Understanding Israel and the Church Today: Paul’s Perspective on God’s People and the Covenants That Still Stand

God’s Covenant Faithfulness: Understanding Israel’s Role in God’s Redemptive Plan

Introduction: Why Israel Matters to the Church

In today’s Christian world, confusion abounds regarding the Jewish people, the promises of God, and the Church’s role in redemptive history. On one extreme, some claim that Israel has no continuing significance in God’s plan; on the other, some insist that all ethnic Jews are automatically part of God’s covenant people. Both positions are errors.

This confusion comes partly from popular media and Christian voices—sometimes even from well-known figures in the Reformed or Calvinistic movement—who misinterpret Genesis 12:1–3 and the Abrahamic covenant.

At the heart of the confusion is a failure to distinguish between ethnic Israel, individual salvation, and God’s covenant promises.

Ultimately, the spiritual stakes, globally, nationally, and personally, are profound:   Satan’s hatred for Israel, “the woman who bore the man-child” (Rev. 12), reflects his opposition to Christ Himself. Understanding Israel rightly is not just academic—it touches on hermeneutics, prophecy, evangelism, and the very work of Christ in history.

The Jewish People Today

Ethnic and National Identity

The Jewish people are an ethnic group tracing their lineage to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Today, Jews may identify as religious, cultural, or secular, but salvation is not determined by ethnicity—faith in Christ is essential (John 14:6; Romans 10:9–13).

Common Misunderstandings

• Some believe all Jews are automatically God’s people. Scripture denies this: “He came to His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11).

• Others claim that God’s promises to Israel are irrelevant today. Romans 11 makes it clear that God has not cast off His people as a nation. See the bottom of this article for a short section on "Understanding Israel’s Covenants: The Foundation of God’s Faithfulness."

  
  

National Israel and God’s Covenant

While salvation is individual, God’s covenant promises to Israel remain intact. He is faithful to His word, even when many in Israel remain in unbelief. Ezekiel 37 foreshadows a two-stage restoration: first physical, then spiritual. God’s plan for Israel is ongoing.

Israel and the Church - Correcting Misunderstandings: Israel, Harlotry, and Revelation

Some Christians today, influenced by social media or polemical readings of Scripture, struggle with the concepts of Israel and the church. Some mistakenly identify Israel as the harlot of Revelation 17–18 or even as the Antichrist. For example, Ezekiel 16 describes Israel’s unfaithfulness using strong “harlot” imagery. Some then take this metaphor literally, claiming that modern Israel is spiritually and morally the global embodiment of evil.

Clarifying the Biblical Truth:

1. Prophetic Imagery Is Spiritual, Not Ethnic Judgment

   
   

   • Ezekiel calls Israel a harlot to depict spiritual unfaithfulness—idolatry and covenant violation—not sexual sin or global malevolence.

   • Other nations are also described as harlots in Scripture (e.g., Nineveh in Nahum 3:4), showing this is a metaphor for covenantal betrayal/spiritual unfaithfulness, not ethnic condemnation.

   
   

2. Revelation’s Babylon Is Symbolic

   
   

   • Revelation 17–18 does not name Israel. The harlot represents a world system opposed to God, not a literal ethnic nation.

   • Identifying Israel as the whore of Babylon or the Antichrist is a misreading (hermeneutical violation) that ignores Romans 9–11 and the ongoing covenant faithfulness of God.

   
   

3. Romans 11 Provides the Correct Lens

   
   

   • Gentiles must not become arrogant toward Israel (Rom. 11:18).

   • God has not rejected His people; His promises remain.

   • The real dividing line is always faith in Christ, not ethnicity or political conspiracy.

   
   

This clarification helps believers avoid turning prophetic metaphor into hatred or conspiracy-driven accusations, keeping interpretation faithful to Scripture and pastoral in tone.

The Abrahamic Covenant: Clearing Up Misconceptions

Genesis 12:1–3 is foundational: God promises Abraham, “I will bless you… and all families of the earth shall be blessed in you.”

Key Points Often Misunderstood:

1. The Promise Was Not Conditional on Others Blessing Abraham -

   Some voices, including Tucker Carlson and Kirk Cameron, claim Genesis 12 only benefits those who bless Abraham (specifically). This misreads Scripture. The promise is repeated to Isaac (Gen. 26:3–4) and Jacob (Gen. 28:13–14), showing God’s covenant is with the line of Abraham, not contingent on the external blessing of Abraham himself.

2. The “Seed” Is Christ, But Israel Remains -

   Galatians 3:16 clarifies that the “seed” refers ultimately to Christ. This does not nullify God’s promises to the literal descendants of Abraham, nor does it erase Israel’s national covenants. Israel brought us the Scriptures, the Savior, and the framework by which all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.

3. The Land Promise -

   Genesis 15:18–21 and 17:8 confirm that the land promise is literal and unconditional. Israel retains a national and historical claim to this inheritance, which remains part of God’s plan today. Again, see the bottom of this article for a fuller discussion of the land promise as found in the Palestinian (land) Covenant.

Paul’s Teaching on Israel: Romans 9–11

Paul’s letters provide the clearest New Testament teaching on Israel’s role:

1. God Has Not Rejected His People -

   Romans 11:1–2 emphasizes that God remains faithful to Israel. Even if many do not believe, a remnant always exists by God’s mercy.

2. Hardening Is Temporary and Partial -

   Romans 11:25 explains that Israel’s current unbelief is partial, allowing the “fullness of the Gentiles” to come in. This is part of God’s sovereign plan, not a permanent replacement.

3. Salvation Is Individual -

   Faith in Christ is the only path to salvation, whether Jew or Gentile (Rom. 10:9–13). Ethnicity alone does not guarantee acceptance.

4. Gentiles Are Grafted Into the Blessings -

   Romans 11:17–18 describes Gentiles being grafted into the root of Israel’s covenant blessings in Christ. The Church today participates spiritually in the promises, but this does not erase Israel’s national identity or prophetic role. See my article on the New Covenant here.

The New Covenant and Spiritual Participation

The New Covenant, foretold in Jeremiah 31:31–34 and fulfilled in Christ, continues God’s plan through spiritual participation:

• The Church is part of the blessings (and enjoying the spritual blessings) promised to Abraham by faith.

• The promises themselves remain rooted in Israel, and God’s historical covenants continue to bind the nation.

• Spiritual participation does not negate Israel’s literal, national identity or God’s end-times plan for her.

Covenantal Contrast and Continuity

Taken together, these covenants reveal that God’s dealings with Israel have not been erased but rather expanded to include Gentile believers who share in the spiritual blessings of salvation through Christ. The Mosaic Covenant showed the need for redemption; the unconditional covenants guarantee that redemption will be accomplished.

Following a mild dispensational perspective helps clarify these distinctions:

• Continuity of God’s Covenants: God’s promises to Israel remain unconditional and ongoing, grounded in His immutable character.

• Distinct Programs: Israel retains a national role in God’s plan, while the Church, composed of Jew and Gentile alike, shares in the spiritual blessings of the New Covenant through faith.

• Practical Implications:

  
  

  • We should pray for Israel and honor her place in God’s unfolding purposes.

  • We must reject anti-Semitism and avoid false universalism that denies Israel’s distinct role.

  • We remain Christ-centered in evangelism and discipleship, proclaiming the same gospel to Jew and Gentile alike.

• Biblical Christians must separate theology from conspiracies.

  You can absolutely believe:

  
  

  • That Israel’s government, like any government, can make right or wrong choices; This should go without saying, but since we are speaking plainly, let's continue. There can be legitimate criticism of the governmental policies of Israel, as there can be legitimate criticism of our own governmental policies. As always, we are cautioned against falling into hurtful conspiracy theories. It is not as though the nation/government of Israel is untouchable. Any government must and should be held to account for its policies, decisions, and actions.

  • That God is not currently blessing every action of the modern State of Israel;

  • And still affirm that God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob remains unbroken. To reject that covenant, or to portray the Jewish people as the ultimate evil power, is to join the devil’s ancient war against the woman who brought forth the Christ (Rev. 12:1–5)..

These covenants remind us that God’s plan for Israel is neither forgotten nor replaced. His promises endure because His character endures. As Paul affirmed, “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29). To understand Israel rightly is to behold the unwavering faithfulness of the God who keeps His Word.

Conclusion

Understanding Israel today is not optional—it is essential for faithful Bible interpretation. God remains committed to His covenant people, even while salvation is always by faith in Christ alone. The Church participates spiritually, but Israel’s national promises—including land, covenantal identity, and a role in God’s redemptive plan—remain.

Misunderstandings today—from social media, popular media, and even some theological movements—sometimes lead to the misuse of prophetic imagery, conflating covenantal unfaithfulness with ethnic or global condemnation. Scripture reminds us that Satan opposes Israel because of her role in God’s redemptive plan, not because she is intrinsically evil. Paul’s teaching in Romans 11 offers a corrective: humility, discernment, and faithful interpretation.

“To honor God’s Word is to hold both truths: the Jewish people remain His covenant people, and salvation is in Christ alone. Ignoring either leads to error; embracing both leads to faithfulness.”

References

• Romans 9–11; Galatians 3:16; John 1:11–14

• Genesis 12, 15, 17, 26, 28

• Ezekiel 16, 37

• Jeremiah 31:31–34

• Revelation 17–18

• Fruchtenbaum, Arnold G. Israelology: The Missing Link in Systematic Theology. Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries Press, 1989.

• Pentecost, J. Dwight. Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1958.

Addendum

Understanding Israel’s Covenants: The Foundation of God’s Faithfulness

Much of the confusion surrounding Israel’s place in Scripture stems from a failure to distinguish between conditional and unconditional covenants. The Bible reveals both types, and understanding their differences is essential for rightly interpreting God’s ongoing relationship with the Jewish people.

Conditional Covenants

A conditional covenant depends upon human obedience for its fulfillment. The best-known example is the Mosaic Covenant (Exod. 19–24). God promised Israel blessing, protection, and prosperity in the land—if they obeyed His commandments. Yet, disobedience would bring judgment and exile (Deut. 28). The covenant served as a divine constitution for Israel’s theocratic life, but it was never meant as the means of eternal salvation. Rather, it revealed sin and the nation’s need for grace (Gal. 3:19–24).

When Israel broke this covenant, they forfeited temporary blessings, but not the eternal promises God had made to their fathers under earlier, unconditional covenants.

Unconditional Covenants

By contrast, unconditional covenants rest entirely on God’s faithfulness, not human performance. These covenants form the bedrock of God’s redemptive plan and His unchanging commitment to Israel.

1. The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1–3; 15; 17)

This covenant established Israel as a chosen nation. God promised Abraham a land, a seed, and a blessing. These promises were reiterated to Isaac and Jacob, confirming that they were not temporary or dependent on human merit (even specifically Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob). The New Testament reveals that the ultimate “Seed” is Christ (Gal. 3:16), yet that does not nullify the national promises given to Abraham and his descendants. Through Abraham’s line came the Scriptures, the Savior, and the framework through which the nations would be blessed.

2. The Land (or Palestinian) Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1–10)

This covenant expands the land promise of the Abrahamic Covenant. Even after dispersion due to disobedience, God assured Israel’s future regathering and restoration to the land. Though temporarily displaced, Israel’s title deed to the land remains intact. The fulfillment of this covenant awaits full realization in the Messianic Kingdom when Israel is spiritually renewed.

3. The Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:8–16; Psalm 89)

Here God promised David an eternal dynasty—a throne, a kingdom, and a descendant who would reign forever. Though Israel’s monarchy failed historically, this covenant guarantees that David’s lineage will culminate in the reign of Jesus the Messiah, the rightful heir. This covenant underscores the national and messianic dimensions of God’s plan for Israel and the world.

4. The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:24–28)

Often misunderstood, the New Covenant was first promised to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It provides internal transformation—new hearts, forgiveness, and the indwelling Spirit. The Church partakes spiritually in its blessings through union with Christ, but the covenant itself remains a divine commitment to Israel’s ultimate national restoration and spiritual renewal. When Israel turns to her Messiah, this covenant will find its complete fulfillment in the kingdom age.

Covenantal Contrast and Continuity

When viewed together, the conditional Mosaic Covenant and the unconditional covenants do not contradict but complement one another. The Mosaic law governed Israel’s behavior and fellowship, while the unconditional covenants guarantee Israel’s ultimate destiny.

God’s faithfulness to these covenants ensures that His redemptive plan remains intact. As Paul declared, “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29). Though individual Jews must come to Christ for salvation, the nation itself still stands within the bounds of divine promise.

Far from being replaced, Israel remains central to God’s unfolding story—proof that His Word, once given, cannot be broken.