The Kingdom of God Taken Away: Israel are No Longer God's Chosen People

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, today we turn our hearts and minds to a difficult and challenging truth that is revealed to us in Scripture. We acknowledge the deep history and the covenantal relationship between God and the people of Israel. However, we also must confront the sobering reality that the nation of Israel, as God’s chosen people, has been replaced by the Church. Through the rejection of Jesus Christ, Israel forfeited its unique status, and the Kingdom of God was taken away from them.

As we reflect on this, let us open our hearts to understand the implications of this truth and how it speaks to us as followers of Jesus Christ.

The Chosen People and Their Rejection of Jesus

In the Old Testament, Israel was indeed God’s chosen people, set apart to be a light to the nations. God made a covenant with them through Abraham, promising that through his descendants, all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). The people of Israel were given the law, the prophets, and the promises of God. Yet, when the time came for the Messiah to come, the one who would fulfill all the promises and deliver them, they rejected Him.

Jesus, the Son of God, came to His own, and yet, "His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11). Despite the signs, the wonders, and the fulfillment of prophecy, the Israelites rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Their leaders, the Pharisees and the chief priests, conspired to have Him killed, fulfilling the words of the prophets, who spoke of a suffering servant (Isaiah 53) and a stone the builders rejected (Psalm 118:22).

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus clearly warns the Jewish leaders that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from them. This is a sobering and tragic reality: In Matthew 21:43, He says,

“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you (Israel) and given to a people (The Church) producing its fruits.”

The Church: The New Chosen People

With the rejection of Jesus, the special role of Israel as the chosen people was transferred to the Church, which is the body of Christ made up of all who believe in Him. The Apostle Paul speaks of this in Romans 11:17-24, where he describes how Gentiles, once outside of the covenant, have been grafted into the olive tree of God's promises through faith in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter also affirms this shift in 1 Peter 2:9, where he writes,

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

These words, once spoken to Israel, now apply to the Church, the people who have embraced Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. The Church is the new covenant people of God.

The Kingdom of God: A Universal Invitation

The Kingdom of God is no longer tied to a single nation or ethnicity. It is now open to all who come to Christ in faith, whether Jew or Gentile. This is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that through his offspring, all nations would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 3:28-29,

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise."

Jesus' death and resurrection broke down the dividing walls of hostility (Ephesians 2:14), and now the Kingdom of God is made accessible to all who believe in the gospel. As Jesus proclaimed in the Great Commission,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

The Kingdom of God is no longer confined to Israel but has expanded to the entire world.

The Warning and the Call to Repentance

Though Israel's rejection of Jesus was tragic, it is not the end of the story. The Kingdom of God is still open to all, and there is hope for all who repent and believe in Jesus Christ. The warning to the nation of Israel is a warning to all who reject Christ today. Just as the Israelites missed their moment of redemption, so too can we miss the call of God if we turn away from Him. In Matthew 23:37-39, Jesus laments over Jerusalem, saying,

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate.”

The Kingdom was taken from them, not because God is unfaithful, but because they rejected His Son. But the invitation is still open to us today.

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17)

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of bloodline or ethnicity but of faith in Jesus Christ.

The Mystery of Israel

The mystery of Israel in relation to the Old and New Covenants is a profound revelation of God’s redemptive plan, bridging His relationship with Israel under the Old Covenant and the fulfillment of His promises in the New Covenant. Here’s how the two are interconnected:

The Old Covenant: Israel as God’s Chosen People

• The Old Covenant was established between God and Israel at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-24). It was a conditional covenant based on obedience to the Law, symbolized by the Ten Commandments and the sacrificial system.

• Through the Old Covenant:

• Israel was set apart as a holy nation and a kingdom of priests to reflect God’s character (Exodus 19:6).

• God’s promises of blessing and protection were contingent upon Israel’s faithfulness.

• The sacrificial system provided temporary atonement for sin, pointing to humanity’s need for a permanent solution.

Israel’s Role in the Old Covenant

• Israel was the bearer of God’s revelation to the world (the Law, the Prophets, and the Scriptures).

• Their repeated failures and rebellion highlighted the inability of human effort to achieve righteousness and maintain the covenant. This revealed the need for a greater covenant and a perfect mediator.

The New Covenant: Fulfillment in Christ

• The New Covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and fulfilled through Jesus Christ, transcends the Old Covenant. It is marked by:

• Internal Transformation: God writes His law on the hearts of His people, replacing external adherence with internal devotion.

• Forgiveness of Sins: Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provides permanent atonement, fulfilling the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant.

• Universal Access: The New Covenant includes both Jews and Gentiles, uniting them through faith in Christ.

Israel in the New Covenant

• Israel remains central to God’s redemptive plan. Jesus, as the Messiah, came first to the “lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).

• Many Jews rejected Jesus, leading to the Gospel being extended to the Gentiles (Romans 11:11). This rejection, however, is part of the mystery of God’s plan to bring salvation to all nations.

• Paul writes in Romans 11:25-27 that Israel’s “partial hardening” is temporary, and a future restoration awaits when they recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

The Mystery of Israel in the Covenants

Continuity and Fulfillment:

• The New Covenant does not abolish the Old Covenant but fulfills it (Matthew 5:17). Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.

• The promises made to Israel under the Old Covenant—such as land, blessing, and a Messiah—are brought to completion in the New Covenant.

A Two-Fold Plan:

• The Old Covenant established Israel as God’s chosen people and revealed humanity’s inability to achieve righteousness on their own.

• The New Covenant extends God’s promises to all who believe in Christ, uniting Jews and Gentiles into one family (Ephesians 2:11-22).

Future Restoration of Israel:

• While the Church participates in the blessings of the New Covenant, God’s specific promises to Israel—land, restoration, and spiritual renewal—are still valid and will be fulfilled (Romans 11:29).

• The New Covenant ensures that all Israel will eventually come to know the Lord (Jeremiah 31:34; Romans 11:26).

Relevance to Believers Today

• For the Church: The mystery of Israel reminds us that God’s promises are irrevocable. It calls believers to humility, as salvation is a gift of grace rather than merit.

• For Israel: The Old Covenant’s unfulfilled promises find their ultimate fulfillment in the New Covenant, assuring Israel of God’s faithfulness and their future redemption.

• For the World: The unfolding plan of the covenants demonstrates God’s desire for all nations to come into a relationship with Him through Christ.

The mystery of Israel in the context of the Old and New Covenants is a story of God’s faithfulness, justice, and mercy. It showcases His plan to redeem a broken world through Israel and extend salvation to all through the New Covenant in Christ. Ultimately, it reveals that both the Old and New Covenants work together to display the glory of God’s redemptive purposes.

Conclusion

The Kingdom of God is no longer bound to the nation of Israel. However, God's promises must still be fulfilled. The rejection of Jesus by the Israelites marked the end of their sole role as God's chosen people. Now, the Church—composed of all who believe in Christ—is the new chosen people. This is not a message of exclusion but of invitation. The Kingdom of God is for all who come to Him in faith.

Let us reflect on this truth with humility and gratitude. God has given us the privilege of being part of His Kingdom through Christ. Let us not take this grace for granted but live lives worthy of our calling, proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. And let us share the good news of the Kingdom, that others may enter in and experience the salvation found only in Jesus Christ.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, We come before You with humble hearts, acknowledging Your sovereign grace and mercy. We thank You for the truth of Your Word, which reminds us that the Kingdom of God is not confined to any one nation or people, but is open to all who believe in Jesus Christ. We recognize that through His death and resurrection, You have made a way for us to enter into Your Kingdom, not by our own merit, but by Your great love and mercy.

Lord, we are deeply grateful for the gift of salvation and for the privilege of being called Your people. We pray that You would help us to live as faithful citizens of Your Kingdom, bearing witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ in all that we do. Strengthen our faith, deepen our love for You, and empower us to share the good news of Your Kingdom with those around us.

We also ask for Your grace to never take this calling for granted, but to remain humble and thankful for the grace You have given. May we always remember that it is only by Your mercy that we have been grafted into the family of God.

Father, we pray for those who have yet to hear the message of Jesus. May their hearts be softened to the truth of the gospel, and may they come to know the joy of salvation in Christ.

Thank You, Lord, for Your eternal Kingdom, and for the opportunity to be part of it. We commit ourselves anew to You today, seeking to honor You in every part of our lives.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.