The pre-eminence of the Jew is related to certain principles that are developed in the Word of God. The first has to do with the racial uniqueness of the Jew. There were initially three post-diluvian races in history namely the Semitic, the Japhetic and Hamitic. The Semitic race was eventually split when Abraham became the father of the Jewish race.  So, there became four races namely the Arab Semites (all Semites apart from the Jews), the Japhetic, Hamitic and the Jewish race. The Jewish race is the only race that began with three generations of believers. To be a racial Jew, one had to be the descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So, the advantage of the Jew is first a racial pre-eminence.

 

Secondly, there is the unique nation of Israel. The unique origin and purpose of national Israel gives pre-eminence to the Jew. The Jews came out of slavery, a landless people who had to conquer the Canaanite in order to form a nation. A people cannot become a nation without land, and in order to gain land and to keep it, there must have a strong military. They were made a client nation, a special nation under the authority of the Lord for the teaching of the Laws of Establishment, the spiritual life and to send out missionaries. They were also given custodianship of written revelation from God. They were the first client (priest) nation in history, a unique status.  

 

Thirdly, the integrity of God has made promises to the Jews that have never been made to anyone else—the unconditional covenants. Never in all of history, apart from those unconditional promises did God ever promise to a race, and then to a nation, a piece of real estate on this earth to be ruled by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Millennium, and for all eternity. That means they are pre-eminently unique.

 

The fourth point of pre-eminence is the unique discipline and restoration of Israel. The pre-eminence of Israel is related to the fact that even though severely punished several times under the 5th cycle of discipline they will be regathered and restored at the Second Advent. No nation has ever had the 5th cycle of discipline and still come back to be a nation again—only Israel. That is unique. Three times they have been a nation—the United Kingdom, the Divided Kingdom [Ephraim in the north and Judah in the south], then Judea. At the 2nd Advent, the Lord will regather the Jews to form the final client nation in history.

 

The fifth point of pre-eminence is the survival of the Jew under constant conditions of anti-Semitism. They have survived, and will survive, under the most concentrated of all Satanic attacks.

 

The sixth point of uniqueness is the Millennial Israel. The pre-eminence of Israel is related to the glorified status in the Millennium. Israel will be unique among nations—Zechariah 14:16-21.

 

With all these racial and national advantages, if the individual Jew does not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, then all these advantages are for nought.

 

The Advantages of being a Jew:

 

1.  The salvation advantage of the Jew: There is no advantage in being an outward Jew as per Romans 2:28 unless one is an inward Jew of Romans 2:29. The advantage comes in adjusting to the integrity of God at salvation. There is no advantage in being a Jew by race or a Jew nationally. However, the spiritual heritage of Israel gave them an advantage.  For example, their animal sacrifices clearly taught salvation. 

 

2.  The doctrinal advantage: The Jews have been recipients of both written and oral revelation from God. The Jews as a Client Nation were the custodians of the canon of scripture. All doctrine resided in Israel.

 

3. The dispensational advantage:  In the dispensation of Israel the Jew had the whole realm of doctrine except the mystery doctrines of the Church Age. He had the unconditional covenants and the establishment principles delineated by the Mosaic Law. In the dispensation of the Church the Jew becomes royal family of God through faith in Christ just as the Gentile does. In the dispensation of the Millennium the Jew has maximum benefit from the fulfilment of the unconditional covenants; Israel will be the Client Nation throughout the Millennium and forever. They will have the advantage of the greatest government administration in all of history, Jesus Christ will rule from Jerusalem as king for one thousand years and then forever.

 

4. The establishment advantage: Every nation has the advantage when it has establishment. The Mosaic Law not only defined freedom, but it set up a constitution for national government which included principles of establishment. The Jews always benefited from their observation of establishment doctrines under the Mosaic Law.

 

5. The Client Nation advantage: As long as they were faithful to the Lord, they came under the protection of the Lord.

 

Regarding circumcision, the only advantage of circumcision besides a health advantage, was a constant reminder of how to adjust to God’s integrity first at salvation and then at spiritual maturity. Every time Jewish men looked at their circumcision, they were reminded that Abraham believed in the Lord, and righteousness was accredited to him. Then, by studying Abraham’s life and how he grew in his faith, established a pattern for all Jews to follow.