Notes of Faith July 29, 2024
The True Vine
For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are His pleasant plant.
Isaiah 5:7
Jesus used images from the Old Testament to demonstrate how He fulfilled God’s expectations for Israel. In Isaiah 5, Israel is pictured as a vineyard which God planted in expectation of bearing the fruit of “justice” and “righteousness”: “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel.” Sadly, the vineyard bore the fruit of “oppression” and “a cry for help” (verse 7). So God allowed His vineyard, Israel, to be uprooted and destroyed (verses 5-6).
But when Jesus came, He said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1). Jesus came to bear good fruit, by being the True Vine of God, that Israel failed to bear. And not just good fruit in Himself but for all who would believe in Him—the branches of the True Vine (John 15:1-8). Jesus intends to bear His good fruit in and through us as we remain “attached” to Him. If we remain (abide) in Him and His words remain in us, we will bear the fruit that Jesus bore in His life and ministry (John 15:7).
Abide in Jesus and His Word every day. By His Spirit, His life-giving fruit will manifest in your life (Galatians 5:22-23).
Fruit is evidence of the root.
John Blanchard
The oracles of God (the Scriptures) were given to the Jews, including most of the New Testament.
John 4:22
22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.
NKJV
Rom 11:1-12
God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE." 4 But what is the divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL." 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 just as it is written,
"GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR,
EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT,
DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY."
9 And David says,
"LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP,
AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.
10 "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT,
AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER."
11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!
NASU
Rom 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (everyone else).
ESV
The Jewish people were created by God, chosen by God, and will always be the apple of His eye. He has not forgotten them because of their sin and turning away from Him. If so, no human being would be saved. But God, in His grace and mercy sent His Son to die for the sin of the WORLD, that those who believe in Him might be saved. All who believe in Him might be saved! Let us pray for all who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior, remembering our Jewish brothers, that they would understand the Scriptures given to them, and truly see their Messiah, their eternal Savior Jesus, who is Jewish!
Pastor Dale