The Daily Word of Righteousness

Israel Is the Church, #10

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Romans 2:28,29)

Physical Jew; spiritual Jew. Who is a Jew?

"He is a Jew, which is one inwardly."

"Circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter."

The true member of Israel is by promise. The true Jew is not the physical Jew but the one born again of Christ.

True circumcision is of the heart. This was a fact even under the old covenant.

And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: (Leviticus 26:41)

"Their uncircumcised hearts."

The Lord Jesus pointed out to the Jews that it was Satan who was their father, not Abraham.

They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. (John 8:39)

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)

A physical Jew is a person who is born of Jewish parents. A spiritual Jew is one whose heart has been circumcised so that he loves God in truth.

The Supreme Court of Israel has declared that if a physical Jew becomes a Christian he no longer is a Jew. The Israeli jurists are stating that the only Jew is the one who subscribes to the tenets of Judaism. By claiming that a physical Jew who becomes a Christian no longer is a Jew the jurists are tampering with the definition of the term "Jew."

However, in the customary use of the term "Jew," if an individual is born a Jew he remains a Jew whether he or she is a Muslim, an agnostic, an Orthodox, or a Christian. A physical Jew remains a Jew regardless of his or her faith. How could it be otherwise?

If your father and mother are Jewish you are Jewish, regardless of your faith. You may not be a true child of Abraham if you do not walk with God as Abraham did, as the Lord Jesus said. You may not be a member of spiritual Israel as we are using the term. But you are a Jew!

A member of spiritual Israel is the individual who is serving God through Christ whether or not he or she is Jewish by race. These are God's elect, His royal priesthood.

To be continued.