A Christian Is Not A Spiritual Jew
by Dr. Daniel Fuchs
A Christian is not a “a spiritual Jew” and the Church is not Israel.
This year [1980] Israel celebrates her 32nd birthday. Actually she is
celebrating her 3741st birthday! There has never been an interruption of
continuity of the Abrahamic Covenant. God's covenant with Abraham has
always been valid and it has never been transferred.
A large section
of the Christian church, including many devout Bible-believing
scholars, many evangelical denominations, and even some
premillennialists, are deluded with the idea that because Israel
nationally rejected their Messiah, her privileges were forfeited. They
mistakenly think that God's purpose to bless the world through Abraham's
natural seed has been transferred to the Church which they say without
any biblical basis is the “spiritual Israel.”
According to their
reasoning, the “spiritual Israel” - the Church - has superseded the
national Israel. In other words, God's promises to Abraham were
transferred to the Church. Extending their logic, one could come to a
wrong conclusion; namely, that the land which once was called Palestine
does not belong to Israel but instead belongs to the Church. Israel is,
therefore, an usurper.
The Medieval church took this position. In fact, the Crusades were fought to wrest the land of Palestine from the “Infidel” - the “Mohammedan usurpers” - and on the way the Crusaders slaughtered countless numbers of Jews.
It is not surprising, therefore, that devout, intelligent Christians who believe that a Christian is a “spiritual Jew” and the Church is Israel are frequently anti-Israel. This fact makes it harder for us to bring the Gospel to the Jewish people.
A Christian is not a “spiritual Jew” and the Church is not Israel. God promised to Abram several things.
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:2-3).
“...Unto thy seed will I give this land” (Gen. 12:7).
These are promises that are unconditional - “I will make,” “I will bless,” “I will give.” If God would change or transfer His unconditional promises, where do you and I stand?
Here we face a problem which can cause confusion. In the Scriptures Abraham is not only the father of the Jewish people, he also is father of all who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are two applications of the term “seed of Abraham” in the New Testament. The first is to our Lord. “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” (Gal. 3:16).
The second refers to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, Jew or Gentile. “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29).
Abraham was not a Jew even though he became the father of the Jews. Abram was 75 years old when God instituted the Abrahamic Covenant. (See Gen. 12:4). He was 99 years old when he was circumcised. Paul, in his Letter to the Romans, uses this fact to show Abraham's unique position - father of the Jews and father of the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised” (Rom. 4:9-12).
The Bible teaches plainly that all believers of the Lord Jesus are children of Abraham. They are Abraham's spiritual seed. One of the heroes of modern missions to the Jews was John Wilkinson, the founder and director of the Mildmay Mission to the Jews of London, England. He was a Gentile believer in our Lord. In his book, Israel My Glory he writes:
All believers in Christ are thus by the authority of Scripture Abraham's spiritual seed. But this does not imply that believers of Gentile origin are spiritual Israelites. One does not include the other; one excludes the other. No one but a converted natural Israelite is properly and scripturally a spiritual Israelite. The very fact that I, a believing Gentile am a child of Abraham by faith, is the very reason why I am not a spiritual Israelite. Israel was a name given by God to only one man - Jacob - whose children were children of Israel, and whose descendants were and are designated Israelites. The term Israelites legitimately applies to all the descendants of Jacob, and to none others. Are not believing Gentiles spiritual Israelites? No, certainly not. Why not, if they are children of Abraham? Are not the terms “spiritual seed of Abraham” and “spiritual Israelites” one and the same as to their meaning? They are not the same thing in themselves, though they both apply equally to all truly converted natural Israelites, they being spiritual Israelites and spiritual seed of Abraham also. Why are not believing Gentiles spiritual Israelites? Because Israel was a term applied to Jacob after he was circumcised, and is never applied to any but Jacob's circumcised descendants. Abraham became the father of believers - circumcised and uncircumcised - in a covenant of faith made with him years before he was circumcised; so that blessings flowing out of this covenant might reach all nations, whilst blessings affecting Israelites as such, would be confined to the elect nation. This teaching will become perfectly clear by a careful study of Romans IV and Galatians III." (pp. 17-18)
There are three passages which are frequently quoted to substantiate the “spiritual Israelites” and “spiritual Jew” misconception. Even a casual reading of these passages shows the shallowness of this interpretation. The first is John 1:47. “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” This was our Lord's description of Nathannael. Nathannael was a Jew who was also a spiritual Israelite. We frequently describe a faithful servant of our Lord as a real Christian. Nathannael was a real Israelite in the highest sense of the word.
The second passage is Romans 2:28-29: “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
Paul is stating substantially about a Jew who is a Jew physically and spiritually. Many Jews have always prided themselves as being God's favored because of their national election. He thinks that his circumcision secures his salvation. This is not true. He must become an “Israelite indeed” like Nathannael, a “Jew inwardly whose circumcision is that of the heart.”
The third reference is Galatians 6:15-16: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature, And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”
Does the term “Israel of God” include believing Gentiles as well as believing Jews? I don't think so. In these words Paul prays for a blessing on believing Gentiles and beyond these, the Israel of God. The “Israel of God” evidently refers to some people other than believing Gentiles. It is my conviction that Paul's phrase “Israel of God” refers not only to believing Jews but that it includes unbelieving Jews also. Paul's prayer in Romans 10:1, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved,” is absolutely consistent with this interpretation. A prayer from Paul for his own people included all Jews saved and unsaved. This should also be the prayer of every born-again Christian.
The Medieval church took this position. In fact, the Crusades were fought to wrest the land of Palestine from the “Infidel” - the “Mohammedan usurpers” - and on the way the Crusaders slaughtered countless numbers of Jews.
It is not surprising, therefore, that devout, intelligent Christians who believe that a Christian is a “spiritual Jew” and the Church is Israel are frequently anti-Israel. This fact makes it harder for us to bring the Gospel to the Jewish people.
A Christian is not a “spiritual Jew” and the Church is not Israel. God promised to Abram several things.
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:2-3).
“...Unto thy seed will I give this land” (Gen. 12:7).
These are promises that are unconditional - “I will make,” “I will bless,” “I will give.” If God would change or transfer His unconditional promises, where do you and I stand?
Here we face a problem which can cause confusion. In the Scriptures Abraham is not only the father of the Jewish people, he also is father of all who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are two applications of the term “seed of Abraham” in the New Testament. The first is to our Lord. “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” (Gal. 3:16).
The second refers to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, Jew or Gentile. “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29).
Abraham was not a Jew even though he became the father of the Jews. Abram was 75 years old when God instituted the Abrahamic Covenant. (See Gen. 12:4). He was 99 years old when he was circumcised. Paul, in his Letter to the Romans, uses this fact to show Abraham's unique position - father of the Jews and father of the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised” (Rom. 4:9-12).
The Bible teaches plainly that all believers of the Lord Jesus are children of Abraham. They are Abraham's spiritual seed. One of the heroes of modern missions to the Jews was John Wilkinson, the founder and director of the Mildmay Mission to the Jews of London, England. He was a Gentile believer in our Lord. In his book, Israel My Glory he writes:
All believers in Christ are thus by the authority of Scripture Abraham's spiritual seed. But this does not imply that believers of Gentile origin are spiritual Israelites. One does not include the other; one excludes the other. No one but a converted natural Israelite is properly and scripturally a spiritual Israelite. The very fact that I, a believing Gentile am a child of Abraham by faith, is the very reason why I am not a spiritual Israelite. Israel was a name given by God to only one man - Jacob - whose children were children of Israel, and whose descendants were and are designated Israelites. The term Israelites legitimately applies to all the descendants of Jacob, and to none others. Are not believing Gentiles spiritual Israelites? No, certainly not. Why not, if they are children of Abraham? Are not the terms “spiritual seed of Abraham” and “spiritual Israelites” one and the same as to their meaning? They are not the same thing in themselves, though they both apply equally to all truly converted natural Israelites, they being spiritual Israelites and spiritual seed of Abraham also. Why are not believing Gentiles spiritual Israelites? Because Israel was a term applied to Jacob after he was circumcised, and is never applied to any but Jacob's circumcised descendants. Abraham became the father of believers - circumcised and uncircumcised - in a covenant of faith made with him years before he was circumcised; so that blessings flowing out of this covenant might reach all nations, whilst blessings affecting Israelites as such, would be confined to the elect nation. This teaching will become perfectly clear by a careful study of Romans IV and Galatians III." (pp. 17-18)
There are three passages which are frequently quoted to substantiate the “spiritual Israelites” and “spiritual Jew” misconception. Even a casual reading of these passages shows the shallowness of this interpretation. The first is John 1:47. “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” This was our Lord's description of Nathannael. Nathannael was a Jew who was also a spiritual Israelite. We frequently describe a faithful servant of our Lord as a real Christian. Nathannael was a real Israelite in the highest sense of the word.
The second passage is Romans 2:28-29: “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
Paul is stating substantially about a Jew who is a Jew physically and spiritually. Many Jews have always prided themselves as being God's favored because of their national election. He thinks that his circumcision secures his salvation. This is not true. He must become an “Israelite indeed” like Nathannael, a “Jew inwardly whose circumcision is that of the heart.”
The third reference is Galatians 6:15-16: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature, And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”
Does the term “Israel of God” include believing Gentiles as well as believing Jews? I don't think so. In these words Paul prays for a blessing on believing Gentiles and beyond these, the Israel of God. The “Israel of God” evidently refers to some people other than believing Gentiles. It is my conviction that Paul's phrase “Israel of God” refers not only to believing Jews but that it includes unbelieving Jews also. Paul's prayer in Romans 10:1, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved,” is absolutely consistent with this interpretation. A prayer from Paul for his own people included all Jews saved and unsaved. This should also be the prayer of every born-again Christian.
Originally published in: "The Chosen People"
