Romans 9:6-9 “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. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.”
In verse two of this chapter, Paul expresses a deep sorrow for his national kinsmen. He goes on to point out all that they had received from God, and still they had failed to recognize God’s only begotten Son. As a nation, they were not enjoying the fulfillment of serving God, but had instead become self-serving. They did not recognize the fullness of the promises of God in Jesus Christ.
However, Paul had no intention with this concern to leave the idea that the word of God had somehow failed. The word of God is always effectual (1 Thessalonians 2:13) and never returns unto Him void (Isaiah 55:11). Simply put, being born an Israelite by nature is not an assurance of being an Israelite spiritually. Under the law covenant, being an Israelite was all about one’s ancestry, but under the covenant of grace it is about being a follower of Christ.
Even if we could trace our family tree back to Abraham, that would not secure us a place in God’s kingdom here. If that is not enough to place us in God’s kingdom here, then it is certainly not enough to get us into Eternal Heaven. Although there was a promise given to Abraham, the actual fulfillment of that promise came through Isaac. It was though Isaac’s lineage that the seed of Abraham would be named (called).
The natural lineage of Jesus is nothing short of miraculous. Both Sarah and Abraham were well past the age of having children. Not only that, but Sarah had been barren for all of her long life. Yet, God appointed them a time when He would come in their old age, and Sarah would have a son whose name was Isaac.
Although Isaac was the son that God promised to Abraham and Sarah, Isaac was not the seed that would bless all nations. Out of Isaac’s lineage, through his son Jacob (whose name God changed to Israel), came a young virgin named Mary. Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Ghost and gave birth to Jesus. Through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, God has a people in every nation and tongue upon the earth.
The children of God are born of the Holy Spirit, not Abraham or Isaac or Jacob. Our lineage is through Jesus Christ our Lord who is the true promised seed. So whether we are by nature Jew or Gentile has no bearing on whether we are spiritually Israel. The word of God is effectual in all His promises to both Jew and Gentile, bond and free, male and female.
May we go forth and be a living sacrifice unto God our Father, as is fitting of those called by His name!
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