Who Is Israel Today?

We often hear Christians saying we should bless Israel. And it’s true; we should. But who is true Israel today? Hint: it has nothing to do with one’s bloodline or place of residence.

Paul said, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly” (Rom. 2:28–29). True Jews follow their Messiah. “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29). The terms “Abraham’s seed” and “heirs according to the promise” are synonyms for true Jews or true Israel.

True Jews follow Jesus. As Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees of his day: “If you were Abraham’s children [true Jews], you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father…You are of your father the devil” (John 8:39–44). At another time, Jesus said to the Christians in the first century: “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9). True Jews follow their Messiah.

Jesus took the kingdom away from Old Covenant Israel because they had a long history of rejecting the prophets and, eventually, their very Messiah; and he gave it to New Covenant Israel (consisting of true Jews and faithful Gentiles): “Therefore I [Jesus] say to you [Jews who reject me], the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it” (Matt 21:43). What “nation” was the kingdom given to? The Church. Peter specifically called the Church a “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a HOLY NATION, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Pet. 2:9).

Note: This was the very same way God described Israel 1500 years earlier: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a HOLY NATION'” (Ex. 19:6). Unfortunately, Israel had a long history of rejecting their prophets and, eventually, their very Messiah; so God took away the kingdom away from them and gave it to the Church (Matt. 21:33-45; see above).

Today, both Jews and Gentiles can be true Jews (true Israel). Jesus broke down the middle wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles, creating “one new man from the two” (Eph. 2:14–15). There are no more distinctions (spiritually speaking) between Jews and Gentiles. We are all one in Christ. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:28).

True Jews follow Messiah.

By Alex Polyak, Director of The Bible Fulfilled 6/29/24