The Seed of Abraham and the inheritor of all of God's promises is Jesus Christ:
Gal_3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
And we, through Christ, become the seeds of Abraham:
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal 3:27-29)
Unbelieving Jews are not members of the Israel of God, but only according to the flesh:
"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." (Rom 9:6-8)
It is, therefore, complete nonsense, from the Christian perspective, to claim that we are obligated to "love" and "bless" Israel, a secular state, merely because of their relation to Abraham according to the flesh, when the promises and scripture they cite apply to the Christians instead. It is also pretty offensive for religious Jews to attempt to lecture to Christians such doctrine that is contrary to our faith in Christ.
The reason the PCUSA is falling isn't because they picked a fight with "Israel." It's because they're doctrinally liberal, which, only coincidentally, also means they support such things as boycotts against Israel. People were leaving the PCUSA over gay pastors long before anything about Israel ever came up. But, supposedly, we're supposed to believe that by some magic, or by God's divine wrath, it was the moment they boycotted Jewish goods that suddenly these churches started going downhill. It's quite arrogant.
Given the parable of the ‘rich man’, Abraham is Christian. Christ while in the tomb went to those in prison and offered all those back to Noah ‘Salvation’. One Peter 3 and 4
Thank you for posting that well written reply.
Only if you continue in His goodness; otherwise you will be cut off. Be not highminded but fear.
It is, therefore, complete nonsense, from the Christian perspective, to claim that we are obligated to "love" and "bless" Israel, a secular state, merely because of their relation to Abraham according to the flesh, when the promises and scripture they cite apply to the Christians instead. It is also pretty offensive for religious Jews to attempt to lecture to Christians such doctrine that is contrary to our faith in Christ.
Christians are obligated to love the Jews. The Jews are holy, and beloved, for the sake of the Messiah and the fathers. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Romans, Catholic chapter eleven, Protestant verses eleven to thirty six,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James, boldness mine.
Well said and spot on.
I agree.
What part of Holy Scripture says I have some kind of obligation to support a radically secular state that proudly hosts an annual "gay pride" parade in Jerusalem?
You who speak boldly of the arrogance of those who proclaim the full word of God do so with the arrogance of one whose judgement is impaired by a Darbyesque version of the Closed Exclusive Brethren.
If you don’t know why the physical descendants of Jacob are special to God then you have missed most of the point of scripture . Careful you just might be one of the wild branches that are cut off.
**It is, therefore, complete nonsense, from the Christian perspective, to claim that we are obligated to “love” and “bless” Israel, a secular state, merely because of their relation to Abraham according to the flesh, when the promises and scripture they cite apply to the Christians instead.**
Paul shows how to preach the truth in love:
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Romans 10:1,2
**It is also pretty offensive for religious Jews to attempt to lecture to Christians such doctrine that is contrary to our faith in Christ.**
Thin skinned?? There are stores that sell leather coats, pants, shoes, gloves, and even hats.