Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Israel, Our Kinship

 

Graphic of a sign


“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith…”
—Galatians 3:26a

One of the reasons why many Christians feel a kinship with the people of Israel is that they are God’s chosen people. More so, when we acknowledged God’s Son as our Savior and Lord, we Christians become grafted into the same birth line as the people of Israel. Some will argue that my view on this matter is too simplistic. I readily admit that I am just a simple man. However, the Apostle Paul wrote these words in Galatians 3:26-29:

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

I realize that Paul was speaking of the oneness of Christians, no matter what their ethnic background. But, notice his last paragraph. This is consistent with what he wrote in Romans 11:17-18:

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Another reason to support Israel is that Jews do not wish to kill Christians. In this current age, Jews and Christians live harmoniously. No matter what anyone may tell you, the holy book of Islam demands the slaughter of all infidels—every single unbeliever.

While it is true that in the Old Testament, God directed the children of Israel to conquer the land He had given them. At the same time, He always put very severe constraits on their fighting. Once the purpose of that fighting had been achieved, the fighting ceased. And, there can be no question that the New Testament teaches the overwhelming power that the peace of Christ our Savior brings into the lives of those who follow Him.

Let’s agree to pray earnestly for peace in the Middle East. And, Let’s do all we can to protect the lives of young children on either side of this terrible conflict.

Since Christ instructed us to pray for our enemies, let’s pray for those who want to kill us, that God’s love will conquer their hearts and reveal to them that only Yahweh—the One True God that we know through Christ as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Jehovah, God the Creator—is the One who loves us with His everlasting love.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, April 3, 2015

Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.