Every Christian would agree that the misinterpretation of scripture[s] is the source of most, if not all, false doctrines and teachings. That is not to imply that we have to have our ducks-in-a-row 100% concerning all scripture–for, as long as we’re here on earth, we’ll be constantly learning and receiving revelation concerning God’s Word. It’s my impression God through the Holy Spirit, enlightens us to truth as we continue to study the Word.
Saying all that, I do believe the misinterpretation of certain scriptures has grown over decades into actual false doctrines being taught as truth within the Church–especially in the Western Church.
Genesis 12: 3 is one such scripture:
“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
If you’re familiar with chapter 12, then you know this is God speaking to Abraham.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (1-3)
In the past (and in numerous posts) I’ve pointed out those like John Hagee (CUFI) for their erroneous doctrine[s] propagated by using this verse (3) to spread false-hood.
Such as:
Support of Israel means the support of biblical Zionism, and those who know the Bible know that it is not an option for the committed Christian.
(Jesus) taught us by His conduct that Gentiles who support Israel have His special blessing.
How important is it that Christians bless the nation of Israel and the Jewish people? God told Abraham that all anti-Semites (those who are hostile toward the Jews) are under His curse (see Gen. 12:1-3), and Jesus declared that they will come under the judgment of God during the judgment of the nations.
Few Christians recognize that there are five judgments in Scripture….The fourth judgment is the judgment of the nations. All the nations of the earth will be judged before God Almighty and His holy angels for the manner in which they treated the Jewish people…
The fourth judgment is the one that most concerns us here. The time of this judgment is immediately after the Messiah returns to Earth to establish His literal kingdom in the city of Jerusalem. It is critical to your well-being that you understand what the Bible teaches about the believer’s treatment of God’s chosen people so you will not come under this judgment.
Who do you think are the hungry, naked, thirsty, sick, imprisoned strangers Jesus refers to in Matthew 25? They are not the church; they are the Jewish people.
Jesus makes this clear when He says, “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren [the Jews], you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. … And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life'”
It is important to be right on the Israel question when you consider that being wrong brings you under the curse of God and headed for eternal, everlasting fire with the devil and his angels. Israel is not a “take it or leave it” subject. It is a life and death matter-eternal life! (John Hagee, The Lord Has Chosen Zion)
(See related post from Aug. 2009, John Hagee teaches “another” Gospel, along with the links to Soul Refuge blog)
What got my attention (once again) on the subject of misinterpreting Genesis 12:3, was a new article, asking for donations, posted at Charisma by Steve Strang, (God Blesses Those Who Bless Israel).
Thank you for subscribing to our Standing With Israel weekly e-newsletter, which is usually sent out on Fridays. But on New Year’s Day it isn’t being published, which gives me an opportunity to ask you to bless Israel with an end-of-the-year donation through Christian Life Missions, our nonprofit partner. I say this because I believe that like me, you believe that God blesses those who bless Israel.
Genesis 12:3 says God promises Abraham: “‘I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you'” (NIV).
In my own life I have seen proof of this promise; when I have blessed Israel and the Jewish people, God has showered His blessings on me. That is why we have set up the “Bless Israel” fund…Never before have we asked for donations from the readers of the Standing With Israel e-newsletter. But as we sent out this request to our regular Christian Life Missions donors we decided to include readers of this newsletter because we want you to also receive a blessing by blessing the Jewish people and Israel!
This is error–its not biblical. What is biblical is for God’s people to first take care of those of their own house-hold, and the house-hold of God. Then, we are also told, as opportunity presents itself, to “do good to all men”–
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)
Does this mean we are not to send funds in support of Israeli benevolence organizations? Of course not. We give as we can to ‘whom’ we are led to give too. But, there is no special blessing to anyone who gives to modern day Israel, any-more so then there would be a special blessing if you [or I] sent funds in support of a humanitarian organization working in Brazil (or any other specific country). Seeking a blessing isn’t suppose to be the motive behind why we help others anyway!
Hagee’s claim…,
Support of Israel means the support of biblical Zionism, and those who know the Bible know that it is not an option for the committed Christian.
(Jesus) taught us by His conduct that Gentiles who support Israel have His special blessing.
…is false.
As is his claim of judgment concerning our lack of financial support for Jewish people[s] in Israel,
It is critical to your well-being that you understand what the Bible teaches about the believer’s treatment of God’s chosen people so you will not come under this judgment.
This also is plainly error,
Who do you think are the hungry, naked, thirsty, sick, imprisoned strangers Jesus refers to in Matthew 25? They are not the church; they are the Jewish people.
The scriptures Hagee is referencing are found in Matthew 25:32-40–
“And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Hagee and Strang, plus many in the Church today believe Jesus is referring to Jewish people [or even modern day Israel] when He says ‘my brethren’..
This is not so…
“While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12: 46-50)
Jesus very plainly says his brethren are those who do the will of the Father-this is a new covenant relationship, a spiritual relationship between Jesus and those who will abide in him–the Church. I always found these verses and Jesus’ words interesting–for they speak of the new relationship, which had not been confirmed yet, but which was soon to come by the shedding of Jesus’ blood.
The last part of Genesis 12:3 is never truly addressed by those who misinterpret the verse: “..and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”
Was it Abraham personally who was to bless families then, through-out the earth? No, it was through Abraham’s seed (singular) that this blessing came 2000 years ago. It was to be Jesus Christ, who by his birth, death and resurrection blessed the people of the earth; by making a way for eternal life, for all those who would believe on him.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, ‘And to seeds’, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3: 13-16)
I admit to becoming aggravated when I see this verse in Genesis 3 misapplied and misinterpreted, and taught as truth. What also bothers me deeply is to see its misinterpretation used to manipulate Christians, with fear of judgment or even loss of salvation!
Give as your heart (and the Holy Spirit) leads you folks–to whomever. But don’t be manipulated by false teachers and teachings in doing so..
Sola Dei Gloria 
Good post PJ. Are you familiar with David Curtis of Berean Bible Church? He has some good teachings on his website. His study on the Israel of God is especially good. Here’s the link to the written sermon.
http://bereanbiblechurch.org/transcripts/eschatology/israel_of_god.htm
He has others… you have to look in his archives.
That was excellent truthspeaker! thanks–i bookmarked the website… 🙂
Yes, Christian Zionism is a dangerous notion. Only in covenant with the Lord by the Blood of Jesus is redemption and salvation for anyone, Jew or Gentile. But there may be a call to the Gentile Church to move Jews to jealousy with their living witness of the Gospel through their character and community, and their mercy ministry to Jews when God judges the humanist rebellion of Jewish people who look to a political state rather than the Kingdom of the King, during the time before Jesus returns bodily to take up His throne in Zion. This is the teaching of Art Katz and Reggie Kelly which you may want to investigate. I do believe we are to minister mercy and witness to jewish people, Jesus’ brethren, according to the Mat. 25 verses.
We’re to minister mercy and the gospel to all people…
There is a requirement to being called Jesus’ brethren. Its not ethnicity (or natural bloodlines) by which we are his brethren, but by obeying the Father’s will;
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? …And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Matthew 12
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in all things, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since he himself was tempted in that which he has suffered, he is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Hebrews 2
Thank you for the teaching. Yes, of course, mercy and witness to all men. But Romans 11 alludes to the role of the church in the redemption of a remnant of Israel at the end of the age; it is this subject Art Katz was trying to understand and bring to the Church in his later years. I humbly submit it for your consideration. There are the natural branches and the grafted branches. This is not Zionism a la CUFI.
Vicki, my intention isn’t to attempt to teach anyone anything. All i used above in replying to your comment was God’s word itself…
as far as Rom. 11;
Perhaps Romans 11 can be addressed next time, for i plan on doing more of these type of posts concerning misapplied or misinterpreted scriptures, this coming year (Lord willing). 🙂
(By the way, Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown Bible commentary, has an excellent break-down of Romans 11)
Vicki, there are many who believe that the end of the age has already passed and that it was a covenental change, and not the end of the world as we know it. (It took place at the destruction of the temple in 70 AD and is fulfilled prophecy)
How one sees this all depends on one’s eschatology. Most people today are futurists because of the Scofield study Bible. Scofield’s bible was based on John Nelson Darby’s dispensational theology and a futuristic eschatology. But Scofield was funded by Zionist Jewish bankers, one of which was Jacob Schiff, a Rothschild banking agent from Europe. Their goal was to create a Zionist state. They needed the backing of the Christians in order to do this and they did. That is all political and has nothing to do with the Israel of God, which PJ pointed out is based on covenent relationship and not race.
As I have said many times over the years, one of the best way to get the attention of a Jew is for an Arab Christian full of the Holy Spirit coming to Jerusalem preaching peace to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Not only will this preacher be in danger with the Jews, he also will be in danger with the other non religious orders prying for ascendency to the rule and reign of Jerusalem.
Jesus said it best:
Joh 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Hagee knows people like the devil knows people… they idolize their master and follow.
Gentiles are grafted in… Jews are the natural branches who were cut off, and now because they are Born Again they are back in the family.
Who is Jesus’ family? ANYONE who is Born Again… and follow Him.
John Hagee and his cohorts are waxing worse and worse. Very interesting how he began with TBN… Trinity Blasphemers’ Network. Anyone partnering with that network seems to end up twisting the Word of God.
I recall, about one year or so into my walk, being given a sharp rebuke by a mature Christian. I happened to make a comment to him regarding a documentary I had seen that showed the unrighteous treatment of Palestinians by Israeli troops. He quoted that Scripture at me with anger in his voice and our relationship was never the same again.
David, i’ve had people, who commented here regularly, send me nasty letters saying they were leaving the blog over similar issues.
The topic of Israel and the Palestinians is a very hot topic in Christian circles…
And that goes for the topic of Palestinian Christians. Many people do not want to hear it.
But, we must keep speaking the truth David. Even if it costs us friendships.
PJ, I find it interesting that Christians will stand in solidarity with a Jew who does not believe in Jesus before they stand with a Palestinian who is a CHRISTIAN!
Let’s not forget that it’s AGAINST THE LAW TO EVANGELIZE IN ISRAEL!!!
Your statement that it is against the law to evangelize in Israel IS NOT TRUE. My church is there evangelizing wildly right this minute and has made 30 such trips. This is commonly said by people of your ilk, but you are not correct.
“We must keep speaking the truth…even if it costs us friendships”
So true – My former fellowship took the words: “…and speaking the truth in love”, coupled with “…nothing but a clanging symbol”, chucked in a handful of other Scriptures, put on gas mark for a few hours and somehow came up with a blueprint for unity.
When in the throes of warning about Todd Bentley (prior to me leaving) I remember being tempted to eat of their deception pie. Isolated Scripures would pop up in my head and appear to condemn me as being merciless and divisive.
The ironical thing (which I have just this minute seen) was that nobody from the church got in contact when I stopped going. If their definition of love and unity was true then they would have pulled out all the stops to ‘rescue’ me from deception.
What they did not comprehend is that truth and love cannot be separated – if you compromise one, the other is polluted and the whole becomes corrupt. Leaven cannot be spat out. Needless to say I lost numerous friends and something spoken to me by a fellow Christian shortly after I was saved began to resonate…
He said to me that I would have lots of trouble. I replied that I was already receiving it from lots of people but it was to be expected as the world is hostile towards Christ. He replied “I wasn’t speaking of the world, I was speaking of other Christians”.
David, I just put up a post on “group think” that explains the flock mentality of many religious groups and why people can’t (or won’t) break away:
http://truthspeaker.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/group-think-and-mind-control/
Yes, so few voices bring any mention that there even ARE Palestinian Brothers and Sisters, not to mention their sufferings.
This is one serious bad fruit of the political preoccupation of much of the American Church–knee-jerk reactions defending Israel and refusal to face the facts about the situation there. I was in it, until the last year and a half.
Thanks for the link truthspeaker! 🙂
That’s true Vicki. To many Christians in the west, its as though they don’t exist.
I agree. truthspeaker also pointed out,
How one sees this all depends on one’s eschatology.
Bible eschatology, or rather one’s personal interpretations, has become very intertwined with US politics in many circles and churches–including within segments of our own government in recent years.
I can recall (prior to coming to understand the plight of Palestinian Christians) reading about what Jewish followers of Jesus are subjected to in Israel. I was shocked!
What shocked me was the lack of concern by American Christian organizations and Churches. It just wasn’t discussed, and basically, still isn’t acknowledged often.
There seems to be a blindness experienced in the US churches, concerning our suffering brethren in Palestine (and Israel.) And to be frank, in the entire Middle-East.
Excellent post and very well put together. As pointed out here, Paul the apostle did an excellent job opening up the truths of Genesis 12 in his epistle to the Galatians (especially chapter 3). I’ll stick with his teachings over the teachings of Hagee and Strang any day.
The families of the earth are being blessed by salvation through Jesus Christ, not by what happens with the modern political nation of Israel. What’s at stake here, in seeing how Genesis 12:1-3 is often applied today, is our understanding of the New Covenant confirmed by Christ.
Exactly. Certain misapplied scriptures can determine how we interpret other scriptures–this one is a prime example. There has actually been complete doctrines built around the misapplying of Genesis 12:3.
[…] Verse 9: An angel instructs John to write these words, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” A seemingly obvious parallel to this is The Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22:1-11, which follows directly after the Parable of the Tenants cited above. In this parable, speaking of the kingdom of heaven (vs. 2), a king (God) was to prepare a wedding feast for his son (Jesus), but those who were originally invited (the Jews) refused to come (vss. 3-5) and even killed the king’s servants who had invited them (v. 6). Therefore, these murderers were destroyed (cf. Matthew 23:29-38; Rev. 16:4-7, 17:6, 18:20, 18:24), and their city was burned (cf. Rev. 18:8-10, 18; 19:3). This is precisely what we see having happened in Jerusalem’s destruction and burning in 70 AD. The invitation then goes out to others (Gentiles as well as Jews; vss. 9-10), but only those with proper wedding garments were allowed to remain (vss. 10-14; cf. Rev. 19:8). Those who lacked these garments remained in outer darkness and were not part of the chosen people of God (vss. 13-14; cf. Matt. 8:11-12), despite the claims of John Hagee and other Christian Zionists to the contrary. […]
A most excellent book on this very topic is “Rapture, the end times error that leaves the Bible behind” by David Currie. Currie’s knowledge of the scriptures, salvation history, and “The Works of Josephus” is outstanding. I have read the book several times and will read it many more times I’m sure. Currie shows how Christians can get all snarled up in subscribing to anarrow interpretation of the Bible. I can’t recommend this book enough.
Madame Defarge (too funny! my daughter just gave me the book for Christmas but I haven’t read it yet!)
Thanks for the book reference! I have read some of the eyewitness accounts of 70AD and it’s very interesting!
very good. but another problem we have is the teaching of that of thithing, the using of the tenth, given by abram to melkesadec as being what all christians are suppose to be doing, i believe it s a twist on the word of God , to the unlearned
Great article. I’ve been looking around for teaching on this after I was sent a disgusting email claiming that the calamities Japan has suffered was God’s judgement for their admonishing of Israel’s settlement activity.
Looking into the context of Genesis 12 and using scripture to interpret, it is clear that God is speaking singularly to Abraham however, dispensational / pre millennial doctrine tends to be very selective in it’s use of scripture and ultra literal, whilst at the same time distorting many apparent abiguities to it’s own ends.
What I have been looking for (and what I believe to be the crux of the subject) is a translation from Hebrew of the word ‘you’ in Genesis 12. I understand that unlike in the English lanuage, Hebrew has four words for ‘you’. Male singular, male plural, female singular and female plural.
The King James Version in English uses the word ‘thee’, which in old English is a third person singular pronoun and fit precisely with the argument that God was indeed speaking directly to Abraham. I’d be very interested if anyone has any information to the direct Hebrew translation.
Regards
Steve
Steve, forgive me i just noticed your recent comment.
I received a few of those too…
Last week’s tornado’s and flooding are also being blamed on what these folks (who misinterpret the scriptures in question) say is the the American government’s “treatment” of Israel.
Greg, not sure what u mean by “people of your ilk” but it doesn’t come across very Christian-like. 😦
As far as proselytizing in israel,
I would like to recommend this video as well,
Who_would_have_believed
I’m sorry you were confused, but I am a Christian. Being “very sensitive” about something is not at all the same thing as making it illegal. The fact is, it is NOT illegal. I was just correcting the misinformation.
Perhaps you didn’t notice but the people you were addressing are Christians also.
When you refer to other Christians here (also brethren) as “people of your ilk”, what were you saying?
Thank you 100000000……. Over. I just saw another tv pastor state the usa has been blessed because we support isreal and if we and the current president turn our backs on them with our funds and moral support we well be cursed and God will destroy us with terroism, hunger, poverty, etc. I am fed up and I can’t take it! Hagee, noah hutchings, sid roth, and most of the local christian radio stations are saying the same thing. my pastor teaches the same thing. I said Lord, give me truth. I keyed on my cell phone as as google search for the scriptures in Genesis regarding this. I was taken to this website. I have never had this explained so clearly. I couldn’t grasp in my head or with words why I didnt believe that a physical people group(jews) are so loved by God(Jesus) that us remaining people groups and nations in the whole earth are cursed if we dont support the physical Jews or Isreal. Doesnt the word states that not all are Isreal who say they are Isreal? Our Savior And Great God Jesus the Christ came as the God-man through a jewish mother, but that doesn’t make gentiles cursed if they dont support the Jewish physical seeds. The blessing is through the Seed in Genesis 3, not the jewish seeds (plural). Again, thanks so much.
Patty, you’re welcome, and thank you for commenting.
I’m so blessed to read this gave you some clarity on the topic! 🙂
Excellent reading. The clarity is much needed, as this is such a misunderstood part of Scripture.
And also many thanks to truthspeaker for posting the link to the article by David Curtis of Berean Bible Church.
This is an outstanding clarification on the true nature of
Israel as God sees it. All done with solid, and in my view, indisputable support from Scripture. I am anxious to read more from this very informative website.
In reading your article and the comments that follow I want to say….thank you! It seems that much of the church today is “Zionised”. As Christians we are to be Christ centered, not natural Israel centered (they are the branches broken off the olive tree by God because of their unbelief.) Hagee is a heretic plain and simple. He and those like him are preaching another gospel. And we know what Paul says of them in Galatians. Paul also says that the children of the promise (those with faith in Christ) inherit the promises but that those who don’t believe in Christ, are cast out like Hagar and her son Ishmael was. Natural Israel does not inherit without faith in Christ, period. They are not “Gods chosen people”, anymore. Those with faith in Christ are the “elect” of God, not any people of the flesh who don’t repent and come under the Lordship of Christ.
Amen, Amen!
Thanks for the comment Tim!
The convenant with the Jewish people was conducted and proclaimed directly by God himself. Repeated on mount Sinai and again with Joshua. Afterwards it was just hear say provided by self proclaimed messengers. The Bible was given in Hebrew and therefore that is the binding language. “Zaracha” is plural in Hebrew. Seed is the translation. God’s word is clear and he does not need lawyers to interpret the “small print”. There is no small print. Any attempt to “explain” God’s intent is a sham. His Word occurs daily. His miracle is there for all to see. Israel is there, despite all odds and defying human logic. Yet very much part of God’s logic. You have eyes but you do not see.
Dan, sadly the shoe appears to fit you. 😦
Jesus fulfilled the old covenant,
“Israel is there, despite all odds and defying human logic.”
It’s not despite all odds or defying human logic. When a country has the backing of a Super Power (USA) and is supported militarily and economically, it’s no surprise they’re doing quite well. Israel as an ally is the USA’s gateway to have a foot in Middle Eastern affairs.
How do we know your not preaching false! I prayed and thought about this all night long for the last two nights. Sorry but i have to believe what i have to believe. I think your WRONG! God has blessed me over and over again. I dont see many posts on your site either. Sorry but i totally disagree with u.
Dianna, no one was preaching but just pointing out what God’s Word says. And we both know God’s Word is true.
I’m happy God has (and is) blessing you sister, He has blessed me also. But His blessings are not earned Dianna, nor are they tied to any specific Nation and/or State. And that includes Israel.
Better yet, believe what the Word of God says… not what you “have to believe”.
Hi Dianna,
Everyone has a right to interpret scripture how they feel God is leading them, but The Genesis 12:3 verse that refers to a blessing given by God to Abraham as one person has been misinterpreted to mean the current nation of Israel. the key here is the word ‘you’. In Hebrew the word used is not plural, but singular. The blessing was to Abraham. That isn’t to say the biblical nation of Israel didn’t enjoy God’s favour, but that was dependent on their faithfulness. The prophets warned Israel repeatedly that they would be cast out if they persisted in unbelief and they indeed were. The whole Abrahamic covenant was designed to lead up to the coming of the Messiah. Paul explains this throughly in Galatians 3. Please see verse 16 in bold.
1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28There 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.
29And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
It would be interesting to hear from you again about how you feel God has blessed you and what you did to bless Israel.
Regards
Steve
There is only one golden calf more defended than unequivocal support for Israel.
Unequivocal support for America.
Many have said God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 applies to the nation of Israel when it actually applies in a greater sense to those accepting of God’s promise of Jesus through Abraham. The promise was made before Israel (Jacob) was even born. There was no Israel at this point. The passage actually says, “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”. God is speaking to Abraham, not Israel. Furthermore God is making a promise through His Son Jesus whom the Israelites mostly rejected even as prophesied. Truth be told, those who reject Jesus the promised descendent of Abraham are the ones who will be cursed, ie Israel, Islam, etc. Those who will be blessed are those who follow Jesus Christ the promised Seed of Abraham in whom “all nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3b). My concern here is not of our military allies but spiritual ones.
Paul made it even more clear to the Jews of his day by telling them in Romans 9:6-7a, “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham”. Once again, the children are those obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ who are of Abraham and “heirs according to His promise” (Galatians 3:29). He is telling us that any who rejected Jesus (speaking of current day Jews in this context) are those who were not of Israel nor were they going to receive the blessings of God. In Romans 4 Paul describes in more detail the means by which this “blessedness” came upon Abraham and will be extended to any who would follow the faith principles that he demonstrated in the Patriarchal period.
“Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. 13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect” (Romans 4:9-14)
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:27-29)
Amen…
Gina… i opened this right after your email…. this is what i believe! joanne
T-Mobile, America’s First Nationwide 4G Network
Hi! Did you mean to leave this as a comment? ahaha… its ok if you did, i just wanted to make sure you knew you had.
Replacement theology is a false doctrine! Yes, those who accept Jesus and repent, are grafted in! However, the wild branches are not to boast!
Please see:
The Church, Israel, and “Replacement” Theology – Part 1
The Church, Israel, and “Replacement” Theology – Part II
The Church, Israel, and “Replacement” Theology – Part III
THE ISRAEL OF GOD: a consideration of so-called “Replacement Theology”
Any time you’d like to expand your theology on this, I’d love to discuss with you Larry, although I have a feeling you’ve just dropped that on us and we won’t hear from you again.
God Bless You!!!! I thought I was alone in understanding this. I have never seen this website until today, but I have read the Bible through and through numerous times and have understood the same thing and have been trying to explain the SAME EXACT THING to these so called Christians who follow or believe apostates like Hagee who is a politician in preacher’s clothing.
OMG!! I thought I was one of the only ones who understood this in the Bible. It is ELEGANT in its simplicity. I usually quote The Parable of the Great Banquet – Matthew 22:1-14 and Luke 14:15-24 to explain to others that there is only one Convenant God has with His people and His people are those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savoir, obeys His TWO commandments which encompasses all others, and be baptized (born again) by water and the Holy Spirit, and His people can be from any background or heritage including Jewish, Arab, Brazilian Rain forest pygmie. Aborigine, Asian, Indian, Sub Saharan African etc. It is so obvious God is talking to Abraham only in Genesis 12;3. I also point out using Acts 2:39 that it God meant this promise to be applied to Abram’s descendants he would’ve said so e.g. “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
It is astounding how many Christians are lead astray.
So happy to read this post was a confirmation for you!
Amen! yes God’s people are those in Christ. It’s astounding that this simple truth alludes so many Christians here in the West. I blame it on the many errors within dispensationalism, which basically took over a huge segment of the Protestant Churches during the last century. Praise God, for though many still follow the errors within Disp. there are (also) many who are waking up to the truth.
The problem, as I see it is this …. God makes this promise to Abraham and the therefor to the Children of Abraham. This DEFINITELY refers to the Hebrews.
But, this also applies to the Muslims/Arabs who are also children of Abraham via Ishmael.
It also applies to Christians, who, as Jesus tells us, are adopted into the family and grafted onto the vine through our faith in Him.
The promise applies to all those who walk by faith in Jesus Christ–in other words, to all those in Christ, for He is the “seed” being referred to. Galatians 3 explains this Bill.
See Galatians 3
Also read the allegory Paul uses comparing Hagar and Sarah in Galatians 4
If we are in Christ then we are the recipients of the promise made to our father Abraham.
Bill Gilman said: “God makes this promise to Abraham and the therefor to the Children of Abraham”
That statement makes no sense…unless you apply some abstract interpretation….in which case anything can mean whatever you want it to mean.
If I make a promise to you, that promise is to YOU. There’s no “and therefor” to the children of the person to whom you made said promise. If I promise to do something for you I’ll make the promise to you. If I promise to do something for you AND your children I’ll say this promise is for you AND your children. If a man promised to paint my father’s house and did so, me thinking that that man is supposed to also paint my house for me is absurd.
Furthermore and more to the point, when God intends a promise to be for one’s descendants He specifically says so, as in Acts 2:39 ” The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Notice how God was specific to point out all whom the promise was intended for: “you AND your children AND for all who are far off….whom the Lord….will call”
Unless God Himself states that a promise is for one’s descendants, YOU DON’T GET to claim it’s for anyone other than who He made the promise to. To do so is called perverting scripture.
When God made the promise to Abram He didn’t state that it’s for Abram’s descendants. Your “…and therefore to the Children of Abraham” is not scriptural and is nothing more than a rationalization to support a false belief/narrative that’s not in the Bible.
Good point:
“God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”–and that, of course, means Christ” Galatians 3:16
One of the issues is proper hermeneutics.
Having attended and graduated from Dallas Seminary arguably the bastion for Dispensationalism, I can say that you will have no argument about the centrality of hermeneutics from most of their profs and grads. Even though the “newer” brand of dispensationalists (let’s call them “Dispensational Lite”) downplays the crux of the distinction between Israel (national and ethnic) and the Church as well as the primacy of “literal” interpretation, Dispensational Lite still doesn’t go far enough.
Do you interpret the Old Testament by the New Testament or do you interpret the New Testament by the Old Testament? That is the crux and I say the former is the correct way. Only then does the point of Galatians 3 make sense of Genesis 12:3.
Only then by applying that hermeneutic do we see how the promises made to Israel are “Yes and Amen” in Jesus, the true Seed of Abraham. And as those who are one with Him by grace alone through faith alone, we too then constitute the true Seed of Abraham!
To any current dispensationalists reading this may I recommend that you read the writings of two ex DTS grads – Greg Beale (his New Testament Theology is masterful) and Sam Storms (start with his Kingdom Come). Thank God there has always been only one elect people of God chosen before the foundation of the world which constitutes the one and only true Seed of Abraham.
By the way, it is not ethnic and/or national Israel.
That was an excellent comment, and I agree with you concerning how key it is whether one interprets the Old Testament by the New Testament or vice versa.
By the way, I attended Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, just “down the road” from Dallas Theological Seminary. That was from 1997 – 2000. CFNI is also steeped in dispensationalism and Christian Zionism (which was more or less my worldview at the time), but there are definitely good things about that school.
Thanks for the encouraging words Adam!
Those verses in Genesis have to be the most misinterpreted verses in the old testament. Entire (false) doctrines have been built around them.
I am glad to know that someone is telling the truth about the Erroneous teaching of John Hagee
Is it not written that God shut the eyes of the Israelites so his will could be done? Are we not to support Israel for what they will do as prophesied in revelations? Are Adam, Moses, Joseph, etc… Not saved because Jesus wasn’t even born yet? Does his blood not transcend time?
As God is no respecter of one people over another Richard, so should we be the same. We should care about all people. As far as what you claim to see prophesied in Revelation concerning Israel, i would be interested to what it is you believe you see.
If i may ask, are you a follower of dispensationalism?
With all due respect Mr. Barnes, why don’t you quote the specific scripture, book, chapter and verse, pertaining to the question you ask instead of asking what seem to be pointless questions? I’m not trying to insult you by the way, but if you have a point to make then make it affirmatively – for e.g. quote the book, chapter and verse in the Bible, and then explain what it means (or at least what you think it means), and show how it contradicts what the article’s author says, thereby refuting him…assuming you are disputing what he says.
Of all those question you asked NONE refutes ANYTHING, proves anything, or demonstrates anything, In other words addressing them is independent of anything written in this truthful article. I can in a similar manner to you ask you a whole bunch of vague or general questions pertaining to scripture without proving one single point nor refuting anything. Asking a bunch of questions not followed up by making an affirmative POINT renders said questions POINTLESS.
I would suggest if you’re disputing something in the article, then state what it is that you’re disputing and state the scripture – either by quoting it, or referencing it by book, chapter and verse in the Bible – that you think supports your claim and contradicts the articles author, and explain how it contradicts what the author said.
Don’t have a clue who you are responding to in your comment (Mr. Barnes??)
Yes. I was responding to Mr. Barnes. I referred to him in the first sentence of my post.
Thanks for clearing that up! God bless…
Great article and thank you for being a willing vessel to point out the truth. I wanted to add as I did not see it discussed, how about the flag? That sort of is a tell all of what god runs that nation right? Amos 5:26 and Acts 7:43… LORD BLESS YOU Brother!