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E
what does that have to do with it? sounds like your trying to go in circles because you have nothing else..
Paul said believing or not, They are part of the children of Israel to whome God gave a gift to that is irrevocable..
No It does not, only in a salvic sense.
Paul separated Israel and gentile in romans 11. It did not matter if they believed or not. He did not say believing gentile and Isreal were the same, He said non believing (blinded) and believing Israel were children of the promise, hated according to the gospel (for those blinded) but beloved because of the promise. How can it be just believing gentile and jew if they are hated for the gospel?
God has given things to Israel he never gave to any gentile. Your continued ignoring of this is quite amazing.
A very strange debating here
I see underlying motive
The biblical fact is that Israel is the Lord's national people which He has and intends to continue relate to for His purposes .... the scriptures are replete with this truth and very clear about it
And yet the controversy goes on
No matter what any think the Lord will do this thing .... no one is going to stop Him by making denying chatter
It is not for Israel's sake, but for Him .... this statement is made several times .... He makes it
To clamor and scream against this is a total joke ..... upon those who do it
A useless gabbing about nothing .... a total distraction from His purpose
Who would dare to stand in His face and refute what He has chosen to do with Israel
There is something very wrong with this behavior committed by those on this forum who do it
..... the truth is .... it is none of your business
And I have to warn you that your continued resistance is a glaring tale of where you stand
I see underlying motive
The biblical fact is that Israel is the Lord's national people which He has and intends to continue relate to for His purposes .... the scriptures are replete with this truth and very clear about it
And yet the controversy goes on
No matter what any think the Lord will do this thing .... no one is going to stop Him by making denying chatter
It is not for Israel's sake, but for Him .... this statement is made several times .... He makes it
To clamor and scream against this is a total joke ..... upon those who do it
A useless gabbing about nothing .... a total distraction from His purpose
Who would dare to stand in His face and refute what He has chosen to do with Israel
There is something very wrong with this behavior committed by those on this forum who do it
..... the truth is .... it is none of your business
And I have to warn you that your continued resistance is a glaring tale of where you stand
9 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.2
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.(paul is jewish)
43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."
cornelius believed in a god. but sent for peter, peter told him about jesus.
20 Now a mediator is not for one party only;
now both jews and gentile are saved by faith in jesus.
prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."
3 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
history has to have a beginning, a middle, and a end. ie explaining how, the jews became gods people, how a gentile became involved etc gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.(paul is jewish)
43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."
cornelius believed in a god. but sent for peter, peter told him about jesus.
20 Now a mediator is not for one party only;
now both jews and gentile are saved by faith in jesus.
prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."
3 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
history has to have a beginning, a middle, and a end. ie explaining how, the jews became gods people, how a gentile became involved etc gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
E
Only if God gives them that right. but you also have to remember wht God promised to them while they were there, if they obeyed his commands, and followed him. if you think their will be peace though, your like alot who have been fooling themselves.
This topic is not a salvation issue, You and I and Sarah and anyone else are going to get saaved according to what we believe here, unlike what Bride and them are saying,
as for temple sacrifice. well lets see, there has to be a temple for the prince who is to come to abominate correct? so I guess Israel (still in sin) would have to start doing that then wouldn't they, will it save them? No, Never has never will. so I am not sure what your problem is with it.
E
so let me get what your saying.
Believers (jew or gentile) have to recieve ALL that God promised abraham (so it is a salvation issue)?
then explain how God giving the land is a salvation issue
explain why the church does not possess that land, and it is still in ruins according to what God wanted it to be.
you can not have it both ways.
not to mention, you have all jews, believing or not. getting to heaven, Because God said ALL his descendants (only through abraham issac and jacob, are given that land, so if it is a salvation issue, then they all must be saved by birthright
Believers (jew or gentile) have to recieve ALL that God promised abraham (so it is a salvation issue)?
then explain how God giving the land is a salvation issue
explain why the church does not possess that land, and it is still in ruins according to what God wanted it to be.
you can not have it both ways.
not to mention, you have all jews, believing or not. getting to heaven, Because God said ALL his descendants (only through abraham issac and jacob, are given that land, so if it is a salvation issue, then they all must be saved by birthright
18 The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?"19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."20 The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
John 2
any gentile going into this temple (stone) at this point in history would be abominate(be regarded with hatred or disgust) by a jewish person .( never mind the tent of hollies) ie out side the gentile court.
in this case the law caused them to hate. (food for thought)
John 2
any gentile going into this temple (stone) at this point in history would be abominate(be regarded with hatred or disgust) by a jewish person .( never mind the tent of hollies) ie out side the gentile court.
in this case the law caused them to hate. (food for thought)
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You are NOT READING what I am ACTUALLY saying. And again you did NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION does BELIEVING ISRAEL that is now part of the church LOSE the promises?
And again what does it mean to be JOINT HEIRS,grafted in into one tree etc?
The salvation issue is this IF BELIEVING ISRAEL LOSES the land promises because they believe in Christ then UNBELIEVING Israel is FORCED INTO A CHOICE between the land promise and CHRIST. You can not have it that on hand that if BELIEVING ISRAEL LOSES the land promises,then those that inherit the land CAN NOT BE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST,because once they believe in Christ they forfeit the land promises. (Do you get it now?)
You have it backwards from what I actually said.
And again what does it mean to be JOINT HEIRS,grafted in into one tree etc?
The salvation issue is this IF BELIEVING ISRAEL LOSES the land promises because they believe in Christ then UNBELIEVING Israel is FORCED INTO A CHOICE between the land promise and CHRIST. You can not have it that on hand that if BELIEVING ISRAEL LOSES the land promises,then those that inherit the land CAN NOT BE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST,because once they believe in Christ they forfeit the land promises. (Do you get it now?)
You have it backwards from what I actually said.
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E
why do you keep asking that same old question? Your talking about individuals. The promise is to a NATION. do you not comprehend that a NATION is not the same as a PERSON?
Is the nation of Israel chosing to follow her messiah or is she not? if not, then she has not done what God commands in lev 26.
yes I have read your question, 3 times now I have said it does not make sense, because it has nothing to do with national Israel. When they were in babylon, did the ones who believed give up the promise? No. As daniel did in chapter 9, he admited, he is a slave because his PEOPLE (NATION) was at sin against God. it is not people, it is nation.
It means the TREE OF LIFE, who is the tree? (Christ) What is the topic? Being saved, or producing fruit? God set up Israel to produce fruit, To prove to the world they were Gods chosen, and God was the one true God. They rebelled and lost their lifeline and ability as a people to produce fruit for God, So God cut them off, and grafted in the gentile (peoples) so they could produce fruit.
Pual is not talking about induviduals there, he is talking about a group of people. He is separating israel from gentile.
You do not get it do you, Again nothing your sayinng makes sense. If I was a jew, I could care less about land if I was not going to make it to heaven, Heaven would be my first priority, As it should be ALL people.
I would also know. that unless MY NATION repented. that I would have no hope of going back to the land, Like Daniel, I would be prayiing for my PEOPLE to repent (which is the most important) not to restor me to the land, that is the problem israel made in the first place. they put land over God.
No. I do not have it backwards, You have it wrong completely.
The promise was not given to INDUVIDUALS. it was GIVEN TO THE NATION.
Here's a gem from a Reformed Theologian that doesn't goose step with the others. ..
Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
"Israel here from the context, must mean the Jewish people, and all Israel, the whole nation. The Jews, as a people, are not rejected; as a people, they are to be restored. As their rejection, although national, did not include the rejection of every individual, so their restoration, although in like manner national, need not be assumed to include the salvation of every individual Jew. "All Israel" is not therefore to be understood to mean all the true people of God (the Church) as Augustine, Calvin, and many others explain it; nor all the elect Jews, i.e. all that part of the nation which constitutes the "remnant according to the election of grace;" but the whole nation, as a nation."
-Charles Hodge ' Romans' p.374
Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
"Israel here from the context, must mean the Jewish people, and all Israel, the whole nation. The Jews, as a people, are not rejected; as a people, they are to be restored. As their rejection, although national, did not include the rejection of every individual, so their restoration, although in like manner national, need not be assumed to include the salvation of every individual Jew. "All Israel" is not therefore to be understood to mean all the true people of God (the Church) as Augustine, Calvin, and many others explain it; nor all the elect Jews, i.e. all that part of the nation which constitutes the "remnant according to the election of grace;" but the whole nation, as a nation."
-Charles Hodge ' Romans' p.374
#2 Is God through with the Jew:
History has a strange way of repeating itself. The problems that these early Christians were facing are the same problems that many Christians are facing today. They are asking the same questions. They are applying the O.T. Scriptures to the Church, spiritualizing that which God has not spiritualized. Someone has said, “Whenever you spiritualize that which God has not spiritualized, you become guilty of telling spiritual lies.” In Romans 9, 10, 11 the apostle Paul is dealing with this Jewish problem and he solves the problem on the basis of God’s Word. We would do well if we followed the example of the great apostle. These so-called “problems” would no longer be problems if we would deal with them according to the teaching of God’s Word. Consider with me then the manner in which Paul deals with the Jewish problem. In verses 1–3 we have Paul’s Prayer for His People:
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
These verses are often used as a text for a missionary message to challenge God’s people for world missions. Usually they are taken out of context and the real meaning is lost. These verses give us a little insight into the heart and soul of the apostle Paul. He shares with us the deep-rooted feelings towards his “brethren…according to the flesh.” These feelings are based upon his understanding of the teaching of God’s Word concerning the holiness, justice and wrath of God.
Paul’s concern for Israel, and his desire to see them saved, reminds us of Moses and his intercession on behalf of his people. You will recall that at the time God gave Moses the commandments the people complained that “he delayed to come down out of the mount.” They went to Aaron and asked that he make a calf of gold which was to be worshipped as God. In Egypt they had been exposed to the Apis bull. They saw the Egyptians worship the Apis bull as the god of creation. Apparently they were not cured of idolatry and so they command Aaron to “make a molten calf” in order that they may worship it and say, “These be thy gods, Oh Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” God’s wrath was kindled by this ungodly deed so that He pronounced judgment upon the people. In Exodus 32:9–10 we read,
And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
A lesser man may have been intrigued by the promise that God gave to Moses. He promises to destroy Israel but, from out of the loins of Moses a great nation will come forth. Moses wasn’t intrigued by what God said, however, but rather pours his heart out to God on behalf of his people. In Exodus 32:31–32 we have the prayer of Moses:
And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin,and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Notice verse 32 very carefully. Moses prays, “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—.” The translator places a dash after the word “sin” because Moses had not finished his prayer. In other words he pauses in the middle of his prayer. He knows what it is going to mean to his people if God does not forgive their sin. Realizing the awful wrath of God that is pending he continues by saying, “and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”
Historically Israel had been a “stiffnecked and rebellious people.” At the time of our Lord they took great pride in being the covenant people through whom God gave the world the prophets. They failed to remember that their fathers rebelled against the prophets’ message and took action to silence their lips. Jesus said,
Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
In Luke 19:43, Jesus said,
For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children with thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
History has a strange way of repeating itself. The problems that these early Christians were facing are the same problems that many Christians are facing today. They are asking the same questions. They are applying the O.T. Scriptures to the Church, spiritualizing that which God has not spiritualized. Someone has said, “Whenever you spiritualize that which God has not spiritualized, you become guilty of telling spiritual lies.” In Romans 9, 10, 11 the apostle Paul is dealing with this Jewish problem and he solves the problem on the basis of God’s Word. We would do well if we followed the example of the great apostle. These so-called “problems” would no longer be problems if we would deal with them according to the teaching of God’s Word. Consider with me then the manner in which Paul deals with the Jewish problem. In verses 1–3 we have Paul’s Prayer for His People:
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
These verses are often used as a text for a missionary message to challenge God’s people for world missions. Usually they are taken out of context and the real meaning is lost. These verses give us a little insight into the heart and soul of the apostle Paul. He shares with us the deep-rooted feelings towards his “brethren…according to the flesh.” These feelings are based upon his understanding of the teaching of God’s Word concerning the holiness, justice and wrath of God.
Paul’s concern for Israel, and his desire to see them saved, reminds us of Moses and his intercession on behalf of his people. You will recall that at the time God gave Moses the commandments the people complained that “he delayed to come down out of the mount.” They went to Aaron and asked that he make a calf of gold which was to be worshipped as God. In Egypt they had been exposed to the Apis bull. They saw the Egyptians worship the Apis bull as the god of creation. Apparently they were not cured of idolatry and so they command Aaron to “make a molten calf” in order that they may worship it and say, “These be thy gods, Oh Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” God’s wrath was kindled by this ungodly deed so that He pronounced judgment upon the people. In Exodus 32:9–10 we read,
And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
A lesser man may have been intrigued by the promise that God gave to Moses. He promises to destroy Israel but, from out of the loins of Moses a great nation will come forth. Moses wasn’t intrigued by what God said, however, but rather pours his heart out to God on behalf of his people. In Exodus 32:31–32 we have the prayer of Moses:
And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin,and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Notice verse 32 very carefully. Moses prays, “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—.” The translator places a dash after the word “sin” because Moses had not finished his prayer. In other words he pauses in the middle of his prayer. He knows what it is going to mean to his people if God does not forgive their sin. Realizing the awful wrath of God that is pending he continues by saying, “and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”
Historically Israel had been a “stiffnecked and rebellious people.” At the time of our Lord they took great pride in being the covenant people through whom God gave the world the prophets. They failed to remember that their fathers rebelled against the prophets’ message and took action to silence their lips. Jesus said,
Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
In Luke 19:43, Jesus said,
For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children with thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
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#3 - Is God Through with the Jew:
The apostle Paul was well acquainted with these promises. Twenty years have passed since the Lord went home to glory and Paul knew that time was running out for Israel. Within ten years after the writing of this epistle Titus came down and laid Jerusalem waste. Historians tell us that over one million Jews were in Jerusalem at that time. Those that were outside the wall were captured. Many were crucified; others were sold into slavery. Those that lived inside the wall were courageous and held the Romans off for some time. As time went on food became scarce. The people resorted to eating rats and mice and whatever else would keep them alive. When all their food was gone they became cannibals and ate their own children. This also was according to the prophecy set forth by Moses in Deuteronomy 28:49–53,
The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young: And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee. And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters,which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straightness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee.
These were not idle words to the apostle Paul. He knew that judgment had been pronounced and was soon to be executed. Not only would Israel experience God’s wrath in time but also throughout eternity. Realizing the awfulness of this judgment Paul cries out, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,”
God’s judgment of Israel presents a great problem. The problem centers around the covenants that God made to this people many years ago. What about these promises? What about these covenants? Are they null and void? Are they to be put aside forever? Is God actually through with the Jew? and will have no further dealings with them as a nation? This is the problem that the apostle Paul seeks to solve. He begins by setting before us God’s Eight-Fold Promise to Israel.
The apostle Paul was well acquainted with these promises. Twenty years have passed since the Lord went home to glory and Paul knew that time was running out for Israel. Within ten years after the writing of this epistle Titus came down and laid Jerusalem waste. Historians tell us that over one million Jews were in Jerusalem at that time. Those that were outside the wall were captured. Many were crucified; others were sold into slavery. Those that lived inside the wall were courageous and held the Romans off for some time. As time went on food became scarce. The people resorted to eating rats and mice and whatever else would keep them alive. When all their food was gone they became cannibals and ate their own children. This also was according to the prophecy set forth by Moses in Deuteronomy 28:49–53,
The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young: And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee. And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters,which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straightness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee.
These were not idle words to the apostle Paul. He knew that judgment had been pronounced and was soon to be executed. Not only would Israel experience God’s wrath in time but also throughout eternity. Realizing the awfulness of this judgment Paul cries out, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,”
God’s judgment of Israel presents a great problem. The problem centers around the covenants that God made to this people many years ago. What about these promises? What about these covenants? Are they null and void? Are they to be put aside forever? Is God actually through with the Jew? and will have no further dealings with them as a nation? This is the problem that the apostle Paul seeks to solve. He begins by setting before us God’s Eight-Fold Promise to Israel.
#4 I think I will wait on posting the rest - I said it was long and I don't want to bore everyone but if there is an interest I will post the rest.
This eight-fold promise to Israel is set forth in verses 4–5. Notice carefully the way the apostle begins. In referring to his kinsmen according to the flesh he says, “Who are Israelites.” Israel means “a prince with God.” In the 32nd chapter of Genesis, Jacob wrestles all night with the angel of the Lord at Penial. As the dawn of a new day was breaking the angel said to Jacob, “Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, what is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou powers with God and with men, and hast prevailed” (Gen 32:26–28).
In Genesis 35:22–26 we are given the names of Jacob’s twelve sons. These twelve sons became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel and these twelve tribes are referred to throughout Scripture as “the whole house of Israel.”
In verses 4 and 5 of our text the apostle Paul makes it clear that the eight-fold blessing of God is upon Israel. The first blessing referred to is that of:
Adoption
The word “adoption” is a New Testament word. The apostle Paul uses it in Romans 8:15 where he says, “But ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
In Romans 8:23 we read, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
In Ephesians 1:5 Paul says, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”
It is quite obvious from these verses that the word “adoption,” as used in the New Testament, speaks of a unique relationship between the individual believer and God. In Romans 9:4, however, the word is used in a different way. Whereas it speaks of a unique relationship, it refers here, not to a relationship between the individual and God but the relationship of the nation Israel to God. In other words Israel has a unique relationship to her God, a relationship that no other nation can claim.
This relationship is clearly indicated in the message that God gave to Moses to give to Pharaoh. When God sent Moses down into the land of Egypt to tell Pharaoh to let His people go He said, “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn” (Exod 4:22).
The word “firstborn” does not actually mean that Israel was born first, but rather it speaks of a place of preeminence that Israel shall have among the nations. In Colossians 1:15 we read that Jesus is “the firstborn of every creature.” In verse 18 we read, “Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Paul does not teach that Jesus Christ was the “firstborn” in the sense that He was born first. But he does teach that Jesus Christ is the preeminent One. He is the Head over all things. The word “firstborn,” as it relates to Israel, speaks of the place of preeminence that she has, and will have, among the nations. It is good for us to remember that Israel is a nation, chosen of God, for a special purpose.
This is clearly set forth in Deuteronomy 7:6–8.
For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
The question may be asked, “If Israel is God’s chosen people why have they suffered the way they have down through the years?” The answer is found, I believe, in Amos 3:2, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities.” In other words there is a family relationship here and God is punishing His children because of their waywardness. God is not seeking revenge by punishing His people but He is preparing them for the task whereunto He has called them. This task has not as yet been completed.