Ariel HaNaviy Supporter Messianic Jew and Torah Teacher with Messianic Congregation 'The Harvest'

The question doesn't reference a verse so I have decided to offer my own:

Gal. 6:15, 16
“For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”

Even though the word “Remnant” is not in this verse, the context of the phrase “Isra'el of God” is likely a reference to the Remnant of Isra'el, those Jews and Gentiles who have faith in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, and who will someday inherit the everlasting Kingdom of God in Christ. 

I hold to a theology that teaches that the Church is actually Remnant Isra'el, and she exists within National Isra'el (Rom 9:6-8; Rom 9:23, 24 Rom 11:1-7; Php. 3:3). I do not espouse to a view that separates Remnant Isra'el from the Church. For Paul the ekklesia (“Church”) existed within Isra'el, not outside of Isra'el. Moreover, since all in Remnant Isra'el have faith in the True Word of the LORD, members of Remnant Isra'el have existed since the earliest of times up until today. This means father Abraham, whose faith was counted to him as righteousness in Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3; Rom. 4:9; Rom. 4:11; Rom. 4:22; Gal. 3:6, was also a member of Remnant Isra'el.

Allow me to exegete Gal. 6:16 to substantiate my position.

Since this verse follows immediately after verse 15, I take the term “this rule” to refer to the standard of forensic righteousness previously spoken of in verse 15, namely: Genuine and lasting covenant membership into the eternal people of God is not procured by one’s ethnicity like 1st century Isra'el was teaching, but only by placing one’s genuine and lasting faith in Messiah.

Moreover, it would seem that Sha’ul (Paul) extends this blessing of ultimate peace and mercy exclusively to the group who conforms to this truth—a group Paul identifies as the “Isra'el of God.” Christian sources the Pulpit Commentary, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible, and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary all agree that the Isra'el of God is not the Israel after the flesh, but the spiritual seed of Abraham by faith.

We see that those whom Paul extends his blessing to in Gal. 6:15 are the genuine faithful Remnant, the “called-out ones” (Greek=ekklesia, viz, the “Church”) from among both Jews and Gentiles to bear the name of Yeshua the True Messiah, to bring glory to God’s Name and honor to his Kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10; Heb. 2:12). They are those who have crucified the flesh with its old passions and volitions, and walk not by ethnic identity and Torah social status, but by the power of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and the Torah (Law) written on the heart (Rom. 8:4; Rom. 8:5; Rom. 13:14; Gal. 5:16). 

Conclusions:
In the mystery of ecclesiology, Isra'el exists on two levels simultaneously: National Isra'el and Remnant Isra'el. Messianic Jews are ethnic Jews as well as Remnant Jews (Rom. 2:28, 29). Corporate Isra'el of the flesh has been promised temporal, this-world blessings if she will remain faithful to God and obedient to the written Torah given at Sinai. Remnant Isra'el of the Spirit has been promised eternal, world-to-come blessings if she will remain faithful to God and obedient to the Living Torah—Yeshua the Messiah. The two Isra'els are not necessarily mutually exclusive; indeed God loves National Isra'el as well as Remnant Isra'el—which actually exists within National Isra'el.

And yet, those who choose to associate with National Isra'el without also appropriating genuine faith in the Quintessential Israelite from Nazareth will find that their this-world blessings will end when life expires for them, and it may not end up being God who’ll be waiting for them on the other side of the grave (if you catch my drift). Only those who have invested in the world-to-come blessings via genuine faith in Messiah will be able to enjoy blessings both in this world and in the world to come!

Which “Isra'el of God” do you want to belong to?

September 08 2015 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

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