Are You An Israelite? I Am.

Who is Israel? What is an Israelite? This seems to be difficult for believers to answer.

I’m not saying I’m a Jew.  I’m not nor desire to be a Jew.  

What am I saying then?

Paul says it very plainly in Romans 11:16-18. “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 Grafted 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.” 

Gentiles, by faith, are grafted in among Israel (the Israel of God) as Israelites.  It’s not by blood.  It never has been.  That’s why John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:9:  “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”  Could God raise up children unto Abraham out of stones?  Yes.  Where’s the blood in that?  There is none.  Can you imagine what a smack in the face it was to the religious elite (Pharisees and Sadducees) that heard this?  Their blood heritage meant nothing. You gotta love it.

A few thoughts to ponder.

Can you define who or what is a “Jew” as the term is used in today’s world? Are there full-blooded Jews anywhere to be found any more? Who’s from the tribe of Judah, raise your hand? Prove it. How much Jewish “blood” does a Gentile person have to have to be a Jew if a Gentile could be a Jew? Or … how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could …?  That leads me to my next thought.

2.   What about Ruth the Gentile Moabite?  What was she?  (This gets sticky since she’s in the
      line of Yeshua.)  Was she a Jew?  In one sense, yes.  She lived in Judah when she came
      back with Naomi.  Ruth became an Israelite who lived in Judah.  And her status in the
      family of Israel was by her faith in the God of Abraham.  She was GRAFTED IN.  No blood
      included. (Except the blood of Yeshua.) However, in the modern day sense she would not
      be considered a “Jew.” Today she wouldn’t be allowed to live in Israel.  Imagine that.
    
3.  Now let’s throw a wrench into the works from Romans 9:6-7? “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.” 

What are you?  

A Christian?  A Messianic?  A Jew?  A Gentile?  A Jew-Gile? What does your blood tell you that you are?  What does your faith tell you that you are?  Are you of the faith of Abraham?  Are you of the blood of Abraham?  Was Abraham a Jew?  …

What do you do with Galatians 3:28-29? “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.”

I’m not going to give you your answers.  You must answer these things for yourself.  

Here’s the thing.

If believers are truly Israelites, can you say any longer that the “Law” is/was just for the Jews and not Christians.  If that’s the case, Ruth was chowing down on BLT sandwiches and enjoying her Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit at McDonald’s.  Did Ruth the “X-Gentile” live within the Torah or not?  I bet she knew what she was.  I doubt she was a confused about all this as Christians and Messianics are.

Are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise? (Gal. 3) This is no small matter.  This is vitally important. If you’re in Messiah then you are Abraham’s seed.  

And if you are Abraham’s seed by faith … what are you?  Hmmm?