Israel on SermonAudio

Note: This edition of the Generations Radio Program originally aired in 2025. Should America or Christians in general be actively seeking to defend the nation of Israel? What is to be said for the Seed of Abraham inheriting the world? The rising tide of anti-semitism and wars in the Middle East bring the question of the nation of Israel to the forefront in the minds of many Christians. We ask the question, "What does the Bible say about that?" But our real task here is to train us all how to handle the trunk and the leaves, the quarrelsome and the questionable, the divisive and the controversial, the camels and gnats, in theology. While we may not answer all the questions that various Christian sects would prefer us answer, we stick to core issues here as a matter of principle.

Theme: God's laws governing Israel's offerings remind us of three reasons for thanksgiving to God 1. Because He Gives 2. Because He Lives 3. Because He Reigns

Circumcision was established by God to identify specific earthly promises to Abraham and his descendants and to the nation that would come from him and through which the Messiah would come. Specifically, it was a sign that Abraham would be the father of many nations, and that through Israel, Jesus the Christ, the seed, would be born. Circumcision also pointed toward a greater spiritual reality in that while physical circumcision could not achieve any real constraint of sin and caused God to have no obligation to save anyone, circumcision of the heart was only for the sons of God. But as is often the case with the earthly types that God institutes, because of sin, physical circumcision is often taught to have direct spiritual significance. In the New Testament, there were Jews who tried to tie circumcision directly to salvation to the point where Peter was caught up in their lies and had to be publicly rebuked by Paul. This is also a distinct disagreement between Presbyterians and Reformed Baptists where Presbyterians associate circumcision with baptism and by implication apply the promises of the baptism of Jesus Christ to unbelieving children and from it a form of belonging or covenant membership within the church. We believe that this Presbyterian view of the relationship between circumcision and baptism is contrary to scripture. (We are even more opposed to the views of circumcision and baptism that lead to paedocommunion and to the teachings called Federal Vision)Please join us as we discuss the nature of circumcision and the purposes to which God appointed it. Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - D

Psalms 25:14 "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant." King James Version

This sermon explores the theological promise that all Israel will be saved, centering on the identity of the Deliverer who will come out of Zion. The speaker connects Romans 11 with numerous Psalms and prophetic books to illustrate that Jesus Christ is the ultimate Deliverer who will return to Jerusalem, specifically standing on the Mount of Olives, to establish His kingdom. The message contrasts the current age of grace, where God does not impute sin, with the future period of judgment and the Great Tribulation, emphasizing that the church is secure in heavenly places while Israel awaits national restoration. A significant portion of the discourse is dedicated to warning against false prophets and self-appointed end-times predictors who have historically failed to correctly identify the timing of Christ's return. The sermon concludes by urging believers to rely solely on the Word of God and the finished work of Christ at Calvary, rather than engaging in speculative date-setting or trusting in human interpretations of signs.

To the Jews, the sons of Abraham were his lineal, physical descendants. We must let the New Testament interpret the Old. Paul revealed the truth that the prophesied sons of Abraham are those who have the same faith as Abraham (ethnicity has nothing to do with it). Tina Turner sang, "What love got to do with it?" Paul could have crooned, "What's race got to do with it?" Here's how Paul put it in Romans: CSB Romans 4:9b-11 Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness. In what way …was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? It was … while he was … uncircumcised…. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised … NIV Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. The physical descendants promised to Abraham were a type of the ultimate fulfillment: his spiritual descendants. Physical Israel was only a foreshadowing of the true fulfillment: Christ and the Church. This is why, at the end of Galatians, Paul refers to the Church as the true Israel: NIV Galatians 6:15-16 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.* Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. [All who live by this new-creation standard are specifically described as "the Israel of God", designating the true people of God in the new covenant]. *NIV 2 Corinthians 5:17 … if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation …

The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:43-51)

Pastor Brandon began by highlighting the theme from the book of Hebrews: a "more excellent ministry" with "better promises." The author of Hebrews introduces the New Covenant not as a disconnected, new invention, but as a fulfillment of promises found right in the Old Testament, specifically from the prophet Jeremiah. • Connecting Old and New: It is a mistake to completely divide the Old and New Testaments, as if the New Covenant has no connection to what came before. God's plan for the New Covenant is an eternal one, worked out through time and revealed to Israel long ago. • Understanding "New": It is also a mistake to see no distinction between the Old and New Covenants. The New Covenant is not merely the Old Covenant restated. It is genuinely "new" in its final revelation and fulfillment in the person and work of Christ, even as it is connected to God's ancient promises. • The Role of Christ: The book of Hebrews points directly to Jesus Christ as the one in whom this revelation and fulfillment are worked out.