Anthony Joseph, that is a great question. And as many of us know, we're not saved by obedience, bloodline or what we do "our works"...but only by grace and a free gift and not of our own doing. However, that doesn't let us off the hook to be obedient or to understand "who" we are in relation to YHWH and His Mashiyach, be it Jew, Israelite or Gentile. It just means we're not saved for being, or being obedient...or for that matter "who" we are as in bloodline.Originally Posted by Anthony Joseph
A friend of my, Baruch ben Daniel, wrote this excellent article showing the scriptural distinctions of the 3 Israels found there in both the Tanach/Old Testament and the B'rit Chadasha/Renewed Covenant (New Testament: Israel according to bloodline, the Israel of Elohim according to the Spiritual Kingdom and the third is Israel according to both blood and spirit. And I will add that not ALL Jews rejected Y'shua as the Messiah/Mashiyach...and certainly not all of the Jewish religious leaders of the day do either. (cont.)
Here's Baruch's article:
( taken from http://www.mashiyach.com/israel.htm )
There are essentially three "Israels" in Scripture, Israel according to bloodline, the Israel of Elohim according to the Spiritual Kingdom and the third is Israel according to both blood and spirit.
Israel according to Bloodline
Israelites by blood are born into one of the 12 tribes of Israel and their generations. Ya'akov was given the name "Israel" by YHWH, which means "Prince of Elohim." Some translators suggest that the Hebrew sarah is better translated as overcomer, but this is simply a theological persuasion. The Hebrew sar is well established as prince, as in Sar Shalom, the Prince of Peace. This is important to recognize because Ya'akov the supplanter (cheater) becomes a prince of Elohim according to his bloodline and spiritual calling and by overcoming his own nature with B'siyata d'shmaya (the help of heaven), but there is much more going on here than meets the eye.
The promise that Israel received is linked directly to the promises given to Avraham and Sarah. Ya'akov's new name "Israel" indicates that he is a prince of the chosen line, even the bloodline that carries the spiritual promise, as we read accounts of Israel's life we see that YHWH refers to him as Israel when he is obedient, but as Ya'akov when he falls short. This is how we ourselves are trained in spiritual matters, our forefathers teach us what is and what is not acceptable to YHWH.
The toldot (line or genealogy) of man according to the physical seed (family) has been chosen by YHWH to retain the knowledge of the Kingdom of Elohim, from Adam and Eve until the last human takes the last breath on planet earth every generation has had a prince of El to bear witness to the Kingdom of Elohim. The first mention of a Prince of El is in B'resheet/Genesis 23:6 "Hear us, my master: you are a prince with Elohim among us: in the choice of our sepulchers bury your dead; none of us shall withhold from you his sepulcher, but that you may bury your dead." Avraham is referred to as a nasi with Elohim, rather than a sar with Elohim, nasi comes from the prime root of nasa which means lifted up, in the context Avraham is lifted up by Elohim and is indeed a Prince of Elohim. It is this spiritual quality of Avraham that was planted among and offered to the Israelites according to YHWH's will.
Israel according to birthright is a people that was predestined before sin entered Adam and Eve, even if the label "Israel" was only revealed at the time of Ya'akov it makes no difference. The coming forth of Mashiyach through a race of people was promised in the seed of woman (Eve) in Genesis 3:15. The ancients knew very well that this seed prophesied in Genesis would be Mashiyach and that Mashiyach was to come out of this "line."
From the beginning of time YHWH has employed genetics to secure His Name and His Kingdom so that the inhabitants of the earth could hear of the One True Elohim Creator of all things. Genesis 5 & 11 are clear evidence that YHWH has established a Set Apart bloodline, even the New Covenant Writings begin with: "The book of the generation of Y'shua Mashiyach, the son of David, the son of Abraham." (Matthew 1:1) Clearly Mashiyach could only come through one chosen bloodline, any other "messiah" would be a laughingstock and completely illegitimate. Avraham was a Prince with Elohim, as was Noach, Enoch and Adam and it is through this bloodline that our forefathers received Instruction in Righteousness and taught their children about YHWH.
Israel of Elohim
Israel of the natural world is used to reveal the nature and qualities of Spiritual Israel, these Spiritual Israelites are they who are called by the Ruach haKodesh, who by Faith accept YHWH's Word as Covenant and who recognize His Government over all others. The Word of YHWH (Torah) is the covenant that the citizens of YHWH's Government welcome into their hearts and walk according to. The Israel of Elohim are referred to as a Kedoshim (Set Apart People), they distinguish between good and evil according to YHWH's Word as demonstrated through His Mashiyach Y'shua. The Israel of Elohim are a Kadosh Goyee (Set Apart Nation) that is a spiritual "nation" planted among all other nations where each one is given direction by the Ruach haKodesh. Natural Israel was physically scattered among all the nations for being disobedient, but their disobedience became opportunity for others. At the time of Babylon when language was confounded and peoples were scattered, YHWH was orchestrating the Jewish people to bear His Name before the rest of the nations, and by doing so He established the Israel of Elohim as a people within the people of Israel:
"Not, however, that the Word of Elohim has actually failed. For all are not Israel who are of Israel. Neither are they all sons because they are of the seed of Avraham: for it was said, In Yitzak shall your seed be called. That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of Elohim; but the children of the promise are accounted for the seed." (Romans 9:6-8)
Throughout history the Israel of Elohim are they who by Faith observe Torah, and who by Faith put trust in Mashiyach Y'shua for deliverance and atonement. Those who are NOT Spiritual Israel do not see any need for a "physician" or deliverance because they measure themselves according to the flesh, not the spirit. Israel after the flesh demanded a king to be like the other nations and a king was granted, but there was also a provision given that all kings of Israel were required to fulfill:
"And it shall be, when he sits upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this Torah in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear YHWH his Elohim, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel." (D'varim/Deut. 17:18-20) Of course it was a relatively rare king who was obedient and followed this instruction, nevertheless YHWH raised up prophets to judge the kings and people of Israel according to His will.
The Israel of Elohim are they who become a New Creation and by entering into Covenant resist lawlessness and falsehood of man's temporary religions. "And to those who follow this path: Let there be peace and mercy upon them and upon the Israel of Elohim." (Galatians 6:16)
The Israel of Elohim is Spiritual Israel who walks by Faith according to the Torah Mashiyach and who sanctifies the Word of YHWH. Herein is where many religious sects make wild-eyed claims to be part of Spiritual Israel yet many are extremely anti-Torah, anti-Semitic and anti-Mashiyach by inventing their own "messiahs." The Israel of Elohim is not a divided people, it is not a denomination or one race of people and there is One covenant for both Jews and Gentiles that is unified according to Mashiyach for all souls equally. The Israel of Elohim is a kingdom of people who temporarily abide within the kingdoms of the earth, but are not part of these kingdoms.
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