Being a Son of Abraham Does Not Make You a Son of Jacob

Scripture allows for those who have not physically descended from Abraham to nevertheless be referred to as sons of Abraham.  This has led many to conclude that Gentiles in Christ become Israelites or even constitute the true or, “spiritual Israel.”  The cardinal verses are Galatians 3:6-9: just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him […]

J.C. Ryle Challenges You on the Meaning of ‘Israel’

The great 19th century theologian and Anglican Bishop John Charles Ryle issued a simple challenge that has never been satisfactorily answered.  Below is the question in bold and the context in which it is found: The word ‘Israel’ is used nearly seven hundred times in the Bible.  I can only discover three senses in which […]