This topic is one of the more controversial in the Church today, and it has significantimplications regarding the way we interpret Scripture, especially in regard to the endtimes. More importantly, it has great significance in that it affects the way we understandthe very nature and character of God Himself. Romans 11:16-36 records the illustrationof the olive tree. This passage speaks of Israel the (“natural” branches) being broken offfrom the olive tree, and the Church (“wild” branches or shoots) being grafted into theolive tree. Since Israel is referred to as branches, as well as the Church, it stands to reasonthat neither group is the “whole tree,” so to speak; rather, the whole tree represents God’sworkings with mankind as a whole. Therefore, God’s program with Israel and God’sprogram with the Church are part of the outworking of His purpose among men ingeneral. Of course, this is not intended to mean that either program is of littlesignificance, because as most commentators have noted, more revelation is given in theBible regarding God’s programs with Israel and with the Church than any of God’s otherdealings!The best way to interpret Scripture is with the Scripture itself, so with that in mind,recall that in Genesis 12, God promised Abraham that he would be the father of a greatnation (the Jews), that that the Jews would possess a land, and that nation would beblessed above all other nations, and that all nations would be blessed out of Israel. So,from the beginning God reveals that Israel would be His chosen people on the earth, butthat His blessing and working would not be limited to them exclusively. Galatians 3:14identifies the nature of the blessing that would come to all the other nations in addition toIsrael. It says, “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through JesusChrist; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” All the nations ofthe world, then, would be blessed by Israel, through whom would come the Savior of theworld. God’s plan of redemption is built upon the finished work of Jesus Christ, whocame from the line of David, who is himself a physical descendant of Abraham. Ofcourse, Christ’s death on the cross is sufficient for the sins of the entire world, not just theJews! Galatians 3:6-8 states, “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted tohim for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are thechildren of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathenthrough faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nationsbe blessed.” Finally, Galatians 3:29 says, “And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham'sseed, and heirs according to the promise.” When you put all of this together, what it issaying is not that believers become Jews (the physical descendants of Abraham), but thatin Christ, they are counted righteous by faith in the same way that Abraham was(Galatians 3:6-8). Verse 29 tells us that if people are in Christ, (believers, members of theChurch), then they are partakers of the blessing of Israel and all nations in the redemptivework of Christ. In this sense, believers become the spiritual descendants of Abraham. Insummary, believers do not become Jews, but may enjoy the same type of blessings andprivileges as the Jews. Now, this does not contradict or nullify the revelation given in theOld Testament. What took place in the Old Testament is still valid, in that God’srelationship with Israel as a chosen people points to the work of Christ as a Redeemer ofthe whole world. The Old Testament contains the Mosaic Law, which is still mandatoryfor all the Jews (the physical descendants of Abraham) to follow, because they have notyet accepted Christ as their Messiah, who would do what they could not do—fulfill theLaw in all its details. As New Testament believers, we are no longer under the curse ofthe Law (Galatians 3:13), because Christ has taken that curse upon Himself on the cross.The Law served two purposes, first to reveal the problem of unrighteousness, andmankind’s inability (on his own merit) to do anything about that problem, and to point usto Christ, who fulfills the Law. His death on the cross completely satisfies God’srighteous requirement of perfection.It must be remembered that God’s promises are not made invalid by the acts andunfaithfulness of man. Nothing we do is ever a surprise to God, and He does not need toadjust His plans according to the way we behave. No, God is sovereign over allthings—past, present and future—and what He has foreordained for both Israel and theChurch will come to pass, regardless of circumstances. Romans 3:3-4 explains that theunbelief of the Jews would not nullify His promises concerning them: “What if some didnot have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God betrue, and every man a liar. As it is written: ‘So that you may be proved right when youspeak and prevail when you judge.’"One final thought: promises made to Israel are still going to be kept in the future. The“clock” for that has been temporarily stopped, and only God knows when those thingswill come to pass. However, we can be sure that all God has said is true and will takeplace, because of His character and consistency. Earlier, I mentioned that how one viewsIsrael and the Church have implications on the interpretation of Scripture, and here iswhy: it is not possible for the Church to fulfill or expect to have fulfilled for them thepromises made to Israel. So, as one reads Scripture, it is absolutely essential to follow thepattern set by Scripture itself and keep Israel and the Church separate.