As it pertains to Jesus’s earthly ministry; Christ Came for the nation of Israel only.
Romans 9:1-4
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Romans 15:8
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Israel was promised amongst many things two very important things:
A messiah and a King.
Concerning the Messiah, we read:
Is 7:14 – 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Now look at what the angel of the Lord said unto Joseph in his DREAM:
Matt 1:20-23
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
HIS PEOPLE! His people is Israel.
Look at John 1:10-12
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Concerning the promise King and the Kingdom of the Messiah and
Now in Ex 19:6
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Question… What does a Kingdom need? A King! But notice how God identifies Israel as an holy nation. Holy Nation… Does this sound familiar? It should… the phrase is only mentioned TWICE in all of SCRIPUTRE… “HOLY NATION” Once in Exodus 19 and Once in Peters Epistle. Look at 1 Peter 2:9
1Pe 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Now! Wait…. Question. Is the BODY OF CHRIST A NATION? NO! How can it be… The scripture clearly states in, Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Again the B.O.C is not an Holy Nation. We are what a new creature in Christ. This is why you have to take the bible literally and pay attention to who is writing and who is the writers audience. Clearly Peter is talking to the Israelites exclusively in his epistle. If that isn’t enough proof look at:
1 Pet 1:1 –
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Going back to the prophecy of Israel being a Kingdom of priest and their need for a King.
Now concerning Christ as their King what did the wise men say…. They said, where is HE that is born King of the JEWS. Question: What does every King Have… A Kingdom. What will Christ have upon his return? The establishment of His Kingdom on Earth whereon he will reign and sit on the throne of David for one thousand years.
For the context of Christ sitting upon the throne of David all you have to do is read 2 Sam 7.
Nevertheless, what did John the Baptist preach? John the Baptist preach? John preached the “kingdom of heaven is at hand”
Matt 3:1
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Believe it or not…. This was the same thing Jesus preached.
Matt 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Now… What the signs of the Kingdom?
Satan will be bound and their will be no sickness.
In addition, Israel will finally be a kingdom of priest.
Now… What was Jesus doing in his earthly ministry? Healing the Sick and Casting out Devils. In addition, he was keeping the law. In which case the law will not be broken in the Kingdom because it will be written on their hearts. Theirs meaning the Jews.
This is why in Acts 1:6 the apostles say to Christ after He is risen:
Acts 1:6
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Now this is the beginning of the Book of Acts… with the apostles of and to the nation of Israel. Book look at how the Book of Acts ends.
Acts 28: 25-29
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
And this was not one of the 12… this was Paul previously known as Saul of Tarsus who is the Apostle of the Gentiles.
So what happened?
(Romans 2:17-20 KJV) Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, {18} And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; {19} And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, {20} An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
In these verses we can see a contrast between the Jew and the Gentile:
Israel was meant to be a guide, light, instructor and teacher to the Gentiles. But in the following verses we see that Israel failed to be as God meant them to be. The result was that rather than having the Gentiles come to know God, God’s name was blasphemed among the Gentiles.
(Romans 2:23-24 KJV) Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? {24} For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
This brings me to my next POINT… Israel fell!
Israel’s Fall
Romans 11:8-13
8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Romans 11:25-28
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
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:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
Question: When did Israel Fall?
Well When was Paul Chosen by Christ? In Acts Chapter 9. The straw that broke the camels back so to speak with Israel in seen in Acts Chapter 7 when they stoned Stephen. Israel as in the Majority of Israel rejected the Baptist, whom the Father sent. The Rejected their Messiah and stumbled at the cross. And lastly they rejected the ministry of the Holy Ghost specifically the preaching of Stephen.
Look at Acts 7:55-60
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
In the very next chapter the Jews were Scattered in Acts Chapter 8. And we know that none of those that Scattered preached to the gentiles.
Look at Act 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
And we also know after they were scattered the Apostles stayed in Jerusalem. Look at Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
So what happened? Why didn’t they go to the gentiles? And if what Peter did was such a great thing by going to Cornelious why were the Jews upset with him for meeting with the Gentiles if they were supposed to go to the gentiles. After all isn’t that apart of the great commission? Of Coures… But! They were to start in Jerusalem then go to simaria and then to the uttermost parts but Israel rejected their Messiah and subsequently fail…
Which leads us to an unexpected and unprophcied event in History…. Christ…. From Heaven… Converts… an Apostate Jew named Paul.
Now listen to me… Christ already chose his apostles while hear on earth and Peter and the other apostles choose Methias. So why Paul. Why! Seriously… Ask yourself…. Why did Christ decide to Make him an Apostle?
Peter said this concerning their apostleship.
Acts 1:15-26
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Clearly Paul’s ministry was not their ministry….
Look at
Galatians 1:11-17
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
And compare this to
Galatians 2:1-2
1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
To be continued…