The Relationship of the Jews to the Gentile Mission
To the ends of the earth - Acts 13:13-53 (esv) - Pastor Tim Kroeker
Romans 11:25–26
"I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved…”
Have you read the news lately? Debates are raging across the country over controversial issues from Flock cameras to data centers. While personal privacy concerns and responsible land management are certainly important civic matters, the Bible doesn’t contain explicit teaching about these things. Therefore, Christians might find themselves on different sides of the issue. But then there is the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has heightened the tensions over America’s relationship to Israel.
The question of Israel as a modern political issue goes back to its declaration of statehood in 1948. However, unlike some other hot topics today, references to Israel are found throughout the entire Biblical narrative, including Acts 13, as Paul and Barnabas continue along their first missionary journey.
Upon entering Antioch in Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas first visited the local Jewish synagogue. Certainly they did so for pragmatic reasons. The Jews already had some knowledge of the Old Testament. It was an easy entry point for the spread of the gospel. However, there was also a theological reason, which would become apparent in Paul’s sermon that he delivered when local elders asked him to speak.
We see that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel. But as the episode unfolds, because of Jewish rejection, Paul then turned his attention to the Gentiles, and many throughout the entire region believed.
Our author, Luke, makes clear that this was all part of God’s predetermined plan. Just as He had sovereignly chosen Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so too He chose that many Gentiles be saved, as the gospel would go forth to the ends of the earth. The new Gentile mission was a part of God’s unfolding plan for the ages, which will ultimately result in all Israel being saved.
The history of Israel is full of rebellion against God. Political alignment with its government is complicated and requires discernment. However, we should not be arrogant toward the Jews because one day all Israel will be saved.
