Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham's descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God's] promise. |
Bible Question:
Who are the elect? Is it the Jews only or is it all believers, Jews and Gentiles alike? A Messianic believer recently told me that when the Bible speaks of "the elect" it is speaking of the Jews only. I disagree, but I need help in explaining to him why I disagree. Can anyone provide me with Bible-based information I could use to show him that the Bible term "the elect" does not apply solely to Jews? (I use the term "the Jews" instead of "Israel" because, according to my friend, it isn't even Israel who are the elect. According to him, it is only the Jews (narrowly defined by him as those who are descednants of the tribe of Judah) that are the elect.) I'm asking for this information not for the purpose of winning an argument. I merely want to be able to show my friend the truth of the matter. Whether he accepts it is up to him. Any factual, biblical information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Grace to you, John * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Galatians 3:26-29 NASB For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. |
Bible Answer: Dear Brother John, I'm familiar with some of these strange, and false, teachings regarding the Jews. I won't use my own heritage as a descendant of Israel in this argument, except to say that the question you raise is one I've had reason to carefully considerer. Your "Messianic believer" does well in his willingness to receive the Old Testament teachings. However, he fails by not taking into account the whole revelation of God. That's ubiquitous error common to the modern Judaizer, on one end of the spectrum, and the modern antinomian, on the other. Both issues plagued the early church. That's why they are answered so explicitly! First, let me contradict a commonly taught false doctrine. Not all Jews -- descendants of Judah or otherwise -- will be saved. Romans 9 emphasizes the Lord's determination only to save "the children of the promise" (v 8), excluding some of the descendants of Israel (vv 6-8, 11). Only those who pursue righteousness by faith alone (vv 30-33) will be saved. They are the ones to whom God has mercifully chosen to bring to saving faith (vv 15-18). The Lord has chosen to save some of the community of Israel (vv 6, 11, 23-24, 29), while others are Gentiles (vv 24-26, 30); i.e., aliens to the children of promise. Romans 9:27-28 very explicitly states that some Jews will not be saved. We cannot appeal to our heritage in order to earn the slightest iota of salvific merit. Now, let's look for a moment at the book of Isaiah. "But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen." (Isaiah 44:1-2 ESV) To whom is God speaking? Well, clearly He addresses these words to Israel (v 1). God affirms here that He has chosen Israel (v 2). They are, indeed, His elect. This is probably one of the passages to which your "Messianic believer" would appeal. (The chapter is really a delightful one. It anticipates the coming of Messiah, the blessings that accrue due to His atonement, and the establishment of the Spirit's indwelling of His people.) So, do we go along with those who use Isaiah 44:1-2 as a proof text? Let us continue with Isaiah. Reading further on we see the following: "Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says the LORD. "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities." (Isaiah 54:1-3 ESV) [Here the prophet is speaking to the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:4-7.] Then the Lord says, "For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel [Christ] is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called." (v 5a) This is another wonderful passage that speaks of the coming evangelization of the nations. We might argue about whether or not Isaiah is speaking of some yet future time. Fortunately, though, Paul clears this up. He quotes Isaiah 54:1 in Galatians 4:27. Their he says, "Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise... So, brothers, we are not children of the slave [Hagar] but of the free woman [Sarah]. (Galatians 4:28, 31 ESV) In other words, the children of Israel [the elect] are the redeemed. There are many more passages that show the error of your "Messianic believer." I hope the ones I've chosen help to make the point clearly. I also apologize for not investing more time in the answer than I have done. It is hoped that it has, nevertheless, helped to point you in the right direction. In Him, Doc |
Up | Down View Branch | ID# 182673 | ||
Questions and/or Subjects for Gal 3:29 | Author | ||
|
Thomas8 | ||
|
kalos | ||
|
ebrain | ||
|
ebrain | ||
|
kalos | ||
|
DocTrinsograce | ||
|
kalos | ||
|
kalos | ||
|
inform me |