses whomever He decides. Billions of people around the world are on the wide road to Hell. Few are being grafted in, not because God is unforgiving, but because there is only one way and that is through His Son.

11:22  Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 11:23  And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 11:24  For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 

Messianic Jews are grafted in but stiff-necked Jews are not. God’s promises to Abraham are fulfilled in Christ. The whole world is full of people made in God’s image but remaining in sin and idolatry. It is a very hard reality that billions will go onto Hell for an eternity.

Who do you know that is refusing to obey, bow down to, and believe in Christ? Time is not on their side.

More next Saturday.