Darren,
You say:
...Clearly Jesus is NOT that Israel whom rejected Him,
Huh?
Yes, the Bible tells us that Jesus is Israel.
In Matthew 2:15 "And was there until the death of Herod:
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying Out of Egypt have I called my son."
Matthew 2:15 quoted and fulfilled Hosea 11:1 says, "When
ISRAEL was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt."
Clearly Hosea 11:1 speaks of 'Israel' is Jesus.
grainofwheat is right, that Jesus is Israel. Because He is the seed. If anyone who have faith in Christ, they are are belong to the same seed, which, God gave the promise to Abraham of his seed, which is Christ's.
In Galatians 3:14 - "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we(Gentiles and Jews Christians) receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
Galatins 3:14 fulfilled in Genesis 17:4.
Notice Gal.3:16 says: "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promise made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of ONE, and to thy seed,
which is CHRIST."
Throughout Old Testament period for about 2,500 years, many Jews, even included few Gentiles put their faith on God, they were part of Abraham's seed which is THROUGH Christ! -Gal. 3:7, same as we have faith in Christ, both O.T. saints and N.T. saints are on the same boat, which we are on Christ- the same seed.
Gal. 3:26-29 "For ye are
ALL the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is
neither Jew
nor Greek, there is
neither bond
nor female:
for re are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's,
then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Galatians chapter 3 is not talking about about nation. It talks about individuals over the world, anyone either Jew or Gentile, who have faith in Jesus Christ, both are on the same boat that both did share the same promise, which God has told to Abraham, that we all are in ONE SEED.
Well, also, Romans chapter 11 telling us that we are on the same tree. Romans chapter 11 is not discuss about physical nation. It discusses about individual's salvation.
Church doesn't replace Israel. Church is Israel. Israel is Church. Both are same. Israel means God's people, well also, church means God's people. Both are no difference.
I am NOT a "Replacement Theology".
Israel was never been replaced, Israel is now expanding, because God added Gentiles upon the same tree, which believing Jews are remain on it. Gentiles are now join with believing Jews, both are share on the same tree, which is JESUS CHRIST!
The tree of Romans chapter 11 is all about Jesus Christ, not physical nation.
God only have one family.
Simple, in the heaven, there is only one city, one family, one God. There is no division in heaven.
Whole Bible is all about Jesus Christ, not tiny physical Jewish nation.
Understand clear? Thanks.
In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!