Ephesians321
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The restoration of “Israel”Why does He gather us while we are yet sinners?
The apostles in Acts 1:6 question Jesus about the restoration of Israel. While Jesus doesn’t directly answer them, it can reasonably be claimed that the subsequent events related in the book of Acts constitute an affirmative answer: Israel was indeed about to be restored — in the gathering of God’s people through the gospel.
How is Israel restored?
Answer: “Israel” is first of all restored in Jesus, then in those who belong to him.
Jesus was the One true and faithful Israelite (Isa 49:3).
He obeyed God’s law perfectly in the wilderness (Lk 4:1-12).
He was the true and faithful Son of God (Lk 3:22, 38; cf. Ex 4:22; Hos 6:7; 11:1ff.).
He represented Israel both in his death and in his resurrection: His death was the ultimate exile; his resurrection, the ultimate restoration. His death/exile on behalf of Israel (in Isaiah 53) meant that the nation would be finally restored, not destroyed.
Now, “Israel” includes all the people of God — Gentiles too — who belong to Jesus and for whom he died and rose again. God’s people, who are “in Christ” and identified with him, comprise the true, spiritual Israel. Old Testament prophecies of restoration are thereby fulfilled. For example, Ezekiel’s Dry Bones Vision (Eze 37:1-14) finds fulfillment in Israel’s spiritual restoration under the New Covenant as the true “Israel of God” — comprising both Jewish and Gentile believers (Gal 6:16). The restoration of Davidic kingship, of Israel, and of dominion over the nations — to the promises God made to Abraham. Specifically, to the promises of an inheritance and of blessing to the world through Abraham’s seed (Gen 12:3, 7; 22:18).
These promises are fulfilled through the gospel: All nations are Christ’s inheritance and are blessed as they turn to him (Rom 4:13; Gal 3:8, 14; Ps 2:8, 12).
Faith joins us to Jesus and makes us children of Abraham and of God (Rom 4:9-25; 9:8; Gal 3:26-29).
The Jewish Remnant While “Israel” now constitutes believing Jews and Gentiles, we should perhaps note a role for ethnic Israel in the fulfilment of God’s promises. Paul in Romans 9 – 11 discusses this matter at length. His question is this: With the nation’s failure to believe in Jesus, have the promises of God for Israel failed (Rom 9:1-6)?
Paul goes on to show that God’s promises had ultimate reference to an elect remnant within the nation. Moreover, he seems to anticipate a yet future mass turning of ethnic Jews to their Messiah (Rom 11:11-32).
The Old Testament prophets often spoke concerning this remnant — those of the nation who survive God’s judgments. With evildoers destroyed, the righteous remnant alone will remain, or return from exile to repossess their land and city. See Isaiah 1:9; 4:2-3; 6:13; 10:20-23; 11:11, 16; 28:5; 37:31-32; 46:3; 49:6; Jeremiah 23:3; 50:20; Ezekiel 9:4-6; Joel 2:32; Amos 5:15; 9:8; Micah 2:12; 4:7; 7:18; Zephaniah 2:7, 9; 3:12-13; Malachi 4:1-3.
First-century Jewish Christians viewed themselves as constituting this faithful remnant (see Romans 11:1-6). The Hebrews author addresses these believing Jews, urging them to remain faithful in view of God’s imminent judgment on their nation (cf. Heb 10:25, 30, 39).
And, Revelation 7:1-8 shows the first-century Jewish remnant being sealed by God to exempt them from coming judgment (cf. Eze 9:4-6). 12,000 are sealed from each Israelite tribe, 144,000 in total. That they come from all twelve Israelite tribes shows that Old Testament promises concerning the ultimate reunion of both kingdoms — Israel and Judah — have been fulfilled through Christ (cf. Isa 11:12-13; Jer 3:18; 23:5-6; Eze 37:15-22; Hos 1:11).
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