Who does Israel belong to according to Romans 9:4-5?
Romans 9:4-5 identifies Israel as belonging to the fathers, the great men of Israel's history. It also declares that from them, concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Thus Israel is linked to its patriarchs and to the Messiah descended from them.
Les explains that the little nation of Israel belongs to the fathers, the great men of Israel's history. Then in verse 5, concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, blessed of God forever. Les emphasizes that the Messiah, the Christ, is the one with whom we are intricately involved, and that Christ is the all in all. He warns against the New Age tendency to reduce Christ to just another prophet, stressing that the Lord Jesus is the eternal creator God of the universe, the author and finisher of our faith, and he directs attention to Colossians 1:15.
Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.