What all who would be God’s people (children of Abraham) must understand is that membership in God’s family is neither instantaneous nor automatic. The Jews of Jesus’ day believed that because they were the biological descendants of Abraham they were automatically God’s spiritual people. Jesus showed them that they were wrong. As we are told in Exodus 19:3-8, in order to become God’s chosen people the descendants of Abraham had to obey His “voice” (Word), thereby fulfilling their part of the covenant He would make with them on Mount Sinai. Those who did so would be His “peculiar treasure” whom He would exalt above all other people on the earth. Israel would become a “kingdom of priests” and “a holy nation” in the midst of a world filled with heathen (Gentiles). The people replied that they would do whatever He told them to do. At that point the Lord audibly spoke His Ten Commandment Law to them (Exo. 20:1-17). This was His “voice” that they had agreed to obey, thereby making them His special nation.

In Deuteronomy 4:2 Moses reminds the Israelites that they must strictly keep God’s Ten Commandments–His moral Law to which nothing was to be added and nothing was to be taken away. He placed the stone tablets in an ark in order to keep man from changing His Law. In Chapter five Moses reminded the nation of that day at Mt. Sinai (Exo. 20) and repeated to them God’s Ten Commandments, finishing with these Words: “… and He added no more” (vs 22). Several months later, seeing that Israel would not keep His Ten Commandment Law, the Lord Himself added another law (Gal. 3:19) which required them to offer blood sacrifices, perform rituals, etc. until the human Messiah would come to earth. It was this added, temporary law that was “nailed to the cross,” not His Ten Commandment Law which is eternal. Why did God resort to adding the sacrificial law? Because of His unconditional promises to Abraham due to his obedience. As is the case with conversion in the New Testament, becoming a child of the Lord is based on His grace and our faith, not on any effort on our part. However, one has to qualify to retain one’s conversion through strict obedience to His Word as this website has proven many times using God’s own Words. Note that the sacrificial “law that was added” by God was done away with at the Last Supper when Jesus told the disciples that from that point on His blood and His flesh would replace the animal sacrifices offered by their ancestors.

Ancient Israel was forbidden to serve any other gods. The God of Mt. Sinai would forever be their only God. Spiritual Israel–God’s true end-time church–must also worship and obey only Him. Heathenism  (idolatry) is still forbidden among His true saints. Biological Israelites then–and spiritual Israelites (saints) now–were charged with being His witness, His “light” to the Gentile world by obeying His Law (Isa. 43:10-12). In Isaiah 51:4,5 He equates obedience to His Law with receiving His righteousness and inheriting eternal life.

In Isaiah 62:1-3,11,12 Israel (spiritual Israel today) was commanded to maintain her righteousness at all times throughout the world. The Gentiles, including the kings of the entire earth, would take note of her. In the end times Israel would be called by a new name which the Lord would give her. Because of her obedience, God would redeem her and she would forever be in His hand.

Ancient Israel had two responsibilities. She was to obey God, and thereby serve as an example to the Gentiles whom He would call to Himself in the latter days. As spiritual Israelites, those in His true church today have those same responsibilities. God’s saints are to obey His Ten Commandment Law, thereby allowing their light to shine out to the biological Gentiles as well as to the spiritual (Gentilized) Israelites. Those with eyes to see the light will come to God’s light. L.J.

Israel part 4