Israel

 Romans 9:6 ESV

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 


It feels like Jesus has failed as the Jewish Messiah seeing as most of them have rejected him. He himself however blessed the persecuted and pronounced woe on those about whom everyone spoke well. True prophets get persecuted; false prophets get celebrated.

Jesus is a true Prophet who got martyred for calling his people to repent and to trust in him, not just as their Prophet, but as their King. He didn't fail though: not only did he defeat death, but countless millions trust in him for salvation.

True Israel isn't just an ethnic group, but a spiritual entity. To be a true Israelite, we have to trust in the Jewish Messiah and Saviour of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ. Even Gentiles like me can be grafted into spiritual Israel.

'Israel' is the nickname given to Jacob, the father of the Jewish people, for wrestling with the Lord. We're not just to assume that we're God's people because of ethnicity, or the mantra of a 'sinner's prayer'. We're to wrestle our way into the Kingdom that Jesus has bought for us by his blood.

'God, may we truly be yours, through faith in your Son and his life, given for us. In his name we pray, amen'.

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