Trouble in the Middle East

Trouble in the Middle East!

1. What in the World were Abraham and Sarah thinking?  The historic relationship between the Arab and Hebrew  people.

2. The Hebrews and the Land. God’s promise of land and prosperity with clear warning that Israel must choose “blessing” not “curse”.

3. Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem! A rock fortress, the City of David, the place of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord.  Where the kingdom was launched with a gospel which included "forgiveness of sins”.

4. God’s Purpose for Israel Explained. Romans 9, 10, 11

Romans 9

Vs. 1-5 Paul’s grief for Israel:  ➢ From Israel, came the Christ!

Vs. 6-8, God’s promises to Israel:  ➢ Does He keep them or not?  ➢Are any conditional?   ➢Justification has always been by faith! ➢Hebrews 3:17-19 ; Hebrews 4:1-2

“They are not all Israel who are Israel.”

Romans 2:28,29 “…a person is a Jew who is one inwardly;   and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit,  not by the written code…”

Romans 4:13 “the promise…not through the law…but  through faith…”

God’s right to make sovereign choices!

Romans 9:8-24:

1. Some of God’s choices: ➢Isaac not Ishmael, Jacob not Esau. ➢Raised up Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar.

2. God, as potter, has authority over the clay.

Romans 9:23,24:

“What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and  make his power known, bore with great patience the  objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? Vs.23 What  if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to  the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance  for glory—Vs.24 even us, whom he also called, not only  from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.”