Restoration and Unity: The New Israel in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, church family! Today, we delved into the story of Israel, exploring the complexities and spiritual significance of its history and identity. We are in chapter 14 of our series, "A Kingdom Torn in Two," focusing on the transition from King Solomon to his son Rehoboam and the subsequent division of the kingdom into Israel and Judah. This division was marked by idolatry, disobedience, and a loss of wisdom, leading to a fractured nation.
We examined the prophetic vision in Ezekiel 37, where dry bones come to life, symbolizing the restoration of Israel. This vision speaks to a future hope where God breathes life into what seems dead and hopeless. We then turned to Romans 9-11, where Paul addresses the question, "Who is Israel?" Paul redefines Israel not by physical descent but by faith in Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; all who believe in Christ are part of the restored Israel.
Paul's argument is that the inclusion of Gentiles is essential for the restoration of Israel. This inclusion allows those who have been assimilated into other cultures to be grafted back into the family of faith. The unity of believers, regardless of their background, forms the new Israel, a resurrected and restored people of God.
As we prepare our hearts for communion, we embody this unity and oneness in Christ. We are reminded that through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, we are made one with God and each other, forming the resurrected Israel. This understanding encourages us to break down walls of division and live as one family in faith.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Division of Israel: The transition from Solomon to Rehoboam marked a significant decline in wisdom and unity, leading to the division of the kingdom into Israel and Judah. This division was fueled by idolatry and disobedience, highlighting the consequences of turning away from God's wisdom and guidance. [43:43]
2. Ezekiel's Vision of Restoration: Ezekiel 37's vision of dry bones coming to life symbolizes the hope and promise of restoration for Israel. Even in the midst of exile and destruction, God promises to breathe life into what seems dead, offering a powerful message of hope and renewal. [52:22]
3. Paul's Redefinition of Israel: In Romans 9-11, Paul redefines Israel not by physical descent but by faith in Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that true Israel consists of those who have faith in Christ, breaking down the distinction between Jew and Gentile and forming a unified family of believers. [55:07]
4. Gentile Inclusion and Restoration: Paul argues that the inclusion of Gentiles is essential for the restoration of Israel. This inclusion allows those who have been assimilated into other cultures to be grafted back into the family of faith, forming a unified and restored Israel. [59:32]
5. Unity in Christ: As believers, we are called to embody the unity and oneness that Christ's life, death, and resurrection have made possible. This unity transcends cultural and national boundaries, forming a resurrected Israel that is defined by faith in Jesus Christ. [01:02:32]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[38:04] - Introduction to the Series
[40:57] - The Golden Era and Division
[43:43] - Rehoboam's Folly
[45:25] - Who is Israel?
[47:22] - Maps and Historical Context
[52:22] - Ezekiel's Vision of Dry Bones
[55:07] - Paul's Redefinition of Israel
[59:32] - Gentile Inclusion and Restoration
[01:02:32] - Unity in Christ
[01:05:29] - Communion
[01:15:05] - Prayer for Youth Camp
[01:17:08] - Benediction and Closing
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Ezekiel 37:1-14 - The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones
2. Romans 9:6-8 - Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel
3. Romans 10:12-13 - There is no difference between Jew and Gentile
### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of the division of Israel into the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah)? ([44:13])
2. In Ezekiel 37, what does the vision of dry bones coming to life symbolize? ([52:22])
3. According to Paul in Romans 9-11, how is Israel redefined? ([55:07])
4. What role does the inclusion of Gentiles play in the restoration of Israel according to Paul? ([59:32])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the division of Israel reflect the consequences of idolatry and disobedience? ([44:36])
2. What does Ezekiel's vision of dry bones teach us about God's power to restore and renew? ([52:22])
3. How does Paul's redefinition of Israel challenge traditional views of ethnic and cultural identity? ([55:07])
4. Why is the inclusion of Gentiles essential for the restoration of Israel, and how does this inclusion impact the unity of believers? ([59:32])
### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on the division of Israel, are there areas in your life where you have experienced division due to disobedience or idolatry? How can you seek restoration in those areas? ([44:36])
2. Ezekiel's vision of dry bones coming to life symbolizes hope and renewal. Is there a situation in your life that feels hopeless? How can you invite God to breathe new life into it? ([52:22])
3. Paul's redefinition of Israel emphasizes faith in Jesus Christ over physical descent. How does this understanding affect your view of spiritual identity and community? ([55:07])
4. The inclusion of Gentiles in the family of faith breaks down cultural and national barriers. How can you actively work to break down barriers and promote unity within your church or community? ([59:32])
5. As we prepare for communion, we are reminded of our unity in Christ. How can you embody this unity in your daily interactions with others, especially those who are different from you? ([01:02:32])
6. Think about a time when you felt excluded or marginalized. How can you use that experience to empathize with others and promote inclusion within your faith community? ([59:32])
7. How can you practically live out the unity and oneness in Christ that Paul speaks about in your family, workplace, or social circles? ([01:02:32])
Devotional
Day 1: The Consequences of Division
The transition from King Solomon to his son Rehoboam marked a significant decline in wisdom and unity, leading to the division of the kingdom into Israel and Judah. This division was fueled by idolatry and disobedience, highlighting the consequences of turning away from God's wisdom and guidance. Rehoboam's folly in ignoring the counsel of the elders and choosing to follow the advice of his peers led to a fractured nation. This serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking and adhering to godly wisdom in our lives.
The division of Israel into two kingdoms is a poignant example of how disobedience and idolatry can lead to devastating consequences. When we turn away from God's guidance and wisdom, we risk creating divisions in our own lives and communities. It is crucial to remain steadfast in our faith and to seek God's wisdom in all our decisions to avoid the pitfalls that led to Israel's downfall. [43:43]
1 Kings 12:14-15 (ESV): "He spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.' So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by the Lord that he might fulfill his word, which the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat."
Reflection: Think of a recent decision where you ignored wise counsel. How can you seek and apply godly wisdom in similar situations moving forward?
Day 2: Hope in Restoration
Ezekiel 37's vision of dry bones coming to life symbolizes the hope and promise of restoration for Israel. Even in the midst of exile and destruction, God promises to breathe life into what seems dead, offering a powerful message of hope and renewal. This vision serves as a reminder that no situation is beyond God's power to restore and renew. When we feel hopeless or broken, we can trust in God's promise to bring new life and restoration.
The vision of dry bones coming to life is a vivid illustration of God's ability to bring hope and renewal to even the most desolate situations. It reminds us that God's power is not limited by our circumstances and that He can breathe new life into what seems dead and hopeless. As we face challenges and difficulties, we can hold onto the promise of restoration and trust that God is at work, bringing renewal and hope. [52:22]
Ezekiel 37:5-6 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation in your life that feels hopeless. How can you invite God to breathe new life and hope into that situation today?
Day 3: Redefining Identity
In Romans 9-11, Paul redefines Israel not by physical descent but by faith in Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that true Israel consists of those who have faith in Christ, breaking down the distinction between Jew and Gentile and forming a unified family of believers. This redefinition challenges us to see our identity not in our heritage or background but in our faith in Christ. It calls us to embrace a new identity as part of the family of God, united by our faith.
Paul's redefinition of Israel is a radical shift from a focus on physical descent to a focus on faith in Jesus Christ. This new understanding of identity breaks down barriers and unites believers from diverse backgrounds into one family of faith. It challenges us to see ourselves and others through the lens of faith, recognizing that our true identity is found in Christ. This unity in faith calls us to live out our identity as members of the family of God, embracing and celebrating our diversity. [55:07]
Romans 9:6-8 (ESV): "But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.' This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring."
Reflection: How does understanding your identity in Christ change the way you view yourself and others? What steps can you take to live out this new identity in your daily life?
Day 4: Inclusion and Restoration
Paul argues that the inclusion of Gentiles is essential for the restoration of Israel. This inclusion allows those who have been assimilated into other cultures to be grafted back into the family of faith, forming a unified and restored Israel. This message of inclusion challenges us to embrace and welcome those who may be different from us, recognizing that we are all part of the same family of faith. It calls us to break down barriers and extend God's love and grace to all people.
The inclusion of Gentiles in the family of faith is a powerful testament to God's desire for unity and restoration. It shows that God's plan of salvation is for all people, regardless of their background or culture. This message challenges us to be inclusive and welcoming, breaking down barriers that divide us and extending God's love and grace to everyone. It calls us to see others as part of the same family of faith and to work towards unity and restoration in our communities. [59:32]
Romans 11:17-18 (ESV): "But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you."
Reflection: Think of someone who is different from you in background or culture. How can you extend God's love and grace to them and include them in your community of faith?
Day 5: Unity in Christ
As believers, we are called to embody the unity and oneness that Christ's life, death, and resurrection have made possible. This unity transcends cultural and national boundaries, forming a resurrected Israel that is defined by faith in Jesus Christ. This understanding encourages us to break down walls of division and live as one family in faith. It calls us to actively work towards unity and to celebrate the diversity within the body of Christ.
The unity that Christ has made possible through His life, death, and resurrection is a powerful testament to God's desire for a unified family of believers. This unity transcends all cultural and national boundaries, forming a resurrected Israel that is defined by faith in Jesus Christ. As believers, we are called to embody this unity, breaking down walls of division and living as one family in faith. This call to unity challenges us to actively work towards reconciliation and to celebrate the diversity within the body of Christ. [01:02:32]
Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."
Reflection: What steps can you take to promote unity and reconciliation within your community of faith? How can you celebrate and embrace the diversity within the body of Christ?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "If division and splitting up doesn't honor God doesn't glorify God what's God's response? how are we to understand Israel? so that's my question today and maybe you know the answer to this my question sounds simple but for me it was like it was messing with me and nagging with me all week who is Israel? what is Israel? that's the question and so I want that to hang in the background I want you to stew on that who is Israel?" [45:25] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes if you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved for it is with your heart that you believe and are justified it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved all scripture says anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame for there is no difference key in on this there's no difference between Jew and Gentile the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" [57:02] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I want them to envy us and out of their envy turn to profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and he says and he also says it's necessary this inclusion of the Gentiles this extension of the offer of salvation to the ends of the earth is essential because why over the years the Jews have been spread out and the diaspora and they've been assimilated in other cultures and so if there isn't an open invitation if Paul isn't given the call and others like him to the Gentiles then those who formerly identified as Israelites can't be welcomed back home can't become grafted in again he uses the tree image that we us wild shoots and branches have been grafted into this tree of the family of faith it's one tree y'all it's not two no more Jews Gentiles it's not Jews over here Gentiles over here he's saying no all of Israel" [59:16] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God's promise to his people is it's gonna be good in the end. So if it's not good in your life, if it's not all right, it's not yet the end and God isn't finished with you yet. And with the time that he gives you, may you love the Lord with all your heart, embrace the beauty of the life that he's given you and live it to the fullest, amen. Go in peace, friends." [01:17:08] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Where did the wisdom go in a single generation right the son of Solomon I will scourge you with scorpions so the kingdom falls apart y'all right that's the cliff notes of the chapter for those of you that have not read is king Asa A-S-A king Asa does pretty well in the sight of the Lord is faithful and is obedient he rules over Judah because we have a divided kingdom now we have the northern kingdom that is called Israel and the southern kingdom that is called Judah and of the successors to those who follow Rehoboam and Jeroboam it is bad they raise up idols to worship they worship idols in high places they do what is evil in the sight of the Lord does that sound familiar?" [44:13] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I think the answer matters I think the answer is good news and this is why I want to go I want to go to Ezekiel Ezekiel because Ezekiel is interesting in the Old Testament Ezekiel is a prophet and he's prophesying during a time when the Babylonians have destroyed the city of Jerusalem they've been taken away from the land as he's prophesying who's Israel what's Israel well it doesn't exist like how do you answer that question there is no like how how do you how do you answer that question in the time of Ezekiel he's outside of the land he's outside of the land he's prophesying outside of the land prophesying this word of the Lord to the people" [51:16] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I want you to know like he's speaking of you when he says Israel in chapter 11 verse 26 he means you this resurrected and restored Israel so when we say what is Israel and what timeline is which map is it is it a cultural heritage no he says Israel is of the promise to be Abraham's offspring now is to have the faith of Abraham is to profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior because he's the culmination of the law he's the only faithful man in the world he's the only faithful man in the world he's the only faithful Israelite that there is and ever was and ever will be so Israel is redefined and broadened beyond borders on a map which we can hope and pray and in our own ministry that more of the remnant will be revealed that more of the remnant who are Jews will come to faith in Jesus and become part of the Israel Paul is referring to here in chapter 11 verse 26" [01:02:04] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I appreciate you bearing with me this week because I never really identified myself with Israel in that way and the argument that Paul is making is dense and it's hard because he's doing a lot in the book of Romans but it's clear in context that this prophecy there's already this idea this concept of Israel that's beyond the simple borders in Ezekiel 37 because Israel doesn't exist and yet the Spirit of the Lord gives Ezekiel this idea that there's still to come Israel there's still an Israel that is to come that's resurrected that's restored that is to come that is alive full of the Spirit of God already in Ezekiel and then we see it fulfilled in Jesus' ministry we see it taught by the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans for us and I hope that encourages us in our unity in our understanding that the walls again have come down by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus any law any rule any disobedience whatever mechanism or method we use to separate and distance ourselves from each other we split into nations we split into churches we split into whatever none of it will prevail in the end that God by His Spirit is bringing the faithful together so that when He does come again we won't be confused anymore we will not be distracted or unclear about who we belong to and the nature of our relationship with every nation and tribe people and tongue united by faith worshiping the Lord as God is a restored and resurrected Israel" [01:03:14] (104 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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