What is the Commonwealth of Israel?
Why is Commonwealth of Israel theology important?
Commonwealth of Israel Theology Summary
No Longer Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel
It is imperative, if we are to understand the fullness of the message undergirding Commonwealth Theology - simply but profoundly clarified we find the following to be its foundation truths (primarily from the NT book of Paul's Letter to the Ephesians:
- We all must be adopted into the household and inheritance of God through faith in Jesus--this is true for the Jew as well as the Gentile as expressed by Jesus in John 8.
- God planned before the foundations of the world to include the Nations—the rest of mankind—in His great salvation (Gen. 12:2; Amos 9:11-12; John 11:51-52; Acts 15:16-18.
- This plan, which has now been revealed, remained shrouded in mystery until the work of Christ; and Paul was made administrator of this revelation (Eph. 3:6).
- The Commonwealth of Israel includes those adopted from among the Nations and the "natural branches,"—the Jews, Paul's fellow countrymen, "to whom pertain the adoption..." (Rom. 9:4);
- Even those of Judah (the Jewish people) who, until the present time, remain disobedient to the gospel, that in the future, they may become obedient: "Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy" (Rom. 11:28-32).
- Thus, the Commonwealth of Israel recognizes a distinction between:
- The irrevocable gift of election, and
- Unmerited Messianic salvation, which is freely given through faith (as in Abraham was justified by faith, not works) in the finished work of Christ.
The Significance of the Divorce and Remarriage of Israel
God elected Israel (Deut 7:6) and entered into a marriage contract with her at Mt Sinai (Exo 24:7-8, Jer 31:32), commonly referred to as the Old Covenant. Sadly, instead of being faithful, Israel repeatedly went after other gods (Jer 3) which lead to the split of the united kingdom into the southern kingdom of Judah (house of Judah under Rehoboam) and the northern kingdom of Israel (House of Israel/Ephraim under Jeroboam) (1Kings 11:31-32). Finally, after seven hundred years of adultery since Sinai, God gave the northern kingdom a certificate of divorce and sent her away (Jer 3:8, Hos 2:2), calling her No-Mercy (Lo-Ruchama) and Not-My-People (Lo-Ammi) (Hos 1:8-9) and she (ten tribes) assimilated into the pagan gentiles (nations) (Hos 7:8, 8:8, 9:17, 2Kings 17:23-24). Judah likewise deserved divorce but God would not because of his promise to David (Hos 1:7, 1Kings 11:32).
God then promised to betroth the house of Israel to himself in righteousness (Hos 2:19) and to restore the two kingdoms into one (two sticks per Ezk 37:16-23). That promise created a divine dilemma because God's instructions (law) did not permit a woman to come back to her first husband after she had been married to others (Deut 24:1-4) (that was the curse of the law) (Gal 3:13).
This divine dilemma was resolved by Jesus' (the husband's) death, which canceled the Old (Marriage) Covenant and canceled the curse of the law (due to her adultery) (Rom 7:1-4). Now those who were not his people (Rom 9:24-26) and who had not obtained mercy (1Pet 2:10) could come into the commonwealth of Israel as full members and citizens (Eph 2:11-19) which was also in fulfillment of Ephraim becoming the multitude of nations (Gen 48:19, Rom 11:25).
God then promised to betroth the house of Israel to himself in righteousness (Hos 2:19) and to restore the two kingdoms into one (two sticks per Ezk 37:16-23). That promise created a divine dilemma because God's instructions (law) did not permit a woman to come back to her first husband after she had been married to others (Deut 24:1-4) (that was the curse of the law) (Gal 3:13).
This divine dilemma was resolved by Jesus' (the husband's) death, which canceled the Old (Marriage) Covenant and canceled the curse of the law (due to her adultery) (Rom 7:1-4). Now those who were not his people (Rom 9:24-26) and who had not obtained mercy (1Pet 2:10) could come into the commonwealth of Israel as full members and citizens (Eph 2:11-19) which was also in fulfillment of Ephraim becoming the multitude of nations (Gen 48:19, Rom 11:25).
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