"It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel" (Romans 9:6)

It is encouraging to know that God's word will never fail, it is as sure as the dawn. His spoken word holds the Universe together and we can rest assured in the promises given to us, found in His written word. God said in Isaiah, "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" ( Isaiah 55:11 ). When we hold fast to what he is spoken we can know that His word will accomplish the purpose to which it was sent. Jeremiah tells us, "... I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled" ( Jeremiah 1:12 ). God watches over his word to see that it is fulfilled and that it accomplished the purpose to which it was sent forth.

In today's passage Paul tells us that God's word concerning the covenant with Abraham had not failed even though the Jews had rejected Jesus. Instead he reveals an amazing truth that had not previously been disclosed, "not all who are descended from Israel are Israel." The Bible reveals to us that God is spirit and his promises and covenants are spiritual. Just because someone is born into the natural line of Abraham does not automatically make him a part of the promise to Abraham. Paul said in Galatians, "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" ( Galatians 3:29 ). God's true children in the world are born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible seed based upon the word of God ( I Peter 1:23 ). God true children and chosen people in the world are born again by faith.

This is because the covenant made with Abraham was based upon the promise of Isaac not merely based upon a son of Abraham. Paul adds clarity to this in verse 8 where he said, "In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring" ( Romans 9:8 ). Isaac was the promised. Abraham had another son, however Ishmael was born out of a natural desire to fulfill the promise not the supernatural fulfillment of the promise as Isaac was. This is an amazing thing because it makes an allotment for us who were not born naturally into Israel to because grafted into the promise through faith.

Abraham accepted the covenant with God on the bases of faith. There was nothing that he could do to produce a child with Sarah and they were well beyond the natural age to bear child, so he believe God promise and his faith was credited to him as righteousness ( Genesis 15:6 ). Because of it, he saw the promise God made to him come to fulfillment through Isaac. Paul said in Galatians, "Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith" ( Galatians 3:6-9 ). In other words, it has always been God's design to credit righteous to us by faith, just as he did Abraham. God knew he would accept the Gentiles on the basis of faith and disclosed it to Abraham because he considered him his friend. So if we have the same faith that Abraham had then we are considered sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus ( Galatians 3:23 ). So in this sense God's word never failed concerning Israel, it has been fulfilled in us who through faith have been born again according to the promise.

Today, I am blessed to be a child of God and to see the promise of Abraham operating in my life. I pray that your eyes are opened to understanding this wonderful truth that through faith in Jesus Christ you are heirs to the promise and a part of God's chosen people in the world, amen.

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Original article published January 5, 2010.

"the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen" (Romans 9:4-5)

There is no argument that Israel has blessed the world immensely. They have been on the forefront of the worlds stage since the earliest of days. This is because there is something special about them. Throughout their history God has moved on their account is unusual and wonderful ways. Throughout the Old Testament, accounts of his mighty provision and demonstration of power proceeded the Israelites where ever they went. No one could deny that they had the power of God on their side.

In today's passage Paul mentioned a few of the things that were special unto them alone. First of all Israel was considered Gods children. They were God's chosen people on this earth. The people of the earth quaked with fear concerning them because they knew that the one true God moved on their behalf. His divine presence or Shekinah glory went before them in the desert and fighting in battles. His presence was always with them as a people. God also made special covenants with them. It started with Abraham and he was promised that the entire world would be blessed through him. The covenants were initiated, ratified and upheld by God. Next to the Israelites the law was given. He revealed to them the righteousness that he ascribed to and spoke to them the Holy commandments so that they would have a bases to live by and be different from the nations surrounding them. All of it of course pointed to Christ so he also revealed to them the temple worship. He revealed the sacrificial system which were types and shadows of the promised Messiah. Looking forward to the time of Christ which he had promised them as far back as the garden. To Israel belonged the long line of patriarchs. Their ancestry was great indeed and through the natural lineage came Christ fulfilling the promise to Abraham that the entire world would be blessed by him.

Israel indeed has blessed the world. However, they took what was meant to be a close relationship of trust and turned it into ritual and obligation. They were meant to be the vehicle in which the Messiah would come to the world and instead their hardness of heart caused them to missed him when He was here. The Savior of the world was promised to them and they got so wrapped up in religion that they didn't even recognize him when he came to them. Paul said in the previous verses that he had unceasing anguish in heart on account of his fellow brothers. He expressed that he himself wished that he could be cursed and cut off so they would believe in Christ. All of these things that were theirs by God's grace were nullified by their unbelief in Jesus.

This is a great lesson for us today. It is easy to get wrapped up in going to church and being involved in Bible Studies and church organizations and miss the point. It has always been about relationship and that relationship has to start with recognizing Jesus as the Savior. It doesn't matter if you come from a long line of Christians or if you have gone to church your entire life. What matters is that you don't miss Him in life. He is the pinnacle of history and recognizing that He is the Messiah is fulfillment of the covenant that Abraham had with God. Take this lesson from the Israelites who were the beneficiaries of all these blessing through God, don't let ritual and tradition disqualify you from true riches and blessings. It is only through faith in Christ that the promise is fulfilled in your heart.

Today, I am blessed to be a child of God. I am blessed to know that I too, belong to the promise and I am part of God's chosen people in the world today. By faith in Christ, you also are "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone ( Ephesians 2:20 ). May you rejoice in the wonderful blessing that is in Christ Jesus, amen!

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Original article published January 3, 2010.