Israel: Responsibility and Failure

1. Once internationalism is outlawed (Genesis 11) and with the inauguration of nationalism, we have a scattering of nations geographically, linguistically, and racially. This demands missionary activity.

2. Abraham was the first foreign missionary. He was a Gentile and became a Jew.

3. The first title for a missionary was “Hebrew,” which means “one who crosses over the river.”

4. Abraham became a Hebrew. He crossed over the River Euphrates and came into Canaan and evangelised. Converts: Aner, Mamre, Eschol and many others. Genesis 14:13.

5. In the Age of Israel, Jews were responsible for the custodianship of the Word and dissemination of the gospel. Romans 3:2.

6. Israel was a missionary base because they had custodianship of the Word.

7. Those who became born-again were to grow in grace and knowledge and to evangelise.

8. The Jews were to go to the Gentiles and bring them the message of the gospel. Example: Jonah.

9. The first failure:

Jews generally failed to accept Jesus Christ as saviour. They accepted the Mosaic law as a way of salvation, and sought human righteousness as the basis of salvation rather than divine righteousness, which can only be credited to the individual on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ.

10. The second failure:

Having failed at the point of salvation, they failed at the point of missions.

11. You cannot become a missionary unless you are born-again.

12. Their failure led to a change in dispensation and in administrators, and the fifth cycle of discipline for Israel.

13. During the 5th cycle of discipline the Church is the missionary base.

14. Even though Israel failed, God used other means and Gentiles were saved in Old Testament times. Romans 9:30-33. In fact, probably more Gentiles were saved in the Old Testament than Jews — according to this passage.

15. Jews had a perfect system for disseminating the gospel: Levitical feasts, offerings, holy days, etc. They will again evangelise during the Tribulation. This is part of their future.